CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Two of the most-discussed foam-injected elongated paddles of the season, both bought for spin and put-away power. Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick-handling 14 mm foam against a heavy elongated spin-and-drive build.
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage or RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2: which should you choose?
These two sit at opposite ends of the swing-weight scale, and that is the whole decision. The CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage is the fast paddle: 102 swing weight, 93 manoeuvrability, a 14 mm TruFoam floating core and a 16.2-inch hybrid face. The RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2 is the heavy one: 117 swing weight, 72 manoeuvrability, a 16 mm tri-density core with an EVA foam ring in a 16.5-inch elongated face. What the RPM buys with that weight is output and margin — power 92 against 87, pop 88 against 81, plow-through 88 against 63, stability 88 against 75, and spin at 94 against 92. It takes the overall score 86.3 to 82.6. The Barrage's case is hand speed and touch: 88 against 82. Pick on whether you lose more points late in firefights or on drives that lack weight.
- Choose the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage if you get beaten by speed-ups and want the quickest paddle here (swing weight 102, manoeuvrability 93).
- Choose the RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want reach, spin and weight behind the ball (spin 94, power 92, plow-through 88).
Who should buy which?
Buy the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage if you are…
- The kitchen-line counter-puncher: a 15-point swing-weight difference is the largest in this matchup and it is felt in hands battles, not on drives.
- The player with shoulder or elbow load concerns who still wants a foam core — 102 swing weight at 8.0 oz is the lightest-swinging combination on this page.
- The touch-first drive player who wants to reset as well as hit: 88 touch and 87 control against 82 and 86.
Buy the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you are…
- The singles or drive-first player who wants the ball to carry: 88 plow-through against 63 is the biggest single gap in this matchup.
- The heavy topspin player — 94 spin from a CarbonBite raw carbon face with an axial carbon layup is the higher spin rating in this matchup.
- The player who blocks hard drives from the transition zone and wants the steadier face: 6.5 twist weight and 88 stability against 6.1 and 75.
Price and value
Reference prices for both can vary by retailer and neither has a verified direct price on file. On our reference data the RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2 is the cheaper record and takes the higher overall score, 86.3 against 82.6, which makes it the better value on paper. That does not settle the matchup: the Barrage's swing weight and manoeuvrability are qualities the RPM cannot offer at any price.
Quick answer
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 wins this matchup for most players: it takes power and value on Paddle DNA against the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage, which costs $280.
Power
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
92 vs 87
Spin
Too close to call
94 vs 92
Control
Too close to call
87 vs 86
Forgiveness
Too close to call
84 vs 82
Hand speed
102 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
$249.99 at IQ 86.3 vs $280 at IQ 82.6
Overall pick: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 · $249.99 · IQ 86.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 87Power92
- 87Control86
- 92Spin94
- 82Forgiveness84
- 82Sweet spot86
- 75Stability88
- 93Maneuverability72
- 81Pop88
- 88Touch82
- 81Consistency86
- 53Swing weight80
- 65Twist weight86
- 53Launch angle60
- 63Plow through88
- 79Softness74
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage 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 | CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage | RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $280 | $249.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 82.6 | 86.3 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 102 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.2 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.8 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| Core material | TruFoam™ Floating Core | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring |
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.
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 swing weight: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 80 against 53 for CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage — a 27-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, forgiveness, control, so those traits should not decide the purchase. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is $30.00999999999999 cheaper at $249.99.
Foam construction is the shared story here; what separates them is swing weight distribution and face texture.
Swing weight
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 27 points (80 vs 53).
Plow through
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 25 points (88 vs 63).
Maneuverability
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads by 21 points (93 vs 72).
Twist weight
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 21 points (86 vs 65).
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
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is the clearer pick at this level — twist weight 86 vs 65, stability 88 vs 75, sweet spot 86 vs 82. Twist weight 6.5 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 72, touch 88 vs 82, control 87 vs 86. At 102 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85 vs 86.8 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and keep the $30.00999999999999.
- Plow through
- Power
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (77.3 vs 78.9 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and keep the $30.00999999999999.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
Take CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage if you want maneuverability (+21), touch (+6), softness (+5). Its swing weight of 102 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want swing weight (+27), plow through (+25), twist weight (+21). 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 →CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 FAQ
- Which is better for spin, the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage or the RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- The RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 94 against 92 — the higher spin rating in this one-on-one comparison. Both use raw carbon faces; the RPM's CarbonBite surface with an axial carbon layup rates fractionally higher.
- Which paddle is easier to handle in fast exchanges?
- The CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage, by a wide margin: 102 swing weight against 117, and 93 manoeuvrability against 72. If hands battles are where you lose points, this is the deciding number.
- Which has more power on drives?
- The RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2. It rates 92 power, 88 pop and 88 plow-through against the Barrage's 87, 81 and 63, and its elongated 16.5-inch face adds leverage the 16.2-inch Barrage does not have.
- Is a 14 mm core a disadvantage here?
- Not for control — the Barrage's 14 mm TruFoam floating core rates 88 touch, higher than the RPM's 82. What it costs is weight behind the ball, which shows up as the 25-point plow-through gap.
- Which is better, the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 82.6), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — swing weight — RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 27 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage, at 102 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 CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 92 for power against 87 for CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage. 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?
- 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 94 for spin off its CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face, against 92 for the Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face on CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, with the higher forgiveness score (84 vs 82). Its 6.5 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 costs $249.99, $30.00999999999999 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?
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage: 14 mm TruFoam™ Floating Core with a Raw T700 Carbon Fiber 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?
- 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 84 and sweet spot 86 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?
- 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 102) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage to the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads on swing weight by 27 points; everything else is within 25 points. At $280 vs $249.99, 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:
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- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Labs Project 007 Epic 14
- 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 CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage 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.