Is the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro a good paddle?

For an absolute first-timer at $60, it is fine — light, forgiving and cheap. It is not a paddle to keep once you play weekly.

Does Ben Johns actually use this paddle?

No. This is a signature-licensed recreational model, not the paddle used in professional play. Treat the name as branding, not a spec.

What should I upgrade to?

The JOOLA Essentials 16 or Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid for a like-for-like step up, or the Vatic Pro Prism Flash if you want a raw carbon face for spin.

Is the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro good for beginners?

Yes. Forgiveness scores 84/100 and the sweet spot 86/100, both high enough that off-centre contact still produces a playable ball. At $60 it is more paddle than most beginners need, but it will not hold you back.

Is the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro worth the price?

At $60 it sits in the 2nd percentile of the database for cost and the 3rd for IQ score. If those numbers do not line up for you, the VERSIX Strike 4F at $15 is the value alternative we point people to.

How does the Ben Johns Signature Pro compare to the Z5 Graphite?

They are close on DNA. The Ben Johns Signature Pro reads power 70 / control 78 / spin 66 against 73 / 76 / 62 for the Z5 Graphite, at $60 versus $70. Our full head-to-head breaks down every trait.

Is the 13 mm better than the 16 mm version?

A 14 mm core returns energy faster, so drives and speed-ups come off harder with less effort. The 16 mm build gives up some of that pop for dwell time and softer hands. Pick 14 mm for pace, 16 mm for touch.

Is the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro approved for tournament play?

Sanctioned play requires the model to appear on USA Pickleball's official approved-equipment list. Franklin submits its retail models for approval, but approval is per model and configuration, so check the current USAP list for the exact Ben Johns Signature Pro build before you enter a sanctioned event. We do not list approval status we have not verified.

Does the Ben Johns Signature Pro have good spin?

Spin scores 66/100 — the 2nd percentile of our database (among the lower values in the database) — off a Textured fiberglass face. Spin is not this paddle's strength — several paddles in the same price band score meaningfully higher.

Is the Ben Johns Signature Pro head heavy?

Swing weight is 104 kg·cm² and twist weight 5.6. That is light and fast through the swing path, which favours hands battles over plow-through. Static weight is 7.7 oz.

Does the Ben Johns Signature Pro benefit from lead tape?

Yes — at 104 kg·cm² there is room to add. Tape at 3 and 9 o'clock raises twist weight and stability with the smallest hit to hand speed; tape at 12 adds power and plow-through but slows the paddle noticeably. Any added weight can affect tournament legality if it changes the paddle beyond the approved configuration.

What is the best overgrip for the Ben Johns Signature Pro?

The stock handle is 4.9 in long with a 4.125 in circumference. A thin tacky overgrip adds roughly 1/16 in of circumference and a few grams above the balance point — the cheapest way to fine-tune fit. If your hand is larger than the 4.125 in stock size, build up with an under-wrap first rather than stacking overgrips.

What should I replace the Ben Johns Signature Pro with when it wears out?

Face wear shows up as lost spin long before the core dies. The straight replacement is another Ben Johns Signature Pro; if you want to change something, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 adds control (96 vs 78) and the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 adds power (95 vs 70).

Who is the Ben Johns Signature Pro best for?

Absolute first-timers. Skill levels we would put on it: beginner. Handle length of 4.9 in suits one-handed backhands; two-handers will find it short.

What shape and size is the Ben Johns Signature Pro?

standard shape, 15.8 in long by 8 in wide, 13 mm Polymer honeycomb core, Textured fiberglass face, 7.7 oz. Released 2024.

Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro pickleball paddle, front face — standard shape, Textured fiberglass hitting surface — Front · Hitting face and graphics1/7 verified views

Reference price$60MSRP $70

Check price on Amazon$62

Buy links are affiliate links: we earn a commission from qualifying purchases through Amazon Associates and brand-direct programs. Prices and availability are checked periodically and can change.

Franklin

Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro

75Specs recorded March 2026 · Absolute first-timers

Reviewed by Alex ZubarevPickleball player since 2021Jacksonville, FLUpdated August 2026Community verified

The Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro is a 13 mm standard pickleball paddle weighing 7.7 oz, with a Textured fiberglass face, listed around $60.

A starter paddle with a famous name on it. Perfectly serviceable for the first few months of play, and easy to hand down once you upgrade.

