Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) vs ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm

    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

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    ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm 7.8oz 14mm pickleball paddle — Toray T700 ultra raw carbon fiber face

    ProXR

    Zane Navratil Signature 14mm

    $189.99

    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)ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm
    Power — ProXR +7.5
    1.0 vs 8.5
    Hand speed — Franklin Sports +3.5
    10.0 vs 6.5
    Forgiveness — even
    4.9 vs 4.9
    Touch — ProXR +3.2
    1.3 vs 4.5
    Spin — ProXR +3.2
    6.5 vs 9.7

    Close call — here's the tiebreaker

    ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm carries more plow-through on drives, while Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) is easier on the arm and quicker at the kitchen.

    Side-by-side specs

    Weight

    7.2–7.5 oz7.8–8.2 oz

    Shape

    ElongatedElongated

    Core thickness

    12.7mm14mm

    Core material

    PowerFlex polymer corePolypropylene honeycomb

    Face material

    T700 carbon fiber with 45-degree peel-ply texture (double-thermoformed unibody frame)Toray T700 ultra raw carbon fiber

    Handle length

    5.1"6"

    Price

    $229.99$189.99

    What the spec differences mean

    • Weight. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) is listed at 7.2–7.5 oz; ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm at 7.8–8.2 oz. At the low end of each listed range, the Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) is 0.6 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; ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm has a 14mm core, so the ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm core is 1.3mm thicker. What core thickness changes
    • Length and width. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) measures 15.7" × 7.9"; ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm measures 16.5" × 7.5". The ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm is 0.8" longer. Paddle shapes and the size rule
    • Handle length. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) has a 5.1" handle; ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm has a 6" handle, so the ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm handle is 0.9" 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; ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm lists Toray T700 ultra raw carbon fiber. Paddle face materials explained
    • Core material. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) lists its core as PowerFlex polymer core; ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm lists Polypropylene honeycomb. 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.

    ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm

    Best for intermediate players (3.5-4.5) looking for a balanced upgrade who play with a balanced two-handed/one-handed mix. The elongated shape extends your reach at the kitchen line, the 14mm core balances pop and control, and the raw carbon face bites on spin shots.

    Playing style: power, spin

    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 ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm if…

    • ✓you like reach at the kitchen line
    Shop on Amazon C45 Aurelius 12.7mm (Anna Leigh Waters Signature) →

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

    More matchups with the ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm

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