CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
Same foam platform, one generation apart — the standard upgrade question inside CRBN's line. Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid 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-5 TruFoam Hybrid edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (86.9 vs 82.6), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
90 vs 87
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
87 vs 86
Forgiveness
88 vs 82
Hand speed
102 vs 115 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$270 at IQ 86.9 vs $280 at IQ 82.6
Overall pick: CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid · $270 · IQ 86.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 87Power90
- 87Control86
- 92Spin90
- 82Forgiveness88
- 82Sweet spot90
- 75Stability90
- 93Maneuverability74
- 81Pop86
- 88Touch82
- 81Consistency86
- 53Swing weight76
- 65Twist weight88
- 53Launch angle56
- 63Plow through88
- 79Softness70
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage | CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $280 | $270 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 82.6 | 86.9 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 14 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 102 | 115 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 7 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.8 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face | Raw T700 carbon |
| Core material | TruFoam™ Floating Core | Full TruFoam injected core |
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage verdict
The Barrage is CRBN's power interpretation of the TruFoam platform: a 14 mm hybrid whose full-foam core keeps the ball on the face longer than any thermoformed build at this power level.
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid verdict
The widest sweet-spot score in the TruFoam line. Twist weight 88 with sweet spot 90 means off-center contact barely changes the ball, which is why foam paddles keep winning tournaments.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is plow through: CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid scores 88 against 63 for CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage — a 25-point gap. They are effectively level on power, launch angle, spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($270 vs $280) that it should not break the tie.
Plow through
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 25 points (88 vs 63).
Swing weight
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 23 points (76 vs 53).
Twist weight
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 23 points (88 vs 65).
Maneuverability
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads by 19 points (93 vs 74).
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-5 TruFoam Hybrid
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 88 vs 65, stability 90 vs 75, sweet spot 90 vs 82. Twist weight 7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Stability
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 93 vs 74, touch 88 vs 82, spin 92 vs 90. At 102 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.8 vs 85 on the weighted index). Pick on static weight — 8.3 oz on the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, 8 oz on the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage.
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (78.2 vs 77.3 on the weighted index). Pick on static weight — 8.3 oz on the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, 8 oz on the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
Take CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid if you want plow through (+25), swing weight (+23), twist weight (+23). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid review →CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
Take CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage if you want maneuverability (+19), softness (+9), touch (+6). Its swing weight of 102 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage review →CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage FAQ
- Which is better, the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid or the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.9 vs 82.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 25 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage, at 102 kg·cm² swing weight against 115 for CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid or the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid scores 90 for power against 87 for CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage. That comes from a 14 mm Full TruFoam injected core swinging at 115 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage at 87 versus 86. Its 14 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?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage scores 92 for spin off its Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face, against 90 for the Raw T700 carbon face on CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 82). Its 7 twist weight against 6.1 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $10 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid: 14 mm Full TruFoam injected core with a Raw T700 carbon face. CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage: 14 mm TruFoam™ Floating Core with a Raw T700 Carbon Fiber 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-5 TruFoam Hybrid is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 90 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage at 8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (102 vs 115) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage to the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads on plow through by 25 points; everything else is within 23 points. At $270 vs $280, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a hand speed vs plow through decision
Browse every head-to-head that splits on the same trade-off:
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs JOOLA Perseus Pro V 14
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs TruFoam Genesis 2
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs J6CR
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Mod TA-15 3S 16
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Coral Pro
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs TruFoam Genesis 3
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Mod TA-15 3S 16
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Coral Hybrid 16
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Pursuit Pro1 6.0 Hybrid
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Coral Pro Hybrid UPA-A
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Labs Project 007 Epic 14
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs 1X TruFoam Power
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Labs 008 Project 16
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Agassi Pro 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 CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage and CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage and CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.