From Franklin

Franklin Sports is raising the bar for pickleball paddles everywhere with the introduction of our all new Signature Series Pickleball Paddles. This premium quality paddle features our brand new MaxGrit textured surface technology designed for maximum spin and reduced vibration. The MaxGrit surface material is USA Pickleball (USAPA) approved and designed to provide greater traction on the surface of the ball to increase spin rate for optimal control.

Official Franklin product page →

Cross-shopping? Most buyers weigh the Ben Johns Signature Pro against the ONIX Z5 Graphite — see them side by side, or browse every Franklin paddle.

Core: 13 mm
Weight: 7.7 oz
Swing wt: 104
Twist wt: 5.6
Shape: standard
Surface: Textured fiberglass
Grip: 4.9 in
Released: 2024

Pros

Cheapest paddle we would recommend
Very light and easy to swing
Forgiving face

Cons

Thin core limits control
Little spin available

Paddle DNA Verdict

Last updated: August 2026

Derived from our published scoring model and sourced paddle specifications.

Should you buy the Ben Johns Signature Pro?

The Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro scores 74.7/100 on our IQ index, built from all 15 Paddle DNA traits. Its signature is maneuverability (86/100, 88th percentile of the database — strong, well above the database average), backed by sweet spot at 86 and forgiveness at 84. The 13 mm Polymer honeycomb core and Textured fiberglass face at 7.7 oz make it a placement-first paddle: you win points by out-positioning people.

Where it gives ground is power (70) and spin (66). With a 104 kg·cm² swing weight and a 4.9 in handle it suits beginner players, one-handed backhands, hands battles at the kitchen. Skip it if you rely on raw put-away pace.

Closest paddles by DNA: ONIX Z5 Graphite ($70), Rally Flare Graphite ($50), Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0 ($80). Overall: a below-average overall score in the database — only worth it if its one standout trait is exactly what you need.

Best for: beginner players, one-handed backhands, hands battles at the kitchen
Playing style: placement-first — you win points by out-positioning people
Avoid if: you rely on raw put-away pace

In depth

Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro — the long answer

The Ben Johns Signature Pro is a $60 starter paddle with a famous name on it. It is serviceable for a first few months and easy to hand down — but the 13 mm core and fiberglass face put a hard ceiling on it.

The sections below are analysis of published specifications and Paddle DNA™ values, not a play-test write-up. Where we have hit with a paddle, those notes appear separately and are attributed.

Light, wide and easy to swing

7.7 oz at 104 swing weight with an 8.0 in face gives maneuverability 86 and sweet spot 86. For someone who has never held a paddle, that combination is what keeps early rallies going: the paddle arrives on time and off-center contact still crosses the net.

The 13 mm core is the limit

A thin core has less dwell time, which caps what you can do at low speed. Control 78 and touch 72 are near the bottom of the database, so drops and dinks demand more precision than a 16 mm paddle would. Launch angle 69 also means the ball leaves high — safe for rallies, poor for put-aways.

Spin 66 will hold you back once you start rolling

Textured fiberglass at this price generates the least bite of any paddle here except the Z5. The moment you start learning topspin drives or rolls, the face stops cooperating. That is the point to upgrade, and it usually arrives within a few months of regular play.

Community consensus

What other players say about the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro

Verbatim excerpts from public discussion and independent reviews, plus the themes they add up to. These are other people's opinions, not ours, and every quote links back to where it was written.

“I am using the 13mm franklin ben johns paddle and also have the 16mm version of the same paddle and I prefer the 13mm one”

r/Pickleball (Reddit)· u/Accounting3210· feelpraise

“I am looking for a control paddle to upgrade from my OG Franklin Ben Johns paddle.”

r/Pickleball (Reddit)· u/jlwaters1108· controlcriticism

“A Franklin Ben Johns 13 mm and there was a lack of control.”

r/Pickleball (Reddit)· u/Willing_Technician_2· controlcriticism

Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro price range & availability

Built from the retailer offers we track for this paddle. In stock at all 2 tracked retailers. Prices last checked Jul 30, 2026.

Tracked price range

$60 – $62

$2 spread between retailers

Typical price

$61

Median of tracked offers

MSRP

$70

Best tracked offer is 14% under list

Recorded low / high

$60 / $62

2 price points since Jul 30, 2026

Cheapest tracked offer sits $1 below the typical price.

