CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 vs RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
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 answer
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 wins this matchup for most players: it takes forgiveness, hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1, which costs $280.
Power
Too close to call
93 vs 92
Spin
Too close to call
94 vs 93
Control
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Forgiveness
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
84 vs 78
Hand speed
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
117 vs 120 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
$249.99 at IQ 86.3 vs $280 at IQ 83.4
Overall pick: RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 · $249.99 · IQ 86.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 93Power92
- 84Control86
- 93Spin94
- 78Forgiveness84
- 80Sweet spot86
- 84Stability88
- 66Maneuverability72
- 82Pop88
- 84Touch82
- 86Consistency86
- 88Swing weight80
- 74Twist weight86
- 57Launch angle60
- 93Plow through88
- 88Softness74
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 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 TruFoam Genesis 1 | RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $280 | $249.99 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 83.4 | 86.3 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.4 | 7.9 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 120 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.1 | 6.5 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.6 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.125 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup |
| Core material | TruFoam full-foam core | Tri-Density honeycomb core with EVA foam ring |
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 verdict
The elongated Genesis is the heaviest, most leveraged paddle in the TruFoam line. Full foam replaces the honeycomb core entirely, which is why it holds a plush, long-dwell feel at a 14 mm thickness that would normally play stiff.
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 softness: CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 scores 88 against 74 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 — a 14-point gap. They are effectively level on launch angle, control, touch, so those traits should not decide the purchase. RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is $30.00999999999999 cheaper at $249.99.
Softness
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads by 14 points (88 vs 74).
Twist weight
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 12 points (86 vs 74).
Swing weight
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads by 8 points (88 vs 80).
Forgiveness
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 leads by 6 points (84 vs 78).
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 74, forgiveness 84 vs 78, sweet spot 86 vs 80. Twist weight 6.5 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 is a narrow pick at this level — maneuverability 72 vs 66, forgiveness 84 vs 78, control 86 vs 84. At 117 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.8 vs 87 on the weighted index). Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 and keep the $30.00999999999999.
- Plow through
- Touch
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 is a narrow pick at this level — softness 88 vs 74. Its 14 mm TruFoam full-foam core at 8.4 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2
Take RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 if you want twist weight (+12), forgiveness (+6), sweet spot (+6). 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 TruFoam Genesis 1
Take CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 if you want softness (+14), swing weight (+8), plow through (+5). Its swing weight of 120 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 review →RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 FAQ
- Which is better, the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 or the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (86.3 vs 83.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads by 14 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2, at 117 kg·cm² swing weight against 120 for CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 or the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 scores 93 for power against 92 for RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2. That comes from a 14 mm TruFoam full-foam core swinging at 120 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 at 86 versus 84. 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?
- RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 scores 94 for spin off its CarbonBite raw carbon with Axial Carbon Layup face, against 93 for the Raw T700 carbon face on CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1. In practice a 1-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 78). 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?
- 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. CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1: 14 mm TruFoam full-foam core with a Raw T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1, at 5.6 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 TruFoam Genesis 1 avoids.
- 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. CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 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 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (117 vs 120) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 to the RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 leads on softness by 14 points; everything else is within 12 points. At $249.99 vs $280, 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
- TruFoam Genesis 1 vs TruFoam Genesis 2
- Friction Pro Elongated V2 vs CRBN-1X Power Series
- TruFoam Genesis 1 vs TruFoam Genesis 3
- TruFoam Genesis 1 vs Labs Project 006
- TruFoam Genesis 1 vs Ultré Power 2
- TruFoam Genesis 1 vs Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 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.
- TruFoam Genesis 1 vs Loco 16mm Elongated
- TruFoam Genesis 1 vs TruFoam Genesis 3
- TruFoam Genesis 1 vs Loco 16mm Hybrid
- TruFoam Genesis 1 vs Pegasus Gen 3
- 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 TruFoam Genesis 1 and RPM Pickleball Friction Pro Elongated V2 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 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.