CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Proton Series One Project Black
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid wins this matchup for most players: it takes power and forgiveness on Paddle DNA against the Proton Series One Project Black, which costs $200.
Power
90 vs 86
Spin
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Forgiveness
88 vs 80
Hand speed
Too close to call
115 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Proton Series One Project Black
$200 at IQ 83.8 vs $270 at IQ 86.9
Overall pick: CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid · $270 · IQ 86.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 90Power86
- 86Control86
- 90Spin90
- 88Forgiveness80
- 90Sweet spot82
- 90Stability86
- 74Maneuverability72
- 86Pop82
- 82Touch82
- 86Consistency84
- 76Swing weight76
- 88Twist weight86
- 56Launch angle54
- 88Plow through86
- 70Softness68
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Proton Series One Project Black specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid | Proton Series One Project Black |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $270 | $200 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.9 — better | 83.8 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 115 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 7 | 7 |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| 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 carbon fiber |
| Core material | Full TruFoam injected core | Thermoformed unibody with foam walls |
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.
Proton Series One Project Black verdict
A thermoformed unibody built around stability. The foam walls push twist weight to the top of our scored range, which is why off-center drives still land deep.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is forgiveness: CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid scores 88 against 80 for Proton Series One Project Black — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on maneuverability, consistency, twist weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Proton Series One Project Black is $70 cheaper at $200.
Forgiveness
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).
Sweet spot
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 8 points (90 vs 82).
Power
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 4 points (90 vs 86).
Stability
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 4 points (90 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
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 88 vs 80, sweet spot 90 vs 82, stability 90 vs 86. Twist weight 7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 88 vs 80, power 90 vs 86, maneuverability 74 vs 72. At 115 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Forgiveness
- Power
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.8 vs 84.4 on the weighted index). Take Proton Series One Project Black and keep the $70.
- Power
- Plow through
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 88 vs 80, softness 70 vs 68, twist weight 88 vs 86. Its 14 mm Full TruFoam injected core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Forgiveness
- Softness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
Take CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid if you want forgiveness (+8), sweet spot (+8), power (+4). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid review →Proton Series One Project Black
Take Proton Series One Project Black if you prefer an elongated face and a 16 mm Thermoformed unibody with foam walls core — it gives up nothing measurable to CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid.
Read the Proton Series One Project Black review →CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Proton Series One Project Black FAQ
- Which is better, the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid or the Proton Series One Project Black?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.9 vs 83.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — forgiveness — CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, at 115 kg·cm² swing weight against 117 for Proton Series One Project Black. 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 Proton Series One Project Black?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid scores 90 for power against 86 for Proton Series One Project Black. That comes from a 14 mm Full TruFoam injected core swinging at 115 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 86 for control.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 90 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, with the higher forgiveness score (88 vs 80). Twist weight is identical at 7, so the gap comes from sweet-spot size and face stability rather than resistance to twisting.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Proton Series One Project Black costs $200, $70 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-5 TruFoam Hybrid: 14 mm Full TruFoam injected core with a Raw T700 carbon face. Proton Series One Project Black: 16 mm Thermoformed unibody with foam walls core with a Raw carbon fiber 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. Proton Series One Project Black 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 117) and that is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Proton Series One Project Black to the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads on forgiveness by 8 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $270 vs $200, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
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- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs TruFoam Genesis X
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Agassi Pro 16
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs TruFoam Genesis 3
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
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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 CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid and Proton Series One Project Black in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid and Proton Series One Project Black. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.