Franklin Signature Carbon STR vs Selkirk SLK Halo Control
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Selkirk SLK Halo Control takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Selkirk SLK Halo Control edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (83 vs 79.8), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
76 vs 69
Spin
Too close to call
81 vs 80
Control
93 vs 83
Forgiveness
Too close to call
88 vs 85
Hand speed
Too close to call
110 vs 111 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$110 at IQ 79.8 vs $119 at IQ 83
Overall pick: Selkirk SLK Halo Control · $119 · IQ 83
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 76Power69
- 83Control93
- 80Spin81
- 85Forgiveness88
- 86Sweet spot89
- 78Stability84
- 82Maneuverability76
- 76Pop64
- 79Touch90
- 81Consistency88
- 54Swing weight58
- 72Twist weight79
- 63Launch angle57
- 64Plow through66
- 82Softness91
Franklin Signature Carbon STR vs Selkirk SLK Halo Control 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 Halo Control |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $110 — better | $119 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 79.8 | 83 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 110 | 111 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6 | 6.2 — better |
| Shape | standard | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16.1 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 7.8 |
| Handle length(in) | 5 | 5.25 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw carbon | Toray T700 carbon |
| 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 Halo Control verdict
The softest, most muted feel we rate under $150. If your first goal is keeping third-shot drops in the kitchen instead of hitting winners, this is the paddle that teaches touch fastest.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is pop: Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 76 against 64 for Selkirk SLK Halo Control — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, sweet spot, plow through, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($110 vs $119) that it should not break the tie.
Pop
Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 12 points (76 vs 64).
Touch
Selkirk SLK Halo Control leads by 11 points (90 vs 79).
Control
Selkirk SLK Halo Control leads by 10 points (93 vs 83).
Softness
Selkirk SLK Halo Control leads by 9 points (91 vs 82).
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
Selkirk SLK Halo Control
Selkirk SLK Halo Control is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 79 vs 72, consistency 88 vs 81, stability 84 vs 78. Twist weight 6.2 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Consistency
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Selkirk SLK Halo Control
Selkirk SLK Halo Control is a narrow pick at this level — control 93 vs 83, touch 90 vs 79, consistency 88 vs 81. At 111 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (77 vs 78.4 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — standard on the Signature Carbon STR, hybrid on the SLK Halo Control.
- Touch
- Control
- Plow through
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Selkirk SLK Halo Control
Selkirk SLK Halo Control is the clearer pick at this level — softness 91 vs 82, twist weight 79 vs 72, forgiveness 88 vs 85. Its 16 mm Rev-Core polymer core at 8.1 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 pop (+12), power (+7), maneuverability (+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 Halo Control
Take Selkirk SLK Halo Control if you want touch (+11), control (+10), softness (+9). Its swing weight of 111 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk SLK Halo Control review →Where to Buy
Franklin Signature Carbon STR
Selkirk SLK Halo Control
Franklin Signature Carbon STR vs Selkirk SLK Halo Control FAQ
- Which is better, the Franklin Signature Carbon STR or the Selkirk SLK Halo Control?
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (83 vs 79.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — pop — Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR, at 110 kg·cm² swing weight against 111 for Selkirk SLK Halo Control. 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 Halo Control?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR scores 76 for power against 69 for Selkirk SLK Halo Control. 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?
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control at 93 versus 83. 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?
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control scores 81 for spin off its Toray T700 carbon face, against 80 for the Raw carbon face on Franklin Signature Carbon STR. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 85). Its 6.2 twist weight against 6 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $9 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Franklin Signature Carbon STR: 16 mm Polymer honeycomb core with a Raw carbon face. Selkirk SLK Halo Control: 16 mm Rev-Core polymer core with a Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control, at 5.25 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?
- Selkirk SLK Halo Control is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 89 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Franklin Signature Carbon STR 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 (110 vs 111) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Franklin Signature Carbon STR to the Selkirk SLK Halo Control?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Franklin Signature Carbon STR leads on pop by 12 points; everything else is within 11 points. At $110 vs $119, 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
- SLK Halo Control vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
- SLK Halo Control vs SLK Halo XL Control
- SLK Halo Control vs Ruby
- SLK Halo Control vs Prism Flash
- Signature Carbon STR vs SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0
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
- SLK Halo Control vs Tempest Wave V3
- SLK Halo Control vs Black Ace LG
- SLK Halo Control vs Kinetic Pro Flight
- SLK Halo Control vs Tempest Pro C 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 Carbon STR and Selkirk SLK Halo Control in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Franklin Signature Carbon STR and Selkirk SLK Halo Control. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.