CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 wins this matchup for most players: it takes spin on Paddle DNA against the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16, which costs $280.
Power
Too close to call
90 vs 90
Spin
93 vs 86
Control
Too close to call
87 vs 84
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 84
Hand speed
Too close to call
116 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$280 at IQ 85.9 vs $280 at IQ 85.2
Overall pick: CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 · $280 · IQ 85.9
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 90Power90
- 87Control84
- 93Spin86
- 84Forgiveness86
- 86Sweet spot88
- 87Stability90
- 70Maneuverability72
- 81Pop86
- 86Touch78
- 88Consistency84
- 83Swing weight80
- 82Twist weight88
- 57Launch angle58
- 88Plow through90
- 88Softness70
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 vs Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 | Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $280 | $280 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.9 — better | 85.2 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.4 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 14 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 116 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.5 | 7 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.3 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.4 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.125 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw T700 carbon | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | TruFoam full-foam core | Foam-injected polymer |
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 verdict
The hybrid sits between the other two Genesis shapes on every scored axis. If you cannot decide between reach and forgiveness, this is the shape that refuses to make you choose.
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 verdict
A Labs release built for plow-through. Twist weight 88 and stability 90 are among the highest pairings in the database — it simply does not twist on off-center hits.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is softness: CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 scores 88 against 70 for Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 — an 18-point gap. They are effectively level on control, stability, swing weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Both sell for $280, so price cannot break the tie.
Softness
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 leads by 18 points (88 vs 70).
Touch
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 leads by 8 points (86 vs 78).
Spin
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 leads by 7 points (93 vs 86).
Twist weight
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 leads by 6 points (88 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.9 vs 85.5 on the weighted index). Pick on shape — elongated on the Labs 008 Project 16, hybrid on the TruFoam Genesis 3.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 93 vs 86, touch 86 vs 78, control 87 vs 84. At 116 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 is a narrow pick at this level — spin 93 vs 86, touch 86 vs 78, control 87 vs 84. Swing weight 116 kg·cm² is what carries that through contact.
- Spin
- Touch
- Control
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3
CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 is the clearer pick at this level — softness 88 vs 70. Its 14 mm TruFoam full-foam core at 8.3 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16
Take Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 if you want twist weight (+6), pop (+5). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 review →CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3
Take CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 if you want softness (+18), touch (+8), spin (+7). Its swing weight of 116 kg·cm² and 14 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 review →Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 vs CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 FAQ
- Which is better, the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 or the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.9 vs 85.2), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 leads by 18 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3, at 116 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 or the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 90 for power.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 at 87 versus 84. Its 14 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?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 scores 93 for spin off its Raw T700 carbon face, against 86 for the Raw carbon fiber face on Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. In practice a 7-point gap is noticeable on third-shot drives.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 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?
- Both list at $280. Too close to call — neither has an advantage here.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16: 16 mm Foam-injected polymer core with a Raw carbon fiber face. CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3: 14 mm TruFoam full-foam core with a Raw 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?
- Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 at 8.3 oz against 8.4 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (116 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 to the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 leads on softness by 18 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $280 vs $280, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
This matchup is a spin vs pop decision
Browse every head-to-head that splits on the same trade-off:
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Top alternatives to both
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 and Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: CRBN TruFoam Genesis 3 and Selkirk Labs 008 Project 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.