Franklin Sports makes sporting goods aimed largely at youth and recreational play. Two things matter more than price: fitting equipment to a growing child, and buying protective gear that is actually certified.
Protective gear needs certification
Start here, because it is the part where getting it wrong causes injury.
Franklin Sports helmets, face guards and chest protectors, like any sold for organised play, generally need to meet a recognised safety standard, and many leagues require a specific certification mark. Check what your league mandates before buying.
A helmet without the required marking may not be permitted in games, and more importantly has not been tested to that standard.
Replace any helmet after a significant impact, even if it looks undamaged. Protective foam is designed to crush once.
Helmets also have a service life — the materials degrade. Check for a date stamp and replace ageing gear rather than handing it down indefinitely.
Fit matters as much as certification. A helmet that moves when the child shakes their head is not protecting them.
Sizing a glove
Baseball and softball gloves are sized in inches, measured from the heel to the top of the index finger.
Size by age and position rather than by wanting room to grow. A glove that is too big cannot be closed by a small hand, which means dropped catches and frustration.
Younger players need smaller, lighter gloves, and the Franklin Sports youth range is built around that, with a softer break-in. Outfield gloves are longer than infield gloves; catcher's mitts are different again.
Check the hand orientation. A glove worn on the left hand is for a right-handed thrower — this is stated as "right hand throw" and it catches people out every season.
Break a new Franklin Sports glove in by playing with it, working the leather and using a glove wrap. Do not put it in an oven or microwave — that damages the leather and the lacing, whatever the internet says.
Buying for a growing child
The tension here is real: equipment is expensive and children outgrow it within a season or two.
The sensible split: do not economise on protective gear, which has to fit correctly now to work at all. Do economise on things where a slightly imperfect fit is harmless.
Buying protective equipment a size up "to last" defeats its purpose. A loose helmet or chest protector does not protect.
Check whether your league or club runs an equipment loan scheme before buying a full Franklin Sports set for a child trying a sport for the first time.
Recreational versus competition grade
Franklin Sports covers both backyard play and organised sport, and the products are built differently.
Franklin Sports recreational gear is lighter, cheaper and fine for a garden. It is not built for a season of competitive use and will not last one.
If a child is playing in a league, buy to the league's specification. If they are playing in the garden, the Franklin Sports recreational line is exactly right and paying more is waste.
Care
Dry Franklin Sports gear properly after use. Kit left damp in a bag grows mould and the smell never fully leaves.
Condition a leather Franklin Sports glove occasionally with a proper glove conditioner, sparingly. Over-oiling makes leather heavy and floppy.
Check laces and stitching regularly. A lace replaced cheaply saves a glove; a lace left to fail takes the glove with it.
Franklin Sports pickleball
Franklin Sports has become one of the biggest names in pickleball, and its X-40 outdoor ball is widely used in tournament play.
Outdoor and indoor balls are different. Outdoor balls are harder with smaller holes to cope with wind and rough courts; indoor balls are softer and bounce differently. Buy the Franklin Sports ball that matches where you play.
If you play in sanctioned events, check that a Franklin Sports paddle is on the current approved list for your governing body before buying it for competition. For social play, pick a paddle by weight: lighter is easier on the arm, heavier gives more power.
Where the Franklin Sports savings are
Franklin Sports discounts regularly, with a lot of creator codes at one level. These three cover it:
Try summer26 first, since 20% beats the rest. Because so many Franklin Sports codes sit at 15%, any working one of those gets the same outcome. Several are single-use and may be spent — test a couple at checkout.
End-of-season clearance is the deepest reduction, and sports equipment does not change year to year. Buying at the end of a season for the next one is straightforward value, provided you size for the child they will be, not the child they are.
Franklin Sports equipment is also stocked by large sports and general retailers, so compare the price there before applying a code on the Franklin Sports site.
Common questions
Should I buy protective gear a size up?
No. Loose protective equipment does not protect. Fit it now and replace it when outgrown.
How do I size a glove?
By age and playing position, in inches. Too big means a child cannot close it.
Can I bake a glove to break it in?
No. Heat damages the leather and lacing. Work it in by playing and using a wrap.
Which Franklin Sports pickleball should I buy?
An outdoor ball for outdoor courts and an indoor ball for gyms. They are not interchangeable.
| Discount | Type | Get the deal |
|---|---|---|
| 20% Off Storewide | Promo code | View at Franklin Sports → |
| 15% Off Storewide | Promo code | View at Franklin Sports → |
| 15% Off Storewide | Promo code | View at Franklin Sports → |
| 15% Off Storewide | Promo code | View at Franklin Sports → |
