Name: Franklin ACV Pro
Brand: Franklin Sports

When I think of Franklin Sports, I think of those company history presentations with infographics filled with milestones. From its humble beginnings of brothers repurposing leftover scraps of leather, to an era of athlete partnerships in football, to creating the first dedicated baseball glove, Franklin has quite the history.

These days, Franklin’s footprint in pickleball continues to expand as a timeline branch of its own. The latest milestone is the Franklin ACV Pro, the brand’s first ever pickleball shoe.

We’ll talk Franklin’s pickleball history later. Right now, let’s focus on the Franklin ACV Pro pickleball performance review.

What is the Franklin ACV Pro?

Key details to know about the Franklin ACV Pro:

Built-for-pickleball design that includes forefoot flex grooves to promote natural court movement
Increased traction made from an aggressive herringbone outsole pattern and pivot points
Breathability via Franklin Aero-Step insert and lightweight mesh base layer
Durability from reinforced toe design, including medial forefoot outsole wrap for toe-drags
Retail price is $130

How did the Franklin ACV Pro perform?

I can’t say enough about the Franklin ACV Pro’s outsole. I think it’s phenomenal in both visuals and performance. As expected, grip can be found in all directions without concern of quickly wearing out the thick rubber pattern. During matches, without realizing it, I even took advantage of the forefoot pivot point of my left shoe — one of the only places I could really detect wear on the outsole without putting it under a microscope.

The forefoot flex grooves and decoupled outsole prevent the thick rubber from feeling like a clunky ride, especially when transitioning forward and performing split steps. The medial rubber wrap promotes drag without worry while reaching for low bounces. Overall, the Franklin ACV Pro outsole is an intentionally designed and successful marriage of thick, durable rubber with flexibility and coverage for all court movements.

Underfoot cushion and upper materials are nothing spectacular for the most part, but they contribute well to the overall lightweight theme of the shoe. The midsole feels and performs like a general EVA foam compound that provides court feel in the forefoot and a touch more comfort in the heel where there is a higher stack height. It does begin to bottom out rather quickly, but not to a point of feeling completely dead.

For the upper, the open mesh base layer provides an ultra-breathable experience which is great for players that spend hours drilling and/or playing at a time. It’s layered with mostly non-premium leather, while a premium suede (possibly a nod to Franklin’s roots with leather scraps) wraps the toe for extra protection against wear.

While I didn’t have extreme issues with the exposed nylon cables attaching the tongue to the strobel, I would advise others with sensitivity to that type of irritation to be mindful when lacing tight. Aside from that, both the midsole and upper get the job done.

To avoid any unwanted movement with the shoe, I recommend following Franklin’s guidance on fit, which is to order a half-size down from your normal size. I personally opted for my true size as I didn’t have an opportunity to try on first and prefer a bit more toe box room for pickleball.

While fit and lockdown started out great, as the Franklin ACV Pro broke in, there was a bit more space than I’d prefer, which caused occasional slippage within the shoe and the constant need for lacing adjustment. From what I can gauge, a half size down will likely eliminate these issues while still providing a safe amount of space upfront after break in. Wide footers may be okay going true to size, but this is from the perspective of someone without a wide foot.

I had a bit of a layered experience when it comes to support in the ACV Pro. The torsional shank structured around Franklin’s Aero-Step insert at the mid foot is way too flexible to support the arch between a decoupled outsole. This heightened a pre-existing plantar fasciitis issue of mine almost immediately while playing, so I quickly grabbed a few sets of Move Gameday insoles to continue testing. I would recommend anyone with similar problems that is interested in the ACV Pro to do the same and add an extra form of torsional support. Other than that, Franklin did a great job designing a stable shoe with good lateral containment and heel support.

Who is the Franklin ACV Pro best suited for?

The Franklin ACV Pro should work best for serious pickleball players that frequently drill and play tournaments, under the caveat that they rely on their own orthotics or inserts for arch and torsional support. Most of the shoes benefits come from its use for multiple hours, including its durability, lightweight nature, and ventilation.

A day-job is a pickleball player’s worst nightmare, especially one that tests pickleball product, so neither drilling nor tournaments have been my focus this year. However, when I have free time (and a healthy foot) I can spend anywhere from two to four hours at a time in a mix of recreational open play and private court reservations. If I get a hold of another pair in a half size down and continue to stick with my insole of choice, I can easily see the ACV Pro as a top 3 personal pick for long pickleball sessions.