Who should buy the Ben Johns Signature Pro?

One-handed backhand players who want more face for the same length
Players who live in hands battles at the kitchen line
Newer players wanting one paddle to grow into

Power-first players who win points on raw put-away pace
Touch players who need dead resets off the face
Two-handed backhand players — the handle is short for it

AI paddle match

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Each pick is the database's best answer to one specific question, ranked by how far it moves the needle versus the Ben Johns Signature Pro.

Most compared with the Ben Johns Signature Pro

The matchups people actually cross-shop, each with a full 15-trait breakdown.

More comparisons in this bracket

Other head-to-heads shoppers read alongside the Ben Johns Signature Pro.

Browse all paddle comparisons →

Paddle DNA™ — all 15 traits

Every trait normalised 0-100 against the full database, so these numbers mean the same thing on any paddle page. How we score →

Key attributes

Power70

Control78

Spin66

Forgiveness84

Sweet spot86

Stability72

Maneuverability86

Pop74

Touch72

Consistency76

Swing weight46

Twist weight64

Launch angle69

Plow through54

Softness78

DNA match — paddles within 5% of the Ben Johns Signature Pro

Our similarity engine ranks the whole database by average DNA deviation. Tighten or widen the band to see how far you have to travel to save money or gain a trait.

Paddle DNA™ match

Match tolerance

Only show cheaper paddles

Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro

IQ 74.7 · $60

3 paddles within 5% of the Ben Johns Signature Pro

Ranked by DNA deviation

#1ONIX Z5 Graphite$70 (+10) · 11 mm · widebodyDNA match97.5%74
+6 pop-4 spin-4 softness+3 power
+6 pop · -4 spin
Compare Full DNA
#2Rally Flare Graphite$50 (-10) · 11 mm · standardDNA match97%76
+12 pop+6 spin+4 power-4 stability
+12 pop · -4 stability · Higher IQ score (75.7 vs 74.7)
Compare Full DNA
#3Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.0$80 (+20) · 16 mm · hybridDNA match95.2%78
+10 plow through+8 spin+6 power+6 swing weight
+10 plow through · -5 launch angle · Higher IQ score (78.4 vs 74.7)
Compare Full DNA

Best alternatives to the Ben Johns Signature Pro

Each pick beats the Ben Johns Signature Pro on one specific thing — price, power, control or forgiveness.

Similar paddles to the Ben Johns Signature Pro

Closest matches by player level, hand weight and price — the paddles most players cross-shop against the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro.

Same playing profile (within 8% DNA)

ONIX Z5 Graphite11 mm · widebody · 7.8 oz · SW 102$7074

Rally Flare Graphite11 mm · standard · 7.5 oz · SW 100$5076

Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid 2.016 mm · hybrid · 7.8 oz · SW 106$8078

Franklin Signature Carbon STR16 mm · standard · 8 oz · SW 110$11080

Want a different matchup? Compare any two paddles or browse the full paddle database. Buying your first paddle? Read the beginner paddle guide.

Ranked in

Best Franklin pickleball paddles

More from Franklin

Official ball supplier to the USA Pickleball National Championships, with an entry-level paddle range built for volume.

