CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
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
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin and value on Paddle DNA against the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, which costs $270.
Power
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
94 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Forgiveness
88 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
115 vs 117 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
$249.99 at IQ 86.3 vs $270 at IQ 86.9
Overall pick: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 · $249.99 · IQ 86.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 90Power92
- 86Control86
- 90Spin94
- 88Forgiveness84
- 90Sweet spot86
- 90Stability88
- 74Maneuverability72
- 86Pop88
- 82Touch82
- 86Consistency86
- 76Swing weight80
- 88Twist weight86
- 56Launch angle60
- 88Plow through88
- 70Softness74
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid 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 | CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid | RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $270 | $249.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 86.9 — better | 86.3 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 115 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 7 — better | 6.5 |
| 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 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| Core material | Full TruFoam injected core | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring |
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.
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 spin: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 94 against 90 for CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid — a 4-point gap. They are effectively level on power, stability, maneuverability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is $20.00999999999999 cheaper at $249.99.
Spin
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 4 points (94 vs 90).
Forgiveness
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 4 points (88 vs 84).
Sweet spot
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid leads by 4 points (90 vs 86).
Swing weight
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 4 points (80 vs 76).
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 84, sweet spot 90 vs 86, stability 90 vs 88. 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.9 vs 85 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and keep the $20.00999999999999.
- Spin
- Power
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.8 vs 86.8 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and keep the $20.00999999999999.
- Spin
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (78.2 vs 78.9 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and keep the $20.00999999999999.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid
Take CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid if you want forgiveness (+4), sweet spot (+4). Its swing weight of 115 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want spin (+4), swing weight (+4), launch angle (+4). 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 →CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 FAQ
- Which is better, the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.9 vs 86.3), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — spin — RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 4 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid, at 115 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 CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid or the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 92 for power against 90 for CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid. 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?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 86 for control.
- 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 90 for the Raw T700 carbon face on CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid. In practice a 4-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 84). 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 costs $249.99, $20.00999999999999 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?
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid: 14 mm Full TruFoam injected core with a Raw T700 carbon 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?
- 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. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 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 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (117 vs 115) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 to the CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads on spin by 4 points; everything else is within 4 points. At $270 vs $249.99, 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.
- CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- 11SIX24 Ultré Power 2 vs RPM Friction Pro Elongated V2
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Mod TA-15 3S 16
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Coral Pro
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs TruFoam Genesis X
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Agassi Pro 16
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs 1X TruFoam Power
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Labs 008 Project 16
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Mach 2 Forza 16
- CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid vs Agassi Pro 16
- 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 CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: CRBN-5 TruFoam Hybrid 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.