CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
Quick answer
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 wins this matchup for most players: it takes hand speed on Paddle DNA against the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, which costs $275.
Power
Too close to call
88 vs 87
Spin
Too close to call
92 vs 90
Control
Too close to call
89 vs 89
Forgiveness
Too close to call
89 vs 86
Hand speed
113 vs 116 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$275 at IQ 86.8 vs $280 at IQ 87.9
Overall pick: CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 · $280 · IQ 87.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 87Power88
- 89Control89
- 92Spin90
- 89Forgiveness86
- 91Sweet spot88
- 90Stability90
- 74Maneuverability72
- 79Pop83
- 88Touch86
- 89Consistency88
- 78Swing weight76
- 91Twist weight86
- 58Launch angle55
- 82Plow through86
- 89Softness80
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 vs Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 | Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $280 | $275 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 87.9 — better | 86.8 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 113 | 116 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 7 — better | 6.8 |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 7.375 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture |
| Core material | TruFoam full-foam core | SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam |
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 verdict
The forgiving shape in the Genesis line. It trades the elongated model's reach for a wide face, the highest twist weight of the three, and a noticeably easier reset at the kitchen.
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 verdict
Gearbox's rib-suspended SSTCore feels unlike any honeycomb paddle: firmer through contact, quieter on resets, and unusually consistent shot to shot. You pay $275 for that engineering.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 scores 89 against 80 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 — a 9-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, sweet spot, launch angle, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($275 vs $280) that it should not break the tie.
Softness
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads by 9 points (89 vs 80).
Twist weight
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads by 5 points (91 vs 86).
Pop
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 4 points (83 vs 79).
Plow through
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 leads by 4 points (86 vs 82).
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 TruFoam Genesis 2
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 91 vs 86, forgiveness 89 vs 86, sweet spot 91 vs 88. Twist weight 7 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.2 vs 86.5 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — elongated on the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, standard on the TruFoam Genesis 2.
- Forgiveness
- Spin
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (85.9 vs 86 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — elongated on the Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, standard on the TruFoam Genesis 2.
- Spin
- Touch
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 89 vs 80, twist weight 91 vs 86, forgiveness 89 vs 86. Its 14 mm TruFoam full-foam core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Take Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 if you want pop (+4), plow through (+4). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 review →CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2
Take CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 if you want softness (+9), twist weight (+5). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 review →Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 FAQ
- Which is better, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (87.9 vs 86.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads by 9 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2, at 113 kg·cm² swing weight against 116 for Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 or the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 scores 88 for power against 87 for CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2. That comes from a 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core swinging at 116 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 89 for control.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 scores 92 for spin off its Raw T700 carbon face, against 90 for the Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face on Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2, with the higher forgiveness score (89 vs 86). Its 7 twist weight against 6.8 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 $5 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16: 16 mm SSTCore carbon-fibre ribs with Smart Dampen foam core with a Toray T700 raw carbon with TXR grip texture face. CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2: 14 mm TruFoam full-foam core with a Raw T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 89 and sweet spot 91 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 at 8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 113) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 to the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 leads on softness by 9 points; everything else is within 5 points. At $275 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.
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 vs Honolulu J2CR
- TruFoam Genesis 2 vs TruFoam Genesis 1
- TruFoam Genesis 2 vs TruFoam Genesis 3
- TruFoam Genesis 2 vs CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage
- TruFoam Genesis 2 vs Coral Pro
- TruFoam Genesis 2 vs Double Black Diamond Control
- TruFoam Genesis 2 vs Perseus Pro IV 16
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Pro Power Elongated
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 2 vs Coral Pro
- TruFoam Genesis 2 vs OMNI 16
- TruFoam Genesis 2 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
- TruFoam Genesis 2 vs Infinity Ruby 16
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-1X
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Infinity Ruby 16
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs Nova R1
- Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 vs CRBN-3X Power Series
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 2 and Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2 and Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.