Vatic Pro vs CRBN: Budget Carbon vs Premium Foam Paddles
Edited by DanPublished Updated How we research
Vatic Pro and CRBN both sell raw-carbon paddles direct from their own sites, but at very different prices: every Vatic Pro paddle we review costs noticeably less than CRBN’s X Series and TruFoam paddles (each review shows today’s price). This guide compares the two brands using their published specifications, our spec-based rating scale and the buyer ratings on each brand’s own site. We haven’t play-tested these paddles.
Quick Answer
- Choose Vatic Pro if you want the most research score for your money. Its foam-core V-Sol Pro V7 scores 9.1 at one of the lowest prices in this comparison, and its honeycomb Prism paddles have thousands of buyer ratings.
- Choose CRBN if you want a 14 mm all-foam paddle with detailed published specs and a 30-day trial, and you’re willing to pay more. The CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage scores 9.1.
Every Vatic Pro and CRBN Paddle We Review
The Lineups
- Vatic Pro Prism: a polypropylene honeycomb core with foam-injected walls and a raw T700 carbon face. Vatic Pro’s control paddle.
- Vatic Pro Saga: a 10 mm-cell honeycomb power core with a T700 carbon top layer. Vatic Pro’s all-court flagship.
- Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro and V-Sol Tour: a floating EPP foam core inside an EVA foam ring. The Tour adds Vatic Pro’s Evergrit surface.
- CRBN X Series: CRBN’s earlier unibody carbon design with a gritty T700 face, in 14 or 16 mm.
- CRBN TruFoam Barrage, Waves and Genesis: 14 mm, 100% foam cores with three different core designs. See CRBN Barrage vs Waves vs Genesis.
Foam vs Foam: V-Sol Pro vs TruFoam
Both brands now sell all-foam paddles, so on our scale they all rate 9 to 10 for power. The V-Sol Pro is 16 mm thick, while every CRBN TruFoam paddle is 14 mm, which CRBN says is because it tunes foam density instead of thickness. On our scale the thicker V-Sol Pro rates as high or higher for control (8.5 to 9) than the 14 mm TruFoam paddles (7.5 to 8.5), while the TruFoam paddles get more power from the thinner core. In the elongated shape, the V-Sol Pro V7 (9.1) and the CRBN³ Barrage (8.9) are effectively tied on our scale, and the V7 costs less than half as much.
Shapes Compared
- Elongated: Vatic Pro’s V7 and CRBN’s ³ shape are both 16.5 x 7.5 in. CRBN also makes a ¹ shape with a 5.75 in handle, and the CRBN¹ X Series is narrower at 7.25 in.
- Hybrid: Vatic Pro’s Flash is about 16.3 x 7.7 in; CRBN’s ⁴ AeroCurve is 16.2 x 7.8 in. Both are the brands’ all-court shapes.
- Handles: most Vatic Pro shapes come with a 5.3 in standard handle or a longer handle; CRBN TruFoam handles are 5.5 in, or 5.75 in on the ¹ shape.
Read paddle shapes explained for the trade-offs.
Swing Weight and Twist Weight
Both brands publish unusually complete numbers. Vatic Pro’s elongated paddles range from a swing weight of 113 (V-Sol Pro V7) to 126 (Prism V7), and CRBN’s elongated TruFoam paddles all list 118 to 120. In the hybrid shapes, the V-Sol Pro Flash (108) and CRBN⁴ Genesis (106 to 108) are the quickest-swinging. CRBN doesn’t publish swing or twist weights for the X Series. See swing weight vs twist weight.
What Buyers Say
Both brands have strong buyer ratings on their own sites. Vatic Pro’s Prism has 2,700+ ratings averaging 4.9 across its shapes, and the V-Sol Pro has 750+ averaging 4.8. CRBN’s paddles average about 4.9, with the most ratings on the X Series (850+ each) and the Genesis³ (450+). The one consistent complaint we found is on the Vatic Pro V-Sol Tour: several buyers report its Evergrit surface wearing smooth quickly, which we note in its review. Buyer feedback doesn’t change our ratings.
Returns, Warranty and Tournament Approval
- Vatic Pro: a one-year warranty against manufacturing defects; returns within 30 days of delivery, with full credit only for new, unused paddles and a label fee deducted.
- CRBN: a 30-day paddle trial with free return shipping and a one-year warranty on registered paddles bought in the US or Canada.
- USA Pickleball: every CRBN paddle we review is on the approved list. Every Vatic Pro shape we review is too, except that we couldn’t find the Saga Flash 16 mm standard-handle version by name.
Which Should You Choose?
- Best value foam paddle: Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7.
- Control on a budget: Vatic Pro Prism Flash.
- Elongated reach and spin for less: CRBN³ X Series or Vatic Pro Prism V7.
- A premium 14 mm foam paddle with a trial period: CRBN⁴ Barrage, or Waves⁴ for less.
- A long handle for two-handed backhands: CRBN¹ TruFoam Genesis.
See every paddle on the Vatic Pro and CRBN brand pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vatic Pro as good as CRBN?
On our spec-based scale, yes: the Vatic Pro V-Sol Pro V7 and Prism V7 tie with the CRBN⁴ TruFoam Barrage for the top score among these paddles (9.1). CRBN's TruFoam paddles cost two to three times as much but add a 30-day trial and a 14 mm all-foam design.
What is the difference between Vatic Pro V-Sol and CRBN TruFoam?
Both use all-foam cores. The V-Sol Pro has a 16 mm floating EPP foam core in an EVA ring, while every CRBN TruFoam paddle is 14 mm with CRBN's Barrage, Waves or Genesis core design. On our scale the thicker V-Sol rates higher for control and the TruFoam paddles for power.
Which has the better warranty, Vatic Pro or CRBN?
Both offer one year. CRBN adds a 30-day paddle trial with free return shipping on registered paddles bought in the US or Canada, while Vatic Pro accepts returns within 30 days only for new, unused paddles.
Are Vatic Pro and CRBN paddles USA Pickleball approved?
Every CRBN paddle we review is on the USA Pickleball approved list, and so is every Vatic Pro shape we review except the Saga Flash 16 mm standard-handle version, which we couldn't find by name.
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