Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Wilson Blaze Pro 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin and forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the Franklin Signature 16 Composite, which costs $70.
Power
Too close to call
81 vs 78
Spin
78 vs 68
Control
Too close to call
83 vs 82
Forgiveness
84 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 $170 at IQ 80.2
Overall pick: Wilson Blaze Pro 16 · $170 · IQ 80.2
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 81Power78
- 83Control82
- 68Spin78
- 72Forgiveness84
- 70Sweet spot84
- 67Stability80
- 80Maneuverability78
- 76Pop76
- 84Touch78
- 74Consistency84
- 66Swing weight70
- 50Twist weight76
- 52Launch angle52
- 75Plow through76
- 86Softness74
Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Franklin Signature 16 Composite | Wilson Blaze Pro 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $70 — better | $170 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 73.5 | 80.2 — 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 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.3 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.6 | 5.375 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.5 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Composite/Fiberglass | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | Polypropylene | Polypropylene 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.
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 verdict
Wilson's most competitive pickleball paddle to date. Nothing in the DNA profile is exceptional, but nothing is a weakness either — it is the definition of a balanced all-court build.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Wilson Blaze Pro 16 scores 76 against 50 for Franklin Signature 16 Composite — a 26-point gap. They are effectively level on power, maneuverability, control, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Franklin Signature 16 Composite is $100 cheaper at $70.
Twist weight
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads by 26 points (76 vs 50).
Sweet spot
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads by 14 points (84 vs 70).
Stability
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads by 13 points (80 vs 67).
Forgiveness
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads by 12 points (84 vs 72).
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
Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 76 vs 50, sweet spot 84 vs 70, forgiveness 84 vs 72. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
- Forgiveness
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Wilson Blaze Pro 16 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 78 vs 68, forgiveness 84 vs 72, consistency 84 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 78.2 on the weighted index). Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite and keep the $100.
- Spin
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (75.6 vs 77.1 on the weighted index). Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite and keep the $100.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Franklin Signature 16 Composite
Take Franklin Signature 16 Composite if you want softness (+12), touch (+6). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature 16 Composite review →Wilson Blaze Pro 16
Take Wilson Blaze Pro 16 if you want twist weight (+26), sweet spot (+14), stability (+13). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Wilson Blaze Pro 16 review →Franklin Signature 16 Composite vs Wilson Blaze Pro 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Signature 16 Composite or the Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (80.2 vs 73.5), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads by 26 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 Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite scores 81 for power against 78 for Wilson Blaze Pro 16. 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 82. 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?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 scores 78 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 68 for the Composite/Fiberglass face on Franklin Signature 16 Composite. In practice a 10-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16, with the higher forgiveness score (84 vs 72). Its 6.5 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, $100 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. Wilson Blaze Pro 16: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw carbon fiber face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Franklin Signature 16 Composite, at 5.6 in of handle against 5.375 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?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 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?
- Wilson Blaze Pro 16 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 Wilson Blaze Pro 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Wilson Blaze Pro 16 leads on twist weight by 26 points; everything else is within 14 points. At $70 vs $170, 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.
- Signature 16 Composite vs Signature Carbon STR
- Blaze Pro 16 vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Blaze Pro 16 vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
- Signature 16 Composite vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
- Signature 16 Composite vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
- Signature 16 Composite vs Ben Johns Signature Pro
- Signature 16 Composite vs Flare Graphite
- Signature 16 Composite vs Evoke Premier
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- Signature 16 Composite vs Signature 13
- Signature 16 Composite vs J6CR
- Blaze Pro 16 vs Evoke Premier
- Blaze Pro 16 vs SLK Halo XL Control
- Blaze Pro 16 vs V7 Pro 16
- Blaze Pro 16 vs V7 Hybrid
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 Wilson Blaze Pro 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Franklin Signature 16 Composite and Wilson Blaze Pro 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.