Franklin C45 Dynasty & Tempo Paddle Review: Built to Be Customized

What’s New in the C45 Lineup?

Franklin’s C45 lineup expands significantly on June 10 with four new paddles that build on the earlier C45 Hybrid release. The new drop includes two elongated models—the Dynasty 14mm and Dynasty 16mm—and two standard-shaped options under the Tempo name, also offered in both 14mm and 16mm core thicknesses.

On paper, they check the right Gen 3 boxes: raw T700 carbon fiber, dual-stage thermoforming, and edge-injected foam for added power and stability. The specs put them in direct competition with elite paddles from CRBN, Vatic Pro, and JOOLA. Spin numbers are high, pop is there, and the $229 price point hits that middle tier of premium paddles.

But what separates this release from most others is how unfinished these feel in stock form. Just like the original C45 Hybrid, these paddles play compact and stiff out of the wrapper—but dramatically improve once you start modding. Add tungsten to the corners, rebalance the swing weight, and suddenly they go from tight and twitchy to playable and connected.

This is Franklin signaling a pivot—not just toward performance, but toward customization. These paddles aren’t dialed in for the average rec player. They’re tools for people who know how they like their gear and aren’t afraid to build it. That’s what makes this release different. And why it’s worth talking about.

Construction Breakdown: Dual-Foam Thermoforming Explained

At the heart of every C45 Dynasty and Tempo paddle is a Gen 3-style build—but Franklin’s execution is slightly different than most. All four models use a polypropylene honeycomb core, a raw T700 carbon fiber face, and a dual-stage thermoforming process that compresses everything into a unified shape. But the twist comes in the two separate foam channels injected around the perimeter.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Stage One: Franklin presses the carbon fiber face and honeycomb core in a unibody mold—standard for thermoformed paddles.
• CNC Routing: Then, they carve out two foam channels along the edge. The inner ring gets EVA foam, which adds bounce and rebound. The outer ring gets polyurethane foam, which dampens vibration and enhances stability.
• Stage Two: Everything is re-pressed in a second thermoforming cycle to seal the structure and reinforce the paddle body.

It’s a smart design. EVA inside for pop, PU outside for stability—and both locked in with heat and pressure.

That dual foam system does more than just add structure. It also shifts the weight profile. Even though the paddles are light overall, the added foam pushes more mass toward the edges, boosting torsional resistance. The result? When you strike the ball off-center, it doesn’t twist or collapse as easily.

And if you’ve seen the x-ray overlays of the C45 models, you can literally trace this build. You’ll spot the inner EVA layer hugging the core, and the outer PU foam outlining the frame like a scaffold. It’s functional, not decorative.

Compared to traditional Gen 2 or even basic thermoformed paddles, this build feels more rigid, responsive, and directional—especially once weighted. It doesn’t mute feedback the way some foam-core builds do. You feel contact, you hear the impact, and you know where the ball is going. That’s the value of this dual-foam architecture: structure you can trust.

Surface, Feel, and Spin Characteristics

All four Franklin C45 paddles feature a raw T700 carbon fiber face—no surprises there. That’s the standard for Gen 3 performance builds. But what sets these apart is the diagonal bias weave across the hitting surface. Instead of laying the fibers horizontally or vertically, Franklin rotates the carbon at a 45-degree angle. The result is a slightly different tension and flex profile that affects both spin generation and impact feel.

And it works. The surface isn’t overly gritty, but it’s consistent. Across all four models, spin numbers stayed in a high-performing range. Even with the lighter swing weights on the Tempo line, I saw RPMs over 2200, which puts these in the upper tier for 2025. You don’t have to overswing to access it, either—though the Tempo 14mm, in particular, rewards a more aggressive stroke.

Feel-wise, this is not a plush or soft paddle line. Contact is firm, dense, and controlled, not springy. It’s the opposite of a foam-core paddle like the GRUVN MUVN-16HD or Selkirk LUXX Invikta 2.0. There’s no trampoline effect, and you won’t get bailed out on a loose swing. But you will get clean, sharp feedback when you strike well.

