Franklin Carbon STK 17mm

[A_Instead]

Hey Team.. anyone try this yet? If so how is it?

 

[1HBHfanatic]

-17mm??
-thats interesting
-first ive heard of it
-thats very close to diadem 19mm zone!!

 

[A_Instead]

1mm isn't much... could be the head guard is fatter. Or the service material is .5 thicker on each side..
I doubt the core is any different from the Ben Johns signature that I currently use.
Which is imo one of the best at any price point..

 

[A_Instead]

Went physical shopping on Friday for the new Franklin Carbon STK..
No more thickness than the Ben Johns signature 16mm
The Carbon face is extremely textured with the carbon braids.. more than any other than I have seen.. not even sure how it's legal..
I didn't end up buying yet... but I did end up leaving the store with 2 Ben Johns signature paddles that where on clearance and then on sale more with the black Friday sales..
Could not pass up the $40 each..
My carbon destination can wait a little longer..

 

[1HBHfanatic]

-i ended up pulling the trigger on the diadem warrior (teal)
-waiting to arrive!

 

[A_Instead]

I like the thickness of the warrior...no other paddle seems fatter..
Like to try some day..
Another one I want to try is the new Head Radical Tour CO..
It now thicker..and Head has my favorite grip size and shape..

 

[1HBHfanatic]

-i wanna try the head.radical.PRO or TOUR??!!, the heavier one
-i also want to try the babolat.PRO or TOUR, also the heavier one
-and of course i wanna also try the yonex paddle, to see if the $200 price tag is worth it (im doubting this one!)

 

[kreative]

Went physical shopping on Friday for the new Franklin Carbon STK..
No more thickness than the Ben Johns signature 16mm
The Carbon face is extremely textured with the carbon braids.. more than any other than I have seen.. not even sure how it's legal..
I didn't end up buying yet... but I did end up leaving the store with 2 Ben Johns signature paddles that where on clearance and then on sale more with the black Friday sales..
Could not pass up the $40 each..
My carbon destination can wait a little longer..

Where did you find such a good deal on the Signature paddles?

 

[A_Instead]

I can't disrespect TW and TP in disclosing my source..

 

[kreative]

I like the thickness of the warrior...no other paddle seems fatter..
Like to try some day..
Another one I want to try is the new Head Radical Tour CO..
It now thicker..and Head has my favorite grip size and shape..

Head Radical Tour Co is a solid paddle with good pop. Nicest handle shape of any paddle I've tried (closest to a tennis grip shape)

 

[kreative]

-i wanna try the head.radical.PRO or TOUR??!!, the heavier one
-i also want to try the babolat.PRO or TOUR, also the heavier one
-and of course i wanna also try the yonex paddle, to see if the $200 price tag is worth it (im doubting this one!)

Yonex EZone was nice, and I enjoyed it, but it didn't really standout amongst the other paddles I tried. Also tried the VCore, but sweetspot felt small and low powered.

 

[A_Instead]

1st review if it up on the tube..pos it appears...I will pass and keep saving and get the Joola Ben Johns or the Shelkirk V2 with the hole on the face. .

 

[srvnvly]

A friend of mine loves her Selkirk PowerAir Invikta, but said the grit has worn off so much that she is looking for something else. I’ve tried the Ben Johns Joola and didn’t care for it.

 

[A_Instead]

Hmm...all manufacturers need to get a solution to the temporary grit..
It's not like you can restring or anything..
Well.. perhaps I will try a gearbox..
I just don't care for their small grips..

 

[jonestim]

Well.. perhaps I will try a gearbox..
I just don't care for their small grips..

I don't either - and they have super low swing weights.

But I play with Gearbox, just modded a bunch.

I take off the grip, apply 5 trimmed layers of gaffers tape to the pallet parallel to the face. I put two layers on the sides perpendicular to the face. I then use a TW leather grip, and a Volkl overgrip. They measure out at 4 3/8"

Then I add lead to the hoop and the gearbox protective tape. I am playing my CX11Es at 9.25 oz, and the CX14E at 9.2. The CX11E Power has become my paddle of choice. It does not feel as nice as the control version, and way stiffer than the 14E, but I really like the way the ball comes off. There is more power so I can have more compact strokes for my thirds which leads to more consistency. My dinks are fine, and I have developed enough touch to still be able to do resets. The 14E does not have much power, even leaded up and I find that a lot more balls come back over the net with it. Using the 11E Power I can put things away.

