Electrum Model E Max V3 vs Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Electrum Model E Max V3 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Quick answer
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 wins this matchup for most players: it takes hand speed and value on Paddle DNA against the Electrum Model E Max V3, which costs $200.
Power
Too close to call
82 vs 80
Spin
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Control
Too close to call
88 vs 88
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 86
Hand speed
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
110 vs 118 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
$160 at IQ 84.1 vs $200 at IQ 84.7
Overall pick: Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 · $160 · IQ 84.1
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 82Power80
- 88Control88
- 86Spin86
- 86Forgiveness86
- 88Sweet spot86
- 86Stability84
- 72Maneuverability80
- 74Pop76
- 86Touch86
- 88Consistency86
- 78Swing weight70
- 84Twist weight80
- 50Launch angle50
- 82Plow through78
- 78Softness80
Electrum Model E Max V3 vs Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Electrum Model E Max V3 | Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $200 | $160 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.7 — better | 84.1 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 110 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.9 — better | 6.6 |
| Shape | elongated | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.2 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.3 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Raw Toray T700 carbon | Raw T700 carbon |
| Core material | Polypropylene honeycomb with foam perimeter | Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb |
Electrum Model E Max V3 verdict
The Max is the widest-body Electrum yet, and the numbers show it: sweet spot 88 and twist weight 84 are both top-quartile. It is a forgiving elongated paddle, which is not a common combination.
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 verdict
Holbrook's first genuinely competitive control paddle. The hybrid shape and 110 swing weight make it an easy switch from a standard build without losing kitchen-line speed.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is maneuverability: Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 scores 80 against 72 for Electrum Model E Max V3 — an 8-point gap. They are effectively level on power, sweet spot, stability, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 is $40 cheaper at $160.
Maneuverability
Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 8 points (80 vs 72).
Swing weight
Electrum Model E Max V3 leads by 8 points (78 vs 70).
Twist weight
Electrum Model E Max V3 leads by 4 points (84 vs 80).
Plow through
Electrum Model E Max V3 leads by 4 points (82 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (86.6 vs 84.9 on the weighted index). Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and keep the $40.
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
- Stability
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.6 vs 84.5 on the weighted index). Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and keep the $40.
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83 vs 82.9 on the weighted index). Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and keep the $40.
- Plow through
- Power
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (81.3 vs 81.6 on the weighted index). Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 and keep the $40.
- Softness
Which one should you buy?
Electrum Model E Max V3
Take Electrum Model E Max V3 if you want swing weight (+8), twist weight (+4), plow through (+4). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Electrum Model E Max V3 review →Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16
Take Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 if you want maneuverability (+8). Its swing weight of 110 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 review →Electrum Model E Max V3 vs Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Electrum Model E Max V3 or the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16?
- Electrum Model E Max V3 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.7 vs 84.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — maneuverability — Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads by 8 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16, at 110 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for Electrum Model E Max V3. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Electrum Model E Max V3 or the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16?
- Electrum Model E Max V3 scores 82 for power against 80 for Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16. That comes from a 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb with foam perimeter core swinging at 118 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 88 for control.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 86 for spin.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both score 86 on forgiveness despite twist weights of 6.9 and 6.6.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 costs $160, $40 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?
- Electrum Model E Max V3: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb with foam perimeter core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polypropylene honeycomb core with a Raw T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Electrum Model E Max V3, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.3 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Electrum Model E Max V3 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Electrum Model E Max V3 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 at 8 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (110 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 to the Electrum Model E Max V3?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 leads on maneuverability by 8 points; everything else is within 8 points. At $200 vs $160, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
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Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Electrum Model E Max V3 and Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Electrum Model E Max V3 and Holbrook Pickleball Crush Control 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.