CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage 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
- 87Power92
- 87Control78
- 92Spin88
- 82Forgiveness71
- 82Sweet spot73
- 75Stability76
- 93Maneuverability79
- 81Pop93
- 88Touch74
- 81Consistency79
- 53Swing weight68
- 65Twist weight62
- 53Launch angle61
- 63Plow through84
- 79Softness58
Specs
| $280 | Price | $250 |
|---|---|---|
| 14 mm | Core | 14 mm |
| 8 oz | Weight | 7.9 oz |
| 102 | Swing weight | 114 |
| 6.1 | Twist weight | 5.6 |
| hybrid | Shape | elongated |
| Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face | Surface | Quadcarbon face |
| 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.
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air verdict
Explosive acceleration and crisp feedback for players who create their own control. The air-dynamic throat cuts drag noticeably on fast swings.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is plow through: Selkirk Vanguard Power Air scores 84 against 63 for CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage — a 21-point gap. They are effectively level on twist weight, consistency, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air is $30 cheaper at $250.
Plow through
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads by 21 points (84 vs 63).
Softness
CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads by 21 points (79 vs 58).
Swing weight
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads by 15 points (68 vs 53).
Maneuverability
CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage leads by 14 points (93 vs 79).
Which one should you buy?
CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
Take CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage if you want softness (+21), maneuverability (+14), touch (+14). Its swing weight of 102 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage review →Selkirk Vanguard Power Air
Take Selkirk Vanguard Power Air if you want plow through (+21), swing weight (+15), pop (+12). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air review →CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs Selkirk Vanguard Power Air FAQ
- Which is better, the CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage or the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (82.6 vs 78.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — plow through — Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads by 21 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage, at 102 kg·cm² swing weight against 114 for Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage or the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air measures 92 on power against 87 for CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage. That comes from a 14 mm X5 polypropylene core swinging at 114 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage at 87 versus 78. 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 88 for the Quadcarbon face face on Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. In practice a 4-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage, with 6.1 twist weight against 5.6. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage carries the higher forgiveness score (82) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air costs $250, $30 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 CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage: 14 mm TruFoam™ Floating Core core with a Raw T700 Carbon Fiber Face face. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air: 14 mm X5 polypropylene core with a Quadcarbon face face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage, 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 CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 82 and sweet spot 82 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Selkirk Vanguard Power Air at 7.9 oz against 8 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 102) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air to the CRBN CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Selkirk Vanguard Power Air leads on plow through by 21 points; everything else is within 21 points. At $280 vs $250, 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
- Vanguard Power Air vs Bantam TKO-C 14
- Vanguard Power Air vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- Vanguard Power Air vs CX14E Ultimate Power
- Vanguard Power Air vs Pursuit Pro MX 12.7
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 Selkirk Vanguard Power Air. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.