Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 16mm vs ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm

    Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 16mm 7.6oz 16mm pickleball paddle — T700 carbon fiber peel ply at 45-degree angle face

    Franklin Sports

    C45 Aurelius 16mm

    $230

    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 16mmProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm
    Power — ProXR +6.5
    2.0 vs 8.5
    Hand speed — Franklin Sports +2.7
    9.2 vs 6.5
    Forgiveness — even
    4.9 vs 4.9
    Touch — Franklin Sports +5.4
    9.9 vs 4.5
    Spin — ProXR +3.3
    6.4 vs 9.7

    Control-first vs. power-first

    The Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 16mm's 16mm core delivers a more forgiving sweet spot, while the ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm's 14mm core trades a little plush feel for quicker ball speed.

    Side-by-side specs

    Weight

    7.6–8 oz7.8–8.2 oz

    Shape

    ElongatedElongated

    Core thickness

    16mm14mm

    Core material

    —Polypropylene honeycomb

    Face material

    T700 carbon fiber peel ply at 45-degree angleToray T700 ultra raw carbon fiber

    Handle length

    5.1"6"

    Price

    $230$189.99

    What the spec differences mean

    • Weight. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 16mm is listed at 7.6–8 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 16mm is 0.2 oz lighter. How paddle weights compare across our catalog
    • Core thickness. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 16mm has a 16mm core; ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm has a 14mm core, so the Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 16mm core is 2mm thicker. What core thickness changes
    • Handle length. Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 16mm 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 16mm lists its face as T700 carbon fiber peel ply at 45-degree angle; ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm lists Toray T700 ultra raw carbon fiber. Paddle face materials explained

    Who each paddle is for

    Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 16mm

    Best for 3.0+ players who want a forgiving control feel who play with a balanced two-handed/one-handed mix. The elongated shape extends your reach at the kitchen line, the 16mm core gives you a soft touch window, and the raw textured carbon face holds spin on rolls and resets.

    Playing style: all-court

    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 16mm if…

    • ✓you want a quick, hands-first paddle
    • ✓you prize control on resets and dinks
    • ✓you like reach at the kitchen line

    Pick the ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm if…

    • ✓you like reach at the kitchen line

    More matchups with the Franklin Sports C45 Aurelius 16mm

    More matchups with the ProXR Zane Navratil Signature 14mm

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