It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner looking for their first paddle or a pickleball expert opting for something different, choosing the right pickleball paddle for your game is never easy.
There are a number of key things to consider before making your purchase.
To make things even harder, pickleball’s biggest stars often sign sponsorship deals that see brands release specialized pickleball paddles.
Whilst this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, we are sometimes left questioning how good these paddles actually are.
Take the Ben Johns Franklin Ben Johns Signature paddle and the JOOLA Hyperion CAS paddle for example. These paddles are extremely popular, but do we actually know how good they are? The fact you’ve landed here would suggest not.
Well, today, we want to clear things up. In this post, we’ve reviewed the Ben Johns Signature pickleball paddles so you know exactly what to expect. If you’re considering buying one of these paddles, stick around!
Who Is Ben Johns?
Before we dive into the review, it is important for you to know who Ben Johns is and why he has his own pickleball paddle. Ben Johns is generally considered to be the greatest pickleball player of all time.
At just 23 years of age, Johns is world No. 1 for singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. He has been No. 1 in these three divisions for most of the last three years and even went on a winning streak of 108 matches.
Starting his career as a table tennis and tennis player, Johns has already won an impressive 65 titles since turning pro in 2016. These include nine triple crowns, and multiple USA Pickleball National Championship wins.
When you consider all of this, it’s no surprise to see that Johns has his own signature paddles. Paddle manufacturers want Ben Johns to be the face of their brands.
Why Does Ben Johns Have Two Signature Paddles?
If you follow pickleball closely, you’ll probably already know that Ben Johns has two signature pickleball paddles.
The reason Ben Johns has two different signature paddles is because he signed a new pickleball paddle sponsorship deal with JOOLA in 2022, leaving Franklin after years of sponsorship.
Therefore, when his sponsor changed, he released a new paddle. We’ll be reviewing both paddles in this review.
An Overview Of Both Paddles
Now you know more about Ben Johns and his paddle situation, let’s start the review. We’ll start by taking a closer look at each paddle.
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Paddle
Starting with the Franklin paddle, the Franklin Ben Johns Signature paddle is a hugely popular pickleball (see also: Franklin Signature Pickleball Paddle Review)paddle that Johns used to complete his first Triple Crown and reach world No.1.
Featuring some of the best proprietary MaxGrit technology and a sleek design, this paddle offers a surface perfect for control and spin. Designed for high-level play, Ben Johns actually designed this paddle himself.
It is best suited to players that focus their game heavily on spin and power. It also has a consistent touch that performs well in short-game scenarios. With this paddle, players can easily cover the whole court with efficiency.
This paddle is also USAPA-approved.
Signature JOOLA Hyperion CAS 16mm Paddle
The JOOLA Hyperion CAS 16mm paddle is the latest Ben Johns signature paddle to be released. Compared to the Ben Johns Franklin paddle, this one is much more aggressive.
It features a design that primarily focuses on control and power.
This JOOLA paddle has a Carbon Abrasion Surface (CAS) which provides the paddle with a unique textured surface.
You’ll find that this surface offers more spin control. Fitted with a Response Honeycomb Polymer Core, this paddle also has a very generous sweet spot.
That’s not all though, as the paddle is also equipped with a hyper foam wall, an elongated handle, and an aero-curve.
Franklin Ben Johns Signature Paddle Features
The best way to understand what each paddle has to offer is by looking at its features. This is exactly what we’ll look at now, starting with the Franklin Ben Johns paddle.
Specifications
Here are the basic specifications you can expect from the Franklin Ben Johns Signature paddle:
USAPA-approved
Length – 16.5 inches
Width – 7.3 inches
Weight – 8.1 ounces
Grip Length – 5.5 inches
Grip Circumference – 4.5 inches
Thickness – 16mm
MaxGrit Technology
One of the Franklin Ben Johns paddles best features is the MaxGrit technology. This neat piece of technology helps the paddle offer maximum spin and reduced vibration.
Giving the paddle a more premium feel, this material also reaches the highest texture levels USAPA permits.
It is designed to offer impressive traction on the surface of the pickleball, creating great spin and more control.