What’s also worth noting: the feel remains consistent across the entire series. Whether you’re hitting with the Dynasty 14mm or the Tempo 16mm, you’ll notice a similar “connected” feel—tight, responsive, and stable at the core, with minimal vibration but no deadening.

This is a paddle face that demands precision but rewards it too. If you’ve struggled with overly muted builds that leave you guessing on contact, the C45 surface brings clarity without harshness. Add some weight, and that feel gets even more controlled.

Dynasty 14mm: Fast, Firm, Demands Precision

The Dynasty 14mm is the most aggressive paddle in the C45 lineup—and it lets you know from the first swing. It’s quick, compact, and loud off the face. If you strike clean, you’ll get great response. But the margin for error is tight. You need to be precise to unlock its full potential.

Out of the wrapper, the paddle feels light at the edges. The swing weight of 118.1 puts it on the faster side for an elongated 14mm, but the 6.05 twist weight doesn’t give you much torsional stability. Mishits feel sharp, and resets are risky unless you're fully dialed in.

That said, the paddle pops when you’re on time. Serve speed clocked in at 56.5 MPH, with punch volleys hitting 36.9 MPH—both solid metrics for a thinner build. Spin hits 2269 RPM, which puts it well into top-tier territory (78th percentile). There’s plenty of offense on tap.

But it doesn’t come for free. If your footwork is sloppy or your timing is late, the Dynasty 14mm doesn’t protect you. During testing, I had multiple exchanges where a slight mishit sent volleys sailing or dinks dropping short. It forces accountability.

Now—once I added corner weighting (roughly 8g of tungsten total), the experience changed completely. The sweet spot opened up. The feedback tightened. I could hold position in hands battles, reset with depth, and rip from the baseline with more confidence. The paddle still played fast, but it stopped feeling “fragile.”

This isn’t a paddle for casual resetters or soft-game specialists. It’s built for players who like to initiate pace, swing freely, and control tempo through pressure. If that’s your game—and you’re willing to mod it—this could be a legit weapon.

Dynasty 16mm: Added Margin Without Giving Up Power

The Dynasty 16mm offers something the 14mm can’t: stability without sacrificing intent. Right out of the gate, this is the most playable model in the C45 lineup. It’s still firm. Still fast. But it gives you more time on contact, and more forgiveness across the face.

Serve speed drops slightly to 56.9 MPH, with punch volleys at 36.4 MPH—a minor tradeoff in pop for noticeably better control. Spin remains strong at 2245 RPM, landing in the 70th percentile for 2025-tested paddles. You don’t have to swing wild to get bite, and the added core thickness softens just enough vibration to give you clearer readouts on mis-hits.

Where the 14mm demands perfect form, the 16mm gives you just enough margin to stay in shape. Especially during resets and soft rolls, I found the 16mm version easier to trust. The ball stays on the face longer, and the paddle doesn’t recoil on contact. Even without weight, it held up better in transition and block exchanges.

That said, it’s still not optimal until you tune it. With a stock swing weight of 117.75 and twist weight of 6.05, it’s fast—but it won’t stabilize well against heavy hitters unless you add some mass. Once I added tungsten, the paddle felt anchored. Resets landed deeper. Counters stayed on line. And the overall response became more balanced—less twitchy, more connected.

This is the safest starting point in the lineup. If you want a longer paddle with functional power, clean spin, and a higher floor for everyday play, the Dynasty 16mm is it. It plays with structure, but it doesn’t punish you for every miss.

If you’re looking for a build that can flex into all-court play—resets, drives, flicks, counterattacks—without requiring the perfect swing every time, this is the one I’d point you toward first.

