CRBN-3X Power Series vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. CRBN-3X Power Series takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Quick answer
CRBN-3X Power Series wins this matchup for most players: it takes control, forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, which costs $249.99.
Power
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
92 vs 87
Spin
Too close to call
94 vs 93
Control
90 vs 86
Forgiveness
89 vs 84
Hand speed
114 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
$170 at IQ 87.9 vs $249.99 at IQ 86.3
Overall pick: CRBN-3X Power Series · $170 · IQ 87.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 87Power92
- 90Control86
- 93Spin94
- 89Forgiveness84
- 90Sweet spot86
- 88Stability88
- 74Maneuverability72
- 84Pop88
- 88Touch82
- 89Consistency86
- 74Swing weight80
- 88Twist weight86
- 55Launch angle60
- 84Plow through88
- 78Softness74
CRBN-3X Power Series vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | CRBN-3X Power Series | RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $170 — better | $249.99 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 87.9 — better | 86.3 |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.6 — better | 6.5 |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb with foam-injected edges | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring |
CRBN-3X Power Series verdict
The 3X keeps the 1X length but widens the face to 7.5 in and shortens the handle to 5.25 in, which buys a noticeably larger sweet spot at the cost of two-handed backhand room.
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 verdict
The James Ignatowich signature build is an unapologetic attack paddle: 16.5 in of reach, a grippy CarbonBite face and a tri-density core that launches drives without giving up the sweet spot the first V2 lacked.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is touch: CRBN-3X Power Series scores 88 against 82 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 — a 6-point gap. They are effectively level on consistency, maneuverability, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. CRBN-3X Power Series is $79.99000000000001 cheaper at $170.
Touch
CRBN-3X Power Series leads by 6 points (88 vs 82).
Swing weight
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 6 points (80 vs 74).
Power
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 5 points (92 vs 87).
Forgiveness
CRBN-3X Power Series leads by 5 points (89 vs 84).
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
CRBN-3X Power Series
CRBN-3X Power Series is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 89 vs 84, sweet spot 90 vs 86, consistency 89 vs 86. Twist weight 6.6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.9 vs 85 on the weighted index). Take CRBN-3X Power Series and keep the $79.99000000000001.
- Touch
- Control
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.7 vs 86.8 on the weighted index). Take CRBN-3X Power Series and keep the $79.99000000000001.
- Power
- Plow through
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
CRBN-3X Power Series
CRBN-3X Power Series is a narrow pick at this level — softness 78 vs 74, forgiveness 89 vs 84, twist weight 88 vs 86. Its 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb with foam-injected edges core at 8 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
CRBN-3X Power Series
Take CRBN-3X Power Series if you want touch (+6), forgiveness (+5), control (+4). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN-3X Power Series review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want swing weight (+6), power (+5), launch angle (+5). Its swing weight of 117 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 review →CRBN-3X Power Series vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 FAQ
- Which is better, the CRBN-3X Power Series or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- CRBN-3X Power Series carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.9 vs 86.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — touch — CRBN-3X Power Series leads by 6 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- CRBN-3X Power Series, at 114 kg·cm² swing weight against 117 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the CRBN-3X Power Series or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 92 for power against 87 for CRBN-3X Power Series. That comes from a 16 mm Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring core swinging at 117 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- CRBN-3X Power Series at 90 versus 86. 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 94 for spin off its CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face, against 93 for the Raw T700 carbon face on CRBN-3X Power Series. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- CRBN-3X Power Series, with the higher forgiveness score (89 vs 84). 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-3X Power Series costs $170, $79.99000000000001 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-3X Power Series: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb with foam-injected edges core with a Raw T700 carbon face. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2: 16 mm Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring core with a CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- CRBN-3X Power Series is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 89 and sweet spot 90 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 7.9 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (117 vs 114) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 to the CRBN-3X Power Series?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. CRBN-3X Power Series leads on touch by 6 points; everything else is within 6 points. At $170 vs $249.99, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- CRBN-3X Power Series vs 2X Power Series
- CRBN-3X Power Series vs Perseus CFS 16
- CRBN-3X Power Series vs Double Black Diamond Control
- CRBN-3X Power Series vs Luxx Control Air
- CRBN-3X Power Series vs Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN-1X Power Series
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- CRBN-3X Power Series vs Coral Pro
- CRBN-3X Power Series vs Infinity Ruby 16
- CRBN-3X Power Series vs J2CR
- CRBN-3X Power Series vs CRBN-1X
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Ultré Power 2
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs 1X TruFoam Power
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Agassi Pro 16
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs Hyperion Pro V 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put CRBN-3X Power Series and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: CRBN-3X Power Series and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.