Franklin Signature Carbon STR vs Rally Flare Graphite
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 75.7), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
76 vs 74
Spin
80 vs 72
Control
83 vs 76
Forgiveness
Too close to call
85 vs 84
Hand speed
100 vs 110 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$50 at IQ 75.7 vs $110 at IQ 79.8
Overall pick: Franklin Signature Carbon STR · $110 · IQ 79.8
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 76Power74
- 83Control76
- 80Spin72
- 85Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot84
- 78Stability68
- 82Maneuverability90
- 76Pop86
- 79Touch74
- 81Consistency74
- 54Swing weight46
- 72Twist weight66
- 63Launch angle68
- 64Plow through54
- 82Softness74
Franklin Signature Carbon STR 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 Carbon STR | Rally Flare Graphite |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $110 | $50 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 — better | 75.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 7.5 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 11 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 100 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6 — better | 5.8 |
| Shape | standard | standard |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 7.8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.135 |
| Surface | Raw carbon | Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture |
| Core material | Polymer honeycomb | Polymer honeycomb |
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.
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 stability: Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 78 against 68 for Rally Flare Graphite — a 10-point gap. They are effectively level on power, sweet spot, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Rally Flare Graphite is $60 cheaper at $50.
Stability
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 10 points (78 vs 68).
Pop
Rally Flare Graphite leads by 10 points (86 vs 76).
Plow through
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 10 points (64 vs 54).
Spin
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 8 points (80 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
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Franklin Signature Carbon STR is a narrow pick at this level — stability 78 vs 68, consistency 81 vs 74, twist weight 72 vs 66. Twist weight 6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Stability
- Consistency
- Twist weight
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 72, control 83 vs 76, touch 79 vs 74. At 110 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Control
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Franklin Signature Carbon STR is a narrow pick at this level — spin 80 vs 72, plow through 64 vs 54, control 83 vs 76. Swing weight 110 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Plow through
- Control
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 — softness 82 vs 74, twist weight 72 vs 66, forgiveness 85 vs 84. Its 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Take Franklin Signature Carbon STR if you want stability (+10), plow through (+10), spin (+8). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature Carbon STR review →Rally Flare Graphite
Take Rally Flare Graphite if you want pop (+10), maneuverability (+8), launch angle (+5). Its swing weight of 100 kg·cm² and 11 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Rally Flare Graphite review →Franklin Signature Carbon STR vs Rally Flare Graphite FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Signature Carbon STR or the Rally Flare Graphite?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (79.8 vs 75.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — stability — Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 10 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 100 kg·cm² swing weight against 110 for Franklin Signature Carbon STR. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Franklin Signature Carbon STR or the Rally Flare Graphite?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 76 for power against 74 for Rally Flare Graphite. That comes from a 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core swinging at 110 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR 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?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 80 for spin off its Raw carbon face, against 72 for the Carbon fiber with peel-ply texture face on Rally Flare Graphite. In practice an 8-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 84). Its 6 twist weight against 5.8 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, $60 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 Carbon STR: 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Raw carbon 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?
- Rally Flare Graphite, at 5.3 in of handle against 5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- 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. Rally Flare Graphite 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 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 Rally Flare Graphite to the Franklin Signature Carbon STR?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads on stability by 10 points; everything else is within 10 points. At $110 vs $50, 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 Carbon STR vs Ben Johns Signature Pro
- Signature Carbon STR vs BALLR+ 16
- Signature Carbon STR vs Signature 16 Composite
- Flare Graphite vs Essentials 16
- Flare Graphite vs Meister Wood
- Signature Carbon STR vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
- Signature Carbon STR vs Blaze Pro 16
- Signature Carbon STR vs Essentials 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.
- 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
- Flare Graphite vs Z5 Graphite
- Flare Graphite vs Ben Johns Signature Pro
- Flare Graphite vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
- Flare Graphite vs Strike 4F
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 Carbon STR and Rally Flare Graphite in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Franklin Signature Carbon STR and Rally Flare Graphite. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.