CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 - pickleball paddle review

Interested in one of the hottest paddle releases of 2025? Two years after their last release, the popular Power Series, CRBN is back with the new TruFoam Genesis paddles. Following 18 months of development, they're claiming it's the first line of Gen 4 paddles on the market, made with a 100% foam core.

I got the chance to test these paddles early and am excited to share my thoughts. For this review, I'll focus on the Genesis 1 model, which has an elongated shape with a narrower 7.35" body and a longer 5.5" handle.

Read my CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 review to find out if this paddle earns its $279.99 price tag.

The CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 is best suited to advanced players who like to hit hard because it shines on power and spin over forgiveness. It's the elongated model in the series, with the longest handle (5.5") and narrowest body (7.35").

It's priced for high-level players and built with a new "Gen 4" design that has a 100% foam core. CRBN claims this will help avoid the core-crushing issues of many Gen 2 and Gen 3 paddles, so I'm confident this paddle will last a long time.

Check out my initial thoughts on the CRBN TruFoam Genesis paddles:

My personal favorite of the TruFoam Genesis series is the G2 because it's a bit quicker and more forgiving. However, power players might prefer the elongated G1 and G3. If you especially like a longer handle, you'll get the most out of the Genesis 1.

You can generate amazing spin and great power and pop. However, the power won't be too overwhelming like it was on the banned JOOLA Perseus 3 and Gearbox Pro Power Elongated paddles.

It offers plenty of control too thanks to the foam core, which makes it a lot softer than many power-focused paddles. However, it's not as soft as a pure control paddle like the Selkirk LUXX Control Air Invikta.

One of the downsides to the G1's shape is the smaller sweet spot—I've had several mishits so far. It's also a bit slow in hands battles, even for an elongated paddle.

However, if that doesn't bother you, and you're a banger who wants a premium paddle with the latest tech, the $280 is worth it for you (it's $252 with our exclusive CRBN store 10% discount).

CRBN spent 18 months designing their TruFoam Genesis and the work shows. It's a great-looking paddle with a nice, premium feel that helps to justify the high price. I like the imprinted design around the sweet spot, and it doesn't get as dirty as other dark paddles tend to get.

Let's take a look at the features and tech.

According to CRBN, the TruFoam Genesis paddles are the first Gen 4 paddles. The core is made from 100% foam rather than foam-injected polypropylene honeycomb.

CRBN is aiming to solve the core-crushing issues of Gen 2 paddles, while still keeping their paddles legal (unlike many Gen 3 paddles). They also opted for a 14 mm core for the best balance of power and control. Earlier paddles like the CRBN-1X Power Series came in 14 mm and 16 mm models.

This 100% foam core is meant to add controlled power and game-changing spin to every shot. In my experience, it delivers on that promise (when you hit the sweet spot).

The dwell time on this paddle is really impressive. I was shocked at my ability to shape the ball given the paddle's fiberglass layer (this normally makes the launch angle very different). The foam core helps to absorb the ball when you want it to and adds shape to serves, drives, dinks, and drops.

The T700 raw carbon fiber layup adds lots of spin and also a comfortable feel to controlled shots and makes the paddle feel natural from day one. I didn't feel any ramp-up period. These paddles all feel familiar and comfortable right out of the box.

I usually hate fiberglass on a paddle, but it works surprisingly well here. I don't know if it's because of the foam core, or if CRBN's fiberglass is different, but it adds a nice level of pop while still letting me shape the ball when I want to.

I've noticed that many top brands are bringing back fiberglass, adding a layer to the carbon fiber. We got so used to seeing pure carbon paddles but I guess paddle manufacturers like the extra pop that fiberglass brings. I tested the Bread & Butter Invader recently and it has the same fiberglass-carbon blend.

The Genesis 1 has power and pop when you need it. I can hit aggressive third-shot drives that have dip and pace. I can take quick snapping attacks at the kitchen that catch my opponents off guard, causing pop-ups that I can then put away easily.

There have been multiple times when I've thought the other team was going to score off a speed-up. However, because of the fiberglass layer, the ball would fly off the paddle face so quickly that it shocked everyone and we'd win the point.

While the pop isn't quite as strong as with the Paddletek Bantam TKO-C, I feel like I have more control over my counters and blocks with the G1.

This paddle has a nice touch and is soft when you want it to be. The foam core and carbon fiber face add dwell time to the ball, so I can consistently get drops in the court and dink without causing pop-ups.

The fiberglass layer does prevent it from being as soft as the Six Zero DBD Control. That said, I can still put the ball in tight windows that allow for more touch.

Thanks to the paddle's long dwell time, I can shape the ball really well—especially when hitting topspin. I can hit deep, dipping serves that would bounce up higher than the other team expects, causing missed/easy returns that I can then drive into the open court.

I've also hit plenty of sliced dinks with my backhand. I've struggled to do this with other fiberglass paddles like the B&B Invader and Engage Encore Pro V2.0.

I've had a fair few mishits with this model. Sometimes, when I think I've made good contact, the ball dies on the paddle because I was off the sweet spot. If I were to play with this long-term, I would add lead weight to the bottom corners and center to provide more stability.

The forgiveness is the biggest reason why I prefer the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 2. That paddle has a higher twist weight and a bigger sweet spot without sacrificing too much power and reach.

The paddle feels mostly comfortable when swinging and doesn't feel like the weight is disproportionately placed. It just feels heavier than its static weight suggests (around 8 oz), and can feel a bit tiresome on overheads especially.

The grip is soft and comfortable at first but it gets slippery after a few games. I'm not a sweaty person and I don't usually have this issue. However, I find myself wiping my hand on my clothes a lot, trying to get a good grip on this paddle.

I don't like grips that are too thick so I would replace the base grip with a tackier overgrip. If you're used to putting an overgrip on your paddles anyway, this might not be a big issue for you.

The paddle hasn't delaminated or broken down in performance in any way during my testing. CRBN claims that the 100% foam core removes the core-crushing issue which causes paddles to have way too much pop. Time will tell if that's true.

There's some lag with this model compared to the Genesis 2. Luckily, it has the pop to put balls away quickly so you don't have to stay in hands battles too long. However, I have noticed I'm slower getting to balls than I would be with paddles like the Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C.

$279.99 is a lot of money but I do think it's worth it for the right player. The Genesis 1 will appeal to advanced power players who want plenty of power and spin, and who prefer an elongated design.

This is a premium paddle that should last you a long time. CRBN has been careful to avoid the tech that recently got seven more banned by USA Pickleball. The G1 passed the new PBCoR testing, so it's unlikely to be delisted like the JOOLA Perseus Mod TA-15 and Gearbox Pro Power Elongated. That increases the value for tournament players.

If you're a high-level player who plays aggressively, this is for you. Beginners and intermediates might prefer a more forgiving paddle, so I'd recommend the Genesis 2. Alternatively, try something cheaper that has less power but more consistency, like the Spartus Apollo ($130) or PIKKL Hurricane Pro ($160).

If the CRBN TruFoam Genesis 1 isn't right for you, here are some paddles I recommend:

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