 

[A_Instead]

Thanks for your time with your details...
I likely won't try a gearbox then..
I will figure something out...
But my 1 requirement that I will not deviate from is nothing less than 16.5 inches long..

 

[1HBHfanatic]

I don't either - and they have super low swing weights.

But I play with Gearbox, just modded a bunch.

I take off the grip, apply 5 trimmed layers of gaffers tape to the pallet parallel to the face. I put two layers on the sides perpendicular to the face. I then use a TW leather grip, and a Volkl overgrip. They measure out at 4 3/8"

Then I add lead to the hoop and the gearbox protective tape. I am playing my CX11Es at 9.25 oz, and the CX14E at 9.2. The CX11E Power has become my paddle of choice. It does not feel as nice as the control version, and way stiffer than the 14E, but I really like the way the ball comes off. There is more power so I can have more compact strokes for my thirds which leads to more consistency. My dinks are fine, and I have developed enough touch to still be able to do resets. The 14E does not have much power, even leaded up and I find that a lot more balls come back over the net with it. Using the 11E Power I can put things away.

-like your mods on the grips!!

-would you say gearbox paddles are more for TOUCH??
-are most gearbox paddles dampened with the "tube+core" construction??

-both THIN paddles: IMO/IME(limited)
-i am thinking that gearbox=touch
-and in contrast prokennex=power

 

[jonestim]

-like your mods on the grips!!

-would you say gearbox paddles are more for TOUCH??
-are most gearbox paddles dampened with the "tube+core" construction??

-both THIN paddles: IMO/IME(limited)
-i am thinking that gearbox=touch
-and in contrast prokennex=power

I would say that with Gearbox, the strengths are durability/build quality and spin. They lean towards the control side. The "Power" version still is probably more of an all around paddle than other companies Power versions.

The only ProKennex I have used was a stock Flight model, and it's one of the few paddles with a lower swing weight than a Gearbox. What stuck out to me was how fast it was to come around, but any power from it was from hand speed and stiffness, not mass. I like mass. I also like 16.5" paddles, and the up until this fall PK didn't have a paddle over 15.5". They now released a couple 16.1" that I would consider, but I'm actually really happy with my modded Gearbox CX11E Power and don't feel the need to change or upgrade - which is a nice feeling. I'm playing super well with it and am winning a lot more.

 

[Total Pickleball Staff]

@A_Instead

Apologies for the delay in response. We will have the full review coming shortly for the 17 and 14.5mm Franklin Carbon STK paddles.

So far, we've been really impressed with the spin and the texture is crazy for a carbon face. It's on the high end for spin, and the 17mm has a pretty nice feel all around the court with a bit more control than the 14.5mm. However, there is a noticeable change in feel and power when hitting outside the sweet-spot, and it's not a super-forgiving paddle.

We have experienced some durability issues on one paddle at the edge guard. It seems to be wearing quickly, and even had a split in one spot after one session of play.

We're still testing the texture durability, but it seems to be holding up well so far.

Overall, it's a high spin like the Selkirk Power Airs and ProKennex Spins, but at a significantly lower price that seems to mostly affect the durability.

 

[A_Instead]

No biggie TPS.. it's good to be busy..I appreciate your information that you provide the community..
I like the Franklin brand..so will likely to try it..
Thanks again..
A

 

[kreative]

@A_Instead

Apologies for the delay in response. We will have the full review coming shortly for the 17 and 14.5mm Franklin Carbon STK paddles.

So far, we've been really impressed with the spin and the texture is crazy for a carbon face. It's on the high end for spin, and the 17mm has a pretty nice feel all around the court with a bit more control than the 14.5mm. However, there is a noticeable change in feel and power when hitting outside the sweet-spot, and it's not a super-forgiving paddle.

We have experienced some durability issues on one paddle at the edge guard. It seems to be wearing quickly, and even had a split in one spot after one session of play.

We're still testing the texture durability, but it seems to be holding up well so far.

Overall, it's a high spin like the Selkirk Power Airs and ProKennex Spins, but at a significantly lower price that seems to mostly affect the durability.

Thanks for the preview!