Tempo 14mm: Twitchy Speed for Quick Hands

The Tempo 14mm is the most volatile paddle in the lineup—light, fast, and brutally honest. At just 7.63 oz static weight with a 102.05 swing weight, it’s among the quickest paddles I’ve tested all year. And that speed is both its biggest asset and its biggest liability.

In hand, the Tempo 14mm feels like a scalpel—razor-sharp but unforgiving. It’s made for players who want to flick, fire, and react. But if you mistime your contact or hit outside the sweet spot, the paddle will let you know instantly. There’s no buffer. No bailouts.

Power metrics were solid for a paddle this light: 55.2 MPH on serves, 36.9 MPH on punch volleys, and spin RPMs at 2233, which sits comfortably in the top third of current paddles. But even with good numbers, the feel wasn’t cohesive until I added weight. Without it, shots would sail, spray, or die off the frame depending on where I hit the ball.

After a modest weight mod—again, about 8g split across the corners—the transformation was dramatic. The paddle settled. Volleys tracked cleaner. Resets became playable instead of dicey. The added mass boosted twist weight to more competitive levels, making it much easier to hold position during speed-ups and hand battles.

Still, this is a paddle for a very specific player type: someone with quick hands, confident mechanics, and a preference for rapid-fire exchanges. If you’re used to heavier swing weights or more stable builds, it’ll feel borderline chaotic until you tame it.

The upside? Once tuned, the Tempo 14mm becomes an ultra-fast hand-speed weapon—a paddle you can swing through tight windows and snap through contact. It doesn’t offer much forgiveness, but if you stay clean, it lets you press with speed and spin that most standard shapes can’t touch.

Tempo 16mm: Balanced Control with Surprising Bite

The Tempo 16mm is the most approachable paddle in the Tempo line—and arguably the sleeper pick of the C45 series. It keeps the same quick-hand profile as the 14mm but dials back the chaos. With 7.75 oz static weight and a 103.05 swing weight, it's still extremely light, but it plays more composed.

Where the 14mm feels twitchy and exposed, the 16mm brings a bit of calm. Serve speed comes in at 55.6 MPH, with 36.5 MPH on punch volleys, and spin at 2212 RPM. Those numbers are all competitive, but more importantly, the feel is playable without needing as much tuning right away.

That said, it still benefits from added weight. Stock, the sweet spot is small and low on the face. You’ll get more consistent results if you boost twist weight through strategic tungsten placement—especially at the 10 and 2 positions. Once modded, the paddle starts to feel like a compact control paddle that can still bite when you step on the gas.

Where the Tempo 14mm is a surgical tool for fast hands, the 16mm is a more rounded, reactive paddle. It shines in transition—especially for soft rolls, flick counters, and quick resets near the kitchen. It’s fast enough to win hand battles, but stable enough to track the ball without overreacting.

The 5.25" handle might feel limiting to players who use a two-handed backhand, and the 15.75" total length won’t offer much reach. But for players who prioritize agility, reload speed, and controlled offense, the Tempo 16mm is the most functional out-of-the-box Tempo—and the one I’d recommend to anyone trying to add speed to their game without giving up touch.

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Comparing Dynasty vs Tempo Shapes

Franklin’s C45 line gives you two very different geometry profiles: the Dynasty series for reach and leverage, and the Tempo series for speed and agility. On paper, it’s just shape and length—but in play, the difference is massive.

Dynasty Series (16.5″ x 7.5″, 5.75″ Handle)

The Dynasty paddles are full-length elongates. That gives you:

• More extension on drives and counters
• Leverage from the baseline
• A longer handle for two-handed backhands

They’re built for players who like to initiate—whether that’s off the bounce or on third-shot drives. The 5.75" handle feels natural for modern grip styles, and the shape helps redirect pace with minimal effort.

But the tradeoff is maneuverability. The Dynasty shape takes longer to reload, and if you’re caught off-balance or late to the net, the added length can be a liability. That’s why weighting becomes essential—to bring the paddle into balance and tighten response time.

