Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) vs Mizuno AcroSpeed SX

    Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) 7.2oz 12.7mm pickleball paddle

    Franklin Sports

    C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature)

    $229.99

    Shop on Amazon →
    Mizuno AcroSpeed SX 8.4oz 13mm pickleball paddle — MZ-36C carbon fiber with SpinKote grit face

    Mizuno

    AcroSpeed SX

    $255

    Shop at Retailer →

    Pickle's 5-axis score

    Spec-grounded, quartile-ranked across the 322-paddle catalog. Diff highlighted when one paddle leads by 0.5+ points.

    Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature)Mizuno AcroSpeed SX
    Power — Mizuno +8.7
    1.0 vs 9.7
    Hand speed — Franklin Sports +8.8
    10.0 vs 1.2
    Forgiveness — Mizuno +5.1
    4.9 vs 10.0
    Touch — Mizuno +0.7
    1.3 vs 2.0
    Spin — even
    6.5 vs 6.4

    Reach vs. maneuverability

    Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) trades a touch of maneuverability for more reach at the line; Mizuno AcroSpeed SX is easier to whip around in hand fights. Mizuno AcroSpeed SX carries more plow-through on drives, while Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature)

    Side-by-side specs

    Weight

    7.2–7.5 oz8.4–8.4 oz

    Shape

    ElongatedWidebody

    Core thickness

    12.7mm13mm

    Core material

    PowerFlex polymer coreENERZYCELL polypropylene honeycomb core

    Face material

    T700 carbon fiber with 45-degree peel-ply texture (double-thermoformed unibody frame)MZ-36C carbon fiber with SpinKote grit

    Handle length

    5.1"5"

    Price

    $229.99$255

    What the spec differences mean

    • Weight. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) is listed at 7.2–7.5 oz; Mizuno AcroSpeed SX at 8.4 oz. At the low end of each listed range, the Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) is 1.2 oz lighter. How paddle weights compare across our catalog
    • Core thickness. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) has a 12.7mm core; Mizuno AcroSpeed SX has a 13mm core, so the Mizuno AcroSpeed SX core is 0.3mm thicker. What core thickness changes
    • Length and width. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) measures 15.7" × 7.9"; Mizuno AcroSpeed SX measures 16" × 7.9" (elongated vs widebody). The Mizuno AcroSpeed SX is 0.3" longer. Paddle shapes and the size rule
    • Handle length. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) has a 5.1" handle; Mizuno AcroSpeed SX has a 5" handle, so the Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) handle is 0.1" longer. What grip length changes
    • Face material. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) lists its face as T700 carbon fiber with 45-degree peel-ply texture; Mizuno AcroSpeed SX lists MZ-36C carbon fiber with SpinKote grit. Paddle face materials explained
    • Core material. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) lists its core as PowerFlex polymer core; Mizuno AcroSpeed SX lists ENERZYCELL polypropylene honeycomb core. Paddle core materials explained

    Who each paddle is for

    Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature)

    Best for advanced power players (4.0+) who can manage a hot face who play with a quick, hands-first style. The elongated shape extends your reach at the kitchen line, the 12.7mm core delivers high pop with a tighter touch window, and the raw textured carbon face holds spin on rolls and resets.

    Mizuno AcroSpeed SX

    Best for advanced power players (4.0+) who can manage a hot face who play with an aggressive, planted swing. The widebody profile gives you a generous sweet spot, the 13mm core delivers high pop with a tighter touch window, and the face surface keeps spin honest without overdoing it.

    Pickle's verdict

    Both are great. Pick by playstyle, not specs.

    Pick the Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) if…

    • ✓you want a quick, hands-first paddle
    • ✓you want a hot face for put-aways
    • ✓you like reach at the kitchen line

    Pick the Mizuno AcroSpeed SX if…

    • ✓you swing through the ball
    • ✓you want a hot face for put-aways
    • ✓you want a generous sweet spot
    Shop on Amazon C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) →Shop at Retailer AcroSpeed SX →

    More matchups with the Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature)

    More matchups with the Mizuno AcroSpeed SX

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