CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 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
- 87Power88
- 87Control89
- 92Spin90
- 82Forgiveness86
- 82Sweet spot88
- 75Stability90
- 93Maneuverability72
- 81Pop83
- 88Touch86
- 81Consistency88
- 53Swing weight76
- 65Twist weight86
- 53Launch angle55
- 63Plow through86
- 79Softness80
Specs
| $280 | Price | $275 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 mm | Core | 16 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 8 oz |
| 102 | Swing weight | 116 |
| 6.1 | Twist weight | 6.8 |
| hybrid | Shape | elongated |
| Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face | Surface | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture |
| 5.5 in | Handle | 5.5 in |
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.
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 verdict
Gearbox's rib-suspended SSTCore feels unlike any honeycomb paddle: firmer through contact, quieter on resets, and unusually consistent shot to shot. You pay $275 for that engineering.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is swing weight: Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 76 against 53 for CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage — a 23-point gap. They are effectively level on control, spin, pop, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($275 vs $280) that it should not break the tie.
Swing weight
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 23 points (76 vs 53).
Plow through
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 23 points (86 vs 63).
Maneuverability
CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads by 21 points (93 vs 72).
Twist weight
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 21 points (86 vs 65).
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you want swing weight (+23), plow through (+23), twist weight (+21). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
Take CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage if you want maneuverability (+21). Its swing weight of 102 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.8 vs 82.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 23 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage, at 102 kg·cm² swing weight against 116 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 measures 88 on power against 87 for CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage. That comes from a 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core swinging at 116 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 89 versus 87. 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 CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage scores 92 for spin off its Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face face, against 90 for the Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face on Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, with 6.8 twist weight against 6.1. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $5 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16: 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core with a Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture 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?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, 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 Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 8 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 102) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage to the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads on swing weight by 23 points; everything else is within 23 points. At $275 vs $280, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-1X
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Infinity Ruby 16
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Nova R1
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage and Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.