Franklin Pickleball

Franklin is the brand most Australian clubs already know from the ball, and as of August 2026 we also stock the paddles. That makes Pickld one of the first Australian stockists of the C45 signature range, the line Franklin builds for its sponsored professionals. This page covers both: which C45 suits your game, and which ball you actually need.

The C45 signature paddles

Every C45 is built the same way underneath: a 45-degree T700 raw carbon face over a PowerFlex polymer honeycomb core with an inner foam channel, USAP and UPA approved, $379.99. The 45-degree layup is the part worth understanding. Most raw carbon faces run their fibres square to the frame; rotating the weave changes how the face loads and releases, and in practice it means the ball bites for spin without the board-like feel that thin thermoformed paddles can have.

What separates the three is the shape, and each is built around how that player actually plays.

• Anna Leigh Waters 14mm and 12.7mm. Waters is the number one player in the world and her Aurelius shape is unlike anything else on this site: 39.9cm long with a 13cm handle and a 3.9 inch grip. Short, fast and hand-heavy, made for a player who wins at the kitchen line. The 14mm is the steadier of the two, the 12.7mm is quicker and less forgiving.
• Hayden Patriquin 16mm and 14mm. Elongated at 41.7cm for reach on drives and overheads. The 16mm calms the face down for cleaner resets, the 14mm is the punchier one.
• Parris Todd 13.25mm. A hybrid at an unusual thickness, with a 104 swing weight and 5.6 twist weight, so it is fast through the air and still stable off centre. The longest handle of the three at 14.5cm, which suits two-handed backhands.

Not sure which shape? The paddle finder will narrow it, or hit reply on any email from us and you will get Ben or Chris.

X-40 outdoor balls

The X-40 is the official outdoor ball of the US Open Pickleball Championships and is USA Pickleball approved. It carries 40 precision-drilled holes in a harder, denser shell, and that combination is what lets it hold a line through a breeze, which is most of what you need on an Australian outdoor court. It comes off the face faster than an indoor ball, bounces higher on acrylic, and punishes a lazy reset. If you compete, or you play outdoors at all, practise with this one so that Tuesday night transfers to Saturday morning.

X-26 indoor balls

The X-26 is the indoor counterpart: a softer, lighter shell with 26 larger holes. On timber or sports vinyl that softness is the point. The ball sits down, rallies run longer, and the noise drops to something a shared hall will tolerate. Take an indoor ball outside and any real breeze will move it, so it is not a substitute for the X-40, it is a different tool.

How to buy the balls

We stock Franklin balls in the quantities people actually buy:

• X-40 3-pack for a hit or to try them.
• X-40 6-pack and 10-pack for a regular player.
• X-40 12-pack, the usual pick for a regular four.
• X-40 100-pack bulk for clubs, coaching and ball machines.
• X-26 3-pack, 12-pack and 100-pack for hall and gym play.

If you are feeding a ball machine, buy bulk and keep those balls separate from your match balls. Every feed is a full-pace contact, so machines are hard on balls, and there is no reason to wear out the ones you play with.

When is a ball finished

Outdoor balls go out of round and go soft before they crack, and the tell is that the flight starts to wobble and the bounce drops. Roll one on a flat surface: if it tracks a curve rather than a line, it is done. A ball that has gone soft will make your drops float and your drives sit up, and most players blame their technique for weeks before they blame the ball. A cracked ball is obvious and should come straight out of the bag. Clubs buying in bulk should expect to cycle stock regularly rather than play a box until it fails.

Buying Franklin in Australia

Dispatched from Sydney in 1 to 3 days, with free delivery over $150 (bulky items excluded). Paddle stock on the C45 range is genuinely limited while we find our feet with it, so what you see on each product page is what is on the shelf. Clubs and schools buying balls by the hundred can go through our trade page, and we also supply custom club merchandise if you are kitting a group out properly.

Common questions

Are the C45 paddles tournament legal in Australia? Yes. All five are USAP and UPA approved, which covers sanctioned play here.

Which C45 should a first paddle be? Honestly, none of them. At $379.99 these are built for players who already know what shape they want. If you are starting out, the starter paddles will serve you better and cost a third as much.

Can I use an outdoor ball indoors? You can, and plenty of clubs do. It plays faster and louder on timber than an indoor ball, so check what your venue expects.

Are all outdoor balls the same? No. Hole count, shell hardness and seam quality all vary, and they change how the ball flies and how long it lasts. The differences across the brands we carry are set out on the pickleball balls page.

Where to go next

Read the Franklin balls buying guide or indoor against outdoor pickleballs. Browse all pickleball paddles, all pickleball balls, the full equipment hub, or every brand on the brands page.