JOOLA Ben Johns vs Franklin Ben Johns

As of April 1, 2022, Ben Johns officially signed with a new pickleball paddle sponsor. And no, it was not pickleball’s version of an April Fools Day joke! After years of seeing Ben Johns draped in Franklin and sporting the Franklin Ben Johns signature paddle, it’s time for us to get used to seeing JOOLA front and center and a new paddle in his hand. 

We’re going to skip trying to determine which paddle is better than the other, because they’re both top-notch pickleball paddles that can benefit many different game styles. Anything developed by Ben Johns and stamped with his name is going to be awesome! But, we do want to break down the specifications and technical differences between the two paddles. Before we get into the nitty gritty specs, we should point out that there are two different weight options in the Franklin paddles - middleweight and heavyweight. Ben Johns used the heavyweight paddle. Let's dive in.  

Franklin Ben Johns Signature Heavyweight Composite Pickleball Paddle

Starting with Franklin, this is the same paddle that Ben Johns used to complete the Triple Crown and earn his spot as the #1 ranked player in the world. Featuring cutting-edge, proprietary MaxGrit technology, this pickleball paddle provides a surface ideal for spin and control. Watch Ben Johns break down this paddle from A to Z in the video below.

Other key features of the Franklin Ben Johns signature pickleball paddle include:

• Weight: 7.9 - 8.3 oz
• Face Material: Composite/Fiberglass
• Core Material: Polypropylene
• Shape: Elongated
• Length: 16 1/2"
• Width: 7 3/10" 
• Grip Size: Thick - 4 1/2"
• Handle Length: Long - 5 3/5"

JOOLA Ben Johns Hyperion CFS 16mm Heavyweight Carbon Fiber Pickleball Paddle

Now onto the JOOLA Ben Johns signature pickleball paddle. This design is a more aggressive paddle with a true combination of power and control. Watch as Ben Johns explains the entire Hyperion series in this sit down with JOOLA Pickleball.

Other key features of the JOOLA Ben Johns signature pickleball paddle include:

• Weight: 8.2 - 8.5 oz
• Face Material: Carbon Friction
• Core Material: Reactive Honeycomb Polymer
• Shape: Elongated
• Length: 16 1/2"
• Width: 7 1/2"
• Grip Thickness: Standard - 4 1/4"
• Handle Length: Long - 5 1/2"

Below, you'll see a side-by-side comparison between the two paddles and their top features, including weight, face material, core material, and more!

Weight Comparison: 

JOOLA - 8.2 - 8.5 oz

Franklin (Heavyweight) - 7.9 - 8.3 oz

Assuming the average of both options, the JOOLA Ben Johns model is around 0.2 ounces heavier than the Franklin. While this might not sound like a sizable difference, it is noticeable. This weight range doesn’t surprise us - many of the top pro pickleball players use heavier paddles or use lead tape to manipulate the weight of their paddles to become heavier. 

Face Material:

JOOLA - Carbon Friction 

Franklin - Composite Fiberglass

Powerful and gritty surfaces, both of these face materials will provide excellent power and nasty spin. Both of the surfaces were designed for power to drive the ball past your opponent and feature the maximum amount of spin allowed by USA Pickleball. 

Core Material:

JOOLA - Reactive Honeycomb Polymer

Franklin - Polypropylene

Soft and exactly what pickleball players need, both paddles offer soft cores that provide a great feel and soft touch. 

Length:

JOOLA - 16 ½” 

Franklin - 16 ½’

Move along, folks. There’s nothing to see here! It’s clear that Ben Johns prefers elongated paddles and the benefits that come with them! 

Width:

JOOLA - 7 ½” 

Franklin - 7 3/10”

These paddle designs are very similar in width, which is to be expected with an elongated length of 16 ½”. Both of these paddles will have a raised sweet spot that’s very responsive and powerful. 

Grip Size

JOOLA - 4 ¼”

Franklin - 4 ½” 

Handle Length:

JOOLA - 5 ½”

Franklin - 5 ⅗”

Core Thickness:

JOOLA - 16mm 

Franklin - 16mm

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There you have it! A comparison between the Franklin Ben Johns signature paddle and the JOOLA Ben Johns signature paddle. Do you have a favorite between the two? Hit us up on social media and let us know. We're interested to see what the pickleball community has to say. If you have any other questions, our Paddle Experts are standing by to answer anything that comes their way. You can give us a call at 866-382-3465, email at experts@justpaddles.com, or click here to live chat. We're JustPaddles and we're with you from Click To Court!