CRBN-1X vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (88.3 vs 87.5), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
90 vs 89
Spin
Too close to call
94 vs 93
Control
93 vs 89
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 85
Hand speed
Too close to call
118 vs 119 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$220 at IQ 87.5 vs $280 at IQ 88.3
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 · $280 · IQ 88.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 89Power90
- 89Control93
- 94Spin93
- 86Forgiveness85
- 88Sweet spot87
- 89Stability90
- 71Maneuverability71
- 83Pop85
- 87Touch90
- 89Consistency92
- 79Swing weight79
- 88Twist weight85
- 57Launch angle55
- 88Plow through88
- 78Softness84
CRBN-1X vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | CRBN-1X | JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $220 — better | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 87.5 | 88.3 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 119 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.6 — better | 6.5 |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.4 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Foam-injected edge-wall polymer | Gen 4 foam-injected polymer |
CRBN-1X verdict
The spin-first elongated build for players who care about how a paddle is made. Foam-injected edge walls widen the sweet spot on a shape that usually punishes off-center contact.
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 verdict
JOOLA's foam-era flagship. It keeps the Perseus hybrid footprint but adds perimeter foam, so drives leave hotter without the control numbers collapsing.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 scores 84 against 78 for CRBN-1X — a 6-point gap. They are effectively level on touch, consistency, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. CRBN-1X is $60 cheaper at $220.
Softness
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 6 points (84 vs 78).
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 4 points (93 vs 89).
Which one is right for your level?
Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (87.9 vs 87.9 on the weighted index). Take CRBN-1X and keep the $60.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.1 vs 87.3 on the weighted index). Take CRBN-1X and keep the $60.
- Control
- Touch
- Consistency
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (87.3 vs 88.3 on the weighted index). Take CRBN-1X and keep the $60.
- Touch
- Control
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 84 vs 78. Its 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
CRBN-1X
Take CRBN-1X if you prefer an elongated face and a 16 mm Foam-injected edge-wall polymer core — it gives up nothing measurable to JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16.
Read the CRBN-1X review →JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 if you want softness (+6), control (+4). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 review →CRBN-1X vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the CRBN-1X or the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88.3 vs 87.5), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 6 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16, at 118 kg·cm² swing weight against 119 for CRBN-1X. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the CRBN-1X or the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 scores 90 for power against 89 for CRBN-1X. That comes from a 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 at 93 versus 89. Its 16 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- CRBN-1X scores 94 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 93 for the Raw Toray T700 carbon face on JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- CRBN-1X, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 85). Its 6.6 twist weight against 6.5 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- CRBN-1X costs $220, $60 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- CRBN-1X: 16 mm Foam-injected edge-wall polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16: 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.5 in handle, long enough that neither forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- CRBN-1X is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 8.3 oz, though swing weight differs (119 vs 118) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the CRBN-1X to the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads on softness by 6 points; everything else is within 4 points. At $220 vs $280, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Read the full reviews: CRBN-1X and JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.