After eighteen months of research and development and more than 200 prototypes sent to the drafting room floor, CRBN is at long last ready to disrupt the pickleball paddle market.
The Southern California-based, family-owned paddle brand today launches TruFoam Genesis, the “first-ever 100% foam core performance paddle approved for tournament play.”
If you hear “foam” and think pool noodles, you’re not alone. But CRBN Co-Founder Kyle Goguen assures us this is something else entirely.
TruFoam feels plush and responsive but boasts more power than the company’s popular X Series; it hits quieter than you’d expect but harder, too; it mimics the spin and dwell time of a tennis racket; and thanks to its proprietary foam core, gone are the days of core-crushing and unpredictable break-in periods.
Sound too good to be true?
“Sometimes progression is simplification,” said Goguen in an interview.
Why the Fuss Over Foam?
The majority of pickleball paddles on the market, from rec play through the pros, utilize cores made of polypropylene – basically, a common plastic laid out in a honeycomb pattern.
Some paddles – commonly referred to as “Gen-3” – will add foam to the perimeter of the core, or laced through the core in ribbons or ribs, to enhance power.
TruFoam removes the polypropylene and replaces it with 100% foam. And this isn’t the EVA foam you’re thinking about, the stuff found in everything from sneaker insoles to packing peanuts.
“I don’t think people realize how flexible or diverse foam is as a material,” Goguen explained. “TruFoam reverts back to its original form over and over, for well past the lifetime of a paddle. It's not going to break down. It's not going to get looser over time, or have any break-in period. The way we've structured it, it’s way more durable than the other Gen-3 stuff out there.”
Strategically placed cutouts, or “voids” in CRBN’s parlance, help reduce weight and frame the sweet-spot right in the center of the face.
Gen-4 Paddles, Explained
Ask 10 pickleball “experts” and the definitions will likely vary here, but for the sake of TruFoam and CRBN’s portfolio of paddles going forward, Goguen differentiates paddle “Generations” like this:
- Gen-1: Cold-pressed honeycomb polypropylene paddles.
- Gen-2: Hot-pressed thermoformed honeycomb polypropylene paddles.
- Gen-3: Foam-enhanced paddles with foam injected, inserted, or adhered to other internal core materials (like honeycomb, ribs, stringers, etc.).
- Gen-4: 100% foam core
It’s worth noting that Gen-3 doesn’t mean it’s a better or more advanced paddle than Gen-1, it’s just a way to differentiate materials and techniques used in the manufacturing process.
Putting “Hot Paddles” on Ice?
This does, however, place TruFoam in a category all its own, at least for now in terms of “100% foam” paddles currently approved for tournament play by USA Pickleball.
“We’ve simplified the core because I think in Gen 3, you have people innovating within foams mixed with other materials, and inherently, that can often create weaknesses or weak points in a paddle,” said Goguen. “And that's oftentimes where you're getting the break-in – it’s separating, it’s crushing.”
Core crushing – or paddles “heating up” and becoming more powerful over time – is at the heart of new paddle regulations levied in recreational and professional play. It’s also why some popular models from other brands will be universally sunset come July.
Current Approval Status
All three TruFoam Genesis models are USAP approved and PBCoR 43 Certified, meaning they’re playable in all sanctioned recreational tournament play.
They’re also provisionally certified by the UPA-A for use in the pro ranks, Goguen told us. While that process is still ongoing, he expects full UPA-A certification this year.
“We designed the TFG to comply with current and future paddle regulations,” CRBN states in its marketing materials.
Creating the “hottest” new paddle on the market was never the goal with TruFoam. It’s a paddle designed to help players of all levels reach their full potential.
“We’ll be the first to say this isn’t the most powerful paddle on the market—and that’s intentional.”
How Revolutionary Is This?
The hype surrounding the TruFoam release has been palpable, in part because it’s been teased for so long.
More than that, though: It’s always intriguing when a brand that’s already making a popular product decides to throw caution to the wind and reinvent the wheel in the spirit of innovation and growth.
“I think it's scary for anybody to tear down everything they've done and start from scratch,” said Goguen. “Our strategy from the beginning, right or wrong, ride or die, has been to innovate; that will be the thing that will drive new business and awareness about the brand.”
For now, CRBN plans to continue producing its popular X Series of paddles. But, as their marketing materials so proudly tout: “The future is foam.”
The Nitty Gritty
This launch includes the TruFoam Genesis 1, 2 and 3. The dimensions of the 1 and 3 remain unchanged from the brand’s current X Series; the TruFoam Genesis 2 has been updated with a longer handle than its X Series equivalent.
In another notable innovation, all three models of the TruFoam Genesis will only be available in 14mm.
“In our Genesis core and all future TruFoam Series iterations, we have the ability to customize the performance of the core on a granular level,” the company explains. “We can adjust the foam density and structure to meet whatever power/control specifications we desire. We’ve chosen a 14mm thickness and plan to stick to that for now and fine-tune the playstyle internally.”
The price for each model is $279.99 (Use code "THEDINK" to save $28)
Are Other Brands Going Full-Foam?
Yes. More than a handful of brands will be launching foam-core paddles in 2025, though many specifics aren't yet public.
One brand we do know about is Selkirk, which will debut its PureFoam on February 4 (use code "INF-thedink" for a free gift card at checkout).
This technology will be first released in its LABS Project 008, in its current Epic and Invikta models. They will also debut a new “Tour” shape with a rounded top.
Selkirk, The Dink has learned, has been working on patent-pending solid foam concepts for more than two years.
“Over time, polypropylene cores get crushed and deformed – affecting the paddle’s responsiveness and making even the most routine shots unpredictable,” Selkirk explains. “The solution: LABS Project 008, with a completely new PureFoam core technology, made from high-density foam that resists crushing and deformation – increasing durability while reducing how often you need to replace your paddle.”
Notable performance upgrades include dampened vibration, increased dwell time and improved spin.
