Franklin Signature Carbon STR vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
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
Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 wins this matchup for most players: it takes hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Franklin Signature Carbon STR, which costs $110.
Power
Too close to call
76 vs 76
Spin
80 vs 74
Control
Too close to call
83 vs 82
Forgiveness
Too close to call
85 vs 84
Hand speed
106 vs 110 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$80 at IQ 78.4 vs $110 at IQ 79.8
Overall pick: Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 · $80 · IQ 78.4
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 76Power76
- 83Control82
- 80Spin74
- 85Forgiveness84
- 86Sweet spot85
- 78Stability77
- 82Maneuverability82
- 76Pop79
- 79Touch76
- 81Consistency80
- 54Swing weight52
- 72Twist weight70
- 63Launch angle64
- 64Plow through64
- 82Softness82
Franklin Signature Carbon STR 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 Signature Carbon STR | Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $110 | $80 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 — better | 78.4 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 7.8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 106 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6 — better | 5.9 |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 7.9 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw carbon | Fiberglass composite |
| Core material | Polymer honeycomb | Rev-Core polymer |
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.
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 spin: Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 80 against 74 for Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 — a 6-point gap. They are effectively level on pop, touch, swing weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 is $30 cheaper at $80.
Spin
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 6 points (80 vs 74).
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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.4 vs 80.2 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 and keep the $30.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81 vs 79.1 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 and keep the $30.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (77 vs 75.1 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 and keep the $30.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81 vs 80.4 on the weighted index). Take Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 and keep the $30.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Take Franklin Signature Carbon STR if you want spin (+6). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Franklin Signature Carbon STR review →Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
Take Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 if you prefer a hybrid face and a 16 mm Rev-Core polymer core — it gives up nothing measurable to Franklin Signature Carbon STR.
Read the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 review →Franklin Signature Carbon STR vs Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Signature Carbon STR or the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (79.8 vs 78.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 6 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0, at 106 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 Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 76 for power.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR 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?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 80 for spin off its Raw carbon face, against 74 for the Fiberglass composite face on Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0. In practice a 6-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 5.9 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 costs $80, $30 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. 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5 in handle, short enough that either forces the bottom hand up 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. Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 at 7.8 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (106 vs 110) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 to the Franklin Signature Carbon STR?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads on spin by 6 points; everything else is within 3 points. At $110 vs $80, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a spin vs pop decision
Browse every head-to-head that splits on the same trade-off:
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- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Prism Flash
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- SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 vs Radical Tour Ultra 16
Top alternatives to both
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Franklin Signature Carbon STR and Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Franklin Signature Carbon STR 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.