Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Rally Flare Graphite
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Rally Flare Graphite takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Rally Flare Graphite wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin, forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Franklin Signature 16 Composite, which costs $70.
Power
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
81 vs 74
Spin
72 vs 68
Control
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
83 vs 76
Forgiveness
84 vs 72
Hand speed
100 vs 110 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$50 at IQ 75.7 vs $70 at IQ 73.5
Overall pick: Rally Flare Graphite · $50 · IQ 75.7
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 81Power74
- 83Control76
- 68Spin72
- 72Forgiveness84
- 70Sweet spot84
- 67Stability68
- 80Maneuverability90
- 76Pop86
- 84Touch74
- 74Consistency74
- 66Swing weight46
- 50Twist weight66
- 52Launch angle68
- 75Plow through54
- 86Softness74
Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Rally Flare Graphite specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Franklin Signature 16 Composite | Rally Flare Graphite |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $70 | $50 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 73.5 | 75.7 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.1 | 7.5 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 11 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 100 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 5.6 | 5.8 — better |
| Shape | elongated | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.3 | 7.8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.6 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.5 | 4.135 |
| Surface | Composite/Fiberglass | Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture |
| 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.
Rally Flare Graphite verdict
A $50 carbon-faced paddle with a thin 11 mm core: poppy, light and easy to swing. It is a starter paddle, and the thin core shows the moment you try to reset a hard drive.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: Franklin Signature 16 Composite scores 75 against 54 for Rally Flare Graphite — a 21-point gap. They are effectively level on stability, consistency, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Rally Flare Graphite is $20 cheaper at $50.
Plow through
Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads by 21 points (75 vs 54).
Swing weight
Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads by 20 points (66 vs 46).
Twist weight
Rally Flare Graphite leads by 16 points (66 vs 50).
Launch angle
Rally Flare Graphite leads by 16 points (68 vs 52).
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
Rally Flare Graphite
Rally Flare Graphite is the clearer pick at this level — sweet spot 84 vs 70, forgiveness 84 vs 72, twist weight 66 vs 50. Twist weight 5.8 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (77.5 vs 78.1 on the weighted index). Take Rally Flare Graphite and keep the $20.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
Franklin Signature 16 Composite is the clearer pick at this level — plow through 75 vs 54, touch 84 vs 74, power 81 vs 74. Swing weight 110 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Plow through
- Touch
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (75.6 vs 75.3 on the weighted index). Take Rally Flare Graphite and keep the $20.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite if you want plow through (+21), swing weight (+20), softness (+12). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature 16 Composite review →Rally Flare Graphite
Take Rally Flare Graphite if you want twist weight (+16), launch angle (+16), sweet spot (+14). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 11 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Rally Flare Graphite review →Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Rally Flare Graphite FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Signature 16 Composite or the Rally Flare Graphite?
- Rally Flare Graphite carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (75.7 vs 73.5), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads by 21 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 100 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Franklin Signature 16 Composite. Lower 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 Rally Flare Graphite?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite scores 81 for power against 74 for Rally Flare Graphite. 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?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite at 83 versus 76. 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite scores 72 for spin off its Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face, against 68 for the Composite/Fiberglass face on Franklin Signature 16 Composite. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Rally Flare Graphite, with the higher forgiveness score (84 vs 72). Its 5.8 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite costs $50, $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 Signature 16 Composite: 16 mm Polypropylene core with a Composite/Fiberglass face. Rally Flare Graphite: 11 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite, at 5.6 in of handle against 5.3 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 84 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite at 7.5 oz against 8.1 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (100 vs 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Signature 16 Composite to the Rally Flare Graphite?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Franklin Signature 16 Composite leads on plow through by 21 points; everything else is within 20 points. At $70 vs $50, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a forgiveness vs power decision
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Franklin Signature 16 Composite and Rally Flare Graphite in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Franklin Signature 16 Composite and Rally Flare Graphite. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.