Is it a ping pong paddle on steroids? Well, no but close…The FS Tour Featherweight paddles are simply a new very lightweight spinoff from the FS Tour line-up from Franklin Sports. It includes two versions – the Tempo and Dynasty. Today, I am sharing my review for the Tempo 12 (12 indicating the thickness in millimeters), which is the shorter of the two versions.
If you are looking for a paddle to deliver quick maneuverability and touch for fast reaction play at the kitchen line, this could work well for you. However, after playing with it for a few weeks, it doesn’t deliver as much pop, spin and power as I like.
I rate the paddle a solid 3.75 out of 5 balls, especially given its $150 price tag. Despite this, I still enjoy playing with it and find that it serves a specific purpose for me.
Lightweight Comfort: 12mm polymer core for maximum comfort.
Pro-Level Specs: Retains all specifications of the original FS Tour Series in a lighter version.
Enhanced Sweet Spot: Thermoformed epoxy resin-injected unibody frame for increased shot power.
Superior Grip: Textured paddle grip.
Precision Control: T700 carbon fiber surface allows for spin and pinpoint accuracy.
By The Numbers
| Length | 15.9” |
| Width | 8” |
| Thickness | 12mm |
| Grip Length | 5” |
| Grip Circumference | 4.3” |
| Weight | 7.48 oz (as tested) |
Nuts And Bolts
- Polypropylene core, unibody core and frame
- High density foam injection around perimeter
- T700 carbon fiber face
- Substantial, non-slip wrapped grip
- Medium profile protective edge guard
- One color version – black with white frame/handle
- USA Pickleball-approved
Game on… The Play Testing
First Impressions
Out of the box and unwrapping the plastic from the handle, this paddle felt great! My first impression is – this is light! And it is. Secondly, the grip felt great – textured and sticky enough – but just a tad short for me.
Your first inclination is to swing it around fast like a fly swatter and it felt like an oversized ping pong paddle… agile and maneuverable.
Handle Design
I also noticed that the sweeping handle design at the end of the grip wrap, extending to the paddle face, made the handle feel a bit longer. This shape allowed me to easily adjust my grip as needed for different shots.
First Game Experience
My first game with the paddle left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. I was up against a couple of bangers and felt like I had to match their power, which isn’t always the best strategy.
I wasn’t getting enough pop, but the control was definitely there. My spins were decent, but nothing jaw-dropping.
Kitchen Line Play
During my next session, I focused more on kitchen line play and defending some bangers and drives. Dinks, drops and quick near-court pick-ups were easy with this paddle. Control was great. The sweetspot was large enough as well.
Wall Drills
My next play was for wall drills to work on accuracy and backhand dinks. It worked great for this, and I really enjoyed it.
The paddle lived up to being maneuverable and quick so I could respond and change quickly from forehand and backhand.
The fast swingweight and twistweight was evident.
Outdoor Rec Play & Paddle Comparison
Additional outdoor rec play confirmed the paddle provided great control and easy swings. The spin and pop power were better than average paddles, but nothing like some other paddles with heavier weight and better grit faces like the Holbrook Mav Pro 2.0, Diadem 18K Speed Pro or Selkirk Invikta Pro Amped.
The Final Score
The paddle was fun to play with, especially in casual rec play where I want a fast swing and transition with a very lightweight paddle or when I am playing or teaching beginning to level 2 players.
For me, it offers great control and touch. But compared to other paddles in the price range or even below, it fell a bit short in spin and power.
Pickle on my friends, pickle on…
