Matt's Pickleball — Frankly, This Paddle Dominates! 🚀 Also, Top Paddles, Reviews, & Joola Pro Perseus IV Playtest

This week, the Franklin C45 raises the bar for power-hybrid paddles, Paddle of the Week – Episode 2 crowns a new top contender, and the Joola Perseus IV vs. 3S showdown tests Joola’s latest evolution.

Mar 05, 2025

The Franklin C45 14mm is a lightweight, maneuverable power-hybrid paddle featuring dual thermoforming, precision foam channeling, and a three-layer carbon fiber face. Designed for fast play, quick counters, and explosive pop, it offers a smooth, linear power profile without feeling overly hot. With a serve speed in the 74th percentile and punch volley speed in the 80th percentile, the C45 is one of the poppiest paddles on the market.

The C45 debuts on Franklin’s website at 10 AM ET on March 5, 2025!

Out of the box, it feels light and lacks stability, making weight customization highly recommended for better control and forgiveness. Spin performance is solid but not top-tier (70th percentile at 2,252 RPMs), and while it doesn’t match reset monsters like the Vatic Pro Prism Flash, it’s an excellent choice for offensive-minded players who prefer a quick, reactive paddle.

💰 Price: $229 retail (Save 10%+ with code MPB!)

📌 Best For: Players who love fast hand battles, quick counters, attacking drives, and maneuverability.
📌 Not Ideal For: Players seeking maximum stability or a super-forgiving paddle.

First Impressions: What Stands Out About the Franklin C45?

I first saw the C45 in action at the PPA Masters, where Franklin’s top pros debuted it in competition. Immediately, it had people talking—it looked different, sounded different, and the pros were absolutely ripping with it.

When I finally got it in hand, here’s what stood out: ✅ Lightweight Feel – At 7.52 oz stock, this is one of the lightest thermoformed paddles on the market.
✅ Sleek Aesthetic – Metallic blue finish, glossy surface—definitely a departure from Franklin’s traditional designs.
✅ Unique Sound – The pro paddles had a deeper thud, while mine had a crisp pop, suggesting a slightly different core structure.
✅ Elongated Handle – 5.75-inch handle makes it a solid choice for two-handed backhands.

On-Court Performance: Power with Precision

Drives from the Baseline: Controlled Power with a Linear Feel

One of the first things I test on any paddle is how it handles baseline drives. In modern pickleball, a great drive can dictate the point, setting up an aggressive third shot or forcing a weak return.

The C45 delivers power efficiently but in a controlled way—it’s not a trampoline paddle. Instead, it has a linear power profile:

Swing at 60% effort, you get 60% power.
Swing at 100% effort, you get full acceleration—without surprises.

✅ Serve Speed: 56.3 MPH (74th percentile)
✅ Punch Volley Speed: 37.7 MPH (80th percentile)

This makes the C45 one of the poppiest paddles on the market, while still keeping power predictable.

Transition Zone: Punch Volleys, Countering, and Resets

Moving through the transition zone, maneuverability stands out. At stock weight, the low swing weight (106.25) allows for super-fast hands, making it easy to: ✅ Counterattack ✅ Flick with ease ✅ React quickly in fast exchanges

However, the lack of stability at stock weight is noticeable against heavy hitters. To fix this, I added 4-inch, 3-gram tungsten strips to both sides of the paddle:

🔹 Static weight: 7.94 ounces
🔹 Swing weight: 110.54
🔹 Twist weight: 6.25

With this setup, stability drastically improved, making it much better for absorbing power on counters. Big difference.

Soft Game: Dinking, Resets & Touch Shots

At the kitchen, the C45 requires some adjustment for soft play. The sweet spot is compact—not tiny, but smaller than ultra-forgiving paddles like the Vatic Pro Prism Flash or Joola Hyperion 3S.

The polyurethane foam in the perimeter helps absorb vibration, making dinks feel solid and connected. However, precision matters—if you miss the sweet spot, there’s a slight loss of control.

