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$170MSRP $170

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CRBN

CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series

88Tested 2026-07-29 · 1X owners who want more forgiveness

The 3X keeps the 1X length but widens the face to 7.5 in and shortens the handle to 5.25 in, which buys a noticeably larger sweet spot at the cost of two-handed backhand room.

Cross-shopping? Most buyers weigh the CRBN-3X Power Series against the Six Zero Coral Pro — see them side by side, or browse every CRBN paddle.

Core
16 mm
Weight
8 oz
Swing wt
114
Twist wt
6.6
Shape
elongated
Surface
Raw T700 carbon
Grip
5.25 in
Released
2026

Pros

  • Bigger hitting surface than the 1X at the same length
  • Foam-injected edges push the sweet spot outward
  • $170 undercuts most raw-carbon flagships

Cons

  • 5.25 in handle is short for two-handed backhands
  • Still an elongated swing weight

AI verdict — generated from measured specs

Last updated: July 2026

Should you buy the CRBN-3X Power Series?

The CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series scores 87.9/100 on our IQ index, built from all 15 Paddle DNA traits. Its signature is spin (93/100, 83th percentile of the database), backed by forgiveness at 89 and sweet spot at 90. The 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb with foam-injected edges core and Raw T700 carbon face at 8 oz put it in the all-court — comfortable driving and resetting in the same rally bracket.

Where it gives ground is power (87) and maneuverability (74). With a 114 kg·cm² swing weight and a 5.25 in handle it suits intermediate/advanced/pro players, one-handed backhands, balanced doubles play. Skip it if you specifically want the opposite profile — maximum pop and minimum dwell time.

Closest paddles by DNA: Six Zero Coral Pro ($240), Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16 ($220), Honolulu J2CR ($230). If budget matters, the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 lands within 2 IQ points for $71 less. Overall: a strong buy for the right player, though not the outright best paddle in the database.

Best for
intermediate/advanced/pro players, one-handed backhands, balanced doubles play
Playing style
all-court — comfortable driving and resetting in the same rally
Avoid if
you specifically want the opposite profile — maximum pop and minimum dwell time

In depth

CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series — the long answer

The CRBN-3X keeps the 1X's 16.5 in length but widens the face to 7.5 in and shortens the handle to 5.25 in. The result is a measurably larger sweet spot (90) at $170 — cheaper than most raw-carbon flagships.

The sections below are analysis of measured specifications and Paddle DNA™ values, not a play-test write-up. Where we have hit with a paddle, those notes appear separately and are attributed.

Face area versus handle length

Shortening the handle by a quarter inch and widening the head moves usable hitting surface up and out. Sweet spot 90 and forgiveness 89 are the payoff. The trade is direct: a 5.25 in handle leaves little room for a second hand, so committed two-handed backhand players should look at the 1X or the SLK Halo XL instead.

Foam-injected edge walls

CRBN injects foam into the perimeter rather than relying on the edge guard alone. That stiffens the frame near the tip and corners, which is what pushes twist weight to 6.6 and keeps mishits near the edge from losing pace — the classic failure of elongated shapes.

Community consensus

What other players say about the CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series

Verbatim excerpts from public discussion and independent reviews, plus the themes they add up to. These are other people's opinions, not ours, and every quote links back to where it was written.

No sourced community excerpts are published for this paddle yet. We only quote text we can link back to.

Who should buy the CRBN-3X Power Series?

  • One-handed backhand players who want more face for the same length
  • Soft-game specialists who reset and dink their way through rallies
  • Singles players and drivers who end points with pace
  • Topspin-heavy players rolling and dipping every ball
  • Players still tightening up their contact point
  • Brand-new beginners still finding a contact point
  • Two-handed backhand players — the handle is short for it

AI paddle match

If you like the CRBN-3X Power Series, you'll probably like…

Each pick is the database's best answer to one specific question, ranked by how far it moves the needle versus the CRBN-3X Power Series.

