The Franklin Parris Todd C45° is perhaps the lightest paddle I’ve ever swung. I played with it for more than 15 hours, but from the very first rally, I felt quicker at the net, like my hands had an extra gear.
I could take balls out of the air, roll them to corners, and attack lobs with confidence that I'd keep it in play.
But the same thing that makes it fun — the featherweight feel — also holds it back. It simply doesn’t hit very hard.
Floaters I usually bury kept coming back, and I had to swing bigger than normal to finish. At $229.95, that’s worth knowing going in.
Blinding quickness, limited put-away power
Two things stood out immediately: it’s shockingly light, and it creates easy spin.
I was often early to contact in hand battles and felt free to be more creative—chipping angles, attacking lobs, and whipping flicks at the shoulder without sailing long.
The tradeoff showed up whenever I needed a ball to end the point. Even on high shots, I had to really commit to the swing.
After adding significant lead tape, I could drive through the court better and the paddle felt steadier on off-center hits, but it never turned into a true “put-away” weapon.
If you already swing big and want a fast, spin-happy platform to customize, this lane will make sense. If you want easy power at this price, you’ll likely be left wanting.
Compared with my main paddle (the CRBN Genesis), the difference was obvious. My go-to brings much more pop with less effort. With the C45°, I had to supply most of the power myself.
✅ What stands out
Feather-light quickness
The paddle is so light that I was beating opponents to contact on rapid-fire exchanges. It let me block, counter, and re-direct without feeling late or jammed.
Serious spin
Because I could accelerate so easily, I was able to generate enough topspin to save points. Shoulder-high balls were easy to pinpoint and I attacked lobs back down into the court instead of sailing them long.
I found myself aiming for sharper sideline targets and short cross-court dinks. The ball dipped quickly, so I could be bold without paying for it.
Solid sweet spot
Hit the middle and the launch is steady. Resets, drop volleys, and third-shot drops settled in after a short adjustment.
❌ What to consider
Low on power
This is simply not a power paddle. Even when I timed my shots well, I often needed extra swing speed to get enough power to put the ball away.
If you don’t naturally hit through the ball, the C45° won’t give you free depth. I had to remind myself to swing through everything, even routine drives.
Prone to mishits
Because the paddle is so light, it tended to twist in my hand and lead to more mishits than I'm accustomed to.
Not beginner-friendly
For a new player, this paddle is too light and too sensitive when you hit off-center. Newer players will have an easier time with something heavier and more stable out of the box.
How the Franklin Parris Todd C45° plays
| Category | Rating | Notes |
| Power | 6/10 | It’s simply under-powered. I could finish points only after big swings or with a ton of added lead, and even then it wasn’t a true power paddle. |
| Control | 8/10 | Hitting the center gives a steady, repeatable response. Once I trusted a fuller swing, drops and resets landed where I wanted. |
| Spin | 9.5/10 | The paddle moves fast, so the ball bites and dives. Drives, flicks, and attacking lobs stayed in when I aimed aggressive targets. |
| Forgiveness | 7/10 | Clean contact feels friendly. Miss the middle and the paddle can twist until you add some weight for stability. |
| Weighting | 7/10 | It’s extremely light, which is the whole point. Most players will want to add tape to make it steadier and a little stronger. |
| Grip | 9/10 | The handle feels secure and comfortable. I never had slipping, even in heat, and didn’t need an overgrip. |
| Durability | 9/10 | After 15+ hours, it still looked and played the same. Nothing loosened up or felt tired. |
| Aerodynamics | 10/10 | It slices through the air with almost no effort. My hands felt faster on every quick exchange. |
Features that matter
- Thin core: The paddle has an unusually thin 13.25mm core, which helps it feel quick and easy to swing. You get a crisp, lively hit and tons of feedback, which helps with touch shots and shaping spin. The tradeoff is less built-in punch—great for control and creativity, but you’ll likely add weight if you want easier put-aways.
- Bold design: The shiny chrome accents and two colorways (lilac or pink/blue) look sharp in person and are easy to spot in a bag. It’s a “statement” paddle that drew compliments every session. Style doesn’t change the shot, but there’s something to be said for pulling out a paddle that makes you feel confident.
- 45-degree face: The carbon fiber is laid on a slight angle so the whole face has a natural, even texture. In plain English: The ball “grips” the surface the same way across the paddle, which makes spin feel easy and predictable, whether you’re rolling a shoulder-high volley, shaping a third-shot drop, or attacking a lob without sending it long.
Who the Franklin Parris Todd C45° is for
The C45° could work for advanced players who already hit hard and want a lightning-fast paddle they can tune. If your game leans into angles, countering at the kitchen, and attacking lobs that fall in late, you’ll like what this can do. If you prefer easy, out-of-the-box power, this isn’t it.
The Franklin Parris Todd C45° is a gorgeous, ultra-light spin machine that makes you feel faster and braver with your targets. For me, the power gap is too big, especially at a premium price ($229.95). Big swingers who enjoy tinkering will have fun; most others will want more punch without the extra work.Today's best deals