✅ Spin Performance: 2,252 RPMs (70th percentile) – Above average, but not elite.

Overhead Smashes: Power Without Excess

Some power paddles feel uncontrolled on overheads, but not the C45. The layered carbon fiber face and dual thermoforming structure help maintain control while still delivering putaway power.

If you’re a player who likes power without complete recklessness, this is a solid choice.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy the Franklin C45?

🎯 Great For: ✅ Aggressive Players – If you thrive on fast hands, quick counters, and attacking play, this is a great fit. ✅ Two-Handed Backhand Players – The 5.75” handle gives plenty of room. ✅ Power Players Who Want Predictability – Power is strong but controlled—not overly jumpy. ✅ Players Who Love Quick Hands – The lightweight design makes it one of the fastest paddles in hand.

🚫 Not Ideal For: ❌ Players Seeking Extreme Stability Out of the Box – You’ll want to add weight to get the best performance. ❌ Control-Oriented Players – If you prioritize touch, resets, and finesse, this isn’t a pure control paddle. ❌ Max Spin Seekers – Spin is good, but not elite compared to the top spin paddles.

Final Thoughts: Is the Franklin C45 Worth It?

At $229, the Franklin C45 is an excellent paddle for aggressive players who love speed, pop, and offensive play.

Would I recommend it? Yes—but with weight tuning.

For players who love quick hands, fast counters, and dynamic play, this paddle is a legitimate weapon—just be prepared to tweak the weight setup to maximize its potential.

For now? I can’t seem to put it down. Check out the review on YouTube and at MattsPickleball.com.

🎟 Want to grab one? Use code MPB for 10%+ off at checkout!

🏓 Paddle of the Week – Episode 2

This week, I took 8 paddles back onto the court—drilling, battling, and putting them through their paces. Some were fresh releases, others were returning favorites, but one absolutely dominated the competition.

The JOOLA Hyperion 3S 16mm brought controlled power, the Neonic Flare Prime X was a poppy, lightning-fast weapon, and the Thrive Smoke showed off its blend of power and control (though its weight tested my hand speed). Meanwhile, the Honolulu Pickleball J2Ti+ is still evolving, the Bread & Butter Invader turned into a cannon with some weight tweaks, and the Selkirk 008 Tour needed serious adjustments before it woke up.

But at the end of the day, one paddle stood above the rest… the Franklin C45. After fine-tuning the weight, it became the perfect blend of quickness, pop, and stability—so much so that I can’t seem to put it down.

Curious to see all the testing and why the C45 took the crown? Watch Episode 2 of Paddle of the Week!

Also, you can watch Episode 3 at 5 PM Central Time on March 5!

⚔️ Joola Perseus IV vs. Perseus 3S – Full Playtest Breakdown

A new era for Joola paddles? We put the latest Joola Perseus IV series through its paces, testing the 14mm and 16mm versions head-to-head against their Perseus 3S predecessors. This wasn’t just a casual hit—we played real, competitive games, swapped paddles mid-match, and captured unfiltered reactions from multiple players to see how they actually perform in live gameplay.

Key Takeaways:
✅ More Control & Feel – The Perseus IV lineup offers better dwell time for shot shaping and finesse, while the 3S models felt firmer.
⚡ Power & Pop – The 14mm Perseus IV had a solid, punchy feel, while the 16mm offered more control without sacrificing too much power.
🔄 Adjustment Period – Players noted a slight learning curve but felt the IV Series was a natural evolution of Joola’s Gen 3 paddles.
🆚 Stacking Up to Other Paddles – The Perseus IV drew comparisons to Vatic Pro, CRBN TruFoam, and Pulse S, offering a similar mix of control and dwell.

Would we switch? Maybe. The Perseus IV lineup is a legit alternative to other control-power hybrids like the Vatic Pro and CRBN TruFoam, but at nearly $300, durability will be the deciding factor for many players.

🎥 Watch the full playtest and player reactions or buy the Joola Pro Perseus 14mm here or 16mm here!

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