CRBN builds one thing: raw carbon fiber pickleball paddles for players who want spin and pop without overpaying for a brand name. Every paddle in the lineup uses foam-injected edge walls, a polypropylene honeycomb core, and a textured carbon fiber face — the same construction principles across the board. What changes is the shape and the core thickness, and those two variables define which paddle is right for you.
All four CRBN paddles at Pickleball NVZ ship free with next-day air and come with a 30-day trial — play them, and if they're not for you, return them. Here's the full breakdown.
Understanding the CRBN lineup
Before the individual reviews, two factors determine which CRBN paddle to buy:
Shape — elongated or wide:
- Elongated (CRBN 1X, CRBN 3X): longer reach, more leverage for spin on drives, smaller face width. Better for singles-style or baseline players who want whip.
- Wide/square (CRBN 2X, CRBN 2): larger face, bigger sweet spot, more forgiving on off-center contact. Better for doubles players who need consistent volleys and dink placement.
Core thickness — 13 mm, 14 mm, or 16 mm:
- 13 mm: stiffest, most pop and power. More feedback, less dwell time. Available on CRBN 2 only.
- 14 mm: the middle ground. Power with a larger effective sweet spot than 13 mm. Most popular choice.
- 16 mm: softest, most control and dwell. Excellent for touch players and dink-heavy games. More forgiving.
The paddles
CRBN 1X Power Series — $169.99
Shape: Elongated — 16.5" × 7.5" | Weight: 8 oz | Core: 14 mm or 16 mm | Grip: 4¼" (Medium)
The 1X is CRBN's flagship elongated paddle. At 16.5 inches long and 7.5 inches wide, it gives you the reach to attack from further back in the court and the leverage to generate heavy topspin on drives. The unibody carbon fiber construction — face and frame as one piece — eliminates the soft spot that multi-piece paddles develop at the throat over time, keeping the feel consistent hit after hit.
Who it's for: singles players, baseline attackers, spin-first drivers. The elongated shape rewards a longer swing; if you're a kitchen-dominant doubles player, the 2X or 2 will feel more natural.
Pick 14 mm if you want power and pace. Pick 16 mm if you want more dwell on dinks and softer touch at the net.
CRBN 2X Power Series — $169.99
Shape: Wide — 8" face, 15.75" total | Weight: 8 oz | Core: 14 mm or 16 mm | Handle: 5"
The 2X is the wide-body version of the Power Series — shorter and wider than the 1X, with an 8-inch face that maximizes the sweet spot. Same unibody construction and foam-injected edge walls as the 1X, but the extra face width translates directly to more forgiveness and a larger contact area for volleys. The 5-inch handle leaves room for a two-handed backhand while keeping the paddle maneuverable.
Who it's for: doubles players who prize consistency, bangers who want pop in a wide-body format, or players transitioning from a standard-shape paddle who want maximum sweet spot coverage.
Pick 14 mm for power drives. Pick 16 mm if soft game and reset control matter more.
CRBN 2 — $179.95
Shape: Wide — 8" face | Weight: 7.8–8.1 oz | Core: 13 mm, 14 mm, or 16 mm | Handle: 4¾"
The CRBN 2 is the most versatile paddle in the lineup and the one with the widest core choice: 13 mm for pure pop, 14 mm for the balance, or 16 mm for control. The T700 carbon fiber face is a step up in material quality from the standard carbon on the Power Series, delivering a more potent and consistent feel across the entire surface. The slightly shorter handle (4¾" vs 5" on the 2X) keeps the feel compact and quick at the kitchen line.
At $179.95, it's $10 more than the Power Series paddles, and the extra cost gets you T700 material and the 13 mm option — a meaningful upgrade if power is the priority.
Who it's for: players who want the most control over their build — choose your exact core thickness. Excellent all-around paddle for competitive doubles and anyone dialing in their setup methodically.
CRBN 3X Power Series — $169.99
Shape: Elongated — longer face, 5.25" handle | Core: 14 mm or 16 mm | Construction: Unibody carbon fiber
The 3X pushes the elongated format further than the 1X. Where the 1X has a 4¼" handle, the 3X stretches to 5.25" — the longest handle in the CRBN lineup — while also extending the face length. That extra handle length enables a full two-handed backhand grip and gives players with longer swings more leverage on drives. Same foam-injected edges and unibody construction as the rest of the Power Series.
Who it's for: two-handed backhand players coming from tennis, aggressive singles players who want maximum reach, and anyone who finds the 1X handle slightly short.
Side-by-side comparison
| Paddle | Shape | Core options | Handle | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRBN 1X | Elongated | 14 / 16 mm | 4¼" | $169.99 | Spin / singles |
| CRBN 2X | Wide | 14 / 16 mm | 5" | $169.99 | Power / doubles |
| CRBN 2 | Wide | 13 / 14 / 16 mm | 4¾" | $179.95 | All-around / control |
| CRBN 3X | Elongated | 14 / 16 mm | 5.25" | $169.99 | Two-hand BH / reach |
Which CRBN paddle should you get?
- You play mostly doubles from the kitchen line → CRBN 2X (14 mm for pop, 16 mm for touch)
- You want maximum core choice and T700 build quality → CRBN 2
- You're a spin-heavy singles or baseline player → CRBN 1X
- You have a two-handed backhand or want a longer handle → CRBN 3X
- You can't decide between elongated and wide → 30-day trial, play both, keep the one that fits
FAQ
Are CRBN paddles USAPA-approved for tournament play?
What's the difference between the CRBN 2 and CRBN 2X?
Should I get the 14 mm or 16 mm core?
How do CRBN paddles compare to JOOLA or Diadem?
See how CRBN compares across our paddle guides: best pickleball paddles overall, best paddles for intermediate players, or best paddles for spin.
