STOUGHTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Franklin Sports, a leading manufacturer and retailer in the sporting goods industry, has officially announced the debut of the FS Tour Paddle Series, which is a line of pickleball paddles that brings top-tier performance elements to pickleball athletes of all backgrounds and experience by integrating proven features that have excelled at the highest levels of competition. The FS Tour Series showcases four unique paddles to suit a variety of athletes’ needs, the Dynasty 14MM, Dynasty 16MM, Tempo 14MM and Tempo 16MM, each paddle designed with a different athlete in mind, and a unique balance of power, control, touch, and hand speed.
“In the dynamic world of pickleball, Franklin Sports recognizes each player as a unique athlete with distinct preferences. The FS Tour Paddle Series provides players with a selection of paddles crafted to the highest specifications and tailored to meet the varied needs of top-level athletes,” said Adam Franklin, President of Franklin Sports. “The official launch of the FS Tour Series aligns perfectly with our current momentum at Franklin Sports, following the conclusion of the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships where our X-40 ball was used exclusively. The success at Nationals of our victorious Franklin athletes, who played with these brand-new paddles, adds to the excitement surrounding this launch.”
Key technical features of the FS Tour Paddle Series include a high-density epoxy foam insert in the edge guard, designed to maximize the sweet spot and eliminate the need for additional weight. Additionally, there is a premium finished, 4.5” vented grip that ensures solid and comfortable contact for every shot, while the high-quality raw T700 carbon fiber surface provides top athletes with the soft touch needed for precise shots and the maximum legal grit for spin.
The FS Tour Paddle Series includes:
- Dynasty 14MM – With its elongated pro shape, this paddle is designed to optimize both powerful groundstrokes and controllable spin on each shot. With a swing weight of 122 KG*CM^2, the Dynasty 14MM offers athletes a great balance between power and hand speed when creating shots. It is designed to maximize paddle whip and enhance the ability to impart spin on the ball.
- Dynasty 16MM – Featuring the same elongated pro shape, this paddle is tailored for athletes strong enough to craft precise shots, designed to provide maximum power and control. With a swing weight of 134 KG*CM^2, the Dynasty 16MM is designed to offer maximum power and control for the athlete strong enough to craft their shots. As compared to the Dynasty 14MM paddle, the Dynasty 16MM core is designed to provide a slightly larger sweet spot and improved blocking for kitchen play whether you’re dinking or in a firefight.
- Tempo 14MM – The traditional shape of the Tempo 14MM is designed to maximize the sweet spot and enhance the touch for the athlete at the kitchen line. With a swing weight of 116 KG*CM^2, the Tempo 14MM is designed to offer the fastest hand speed of the FS Tour Paddle Series for those hand battles at the net and to impart spin to complicate the opponent’s return. The 14MM core is designed to provide slightly more whip than the 16MM core paddle and an extremely poppy sweet spot to generate power with minimal effort.
- Tempo 16MM – Also boasting a traditional shape, the Tempo 16MM is designed to maximize the sweet spot and enhance the touch for the athlete at the kitchen line. With a swing weight of 122 KG*CM^2, the Tempo 16MM is designed to offer athletes a great balance between power and hand speed when creating shots. As compared to the Tempo 14MM paddle, the Tempo 16MM core is designed to provide a slightly larger sweet spot and improved blocking for kitchen play whether you’re dinking or in a firefight.
The FS Tour Paddle Series is supported by Franklin’s complete roster of pickleball athletes, each selecting one of the specific paddles to complement their individual playing style. Notable Franklin pickleball athletes include The Johnsons, a pro pickleball family. JW Johnson, the well-known National Champion in Pro Men’s Singles, as well as a National Medalist in Pro Mixed Doubles and Pro Men’s Doubles, uses the Dynasty 16MM. Jorja Johnson, a National Medalist in Pro Mixed Doubles, uses the Tempo 16MM. Julie Johnson uses the Dynasty 16MM when focusing on singles and for doubles, uses the Tempo 16MM. Top Pro Hayden Patriquin utilizes the Dynasty 14MM model.
“It is essential in professional Pickleball to have a paddle partner on the forefront of technology. Franklin’s new FS Tour Dynasty gives me the best combination of spin, control and pop I've had in a paddle,” said JW Johnson, Top Pro, Franklin Sports. “This combination helped me win Gold at Nationals and it can help you as well.”
The FS Tour Paddle Series is available on franklinsports.com, dickssportinggoods.com, totalpickleball.com, pickleballcentral.com, fromuthtennis.com and justpaddles.com. To learn more about the new FS Tour Series Paddles visit, franklinsports.com/fs-tour. Photography assets can be found here.
About Franklin Sports
Founded by Irving Franklin in 1946, Franklin Sports is a Stoughton, Massachusetts-based sporting goods brand that manufactures and sells over 10,000 products across many different categories. Franklin Sports is proud of its partnerships with Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, USA Pickleball, Pro Volleyball Federation and Hasbro’s Nerf brand including the leagues’ youth participation programs. Franklin also works with hundreds of elite athletes through sports equipment and apparel collaborations. Franklin is a multigenerational, family-owned business with a rich history and trusted reputation as a quality sporting goods brand – from recreational sports all the way up to the professional level – has made it one of the perennial leaders in the industry. At Franklin Sports, the team believes that sports make life better. Driven by Franklin’s passion to get people moving, playing, and competing, the Franklin mission is to bring sports to life for athletes of all ages. Whether designing a product for a World Series MVP or a child enjoying their first swings of the bat, Franklin Sports is dedicated to making sports inspiring, fun and accessible for all. For more information on Franklin Sports, please visit www.franklinsports.com or follow Franklin on Instagram @franklinsports, @franklinsportseqp, and @franklinpickleball, Facebook, and Twitter @franklinsports.
