CRBN TruFoam Barrage Pickleball PAddle First Look
CRBN has officially announced the brand new TruFoam Barrage, and after spending the last few weeks testing all four shapes including the Barrage 2 (tfb2) and Barrage 4 (tfb4), I can confidently say this paddle feels different from anything else in the TruFoam lineup so far.
If the Genesis was version 1.0, then realistically the Waves felt like 1.5. The Barrage feels like the true 2.0 evolution.
Let’s break down why.
Construction: A Unique Floating Foam Core Design
The TruFoam Barrage moves into a floating foam core construction, something we’ve seen bring serious power to the market already.
However, CRBN’s execution is unique.
The Barrage features:
An EPP foam center with voids cut out
EVA foam surrounding the EPP
A thinner outer EPP foam ring extending through the handle
According to CRBN, the voids allow for increased flex and weight optimization, helping keep the paddle fast in hand. The outer EPP ring adds perimeter weighting for improved stability and sweet spot expansion.
The result is a paddle that feels quick, yet stable especially in the hybrid shape.
Specs & Measured Numbers
Here are the measured specs on my personal paddles:
Barrage 2 (Standard Shape)
Static Weight: 8.0 oz
Swing Weight: 110.1
Twist Weight: 6.9
Barrage 4 (Hybrid Shape)
Static Weight: 8.0 oz
Swing Weight: 108.8
Twist Weight: 6.6
Particularly on the hybrid, those are excellent numbers. It feels fast, maneuverable, and still offers tons of room to customize with added weight.
No Fiberglass And Still Plenty of Pop
One of the biggest changes is the removal of fiberglass entirely.
The Genesis featured a fiberglass patch. The Waves used a full fiberglass layer. The Barrage uses none.
Yet the pop remains strong, and more importantly, controllable. The power doesn’t feel wild or unpredictable. Instead, it feels refined and usable, especially at the net.
How It Compares to the Genesis & Waves
I liked the Genesis, and while not everyone agreed, I also liked the Waves. Though I was clear that it didn’t feel like a major upgrade if you already owned the Genesis.
The Barrage feels different.
Where the Waves felt incremental, the Barrage feels like a full step forward. It feels modern. It feels like CRBN leaned fully into the floating core concept and optimized it and it honestly feels like what the waves should have been.
Release Date & Pricing
Retail: $280
~$250 With code pickleballblast-tfb
Presale: March 13
Public Launch: March 17
The Barrage will launch initially in the 2 (standard) and 4 (hybrid) shapes, with the 1 and 3 coming later (no timeframe given).
Final Thoughts (For Now)
It’s still early in my testing, and I’ll have a full comparison video down the line. So far, the CRBN TruFoam Barrage feels like the evolution many players were waiting for. I hope the timing and price point don’t keep it out of peoples hands because I think it plays great.
If you’ve been curious about TruFoam but weren’t convinced by the Waves, this may be the one worth consideration.
More to come soon.
