Franklin Aurelius 12.7mm Review (2026): Anna Leigh Waters' Signature, the Ultra-Light Niche, and the 6/10 Verdict

What the experts say

Chris Olson, Pickleball Studio (6/10 First Impressions)

The headline framing on what the Aurelius actually is and is not:

"The Franklin Aurelius 12.7mm is a very niche paddle for players who demand a very low swing weight paddle (easy to swing) with a thin grip, and short handle length. There aren't many paddles that fit this category. I wouldn't recommend it to the masses, but the people who want a light weight paddle, this can be great if you're willing to add some weight."

The Anna Leigh Waters context:

"This was designed as Anna Leigh Waters signature paddle, however she has been recently using the original C45 Hybrid as well as the Dynasty."

Worth noting: even the player whose signature is on the paddle has been spotted using other Franklin paddles in tour play. That's a meaningful signal for buyers expecting "the paddle ALW plays."

Why "ultra-light" is the headline spec

The Aurelius's stock swing weight of 92 puts it in what Olson calls the "ultra-light" category:

"Swing weights below 100 are what I consider to be in the 'ultra-light' category. These are paddles that any age or gender should be able to swing very easily. There are very few paddles that are made this light, because they typically have drawbacks of smaller sweet spots and the ball pushes them around because they are so light."

The honest stock-feel verdict

This is the section that determines the buying decision. Olson is direct that the paddle isn't ready out of the box:

"I'm not going to sugarcoat this. It doesn't play well without weight. So, if you like the idea of the Aurelius because it's really light, just know that if you want full performance out of this paddle, you are going to have to add weight."

The two specific weak spots stock:

"As you would expect from a 12.7mm light weight paddle, the sweet spot is not great. Off center shots feel very unforgiving, and there isn't a lot of energy put back into the ball... Because the paddle is so light, heavy incoming shots like drives push the paddle around very easily, and this can make the paddle feel unstable or hard to generate power."

The lead-tape setup that fixes it

Olson tested two setups:

Setup 1: 36g full head wrap. Swing weight 92 → 118.

"This took the swing weight from 92 to 118... it did solve all of my complaints about power, sweet spot, and plow through. I was able to hit very heavy drives to score points quickly with this weight setup. However, I really wouldn't consider this to be a very practical setup for most people, since if you're reading this, you probably want the paddle to remain maneuverable."

Setup 2 (recommended): 24g, removing the head weight. Swing weight 92 → 104.

"By removing the 12 grams of weight from the head of the paddle, it becomes much more maneuverable again... 104 is still what I would consider in the 'ultra-light' category. So, even with a significant amount of weight added, the paddle is still light, and you are getting the performance benefits of added weight."

Olson's bottom line on the setup:

"I found this to be the best balance between keeping it light, and enhancing the overall playability of the paddle... The 24 gram weight setup firmly places this paddle in the power category, but it isn't going to reach the power of paddles like the Selkirk Boomstik, Gearbox GX2 Power, Six Zero Black Opal, or Luzz Inferno. After weight, it's around the mid-tier power category."

For the broader lead-tape decision tree across paddles, see our pickleball paddle lead tape guide which now includes the Aurelius's 24g recipe alongside Olson's other named-paddle setups.

The launch-angle quirk

Olson flagged a less-common observation worth knowing about:

"Launch angle isn't something I talk about often, but I did feel that it was something I was picking up on with the Aurelius 12.7mm. I consistently found my drives, and resets coming off the paddle face a lot lower than I was expecting. The first handful of games I was missing just below the tape more often than I would expect."

Translation: expect a brief adjustment period. Targets that work on other paddles will land below the net here until you adjust your aim.

What players say

Owner-aggregate scoring data was not extractable from Franklin's product page widget at this writing. Anna Leigh Waters' signature line typically generates a high-volume but newer review base; we'll re-aggregate this page once we can verify owner numbers from the brand directly.

Where the Aurelius fits

For comparable ultra-light, short-handle alternatives, Olson explicitly recommends the Pickle Poppers Pop N Pink as a Gen 4 (full-foam) alternative if you don't need the Gen 3 build. For better-balanced Gen 4 foam paddles in the same price range, see our Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro at $99 (Olson 8/10) or Bread & Butter Loco at $199 (Olson 9/10). For the full foam-paddle landscape, see our best foam pickleball paddles 2026 guide.

For the smaller-grip and lighter-swing-weight context specifically, our best pickleball paddles for women guide covers more of the smaller-handed-player landscape with cross-comparisons across multiple brands.

Who should buy it

Players whose specs needs are: ultra-light swing weight (under 105), short handle (under 5.3"), thin grip (4.0"), Gen 3 polymer-honeycomb construction. Anna Leigh Waters fans buying her signature paddle. Players already comfortable with lead-tape tuning who want a customizable platform. Smaller-handed players struggling with the 4.125"+ stock grip on most premium paddles.

Who should not buy it

Most rec players. Players who want plug-and-play feel without weight tuning. Players who want maximum power; the Aurelius is mid-tier even fully weighted. Players with bigger hands or longer forearms (the 5.1" handle is short for the category). Players who want a full-foam Gen 4 build with the latest texture technology (Permagrit, HexGrit, Diamond Tough); the Aurelius is Gen 3 polymer honeycomb.

About this review

Aggregated review built around Pickleball Studio's First Impressions verdict (6/10). We have not personally played this paddle. Pickleball Studio's First Impressions format is shorter than their full reviews; we'll re-aggregate this page once they publish a long-form follow-up. Owner-aggregate scoring data was not extractable from Franklin's product page widget at this writing.

Sources

• Chris Olson, Pickleball Studio: Franklin Aurelius 12.7mm First Impressions (6/10)
• Pickleball Studio on YouTube
• Franklin Aurelius product page