Tempo Series (15.75″ x 7.875″, 5.25″ Handle)

The Tempo paddles are compact and wide-faced. While they fall short of the full 16×8 frame they could have used, the broader face offers a lower sweet spot and faster hand-speed handling.

In transition, they’re easier to move, quicker to reset, and better for short backswing counterpunches. But the shorter 5.25" handle limits versatility, especially for players who rely on two-handed strokes or spacing adjustments in tight exchanges.

Bottom Line

• Play up at the net and want speed? Tempo.
• Need reach, depth, and power on drives? Dynasty.
• Prefer stability and forgiveness? Go 16mm.
• Want sharpness and aggression? Try the 14mm—but tune it.

Each shape serves a clear purpose, but none of them are optimized in stock form. Once you layer in added weight, however, both series settle into their roles cleanly—and you start to see the design intent behind Franklin’s lineup.

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Spin, Pop, and Power: Performance Numbers in Context

Across all four paddles in the C45 lineup, the performance metrics are solid—but not the full story. What matters here is how the numbers behave in practice—and how tuning affects playability.

Spin RPM

• Dynasty 14mm: 2269 RPM (78th percentile)
• Dynasty 16mm: 2245 RPM (70th percentile)
• Tempo 14mm: 2233 RPM
• Tempo 16mm: 2212 RPM

All four models hit the 2200+ threshold, which places them firmly in the top third of paddles tested in 2025. You don’t have to overswing to generate shape. And thanks to the raw T700 face and diagonal weave, spin stays consistent across contact zones. The RPM isn’t just high—it’s usable.

Serve Speed

• Dynasty 14mm: 56.5 MPH
• Dynasty 16mm: 56.9 MPH
• Tempo 14mm: 55.2 MPH
• Tempo 16mm: 55.6 MPH

These numbers are all within 2 MPH of each other, which is surprisingly tight considering the shape and core differences. The takeaway? Power isn’t a major differentiator between models—it’s more about feel and forgiveness.

Punch Volley Speed (Pop)

• Dynasty 14mm: 36.9 MPH
• Dynasty 16mm: 36.4 MPH
• Tempo 14mm: 36.9 MPH
• Tempo 16mm: 36.5 MPH

Again, a tight cluster—hovering in the high-30s range, which puts them in the same pop band as paddles like the Vatic Pro V7, CRBN-1X, and the Gearbox CX14E Ultimate.

In Context

On paper, none of these paddles scream “power monster.” But when tuned—especially at the corners—you unlock a sharper response and tighter control window that makes their offensive potential more accessible. Unlike some foam-core builds that feel mushy at speed, the C45 face holds its structure and lets you shape the ball cleanly, even when you swing hard.

Spin, pop, and serve speed aren’t outliers—but they’re consistently strong. More importantly, they behave predictably. And that matters more than chasing the highest number in a vacuum.

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Price & Value: Are They Worth $229?

At $229, the Franklin C45 Dynasty and Tempo paddles sit right in the middle of the modern performance paddle market—not budget, but not pushing premium pricing either. For that price, you’re not just buying a finished paddle. You’re buying a platform.

The materials justify the tag: raw T700 carbon fiber, dual-stage thermoforming, and a dual-foam injected perimeter that adds real structure to the build. You can see the engineering in the x-ray overlays. This isn’t window dressing—it’s functionally sound.

But you’re not getting a perfectly tuned experience out of the box. These paddles require setup. If you’re used to grabbing a paddle off the shelf and rolling into league play, you’ll be underwhelmed. The C45 line feels stiff, compact, and underweight until you spend some time dialing it in.

Once tuned, though? These builds open up. The added weight improves contact quality, expands the sweet spot, and delivers a noticeably more stable response on every shot. That’s what you’re paying for: a high-ceiling frame that rewards customization.

So, are they worth $229?

