Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power, spin and control on Paddle DNA against the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro, which costs $60.
Power
76 vs 70
Spin
74 vs 66
Control
82 vs 78
Forgiveness
Too close to call
84 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
104 vs 106 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro
$60 at IQ 74.7 vs $80 at IQ 78.4
Overall pick: Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 · $80 · IQ 78.4
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 70Power76
- 78Control82
- 66Spin74
- 84Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot85
- 72Stability77
- 86Maneuverability82
- 74Pop79
- 72Touch76
- 76Consistency80
- 46Swing weight52
- 64Twist weight70
- 69Launch angle64
- 54Plow through64
- 78Softness82
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro | Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $60 — better | $80 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 74.7 | 78.4 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 7.7 | 7.8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 13 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 104 | 106 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.6 | 5.9 — better |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 15.8 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 4.9 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Textured fiberglass | Fiberglass composite |
| Core material | Polymer honeycomb | Rev-Core polymer |
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro verdict
A starter paddle with a famous name on it. Perfectly serviceable for the first few months of play, and easy to hand down once you upgrade.
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 verdict
A genuinely balanced sub-$100 paddle. Nothing about it is elite, but nothing is a liability either, which is rare at this price.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 scores 64 against 54 for Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on sweet spot, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro is $20 cheaper at $60.
Plow through
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads by 10 points (64 vs 54).
Spin
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads by 8 points (74 vs 66).
Power
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads by 6 points (76 vs 70).
Swing weight
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads by 6 points (52 vs 46).
Which one is right for your level?
Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 70 vs 64, stability 77 vs 72, consistency 80 vs 76. Twist weight 5.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 74 vs 66, power 76 vs 70, control 82 vs 78. At 106 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Power
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 is the clearer pick at this level — spin 74 vs 66, plow through 64 vs 54, power 76 vs 70. Swing weight 106 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 82 vs 78, twist weight 70 vs 64. Its 16 mm Rev-Core polymer core at 7.8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro
Take Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro if you want launch angle (+5), maneuverability (+4). Its swing weight of 104 kg·cm² and 13 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro review →Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
Take Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 if you want plow through (+10), spin (+8), power (+6). Its swing weight of 106 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 review →Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro or the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (78.4 vs 74.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro, at 104 kg·cm² swing weight against 106 for Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro or the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 scores 76 for power against 70 for Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro. That comes from a 16 mm Rev-Core polymer core swinging at 106 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 at 82 versus 78. Its 16 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 scores 74 for spin off its Fiberglass composite face, against 66 for the Textured fiberglass face on Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro. In practice an 8-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 84 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 5.6 and 5.9.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro costs $60, $20 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro: 13 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Textured fiberglass face. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0: 16 mm Rev-Core polymer core with a Fiberglass composite face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0, at 5 in of handle against 4.9 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro at 7.7 oz against 7.8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (104 vs 106) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro to the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 leads on plow through by 10 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $60 vs $80, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Signature Carbon STR
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs SLK Halo Control
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Z5 Graphite
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Flare Graphite
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Signature 16 Composite
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Encore Pro EX
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Obsidian 16
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Z5 Graphite
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Flare Graphite
- Ben Johns Signature Pro vs Signature Carbon STR
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Signature Carbon STR
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Prism Flash
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Essentials 16
- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro and Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro and Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.