Franklin C45 Dynasty Review: Elongated Power and Reach, Tested

This Franklin C45 Dynasty review answers one question: is the “45° carbon layup” a real construction choice or just a name? Franklin isn’t the brand most players immediately associate with premium thermoformed paddles the way they do Selkirk or JOOLA, so I bought one myself to find out on the court. Last Updated: October 2026

Disclosure: I bought this paddle with my own money. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. See how I test paddles.

Franklin C45 Dynasty Review: Bottom Line Up Front

The Franklin C45 Dynasty 16mm is an elongated, double-thermoformed carbon fiber pickleball paddle built for advanced players seeking baseline power and deep drives. During my playtesting, the 16.4-inch length provided heavy serve leverage, and the 45° carbon layup offered surprising dwell time on resets. However, its head-heavy swing weight requires substantial wrist strength during fast non-volley zone (NVZ) hand battles.

Who Is the Franklin C45 Dynasty For?

It’s for competitive players who want elongated reach and drive depth, hit with a full aggressive swing, and have the wrist strength to handle a head-heavy paddle at the net. The extra length helps on serves and baseline drives, and the 5.6-inch handle gives two-handed backhand hitters plenty of room. If your game lives in fast hand battles at the kitchen line, a shorter widebody shape will feel quicker. My best pickleball paddles for advanced players guide covers other options for different playstyles.

Franklin C45 Dynasty Specs Overview

On-Court Performance Review

Dinks & Kitchen Play

The 16mm core gave soft resets more dwell than I expected from a power-focused build. This isn’t a paddle that feels harsh at the expense of touch. However, on off-center contact near the top edge, the elongated shape twists. It asks for a firmer wrist at the NVZ to keep the ball from dropping short into the net.

Drives & Power Shots

Full-swing drives carry genuine weight. The double thermoformed frame didn’t feel like it was flexing or losing energy at contact. Baseline drives stayed low and heavy instead of ballooning into an easy pop-up for your opponents. For more aggressive options, see my best power pickleball paddle guide.

Serves

The 16.4-inch length and 5.6-inch handle add real mechanical leverage. During testing, I could drive deep, heavy serves consistently without feeling like I was overswinging to generate pace.

Resets & Defense

Transition resets came off soft and controlled instead of popping up into the strike zone. The trade-off comes on wide defensive reaches near the edges; the narrower elongated profile twisted more than a standard widebody paddle would in the exact same spot.

Feel, Pop & Power

“Layup” refers to how the carbon layers are oriented in the paddle face. Franklin claims the 45° layup differs from the standard 0–90° weave most brands use. While I can’t look inside the paddle to verify the construction, I can verify how it plays: it feels softer through impact than a flat, harsh carbon face, yet still snaps back with real pop on put-aways.

Spin & Ball Contact

I rate the Dynasty’s Spin Tier as High. The raw T700 carbon face gripped the ball well on topspin drives and allowed me to shape dipping shots that dropped safely inside the baseline. It’s solid rather than elite—if max RPMs are your priority, my best pickleball paddles for spin guide has higher-ceiling picks.

Swing Weight & Maneuverability

Swing weight dictates how heavy a paddle feels in motion, not what it reads on a scale. The elongated head pushes the balance toward the tip, resulting in a head-heavy feel with heavy plow-through on drives. While that leverage makes deep baseline shots effortless, you’ll need significantly more wrist strength at the kitchen line to keep up in fast firefights compared to a shorter widebody paddle.

Grip & Comfort

The 5.6-inch handle is a massive strength. It’s shorter than the 11SIX24 Jelly Bean’s 6 inches, but it provides ample room for a two-handed backhand without crowding the paddle throat. The stock wrap remained tacky and managed sweat well across multiple two-hour sessions.

Durability

In my on-court testing, the unibody frame held up perfectly. I experienced no core crushing, delamination, dead spots, or edge guard separation.

Value for Money

This paddle sits squarely in premium pricing territory. The build quality and aggressive drive performance justify the cost for competitive players who can fully utilize the elongated reach. However, weigh this against your skill level—if you don’t naturally take full baseline swings, you may not get your money’s worth out of the extra leverage.

How Does the Franklin C45 Dynasty Compare?

Paddle	Feel	Best For	Dylan’s Rating
Franklin C45 Dynasty	Head-heavy, driving	Serve leverage and drive depth	9.1
11SIX24 Jelly Bean	Quick, elongated reach	Budget control, two-handed backhand	8.9
Selkirk Labs Boomstik	Balanced (widebody) or head-heavy (elongated)	Pure power	9.5

Vs. 11SIX24 Jelly Bean: The Jelly Bean’s 6-inch handle and triple-layer carbon face make it the better budget control pick under $100. The Dynasty trades that price advantage for significantly stronger baseline drive power and a stiffer, more competitive feel. See the full breakdown in my 11SIX24 Jelly Bean review.

Vs. Selkirk Labs Boomstik: While the Boomstik brings massive, near-limit pop and exit velocity, the C45 Dynasty sits a step below in raw power unless you add custom lead or tungsten tape. For feel, the Boomstik offers a stiffer, crisper response, whereas the C45 Dynasty gives you better tactile feedback with a softer, more cushioned dwell time on resets. In kitchen hand battles, the Boomstik’s heavier swingweight requires more arm strength, while the C45 Dynasty feels lighter and quicker to snap into action. Read my Selkirk Labs Boomstik review for the other side of that comparison.

Final Verdict

The Franklin C45 Dynasty delivers real dwell time on soft shots, substantial drive power, and genuine serve leverage from its elongated 16.4-inch frame. The trade-off is the extra wrist work required in fast net exchanges, which is the honest cost of the added reach. Buy it if you want an elongated power paddle and can commit to the premium price. Skip it if your game relies entirely on fast hands at the kitchen line. See where it lands in my best thermoformed pickleball paddles or my full best pickleball paddles list. Check the Franklin C45 Dynasty on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does “C45” mean in the Franklin C45 Dynasty?

The “C45” refers to the paddle’s 45-degree carbon fiber layup. Franklin presents this angled orientation as an alternative to the standard 0–90° weave used on most raw carbon fiber faces, designed to increase dwell time and structural stability.

What’s the difference between the Dynasty, Tempo, and Hybrid shapes?

The Dynasty is the elongated shape featuring a longer handle, built for maximum reach, leverage, and power on baseline drives. The Tempo is a wider, more traditional shape with a shorter handle, built for quick hand speed, fast reloads, and control at the net. The Hybrid shape serves as a middle-ground compromise between traditional reach and maneuverability.

Is a 14mm or 16mm core better for the C45 Dynasty?

I tested the 16mm version. Generally, the 16mm core provides more control, a larger sweet spot, and a softer feel on resets. The 14mm trades some of that forgiveness for a lighter, more maneuverable swing and slightly more pop. My 14mm vs 16mm breakdown covers how that plays out on the court in more detail.

Is the Franklin C45 Dynasty USAP approved?

Yes, the Franklin C45 Dynasty is listed as USAP and UPA-A approved for competitive tournament play. Always check the current approved equipment list before entering sanctioned events.

Is the Franklin C45 Dynasty good for a two-handed backhand?

Yes. The 5.6-inch handle gives most players plenty of room for both hands without crowding the paddle throat. However, if you require maximum grip space, the 11SIX24 Jelly Bean’s 6-inch handle offers even more room.

Is the Franklin C45 Dynasty worth it?

It’s worth it if you will actively utilize the elongated reach and can handle the head-heavy swing weight during fast kitchen exchanges. If you play mostly a soft control game at the NVZ or are shopping on a strict budget, your money goes further with other options on my paddle rankings.