• Yes—if you’re a player who understands weighting and wants a paddle you can shape.
• No—if you’re looking for immediate playability and minimal setup.

Franklin has quietly built one of the most mod-friendly series on the market. And if that aligns with how you like to play—or how you approach gear—it’s money well spent.

If you’re planning to pick one up, you can use code MPB at checkout to save.

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How These Stack Against the Competition

Unlike some Gen 3 paddle releases that lean on hype or stock power claims, Franklin’s C45 lineup takes a different approach: these aren’t built to impress out of the wrapper—they’re built to be tuned.

The Dynasty and Tempo paddles share a consistent construction and feel across all four models, with none of them offering a plug-and-play experience. In stock form, they all come up short—whether it’s in stability, sweet spot size, or connection on contact. But once you modify them—typically with corner weighting—the potential opens up dramatically.

This isn’t a product line trying to one-up the competition on any single metric. It’s a line designed for players who want a responsive platform they can tailor to their own feel, tempo, and swing mechanics.

So how do they stack up? Simply put:

• If you’re looking for a paddle that performs great out of the wrapper, this isn’t it.
• But if you’re willing to put in the work—especially with weight tuning—these paddles deliver a level of controllable performance that many builds don’t match once customized.

It’s not about comparisons. It’s about who these are for. And Franklin clearly made these for players who want to take a good structure and make it their own.

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Final Recommendations

Franklin’s new C45 lineup isn’t chasing flash—it’s chasing flexibility. And that only matters if you’re the kind of player who values control over how your paddle plays.

Here’s how I’d break it down:

• Dynasty 14mm is for aggressive players who like to drive early, attack off the bounce, and pressure opponents with speed. It’s snappy and powerful once tuned—but harsh and unforgiving if left stock. Not ideal for soft-game players or those who rely on resets.
• Dynasty 16mm is the safest entry point. It’s stable, predictable, and balanced once weighted. If your game includes more blocks, drops, and soft resets—but you still want enough pop to finish—it’s the more stable of the two and easier to trust in transition. It’s not a control paddle, but it gives you enough time to stay in shape and then flip the point when it matters.
• Tempo 14mm is a compact-speed specialist. It’s ultra-light and fast, but borderline unplayable in stock form. If you like quick exchanges, flick counters, and don’t need forgiveness, it can become a weapon—but only with proper tuning.
• Tempo 16mm is the most forgiving paddle in the lineup. It still swings fast and feels quick in the hand, but the added thickness brings some composure. Great for roll volleys, resets, and high-speed kitchen play—especially for players who value hand speed but want a little margin.

What none of these paddles offer is a ready-made solution. You won’t get a transformative experience the moment you unwrap them. But if you’re willing to experiment—even just a little—they each grow into their role.

Think of these as performance canvases. Add weight. Test configurations. Build a paddle that works with your hand, your timing, your game.

And if you do pick one up when they drop June 10, remember to use code MPB at checkout.

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FAQ: Franklin C45 Series

Q1: What’s the difference between the Dynasty and Tempo models?

Dynasty paddles are elongated (16.5″ x 7.5″) with longer handles (5.75″), offering more reach and leverage. Tempo paddles are shorter (15.75″ x 7.875″) with 5.25″ handles, built for quicker reloads and faster hand speed.

Q2: Do these paddles come ready to play?

Not really. All four models feel underweighted out of the wrapper. They perform noticeably better with added tungsten to improve balance, sweet spot, and stability.

Q3: Which model is best for control or resets?

The Dynasty 16mm offers the most margin and stability, especially after weighting. It’s the best fit for players who lean on soft game mechanics but still want power options.

Q4: How do I add weight to a C45 paddle?

Add 1–2 grams of tungsten tape per corner, starting at the 10, 2, 4, and 8 o’clock positions. This boosts twist weight and improves off-center forgiveness without killing hand speed.

Q5: What code should I use if I want to buy one?

Use code MPB at checkout to save.

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