New Franklin Carbon Pickleball Paddle?

This year has been a year of exciting news for pickleball lovers who like trying out what different paddle brands have to offer. One that we look forward to trying and using is the Franklin Carbon Pickleball Paddle. While it has not been released quite yet, here are a few things we know about the paddle and what we can expect.

What We Know So Far

Joola made a splash earlier this year and even became the official paddle of the APP tour this summer. More than just the top player in the world that Joola sponsors, the paddle’s popularity is in its noticeably gritty face that makes creating spin easy. While there are other brands like Engage that make a similar gritty face paddle, Franklin has yet to come out with one of its own. Until this summer.

It Will Come In Two Sizes

While we don’t know the specifics of the new Franklin Carbon Pickleball Paddle, we do know that USAPA has approved two new Franklin paddles in June 2022.

They’re called the Franklin Signature Series and they come in 14.5mm and 17mm thickness. It has a simple black paddle face design with a bright blue and gray Franklin Signature written on it. They are currently not available to purchase, even though you will see the newest Franklin sponsor athlete (our personal favorite pickleball player JW Johnson has been playing with it.

Release Date

When will the Franklin Carbon Pickleball Paddle be available to purchase? They will most likely be available to the public in September 2022.

What We Expect (And Hope)

A Reasonable Price

The most important expectation and hope that we have for the new carbon paddle are that it will be reasonably priced in line with all Franklin products. We’re personally a fan of the original Franklin Sports Pro Pickleball Paddle because it is great value for money compared to its competitors. It is not grossly overpriced like certain paddles out there ($333!).

You can play with it whether you’re a beginner or a pickleball veteran. And it comes in different color choices. It looks like Franklin may add a fourth color (white and gold) with the Johnsons joining the Franklin family.

A Better Handle

The current and original Franklin Sports Pro Pickleball Paddle‘s handle feels cheap. It feels like plastic with a rubber cover and not much else. You will definitely need some type of overwrap to feel comfortable. We do like the size and width because it is long enough with a feel similar to a tennis racket for a two-handed backhand. But we hope the new carbon paddle will have a better build of the handle.

Gritty Paddle Face

The last expectation is that the new carbon face will be as gritty as the Joola and remain gritty. That seems to be an issue with so many paddles, including the current paddle. The current Franklin paddle face loses its grittiness very quickly when you play pickleball often.

While that should be the case as you use the paddle over time, it can be frustrating when you spend hundreds on a paddle and the grittiness only lasts a few months at best.