Long Handle
This paddle has an elongated handle, giving the player more control over the ball. Players can easily play backhand shots with two hands firmly on the paddle.
The paddle also flexes more upon impact, providing extra speed in your shots.
16mm Core
Like other fiberglass paddles, the Franklin Ben Johns paddle has a nice thick core. The core of this paddle is 16mm thick.
As a result, the paddle has a lot more pop. However, the paddle still manages to brilliantly spread the pressure of impact, creating a larger sweet spot and reducing any vibrations.
You’ll find it much easier to reach shots you might normally miss, whilst also hitting them with power.
Paddle Weight
This paddle is slightly heavier than your average paddle, with a weight of 8.1 ounces.
As a result, this paddle is capable of producing more power without the player using any extra effort.
Signature JOOLA Hyperion CAS 16mm Paddle Features
Specifications
Here are the specifications for the JOOLA Hyperion CAS 16mm paddle:
USAPA-approved
Length – 16.5 inches
Width – 7.5 inches
Weight – 8.3 ounces
Grip Length – 5.5 inches
Grip Circumference – 4.25 inches
Carbon Abrasion Surface
Arguably the best feature of the Signature JOOLA Hyperion CAS 16MM paddle is the paddles Carbon Abrasion Surface (CAS).
This piece of JOOLA technology helps create a high-spin surface, making it much easier for the player to control the ball.
This also creates a textured surface that gives the paddle more traction.
Hybrid-Ply Technology
To provide unparalleled feel and control, JOOLA has designed this paddle by combining multiple composite materials.
Doing so by using a strategic layering process, this ensures the paddle offers the very best ball control and feel.
Aero-Curve
One very cool design feature is the aero-curve head the paddle features. This paddle’s head features a unique curvature that has been proven to increase swing speed and reduce drag.
Response Honeycomb Polymer Core
The paddle’s response honeycomb polymer core provides the paddle with a large sweet spot, impressive feedback, more control, a better feel, and reduced vibration.
This makes the paddle perfect for anyone that likes to block, dink, or drive.
Edge-Shield
JOOLA’s Ben Johns paddle has a reinforced edge shield that strengthens and protects the edge of the paddle. This not only improves the durability of the paddle but also prevents delaminating.
Elongated Handle
This paddle also features an elongated handle that provides the player with more grip, control, and power. This large paddle can be held in two hands and also features shock absorption properties.
Which Ben Johns Paddle Is The Most Expensive?
The biggest difference between these two paddles lies in their pricing. Despite both paddles offering similar performance and design, the JOOLA Ben Johns paddle is a lot more expensive.
In fact, the Franklin Ben Johns paddle is available at half the price of the JOOLA paddle.
Which Ben Johns Paddle Is Better?
When it comes down to deciding which Ben Johns paddle is best, we can’t conclusively lean one way or the other. Both paddles are excellent, offering a wide range of features that make them easy and fun to play with.
We’ve provided you with all the information regarding both paddles, it’s down to you to decide which one is better because everyone plays pickleball differently.
Having said that, whilst we think both paddles are extremely good, we would probably opt for the Franklin Ben Johns Signature paddle.
The reason for this is that this paddle has a wide range of features, reliable technology, and an awesome design, but it costs a lot less to buy than the JOOLA paddle.
In Conclusion
There you have it, everything you need to know about Ben Johns’ signature pickleball paddles. In this post, we reviewed the Franklin Ben Johns Signature paddle and the Signature JOOLA Hyperion CAS 16mm paddle.
We found that both paddles are extremely good. They both come equipped with the latest pickleball technology, stylish designs, and neat features that make them a reliable option.
The fact Ben Johns has used both of these paddles to win tournaments shows how good they must be. You now have the tough decision of deciding which one suits your game best.
Hi, I’m Michael Walter, and I am a Pickleball enthusiast. I work as a High School Physical Education Teacher, so I have an expansive knowledge of sports and its impact on physical health.
When I first took a position at my current school, one of the many things I wanted to implement in the curriculum was Pickleball.
Pickleball is a fantastic sport to keep yourself active, healthy, keep your blood pumping, and to start a good sense of competitiveness and team work.
