CRBN TruFoam & CPX Ultra: Two Very Different Takes on the Modern Pickleball Paddle
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I want to be good at pickleball. No, I want to be great.
My competitive side believes with practice I can go pro.
If I have a bad game or a terrible tournament I blame it on one thing - the paddle.
If I can just discover that ideal paddle, the one that will guide me to great success in a sport I began playing at the young age of 50.
I recently came across two paddles that caught my attention for very different reasons: the CRBN TruFoam Genesis and the CPX Ultra.
Both are aimed at serious pickleball players (thats me), and both use newer approaches to paddle construction—but that's where I started noticing some pretty interesting differences.
So naturally, I went down the rabbit hole.
I wanted to figure out what makes each one different, who each paddle seems designed for—and ultimately, which one I’d be more tempted to put in my bag (and hopefully help me win).
One important note before we get into it: I haven't personally tested both paddles side by side, so this isn't a hands-on head-to-head test.
I'm looking at their verified features, construction and intended use—not declaring one paddle “better” than the other.
With that said, here's what caught my attention.
First Lets Meet the Two Paddles
The CRBN¹ TruFoam Genesis is the long-handle, elongated version of CRBN’s TruFoam Genesis line.
The big story here is hiding inside the paddle: rather than using a traditional honeycomb core, CRBN uses its proprietary 100% foam TruFoam core.
The CPX Ultra takes a different route. Its 16mm core combines traditional honeycomb with three foam rings around the perimeter. It also has a aramid and carbon-fiber face and thermoformed unibody construction.
I thought that sounded a little confusing too so go ahead and view product details.
So yes, there’s honeycomb foam involved in both, but these definitely aren’t two versions of the same paddle.
The CRBN TruFoam: Why It Caught My Attention
The thing that makes the TruFoam interesting is pretty obvious: there’s no honeycomb core at all.
That alone makes this paddle interesting to me.
Pickleball paddle technology is on the quickly on the move. I like the fact that CRBN didn't simply add some foam around a familiar core and give it a new name.
They took a genuinely different approach.
The Genesis also comes in four shapes, so you aren't locked into the elongated version. The Genesis 1 gives you that extra-long 5.75-inch handle and elongated shape.
If you use a two-handed backhand—or simply love a longer handle—that detail could matter quite a bit.
The CPX Ultra: A Different Approach
The CPX Ultra caught my attention for almost the opposite reason.
Rather than completely replacing honeycomb, CPX combines it with three foam rings around the perimeter.
According to CPX, the idea is to improve response when you catch the ball away from the center of the face.
The paddle also uses a raw aramid and carbon-fiber surface.
The emphasis is on a mix of power, control, responsiveness and durability, which makes it particularly interesting for someone looking for an all-court paddle rather than something at one extreme.
I like that philosophy.
What I Found Most Interesting
CRBN is doing something pretty bold with TruFoam by moving away from the traditional honeycomb core altogether.
CPX takes a different route with the Ultra, combining honeycomb with three foam rings and building the paddle around balanced, all-court performance.
That's really what made these two interesting to research. They aren't necessarily trying to solve the same equation in the same way.
Which One Would I Choose?
Here's where my research took an unexpected turn.
Going into this, I thought I'd be more drawn to the CPX Ultra. I like the idea of a paddle designed around balance rather than pushing hard toward either power or control.
But the more I learned about CRBN's TruFoam construction, the more curious I became about it.
If I were choosing one to try next, I'd probably reach for the CRBN TruFoam Genesis.
Not because I've determined that it's “better” than the CPX Ultra—I haven't tested these paddles head-to-head, so I can't make that claim.
It's simply the one I'm most curious to experience for myself.
A completely foam core is different enough from what I've played with before that I'd want to know what it actually feels like on the court.
And that's really where I'd leave the decision.
If the TruFoam technology and long-handle design intrigue you, take a closer look at the CRBN.
If the Ultra's hybrid construction and balanced all-court approach sound more like what you're looking for, explore the CPX.
Choosing a paddle isn't always about finding the one that's the “best.”
It's about finding the one that makes the most sense for the way you want to play.
Now, if either paddle can guarantee me a few more wins...that might change the whole picture.
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