Signature Fiberglass Paddle (MaxGrit)

So this is a decent midrange pickleball paddle. I got quality play from it for four months. Surface bounce was consistent and it had a decent feel to it. It was a better paddle than the cheap Selkirk I learned on. I play 4-5 times a week so it lasted about sixty play sessions. The. On a relatively ordinary shot the handle snapped. It’s about a month outside the 90 day warranty. The “max” grit lasted less than half the sixty play sessions. At this points it’s smooth. Would I buy another one? Well I will contact Franklin and if they replace it and the replacement lasts longer…maybe. If they don’t or it doesn’t then no I would not.Update: Franklin replaced my broken paddle. The replacement has lasted 5 months. The “max grit” is now smooth as silk otherwise the paddle is performing well.

This is the paddle that world # 1 Ben Johns used to win over 50 PPA titles with.In reviewing the Franklin Sports Signature series 16 mm paddle, I looked at the weight, shape, handle, and surface. I then did a bounce test, followed by play testing.Weight - The Franklin Sports Signature series 16 mm paddle weighed 8.18 ounces. This put this paddle toward the top of the mid weight range. Keep in mind that Ben and many other top players ad lead tape to their paddles to increase the weight.Shape - The Franklin Sports Signature series 16 mm paddle uses a slightly longer and thinner shape. This gives players slightly more reach and power, but is a little less forgiving. Although there are some paddles as thick as 20mm, a thickness of 16mm is at the higher end on the thickness range.Handles - I measured the handle around 5.5 inches, which is longer than most and can help with a two handed backhand.. The thickness is also a couple mm more than the 13 mm version of this paddle.Surface - Substantial grit. This paddle has a reputation for the grit wearing off in a number of weeks if you play frequently. Surface texture is not the only factor for spin production, but it definitely can help.Bounce test - You can tell a lot about a paddle with the bounce test. Watch the bounce, feel the vibration, hear the pitch. The bounce test showed this paddle to be medium springy and medium/hard hardness.Sweet Spot - Medium/large size.Play test - This paddle played above average. I wont switch to it as my primary. However, I feel that I could definitely play at a high level with this paddle, as the spin and control are both above average. This is not a high powered paddle. Which is fine, since Pickleball is more about control than power.Conclusion - You can look at this paddle in two ways:1) Is it a good paddle for the money? I think this is a big YES. Most high end paddles cost between $150 and $250, so this is a great value at $100.2) Is this a good paddle for high level play? Well I think Ben Johns showed it is certainly possible to win at the highest level with this paddle. There are however a couple caveats. Since Ben was a Franklin sponsored player, he could have several new free paddles for each tournament. This meant he never had to deal with the issue of the grit quickly wearing off. During the last 2 years we have seen an explosion of high spin paddle arrive on the pickleball scene. Many of these are substantially spinnier than the Franklin Sports Signature series 16 mm paddle even when new. Also you should note that Ben's current sponsor Joola could have designed any paddle for Ben, and Ben chose to go with a more modern carbon high spin technology. Which is the trend for top level players.(Who am I? I am a IPTPA certified pickleball instructor since 2020. I currently have a number of high end top quality tournament paddles in my bag, and have had the opportunity to play test dozens more.)

Awesome paddle.!

I used this paddle probably past what I should have. It lasted a long time and still works decently even though I have been told it has a dead spot. Coming from a tennis background, I love the long neck and paddle shape. I would buy it again.

Great paddle, exactly what I wanted

Great paddle. I got both sizes. I prefer this thicker (16) version, as it feels more well constructed. It is heavier and has a thicker handle than the thinner one (13) which is fine by me.

I'm new to pickleball and I only play once a week with some buddies, but I like this paddle! I think it is a great quality especially for the price I paid. Pretty easy to put spin on the ball and the handle is comfortable in my hand.

It is a great paddle for me to get started on pickleball

My pickle ball improved after I started using this paddle. Nice weight, nice grip, sanded finish. Good quality, good price

I'm not sure how long this paddle will last, but it has fantastic spin and a great feel when you hit the sweet spot. It sounds different depending on where the ball hits the paddle. I'd recommend it to a friend. Be sure to look for a good deal, as some colors are available at a better price and a 30% coupon on top of it.

The grip is very good, it has a nice tacky feeling without being sticky. The grip is thick enough you can squeeze while still being comfortable. My grip came with a small defect but it was tiny so I didn't worry. But if it is an issue I just recommend getting an over grip. The paddle is very light and I like that about it. The paddle has a very gritty surface which helps with adding spin. Overall I highly recommend getting this paddle for casual players, players, and anyone who's not at a pro level.

Great pickleball paddle. I have one and I like it a lot. Bought one for my son’s girlfriend for Christmas. I’m sure she will love it. She has previously tried mine out when we play and she really liked it, too. Comfortable handle, lightweight, I highly recommend!

An Excellent paddle to play! Very nice grip and ball control in every shot!

This is an excellent upgrade paddle for beginners. The paddle face has a slight grit, so it provides a nice surface to allow for spin on balls. The grip is firm, but soft, so it absorbs the impact from the paddle. It doesn't get slippery when you've been sweating either, which is a huge plus. Definitely a great next step paddle for a beginner to intermediate pickleball player.

Paddle rocks! The grip is there and you can put loads of juice on your shots. I bought one for my so the same day I played a match with mine. Great price for a great paddle

Good solid paddle for the price

I initially had high hopes for the Franklin Sports Pro Pickleball Paddle with MaxGrit Surface. Out of the box, it felt great – good balance, a comfortable grip, and the MaxGrit surface provided excellent spin control, which was a real asset to my game. For the first couple of months, it performed admirably, and I was genuinely pleased with my purchase.However, after approximately five months of what I would consider very moderate use (playing 1-2 times a week, mostly recreational games, and always storing it properly), the paddle's performance significantly declined.The most noticeable issue was the MaxGrit surface wearing thin. What was once a grippy, spin-generating surface became smooth, and my ability to put spin on the ball diminished considerably. This alone was a major disappointment, as the grit was a key selling point for me.Compounding this, the paddle itself started to feel "hollow" after some time. It lost its initial solid feel. Despite making what felt like good, centered contact with the ball, the paddle simply did not deliver the power it once did. Shots that previously had good pace now felt sluggish and lacked depth. It felt as though the internal structure or core of the paddle had degraded, resulting in a significant loss of responsiveness and pop.Ultimately, the paddle became unreliable for competitive play and even less satisfying for casual games. Given the relatively short lifespan for very moderate use, I was forced to change paddles after just five months.While the initial experience was positive, the rapid degradation of the MaxGrit surface and the subsequent loss of power and feel make it difficult to recommend the Franklin Sports Pro Pickleball Paddle - Signature Series for anyone looking for lasting performance. For its price point, I expected much greater durability

I used this paddle for a while now. Had a pretty small sweet spot and not enough control for me. Was not bad at first, but as I have played more I want something with more grit on the face

Franklin pickleball paddles are great! This is a 16mm size paddle which is thicker than my Franklin 13mm paddle and I love both. With the 16mm paddle my shots have more power and it’s very lightweight which makes my reaction shots faster to return. I’m a comparison shopper and this paddle has been a great find and the price was the icing on the cake!

Nice looking paddle with decent pop and control, but the grit wears off after a few games. The handle is slightly larger diameter that I don’t find as comfortable as other paddles. I wear a men’s medium size glove so if you have large hands you will probably find it comfortable.