Tested by Matt Khoury
4.5 player · 2 yrs testing paddles · 640+ reviewed
Reviewed
MARCH 2026
Updated OCTOBER 2026
Franklin Anna Leigh Waters Signature C45 Aurelius 16mm 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.
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Retail Price
$229.99
Promo Code
10% off at checkout
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All measurements
- Serve speed
- 59.9 mph
- Serve speed percentile
- 36.2%
- Serve speed z-score
- 0.053
- Punch volley speed
- 38.9 mph
- Punch volley speed percentile
- 55.4%
- Punch volley speed z-score
- 0.502
- Spin
- 2269 rpm
- Spin percentile
- 54.9%
- Spin z-score
- 0.322
- Spin category
- Medium
- Swing weight
- 99.6
- Swing weight percentile
- 1.0%
- Swing weight z-score
- -2.733
- Twist weight
- 6.2
- Twist weight percentile
- 29.7%
- Twist weight z-score
- -0.490
- Static weight
- 7.62 oz
- Static weight percentile
- 2.1%
- Static weight z-score
- -1.900
- Balance point
- 23.1 cm
- Balance point percentile
- 2.0%
- Balance point z-score
- -2.013
- Surface roughness (Ra)
- 7.08 µm
- Surface roughness (Ra) percentile
- 47.5%
- Surface roughness (Ra) z-score
- -0.118
- Firepower
- 46/100
- Control score
- 72/100
- Power rating
- 3/5
- Control rating
- 4/5
- Pop rating
- 3/5
- Forgiveness rating
- 4/5
- Matt's star rating
- 5/5
- Balance offset from center
- +3.1 cm
- Core thickness
- 16 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
- #195 of 526 measured paddles
- Market comparison
- 522 measured paddles across 9 metrics