Ben Johns Signature Pro — frequently asked questions

Is the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro a good paddle?: For an absolute first-timer at $60, it is fine — light, forgiving and cheap. It is not a paddle to keep once you play weekly.
Does Ben Johns actually use this paddle?: No. This is a signature-licensed recreational model, not the paddle used in professional play. Treat the name as branding, not a spec.
What should I upgrade to?: The JOOLA Essentials 16 or Selkirk SLK Evo Hybrid for a like-for-like step up, or the Vatic Pro Prism Flash if you want a raw carbon face for spin.
Is the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro good for beginners?: Yes. Forgiveness scores 84/100 and the sweet spot 86/100, both high enough that off-centre contact still produces a playable ball. At $60 it is more paddle than most beginners need, but it will not hold you back.
Is the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro worth the price?: At $60 it sits in the 2nd percentile of the database for cost and the 3rd for IQ score. If those numbers do not line up for you, the VERSIX Strike 4F at $15 is the value alternative we point people to.
How does the Ben Johns Signature Pro compare to the Z5 Graphite?: They are close on DNA. The Ben Johns Signature Pro reads power 70 / control 78 / spin 66 against 73 / 76 / 62 for the Z5 Graphite, at $60 versus $70. Our full head-to-head breaks down every trait.
Is the 13 mm better than the 16 mm version?: A 14 mm core returns energy faster, so drives and speed-ups come off harder with less effort. The 16 mm build gives up some of that pop for dwell time and softer hands. Pick 14 mm for pace, 16 mm for touch.
Is the Franklin Ben Johns Signature Pro approved for tournament play?: Sanctioned play requires the model to appear on USA Pickleball's official approved-equipment list. Franklin submits its retail models for approval, but approval is per model and configuration, so check the current USAP list for the exact Ben Johns Signature Pro build before you enter a sanctioned event. We do not list approval status we have not verified.
Does the Ben Johns Signature Pro have good spin?: Spin scores 66/100 — the 2nd percentile of our database (among the lower values in the database) — off a Textured fiberglass face. Spin is not this paddle's strength — several paddles in the same price band score meaningfully higher.
Is the Ben Johns Signature Pro head heavy?: Swing weight is 104 kg·cm² and twist weight 5.6. That is light and fast through the swing path, which favours hands battles over plow-through. Static weight is 7.7 oz.
Does the Ben Johns Signature Pro benefit from lead tape?: Yes — at 104 kg·cm² there is room to add. Tape at 3 and 9 o'clock raises twist weight and stability with the smallest hit to hand speed; tape at 12 adds power and plow-through but slows the paddle noticeably. Any added weight can affect tournament legality if it changes the paddle beyond the approved configuration.
What is the best overgrip for the Ben Johns Signature Pro?: The stock handle is 4.9 in long with a 4.125 in circumference. A thin tacky overgrip adds roughly 1/16 in of circumference and a few grams above the balance point — the cheapest way to fine-tune fit. If your hand is larger than the 4.125 in stock size, build up with an under-wrap first rather than stacking overgrips.
What should I replace the Ben Johns Signature Pro with when it wears out?: Face wear shows up as lost spin long before the core dies. The straight replacement is another Ben Johns Signature Pro; if you want to change something, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 adds control (96 vs 78) and the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 adds power (95 vs 70).
Who is the Ben Johns Signature Pro best for?: Absolute first-timers. Skill levels we would put on it: beginner. Handle length of 4.9 in suits one-handed backhands; two-handers will find it short.
What shape and size is the Ben Johns Signature Pro?: standard shape, 15.8 in long by 8 in wide, 13 mm Polymer honeycomb core, Textured fiberglass face, 7.7 oz. Released 2024.

Ben Johns Signature Pro on video

PickleballLookup review — coming soon

Head-to-head comparison — coming soon

Manufacturer footage — coming soon

Evidence & sources — how we know this

Show

Every significant number on this page carries a source and a date. Where a figure comes from the manufacturer rather than our own measurement, we say so.

Price
$60
Amazon listing — checked July 30, 2026
Weight
7.7 oz
Manufacturer specification — recorded August 10, 2026
Core thickness
13 mm
Manufacturer specification — recorded August 10, 2026
Swing weight
104 kg·cm²
Independent measurement data, normalized to our scale
Twist weight
5.6 kg·cm²
Independent measurement data, normalized to our scale
Paddle DNA (15 traits)
IQ 74.7/100
Computed from the specs above by our published scoring model
USAP approval
Listed by the manufacturer as USA Pickleball approved
USA Pickleball equipment database — checked August 10, 2026
Alex's experience
Not personally tested
Analysis on this page is spec-derived, not play-tested

Spot an error? Send a correction — every fix is logged publicly. Full protocol on our methodology page.

Why trust this page?

We separate firsthand testing from research-based analysis. Specifications are sourced and dated, corrections are logged publicly, and affiliate relationships never affect Paddle IQ scores.

Reviewed by Alex Zubarev →Our methodology →Editorial policy →

Community verified

Spec-derived analysis plus cited owner and player reports from public sources. Community opinion is attributed, never restated as our own finding. Editorial policy · Affiliate disclosure

Reviewed by

Alex Zubarev

Founder, PickleballLookup

Alex built the Paddle DNA™ database behind PickleballLookup — 15 normalized traits scored for every paddle in the catalog. Every page on this site is generated from that data and editorially reviewed before publication.

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Last updated August 2026 · How we score paddles