Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Face-material question inside Franklin's entry lineup — what carbon actually buys you. Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Franklin Signature Carbon STR takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Franklin Signature Carbon STR edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (79.8 vs 73.5), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
81 vs 76
Spin
80 vs 68
Control
Too close to call
83 vs 83
Forgiveness
85 vs 72
Hand speed
Too close to call
110 vs 110 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
$70 at IQ 73.5 vs $110 at IQ 79.8
Overall pick: Franklin Signature Carbon STR · $110 · IQ 79.8
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 81Power76
- 83Control83
- 68Spin80
- 72Forgiveness85
- 70Sweet spot86
- 67Stability78
- 80Maneuverability82
- 76Pop76
- 84Touch79
- 74Consistency81
- 66Swing weight54
- 50Twist weight72
- 52Launch angle63
- 75Plow through64
- 86Softness82
Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Franklin Signature 16 Composite | Franklin Signature Carbon STR |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $70 — better | $110 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 73.5 | 79.8 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.1 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.6 | 6 — better |
| Shape | elongated | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.3 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.6 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.5 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Composite/Fiberglass | Raw carbon |
| Core material | Polypropylene | Polymer honeycomb |
Franklin Signature 16 Composite verdict
A fiberglass-faced elongated paddle at a rec-league price. Composite faces give up spin to carbon, but they hand back free pop that beginners actually benefit from.
Franklin Signature Carbon STR verdict
Franklin's most credible performance paddle to date. It will not win a spin shootout, but the balance and build quality are honest for the money.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 72 against 50 for Franklin Signature 16 Composite — a 22-point gap. They are effectively level on maneuverability, control, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Franklin Signature 16 Composite is $40 cheaper at $70.
Twist weight
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 22 points (72 vs 50).
Sweet spot
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 16 points (86 vs 70).
Forgiveness
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 13 points (85 vs 72).
Spin
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 12 points (80 vs 68).
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
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Franklin Signature Carbon STR is the clearer pick at this level — sweet spot 86 vs 70, twist weight 72 vs 50, forgiveness 85 vs 72. Twist weight 6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Franklin Signature Carbon STR is a narrow pick at this level — spin 80 vs 68, forgiveness 85 vs 72, consistency 81 vs 74. At 110 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Forgiveness
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (77.9 vs 77 on the weighted index). Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite and keep the $40.
- Plow through
- Power
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Franklin Signature Carbon STR is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 72 vs 50, forgiveness 85 vs 72. Its 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite if you want swing weight (+12), plow through (+11), power (+5). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature 16 Composite review →Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Take Franklin Signature Carbon STR if you want twist weight (+22), sweet spot (+16), forgiveness (+13). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature Carbon STR review →Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Franklin Signature Carbon STR FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Signature 16 Composite or the Franklin Signature Carbon STR?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (79.8 vs 73.5), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 22 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both swing at 110 kg·cm², and swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Franklin Signature 16 Composite or the Franklin Signature Carbon STR?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite scores 81 for power against 76 for Franklin Signature Carbon STR. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene core swinging at 110 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 83 for control.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 80 for spin off its Raw carbon face, against 68 for the Composite/Fiberglass face on Franklin Signature 16 Composite. In practice a 12-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR, with the higher forgiveness score (85 vs 72). Its 6 twist weight against 5.6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite costs $70, $40 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 Signature 16 Composite: 16 mm Polypropylene core with a Composite/Fiberglass face. Franklin Signature Carbon STR: 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Raw carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite, at 5.6 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Franklin Signature 16 Composite avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 85 and sweet spot 86 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Franklin Signature 16 Composite rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR at 8 oz against 8.1 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight is identical at 110 kg·cm², so they will feel the same mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Signature 16 Composite to the Franklin Signature Carbon STR?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads on twist weight by 22 points; everything else is within 16 points. At $70 vs $110, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a forgiveness vs power decision
Browse every head-to-head that splits on the same trade-off:
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- Signature 16 Composite vs Signature 13
- Signature 16 Composite vs J6CR
- Signature Carbon STR vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
- Signature Carbon STR vs Prism Flash
- Signature Carbon STR vs Essentials 16
- Signature Carbon STR 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 Signature 16 Composite and Franklin Signature Carbon STR in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Franklin Signature 16 Composite and Franklin Signature Carbon STR. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.