Franklin C45 Anna Leigh Waters Aurelius
Our take on the Aurelius ALW
The Anna Leigh Waters C45 Aurelius is designed using Franklin’s widebody shape and is available in three thicknesses: 12.7mm, 14mm and 16mm. All of the Aurelius paddles have an extremely low swingweight, making them very maneuverable in fast exchanges at the kitchen line.
- Shape
- Widebody
- Core Thickness
- 16mm
- Core Type
- Gen 3
- Handle Length
- Short
- Certification
- Dual Certified
- Price
- $229.99
Is the Aurelius ALW worth $229.99?
Who should buy the Aurelius ALW?
How does the Aurelius ALW play?
What are the strengths and trade-offs of the Aurelius ALW?
Aurelius ALW vs Friction Pro Widebody
All Court
Franklin C45 Anna Leigh Waters Aurelius
- Shape
- Widebody
- Core Thickness
- 16mm
- Core Type
- Gen 3
Additional details
- Brand
- Franklin
- Paddle Type
- All Court
- Static Weight
- 7.6 oz
- Swing Weight
- 99
- Twist Weight
- 6.2
- Handle Length
- Short
- Certification
- Dual Certified
All Court
RPM Friction Pro V2 Widebody
- Shape
- Widebody
- Core Thickness
- 16mm
- Core Type
- Gen 3
Additional details
- Brand
- RPM
- Paddle Type
- All Court
- Static Weight
- 8 oz
- Swing Weight
- 110
- Twist Weight
- 7.2
- Handle Length
- Medium
- Certification
- USAP
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Questions people ask about the Aurelius ALW
Which Franklin paddle does Anna Leigh Waters use?
Anna Leigh Waters plays her signature Franklin C45 Aurelius, which Franklin announced in January 2026 after she left Paddletek. It comes in 12.7mm, 14mm and 16mm.
Is the Franklin C45 Anna Leigh Waters Aurelius good?
Reviewers see it as an elite speed-and-spin paddle for advanced players, with a very low swing weight of 99 in 16mm, but it lacks power and often needs added weight to feel stable.
How thick is the Franklin C45 Anna Leigh Waters Aurelius?
It comes in three core thicknesses. The 16mm version is a widebody with a short handle and a medium 6.2 twist weight.
Is the Franklin C45 Anna Leigh Waters Aurelius a foam paddle?
Not a full-foam one. It has a Gen 3 core rather than the Gen 4 full-foam construction used in many newer paddles.
How much does the Franklin C45 Anna Leigh Waters Aurelius cost?
$229.99. Its extremely low 99 swing weight makes it very maneuverable in fast exchanges at the kitchen line.
Is the Franklin C45 Anna Leigh Waters Aurelius USAP approved?
Yes, it's approved by both USA Pickleball and the UPA-A, so it's legal in any sanctioned tournament.
What are some Franklin C45 Anna Leigh Waters Aurelius alternatives?
Franklin C45 Tempo
RPM Friction Pro V2 Widebody
Franklin Red, White & Blue C45 Dynasty
How We Tested
Our paddle reviewers (all 5.0+ players) work with other high-level players in their area to test paddles on a variety of shots. This testing involves several hours of drills and games in an effort to determine how the paddle impacts performance in real-world scenarios.
We use the Life Time LT Pro 48 pickleball for our testing.