CRBN-3X Power Series head-to-head comparisons

The matchups people actually cross-shop, each with a full 15-trait breakdown.

Paddle DNA™ — all 15 traits

Every trait normalised 0-100 against the full database, so these numbers mean the same thing on any paddle page. How we measure →

Power87Control90Spin93Forgiveness89Sweet spot90Stability88Maneuverability74Touch88

Key attributes

Power87
Control90
Spin93
Forgiveness89
Sweet spot90
Stability88
Maneuverability74
Pop84
Touch88
Consistency89
Swing weight74
Twist weight88
Launch angle55
Plow through84
Softness78

DNA match — paddles within 5% of the CRBN-3X Power Series

Our similarity engine ranks the whole database by average DNA deviation. Tighten or widen the band to see how far you have to travel to save money or gain a trait.

Paddle DNA™ match

Match tolerance

CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series

IQ 87.9 · $170

Power87Control90Spin93Forgiveness89Sweet spot90Stability88Maneuverability74Touch88

8 paddles within 5% of the CRBN-3X Power Series

Ranked by DNA deviation

  1. #1Six Zero Coral Pro$240 (+70) · 16 mm · hybridDNA match99%89
    +6 softness+3 power+2 swing weight+1 stability

    +6 softness · Higher IQ score (88.5 vs 87.9)

    CompareFull DNA
  2. #2Six Zero Infinity Ruby 16$220 (+50) · 16 mm · hybridDNA match98.7%88
    -4 maneuverability+2 stability-2 touch+2 swing weight

    -4 maneuverability · Higher IQ score (88.2 vs 87.9)

    CompareFull DNA
  3. #3Honolulu J2CR$230 (+60) · 16 mm · hybridDNA match98.4%89
    +5 power+4 maneuverability+4 softness+3 pop

    +5 power · Higher IQ score (88.7 vs 87.9)

    CompareFull DNA
  4. #4CRBN CRBN-1X$220 (+50) · 16 mm · elongatedDNA match98.3%88
    +5 swing weight+4 plow through-3 forgiveness-3 maneuverability

    +5 swing weight

    CompareFull DNA
  5. #5Gearbox Pro Ultimate Elongated 16$275 (+105) · 16 mm · elongatedDNA match98.3%87
    -3 spin-3 forgiveness-2 sweet spot+2 stability

    Near-identical feel across all 15 traits

    CompareFull DNA
  6. #6Ronbus Tenon$180 (+10) · 16 mm · hybridDNA match98.1%88
    +7 softness+4 maneuverability-3 spin-2 swing weight

    +7 softness

    CompareFull DNA
  7. #7Selkirk OMNI 16$280 (+110) · 16 mm · hybridDNA match98%89
    +8 softness-5 spin+2 power+2 control

    +8 softness · -5 spin · Higher IQ score (88.7 vs 87.9)

    CompareFull DNA
  8. #8CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2$280 (+110) · 14 mm · standardDNA match97.8%88
    +11 softness-5 pop+4 swing weight+3 twist weight

    +11 softness · -5 pop

    CompareFull DNA

Best alternatives to the CRBN-3X Power Series

Each pick beats the CRBN-3X Power Series on one specific thing — price, power, control or forgiveness.

Similar paddles (within 8% DNA)

Six Zero Coral Pro16 mm · hybrid · 8.2 oz · SW 116$24089Six Zero Infinity Ruby 1616 mm · hybrid · 8.2 oz · SW 116$22088Honolulu J2CR16 mm · hybrid · 8 oz · SW 112$23089CRBN CRBN-1X16 mm · elongated · 8.3 oz · SW 119$22088

Want a different matchup? Compare any two paddles or browse the full paddle database.

Ranked in

More from CRBN

Raw carbon specialists whose square-shape paddles set the early benchmark for spin generation and twist-weight stability, and whose TruFoam Genesis line opened the full-foam Gen 4 era.

