Franklin Aurelius 12.7mm First Impressions: An Ultra-Light Niche Paddle

Introduction

The Franklin Aurelius 12.7mm is a very niche paddle for a very niche group of people, but the people that this paddle is for are probably going to love it. It comes in three different thicknesses: 12.7mm, 14mm, and 16mm. This review focuses on the 12.7mm version, which is the main one being discussed here.

The price remains the same as the original C45 at $229. The paddle is a Gen 3 construction, just in a different shape than the other C45 variants. It is a widebody paddle with a short handle and a small grip size, making it a highly specialized option in the current pickleball paddle market.

Who This Paddle Is For

This paddle is designed for a very specific type of player. If you want an ultra-light paddle with a small handle length and a small grip size, this is awesome and it will fit a lot of people. The 12.7mm has a 4-inch grip circumference, which is tiny, and the handle length is right at 5.1 inches, which is very short compared to most paddles that start around 5.25 inches.

If you have large hands or even average size hands with a two-handed backhand, it is going to be pretty cramped putting your hand on it. The grips on these paddles are also pretty boxy, which makes them feel a little bit thicker than they actually are. But if you are someone that loves a small grip size, then all of these do have it.

Main Strengths

The standout feature of the Franklin Aurelius 12.7mm is its incredibly low swing weight. The 12.7mm comes in at 92 swing weight, which is exceptionally rare. Most paddles fall between 105 and 111 for easy swinging, 112 to 117 for average, and 118 and above starts to feel sluggish. Anything below 105, and especially below 100, is considered ultra-maneuverable.

This paddle is extremely fast in the hand, almost too fast. The amount of head speed you can generate with this paddle is kind of insane. It makes you want to play the game very fast because driving with this paddle is a ton of fun. The sound it makes and the way the ball comes off is very satisfying.

Despite being a thin 12.7mm Gen 3 paddle, it plays softer than expected. Thin paddles tend to feel very stiff, but this one does not feel overly stiff. It has a little bit of hollowness to it, but it is not as plush as some other soft paddles on the market.

Things to Consider Before Buying

There are several important drawbacks to consider before purchasing the Franklin Aurelius 12.7mm. First, most people should not play with a paddle this light. By having swing weights this low, you lose out on plow through, which means the ball when hit hard is going to push your paddle around more. This can make your sweet spot feel smaller and your paddle less stable when someone is driving the ball at you.

Out of the box in stock form, the paddle really does not have the power you would expect from a Gen 3 at 12.7mm. It plays a lot closer to an all-court paddle than a power paddle. The sweet spot is very unforgiving, and on resets and at the net, the ball was pushing the paddle around a bunch.

The launch angle from this paddle is also noticeably different. The ball comes off very low, and you may have to aim quite a bit higher than you are used to. This can take some adjustment time, especially if you are coming from a paddle with a more standard launch angle.

As a Gen 3 paddle, it is still going to core crush at some point. And if you do not like customizing your paddles, then you probably do not want to pick this up because you are definitely going to need weight to get the full performance out of it.

Adding Weight: The Key to Unlocking Performance

To achieve peak performance with the Franklin Aurelius 12.7mm, you are absolutely going to need weight on this thing. Before putting weight on it, there was not much good to say about the paddle other than that it is light. But once you add weight, that is when you unlock the power.

First, wrapping the entire head with weight, which was 36g of weight, took the paddle from a 92 swing weight all the way up to 118. Playing with that much weight was actually really fun. Drives became very heavy and serves were great. However, that much weight defeats the entire purpose of the paddle being ultra-light.

A more realistic setup involves removing the weight from the head and focusing on the sides. By removing 12g from the head and only having 24g on the sides, the swing weight only went from 92 to 104. Even with 24g of weight on the paddle, it is still what would be considered an ultra-maneuverable paddle.

With this weight setup, the paddle still played really well. It obviously did not plow through the ball quite as well, and drives were not as heavy, but it was in a very acceptable range for both power, pop, and stability. Adding a small 3g pod at the head of the paddle would also help with plow through and bring the swing weight to just under 110.

Buying Advice

If you are someone that wants an ultra-light paddle with a small handle length and a small grip size, this paddle is awesome and will fit a lot of people. The only paddle out there right now that gives it any competition is the Pickle Poppers Pop and Pink, which is a full foam paddle with very similar specs across the board.

Out of the box, the Pickle Poppers actually plays better with a better sweet spot and higher power and pop. But it does not have that Gen 3 style feel. If you love how Gen 3 paddles feel, then you are really going to like how the Aurelius feels compared to the Pickle Poppers.

Generally speaking, if you do not need something this light, there are better paddles for cheaper than the Aurelius. There are so many options across a variety of different price points, including paddles in the $100 range that play better in a lot of different ways if you do not need that ultra-light category.

If you do not like customizing your paddles, then you probably do not want to pick this up. You are either going to need weight to get the full performance out of it, or you are going to have to be someone that is okay with the drawbacks of it not having great plow through and having a smaller sweet spot.

Conclusion

The Franklin Aurelius 12.7mm is a paddle that fits a very specific niche. It is ultra-light, has a short handle, and a small grip size, making it perfect for players who prioritize maneuverability above all else. It is probably the favorite C45 variant among those who have played with it, and it is a dream come true for players who like customizing their paddles.

However, it is not an easy paddle to use. Even with weight, you are going to need some decent touch to be able to reset with it, and it is not as forgiving as some of the top-tier sweet spots out there. If you do not need something this light, there are better paddles for cheaper. But for the niche group of players that this paddle is designed for, it is likely going to be a great fit.