Tested by Matt Khoury
4.5 player · 2 yrs testing paddles · 620+ reviewed
Reviewed
MARCH 2026
Updated OCTOBER 2026
Franklin Anna Leigh Waters Signature C45 Aurelius 12.7mm Pickleball Paddle Review
MATT'S VERDICT
The Franklin C45° Aurelius is Franklin stepping fully into the modern foam-enhanced, high-performance category with a double thermoformed unibody build, internal foam reinforcement, and a carbon face designed for consistent spin and response. The shape leans toward forgiveness and stability, giving you a larger, more reliable hitting surface without sacrificing too much speed.
Be the first to rate
Retail Price
$229.99
Promo Code
10% off at checkout
Affiliate links. We may earn a commission — it never affects our ratings.
Videos
How players classify this paddle
0 votesBe the first ↑
All measurements
- Serve speed
- 59.6 mph
- Serve speed percentile
- 30.0%
- Serve speed z-score
- -0.194
- Punch volley speed
- 39 mph
- Punch volley speed percentile
- 64.0%
- Punch volley speed z-score
- 0.630
- Spin
- 2240 rpm
- Spin percentile
- 42.4%
- Spin z-score
- 0.039
- Swing weight
- 92.95
- Swing weight percentile
- 0.0%
- Swing weight z-score
- -3.959
- Twist weight
- 5.65
- Twist weight percentile
- 3.3%
- Twist weight z-score
- -1.553
- Static weight
- 7.28 oz
- Static weight percentile
- 0.2%
- Static weight z-score
- -3.615
- Balance point
- 22.7 cm
- Balance point percentile
- 0.3%
- Balance point z-score
- -2.732
- Surface roughness (Ra)
- 8.18 µm
- Surface roughness (Ra) percentile
- 74.4%
- Surface roughness (Ra) z-score
- 0.607
- Firepower
- 47/100
- Control score
- 53/100
- Power rating
- 3/5
- Control rating
- 3/5
- Spin rating
- 3/5
- Pop rating
- 4/5
- Forgiveness rating
- 4/5
- Matt's star rating
- 5/5
- Balance offset from center
- +2.7 cm
- Core thickness
- 12.7 mm
- Shape
- Widebody
- Length
- 15.75 in
- Width
- 7.875 in
- Handle length
- 5.25 in
- Handle circumference
- 4 in
- Surface material
- Carbon Fiber
- Core material
- Polypropylene + Foam Enhanced
- Surface texture
- Peel Ply (Coarse)
- Manufacturing process
- Thermoformed
- Classification
- Gen 3
- Approval body
- USAP & UPA-A
- Punch volley rank
- #128 of 517 measured paddles
- Market comparison
- 513 measured paddles across 9 metrics