Foam Core vs Honeycomb Pickleball Paddles: What’s the Difference?

For years almost every performance pickleball paddle had a polypropylene honeycomb core. In recent years, a growing number of brands have launched paddles with all-foam cores, and they now sit at the top of most brands’ ranges. This guide explains the difference using each manufacturer’s own descriptions. We haven’t play-tested these paddles, so where a claim comes from a brand, we say so.

Quick Answer

• Honeycomb cores are a grid of polypropylene cells. They’re proven, light and affordable, and brands tune them mainly through thickness: thinner for pop, thicker for control.
• Foam cores are solid foam (sometimes several foams). Brands say they combine pop on hard swings with a soft feel on touch shots, and resist the “core crush” that can make honeycomb paddles feel dead over time.
• Hybrid cores mix the two, usually a honeycomb center with foam around the edges.

How Honeycomb Cores Work

A honeycomb core is a sheet of hexagonal cells, usually polypropylene, sandwiched between the face layers. Because the cells are mostly air, the core is light, and its feel changes mainly with thickness. That’s why honeycomb paddles are often sold in two or three thicknesses: CRBN’s X Series in 14 or 16 mm, JOOLA’s Pro V paddles in 16 or 14 mm, and Selkirk’s honeycomb paddles from 13 mm (Vanguard Power Air S2) to 19 mm (LUXX Control Air). Thinner versions play livelier; thicker ones feel softer and more controlled.

Honeycomb is also why the cheapest paddles we’ve reviewed, such as Selkirk’s AMPED Pro Air, remain good value: the technology is mature and inexpensive to make.

How Foam Cores Work

Foam-core paddles replace the cells with solid foam. Each brand has its own approach:

• CRBN TruFoam (Barrage, Waves, Genesis): a 100% foam core at 14 mm. CRBN says it tunes foam density and structure instead of thickness, and that TruFoam eliminates core crush and break-in changes.
• Selkirk (OMNI, LABS Project Boomstik): PureFoam with an EVA power ring. Selkirk markets the BoomCore as resisting core crush.
• 11SIX24 (Power 2, Jelly Bean 2): a Gen 4 full-foam floating core in the Power 2, and a softer, denser EMA foam in the Jelly Bean 2.
• Onix (Praxis): a solid Endurafoam core, which Onix says is designed not to break down over time the way honeycomb cores can.

Common claims across these brands are more consistent performance over a paddle’s life, more pop on drives, and spin that comes partly from the core’s dwell rather than only surface grit. These are manufacturer claims; durability in particular is something only long-term use can confirm.

Hybrid Cores

Some paddles combine both. HEAD’s TRIFLEX cores layer polypropylene honeycomb with EPP and EVA foams (the Gravity PRO EX15 reverses the usual layout, with foam in the center). Onix’s Adapt Max uses a polypropylene core with interior perimeter foam, JOOLA’s Pro V range adds a Hyperfoam Edge Wall around its polypropylene (PP) core, and CRBN’s X Series has a foam-reinforced perimeter. Perimeter foam is generally aimed at stability and a larger sweet spot.

How the Two Compare on Our Scale

Our rating scale gives every 100% foam core extra power points, so foam paddles rate high for power even at 16 mm. That reflects what brands say about foam cores, but it can’t distinguish a soft foam from a firm one. For example, 11SIX24 says its Jelly Bean 2 isn’t a power paddle, yet its foam core earns high power ratings. Honeycomb paddles are rated mainly on thickness.

Foam-core and honeycomb paddles compared

Paddle	Score	Price	Specs	Power	Control	Spin	Buy
Onix PraxisPlayers who want power and spin from a durable foam core	9.5	$169.99at Onix Pickleball	7.75–8.25 ozElongated16 mm core	10	9	9.5	15% offCode: PPGEARBuy at Onix PickleballRead review: Onix Praxis
Selkirk OMNIAll-court players who want one paddle for drives and the soft game	9.4	$300at Selkirk	7.9–8.2 ozElongated16 mm core	9.5	9	10	Buy at SelkirkRead review: Selkirk OMNI
CRBN³ TruFoam Genesis (Elongated)All-court players who want reach with a soft, consistent foam feel	8.6	$199.99at CRBN	7.9–8.3 oz (8.1 oz average)Elongated14 mm core	10	7.5	9	Buy at CRBNRead review: CRBN³ TruFoam Genesis (Elongated)
11SIX24 Vapor Power 2All-court players who want power and spin with a balanced shape	9.4	$209.99at 11SIX24	8.0–8.3 ozHybrid16 mm core	9	9	10	Buy at 11SIX24Read review: 11SIX24 Vapor Power 2
JOOLA Perseus Pro VAggressive players who want reach and consistency in fast rallies	8.8	$299.95at JOOLA	8.1 oz (16 mm)Elongated16 mm core	8	9	9.5	Buy at JOOLARead review: JOOLA Perseus Pro V
Onix Hype X Pro Raw CarbonLeague players stepping up to a raw carbon paddle	9.0	$119.99at Onix Pickleball	7.75–8.25 ozElongated14 mm core	9.5	8	9.5	15% offCode: PPGEARBuy at Onix PickleballRead review: Onix Hype X Pro Raw Carbon
CRBN³ X SeriesPlayers who want elongated power with a wider face for less	8.9	$149.99at CRBN	7.8–8.1 ozElongated14 mm or 16 mm core	9.5	8	9.5	Buy at CRBNRead review: CRBN³ X Series
Selkirk AMPED Pro Air InviktaAll-court players who want extra reach at a lower price	8.6	$100at Selkirk	7.8–8.2 ozElongated16 mm core	9	8	9.5	Buy at SelkirkRead review: Selkirk AMPED Pro Air Invikta

Show all 8 paddles

Ratings are our research-based 1–10 scores (how we score). Prices change often — confirm with the retailer.

Which Should You Choose?

• Choose foam if you want one paddle with pop and touch, and you value the brands’ claims about lasting performance. Expect to pay more: most foam paddles we’ve reviewed sit at the premium end of their brand’s range (each review shows today’s price).
• Choose honeycomb if you want a proven feel, a choice of thicknesses, or a lower price. A 16 mm honeycomb paddle remains one of the most controllable options.
• Choose a hybrid if you want a honeycomb feel with a more stable, forgiving edge.

Whichever you choose, check that the exact model is on the USA Pickleball approved list if you play sanctioned events. Compare foam and honeycomb paddles side by side in the comparison tool, or read power vs control paddles.