CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
Same foam platform, one generation apart — the standard upgrade question inside CRBN's line. Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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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
CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage | CRBN 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 |
CRBN 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 CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid verdict
The widest sweet spot we have measured 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
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is plow through: CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid scores 88 against 63 for CRBN 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 CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 25 points (88 vs 63).
Swing weight
CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 23 points (76 vs 53).
Twist weight
CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 23 points (88 vs 65).
Maneuverability
CRBN 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 CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
CRBN 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
CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
CRBN 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 shape — hybrid on the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, hybrid 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 shape — hybrid on the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, hybrid on the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
Take CRBN 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 CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid review →CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
Take CRBN 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 CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage review →CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage FAQ
- Which is better, the CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid or the CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage?
- CRBN 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 CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 25 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage, at 102 kg·cm² swing weight against 115 for CRBN 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 CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid or the CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage?
- CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid measures 90 on power against 87 for CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage. That comes from a 14 mm Full TruFoam injected core core swinging at 115 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- CRBN 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?
- CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage scores 92 for spin off its Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face face, against 90 for the Raw T700 carbon face on CRBN 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 CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, with 7 twist weight against 6.1. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid carries the higher forgiveness score (88) as a result.
- 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 CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid: 14 mm Full TruFoam injected core core with a Raw T700 carbon face. CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage: 14 mm TruFoam™ Floating Core core with a Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- CRBN 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. CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- CRBN 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 CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage to the CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. CRBN 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
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Read the full reviews: CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage and CRBN CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.