CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (88.3 vs 86.9), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Spin
Too close to call
93 vs 90
Control
93 vs 86
Forgiveness
Too close to call
88 vs 85
Hand speed
115 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$270 at IQ 86.9 vs $280 at IQ 88.3
Overall pick: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 · $280 · IQ 88.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 90Power90
- 86Control93
- 90Spin93
- 88Forgiveness85
- 90Sweet spot87
- 90Stability90
- 74Maneuverability71
- 86Pop85
- 82Touch90
- 86Consistency92
- 76Swing weight79
- 88Twist weight85
- 56Launch angle55
- 88Plow through88
- 70Softness84
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid | JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $270 — better | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.9 | 88.3 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 115 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 7 — better | 6.5 |
| Shape | hybrid | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.3 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Full TruFoam injected core | Gen 4 foam-injected polymer |
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.
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 verdict
JOOLA's foam-era flagship. It keeps the Perseus hybrid footprint but adds perimeter foam, so drives leave hotter without the control numbers collapsing.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 scores 84 against 70 for CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($270 vs $280) that it should not break the tie.
Softness
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 14 points (84 vs 70).
Touch
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 8 points (90 vs 82).
Control
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 7 points (93 vs 86).
Consistency
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 6 points (92 vs 86).
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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (88.3 vs 87.9 on the weighted index). Neither has an advantage here — buy on availability, colourway or whichever grip feels better in hand.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is a narrow pick at this level — control 93 vs 86, touch 90 vs 82, spin 93 vs 90. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Control
- Touch
- Spin
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is a narrow pick at this level — touch 90 vs 82, control 93 vs 86, spin 93 vs 90. Swing weight 118 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Touch
- Control
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 84 vs 70. Its 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
Take CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid if you prefer a 14 mm Full TruFoam injected core — it gives up nothing measurable to JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16.
Read the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid review →JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16
Take JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 if you want softness (+14), touch (+8), control (+7). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 review →CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid or the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (88.3 vs 86.9), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, at 115 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16. 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 JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 90 for power.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 at 93 versus 86. 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?
- JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 scores 93 for spin off its Raw Toray T700 carbon face, against 90 for the Raw T700 carbon face on CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid. In practice a 3-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 85). Its 7 twist weight against 6.5 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. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16: 16 mm Gen 4 foam-injected polymer core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon 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. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both are listed at 8.3 oz, though swing weight differs (115 vs 118) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid to the JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16 leads on softness by 14 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $270 vs $280, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs CRBN-1X
- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs Coral Pro
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- Perseus Pro IV 16 vs OMNI 16
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Guides featuring these paddles
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Read the full reviews: CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid and JOOLA Perseus Pro IV 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.