CRBN-3X Power Series — frequently asked questions

CRBN-3X or CRBN-1X?
Same length, different priorities. The 3X gives you a bigger face and more forgiveness; the 1X gives you a 5.5 in handle and slightly higher spin. Two-handed backhands go 1X.
14 mm or 16 mm?
14 mm is quicker and poppier, 16 mm adds dwell time and reset control. Our figures describe the 16 mm.
Is $170 good value?
Yes. Comparable raw-carbon builds with foam edges sit at $200 to $250.
Is the CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series good for beginners?
Not our first recommendation. Forgiveness sits at 89/100 and the paddle is tuned for intermediate/advanced/pro play. A developing player is better served by something more forgiving and cheaper — see our beginner shortlist.
Is the CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series worth the price?
At $170 it sits in the 32th percentile of the database for cost and the 87th for IQ score. If those numbers do not line up for you, the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro 16 at $99 is the value alternative we point people to.
How does the CRBN-3X Power Series compare to the Coral Pro?
They are close on DNA. The CRBN-3X Power Series reads power 87 / control 90 / spin 93 against 90 / 90 / 93 for the Coral Pro, at $170 versus $240. Our full head-to-head breaks down every trait.
Is the 16 mm better than the 14 mm version?
A 16 mm core has longer dwell time, which is what produces softer resets and more repeatable placement. The 14 mm build trades that dwell for a faster, poppier response off the face. Control players take 16 mm; players who want the ball gone quickly take 14 mm.
Is the CRBN CRBN-3X Power Series approved for tournament play?
Sanctioned play requires the model to appear on USA Pickleball's official approved-equipment list. CRBN submits its retail models for approval, but approval is per model and configuration, so check the current USAP list for the exact CRBN-3X Power Series build before you enter a sanctioned event. We do not list approval status we have not verified.
Does the CRBN-3X Power Series have good spin?
Spin measures 93/100 — the 83th percentile of our database — off a Raw T700 carbon face. That is top-tier: enough bite for heavy topspin drives and rolls.
Is the CRBN-3X Power Series head heavy?
Swing weight is 114 kg·cm² and twist weight 6.6. That is mid-range: balanced enough that most players will not describe it as head heavy. Static weight is 8 oz.
Does the CRBN-3X Power Series benefit from lead tape?
It already swings at 114 kg·cm², so adding weight at 12 o'clock will make it sluggish. If you customise, keep it to a few grams at 3 and 9 o'clock for stability. Any added weight can affect tournament legality if it changes the paddle beyond the approved configuration.
What is the best overgrip for the CRBN-3X Power Series?
The stock handle is 5.25 in long with a 4.25 in circumference. A thin tacky overgrip adds roughly 1/16 in of circumference and a few grams above the balance point — the cheapest way to fine-tune fit. If your hand is larger than the 4.25 in stock size, build up with an under-wrap first rather than stacking overgrips.
What should I replace the CRBN-3X Power Series with when it wears out?
Face wear shows up as lost spin long before the core dies. The straight replacement is another CRBN-3X Power Series; if you want to change something, the JOOLA Perseus Pro V 16 adds control (96 vs 90) and the Selkirk Labs Project Boomstik Elongated 16 adds power (95 vs 87).
Who is the CRBN-3X Power Series best for?
1X owners who want more forgiveness. Skill levels we would put on it: intermediate, advanced, pro. Handle length of 5.25 in suits one-handed backhands; two-handers will find it short.
What shape and size is the CRBN-3X Power Series?
elongated shape, 16.5 in long by 7.5 in wide, 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb with foam-injected edges core, Raw T700 carbon face, 8 oz. Released 2026.

CRBN-3X Power Series on video

PickleballLookup review — coming soon
Head-to-head comparison — coming soon
Manufacturer footage — coming soon

Reviewed by

Alex Zubarev

Founder, PickleballLookup

Alex built the Paddle DNA™ database behind PickleballLookup — 15 normalized traits measured against every paddle in the catalog. Every page on this site is generated from that data and editorially reviewed before publication.

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Last updated July 2026 · How we score paddles