Franklin Sports Makes Its Pickleball Shoe Debut with the ACV Pro

Franklin Sports, the same brand behind the X-40 balls you’ve probably seen at every rec center in America, is taking its next big swing in the pickleball world: footwear.

The ACV Pro is Franklin’s first-ever performance pickleball shoe. And it’s not just a tennis shoe rebranded with a new colorway. This one was built from the ground up for pickleball players.

To make it happen, Franklin tapped veteran footwear designer Bryan Cioffi, a longtime industry leader with stints at Converse and Reebok, to bring the vision to life.

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“With the launch of the ACV Pro, we aimed to create a shoe that meets the demands of pickleball players at every level while standing apart from anything else on the market. Partnering with an acclaimed footwear designer, we combined advanced technology with purposeful design to help athletes move faster, play harder, and stay comfortable on and off the court,” - Adam Franklin, President of Franklin Sports

If you’ve seen Megan Fudge or Hayden Patriquin flying around the court lately, you’ve already seen the ACV Pro in action.

Why This Shoe Matters

Franklin has already proven it can play in the paddle and ball categories. Their C45 paddle line was a big leap forward earlier this year, offering pro-level performance without pricing out the average rec player.

Now they’re showing up in footwear with the same formula.

The ACV Pro is designed for comfort, court control, and long-lasting durability. A few standout features:

Aero-Step™ ventilation system: Keeps your feet cool and dry without compromising support.
Forefoot flex grooves: Allow for natural movement and quick reactions, especially at the kitchen line.
Reinforced asymmetric toe design: Reduces drag and wear during lateral movements to help the shoe last longer.
Aggressive tread pattern: Offers reliable traction on both indoor and outdoor courts.
Secure fit: The lace-to-strobel webbing system locks your foot in place, while the molded sock liner and extra heel padding keep things comfortable from start to finish.

We all know that a solid warranty matters, especially with how hard we push our shoes in pickleball.

Good news: the ACV Pro comes with Franklin’s standard 90-day warranty covering product defects, plus they’ll exchange sizes if the fit isn’t right.

The ACV Pro pickleball shoes are available now. They retail for $129.99

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Franklin understands the amateur game better than almost anyone. They’ve built gear that works for the everyday player without feeling “entry level,” and this shoe fits that same mold.

If they can do for pickleball shoes what they’ve already done for balls, this could be the start of a new chapter in gear.