Franklin FS Tour Tempo - pickleball paddle review

The Franklin FS Tour Tempo is the paddle of choice for up-and-coming pickleball sensation Jorja Johnson. As the standard-shaped model in Franklin's new FS Tour Series, it comes in 14 mm and 16 mm sizes, with 3 color choices.

The unboxing experience got me excited right away. This paddle has great add-ons with a carry bag, paddle eraser, and two balls.

Read my full Franklin FS Tour Tempo review to see how it plays.

I'm calling this an all-court paddle that offers a rare mix of power and forgiveness. You just need to be able to handle the 8.6-8.9 oz weight.

The Franklin FS Tour Series are standout, heavy paddles that are getting lots of attention. The Tempo is the standard, widebody shape used by Jorja Johnson. She's the 17-year-old pickleball sensation who's been climbing up the PPA rankings alongside her brother, JW Johnson.

While the elongated Dynasty puts power first, the Tempo is the control paddle in this series. It's got a plusher feel than the poppy Dynasty, reminding me of Gen 1 raw carbon paddles like the JOOLA Hyperion. This gives me good connection and confidence on touch shots.

Forgiveness is way up too and is this paddle's most impressive attribute. The wider face naturally creates a larger sweet spot, meaning fewer mishits.

What's great is you don't sacrifice too much on power. For a standard shape, this paddle offers plenty of pop to let you play aggressively. The heavy weight helps here. Whether I'm hitting drives that are hard to return or big overhead putaways, I'm impressed by this paddle's power.

The T700 raw carbon fiber face generates exactly the kind of spin I want. They nailed the weave on it—I can hit big topspin that repeatedly catches out my opponents. It's right up there with paddles from Six Zero, Bread & Butter, and even the Legacy Pro for spin. Well done to Franklin here.

If you often need to put lead tape on a paddle to increase its weight, you'll be happy to find this paddle is heavy and optimized right out of the box.

If you're worried about paddle heaviness slowing you down at the net, I'd start with the Tempo over the Dynasty. Despite my Tempo being the same static weight (8.8 oz) as the Dynasty I tested, the swing weight is lower (123 vs 134). It feels even faster than the 123 swing weight would suggest.

I do sometimes prefer the extra reach of the elongated Dynasty, particularly on my overheads at the kitchen. The short 5" handle won't suit players who like two-handed backhands either.

Overall, though, I think this is a top paddle at a top price. Remember that you're getting a bunch of free add-ons for the $150 price, including a paddle eraser, a pickleball carry bag, and two pickleball balls.

There's a lot of choice with color (gray, blue, or pink) and size (14 mm and 16 mm). Also, another feature I really like is the premium grip that has a baseball feel (more on that below).

I really like playing with these paddles. If you want extra reach and more power, I'd recommend the Dynasty. For a more forgiving, controlled all-rounder, consider the Tempo instead.

The FS Tour Series paddles pack all the top tech—raw carbon, thermoforming, foam injection—and the results show. Let's check out the features they've put into the Franklin FS Tour Tempo.

This paddle has many of the best features we're used to seeing in top-tier paddles, like a textured carbon face, unibody design, thermoformed construction, and foam-infused perimeter.

The difference here, though, is price. Many of these top paddles, like the JOOLA Scorpeus, can cost up to $250. The Tempo costs just $150.

I originally didn't think I would like the Tempo's 4.3" grip. It's based on baseball grips and is thicker than almost any paddle grip I've tested. Despite this, I ended up loving it. It's got its own unique comfort.

These paddles stand out for their hefty weight when the trend is increasingly for lighter paddles. The Tempo has a static weight range of 8.2-8.5 oz for the 14 mm version, and 8.6-8.9 oz for the 16 mm. I play with the 16 mm paddle that Jorja Johnson uses, and mine clocks in at 8.8 oz.

While the Dynasty definitely struggles with head-heaviness, the weighting is more user-friendly on the Tempo. It has a much lower swing weight and feels a lot quicker.

While you naturally get less power here compared to the Dynasty, I'm surprised by how much power I can get with the Tempo. The heavy 8.8 oz weight helps this generate a lot more power than most standard-shaped paddles.

When I play with the Dynasty, I keep wanting to drive the ball to set up the point. With the Tempo, though, I find myself leaning into drops and control shots.

With less power and pop to contend with (versus the Dynasty), you do get better control. The Tempo is super stable and has a plush feel. All these qualities help me dial in my touch shots, especially third-shot drops.

The weight does make it easier to pop up a drop or dink if I'm not careful. That said, I'm still impressed with the control overall.

The Tempo is great on spin and exactly what I want in a T700 raw carbon paddle. I can hit big topspin, sidespin, and backspin—just like I can with some of my favorite spin paddles, including the Six Zero DBD and Bread & Butter Filth.

Given that this feels like a heavy, power-oriented paddle, I'm happy to see the sweet spot is nice and big. The large, standard-sized face gives you plenty of playing surface.

You don't have to hit dead center, either. I've had minimal mishits so far, as there aren't any dead zones near the edges.

Franklin did a lot better with the weighting on the Tempo over the Dynasty. Mine is the same 8.8 oz static weight but it plays significantly faster at the kitchen. It feels a lot lighter than even its 123 swing weight.

So, don't be too put off if you're concerned by the hefty 8.6-8.9 oz paddle. You might prefer the Tempo over the Dynasty if weighting is a big concern for you.

Franklin's grip here is inspired by baseball grips. I was skeptical at first but now I love how comfortable it is. It's durable and holds up well over 3-hour sweaty sessions.

I had to dock a point as I don't think it will work for everyone, and some people prefer a standard-sized grip.

This is a solid paddle made with the best materials. It has a thick edge guard, and I have no reason to believe it won't last you a long time.

I went up a point here against the Dynasty, but the Tempo is still a heavy paddle. I find it manageable, and I quite like the balance of sturdiness and speed you get. However, if you want something super-aerodynamic, check out the Six Zero Black Diamond Power or Volair Mach 1 instead.

Before buying a paddle, it's important to make sure it fits your game. That's why I created a 30-second quiz that recommends the best paddles for your play style and budget.

Give it a try and see if the Franklin FS Tour Tempo makes the list:

It's nice to see this Franklin retail at $150 when there's a trend toward more expensive paddles at $250 or more. Another new paddle for the same price is the Pickleball Apes Pro Line Energy, which offers excellent value for the right player.

What about the Franklin FS Tour Tempo?

Just like the Pro Line Energy, if you're the right player for the FS Tour Tempo, $150 is top value. Lots of players will love this paddle, from intermediates up to pros. Jorja Johnson is flying with it.

Plus, the free pickleball accessories you get with it make this even better value.

The 16 mm Tempo is the paddle used by Jorja Johnson, the 17-year-old star who is shooting up the PPA rankings.

She plays alongside her brother JW (J-Dub). Don't be surprised if they start to challenge the Johns brothers for the best sibling doubles team.

This is a really well-designed all-court paddle with a nice mix of power, control, spin, and forgiveness.

If you like a heavier feel, prioritize control over power, and don't mind a short handle or a standard-shaped paddle, I think you'll get a lot out of this paddle. Despite its heavy static weight, it plays a lot lighter than the Dynasty.

This article contains affiliate links from which we receive a small commission from sales of certain items. As a brand associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you!