The Barrage 4 is the Barrage I'd get, because it hits clearly harder than the average hybrid and only three hybrids I've tested swing lighter. The CRBN TruFoam Barrage is a 14mm full foam power paddle with a dense, solid feel, and I'm covering both shapes I've tested, the Barrage 2 widebody and the Barrage 4 hybrid. CRBN lists them as the CRBN2 TruFoam Barrage (Square) and the CRBN4 TruFoam Barrage (Hybrid, AeroCurve). Both shapes have the same core, face, handle and price, and they hit about the same, so the choice comes down to forgiveness or hand speed. The Barrage 2 is the more forgiving shape. The Barrage 4 gives up a little forgiveness for a swing that's a little lighter and quicker, and it's tenth on my Best of 2026 list and tenth on my intermediate list for that dense feel and light swing. Both shapes are $229.99, or $206.99 with the code STSPICKLEBALL. I earn a commission when you use my codes.
Every version, side by side
| Out of 100 | TruFoam Barrage 2$206.99 with code · widebody | TruFoam Barrage 4$206.99 with code · hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| 83A | 87A | |
| 88A | 86A | |
| 73B | 70B | |
| 81ALeads by 6 | 75B | |
| 71BLeads by 9 | 62C | |
| lower is quicker | 108.9 | 106.2 |
| higher is steadier | 6.78 | 6.47 |
2
$206.99with code STSPICKLEBALL
list price $229.99Code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, and my link applies it for you.
4
$206.99with code STSPICKLEBALL
list price $229.99Code STSPICKLEBALL takes 10% off, and my link applies it for you.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Both shapes hit like power paddles. The Barrage 4 scored 87 out of 100 for power, clearly more than the average hybrid.
- The Barrage 2 scored 83 for power. It has clearly more power than the average widebody, and about as much as the average elongated.
- The Barrage 2 scored 88 out of 100 for pop, and only 11 widebodies I've tested have more pop. The Barrage 4 scored 86 for pop, clearly more than the average hybrid.
- The Barrage 4 has a swing weight of 106.2, and only three hybrids I've tested swing lighter. The Barrage 2 swings lighter than about four out of five paddles I've tested, though for a widebody its swing weight of 108.9 is right in the middle.
- Both shapes are approved by USA Pickleball and UPA-A. Of the cheaper paddles I suggest below, only the Loco 2 Hybrid has both approvals, and the Loco 2 Hybrid is on pre-order until November 11, 2026.
Cons
- Neither shape has a standout sweet spot. The Barrage 2's sweet spot is only about average for a widebody, and the Barrage 4's is only about average for a hybrid.
- Both shapes spin about the same as the average paddle of their shape, so neither one is a spin paddle.
- Both give you a little less control than the average paddle of their shape. The Barrage 2 scored 71 out of 100 for control against the average widebody's 76, and the Barrage 4 scored 62 against the average hybrid's 71.
- Both are $229.99, and cheaper paddles in both shapes match or beat them on my numbers.
Quick answers
Which CRBN TruFoam paddle is the best?
I'd pick the Barrage 4, and it's the only CRBN paddle on my Best of 2026 list. It has far more power than the Genesis 4 and a little more pop, with about the same sweet spot. Next to the Waves 4, it has clearly more power and a clearly bigger sweet spot. If you want a widebody, the Barrage 2 is the CRBN to get. It has far more power than the Genesis 2, with about the same control and sweet spot, and it beats the Waves 2 on power, control, sweet spot and spin.
Should I get the Barrage 2 or the Barrage 4?
Get the Barrage 4 if you play fast hands at the kitchen, and get the Barrage 2 if you miss the center sometimes. Power, pop and spin come out about the same between the two shapes. The Barrage 2 is the more forgiving of the two, with a sweet spot score of 81 out of 100 against 75 on the Barrage 4. The Barrage 4 swings a little lighter, with a swing weight of 106.2 against 108.9 on the Barrage 2.
Is the CRBN Barrage USA Pickleball approved?
Yes. On October 21, 2026, CRBN's product pages list both shapes as approved by USA Pickleball and UPA-A. So either shape works for USA Pickleball sanctioned events and for UPA-A events like PPA qualifiers.
Stiff, but not as stiff as a Boomstik or a Loco
The Barrage is a stiff paddle in both shapes, but it isn't as stiff as a Selkirk Boomstik or a Bread & Butter Loco. It sounds solid, not hollow. A big swing in the middle of the face sounds sharp, and soft shots sound muted.
The ball doesn't sink into the face. It comes off quickly, and if you're coming from CRBN's Genesis or Waves, both of those hold the ball on the face longer.
On the Barrage 2, pop is even a little higher than power, with a pop score of 88 out of 100 against 83 for power. On the Barrage 4, the two are about the same, at 86 for pop and 87 for power. Both shapes stay predictable. The pace you get matches the swing you put on it, with no sudden jumps.
Next to all the paddles I've measured, the Barrage 2 swings light. For a widebody, though, its swing weight of 108.9 is right in the middle. The Barrage 4 is the quick one. Its swing weight of 106.2 is clearly lighter than the average hybrid's, which is about 112, and only 18 paddles I've tested in any shape swing lighter.
All of that makes the Barrage, in either shape, a paddle for players who like a stiff face where the ball comes off quickly. If you want a soft paddle that holds the ball, skip this one.
Power paddle pace on drives and fast hands, with an average sweet spot
How its spin stacks up against other widebodies you can buy
About average spin for a widebody, right at the average
The top three for spin
- 1Honolulu J3CR Crystal Blue2,436
- 211SIX24 Pegasus Jelly Bean 22,37561 RPM behind
- 3RPM Q2 Widebody2,36967 RPM behind
- 20CRBN TruFoam Barrage 22,282154 RPM behind
Drives, serves and returns
Pace on drives, serves and returns is solid, so you can swing out from the baseline. With the Barrage 2, just seven widebodies I've tested hit harder. With the Barrage 4, only 10 hybrids I've tested hit harder. Neither shape is one of the very hardest hitters across all the paddles I've tested, though.
If your current paddle feels dead on drives, either shape is the opposite. You can attack with it.
Speed-ups, counters and hands battles
Hands battles are the other strength. Because the ball leaves the face quickly and both shapes are poppy, speed-ups and counters come off sharp. The light swing weight helps you keep up in fast exchanges too, and that's where the Barrage 4 is at its best, since only three hybrids I've tested swing lighter.
Spin
In my spin test, the Barrage 2 measured 2,282 RPM and the Barrage 4 measured 2,264 RPM. On serves and drives, the Barrage 2 spins about the same as the average full foam EPP widebody, and the Barrage 4 spins about the same as the average full foam EPP hybrid. If spin is the main reason you're buying, the Honolulu J3CR Crystal Blue and J2CR Crystal Blue below are better fits.
Off-center hits
Twist weight is how steady the face stays on a mishit, and the Barrage 2's twist weight of 6.78 is higher than most of the paddles I've tested. It's under the average widebody's, though, which is about 6.92. The Barrage 4's twist weight of 6.47 is lower than the Barrage 2's 6.78, which is why the Barrage 4 is the less forgiving shape.
The sweet spot doesn't stand out either. The Barrage 2 scored 81 out of 100 for sweet spot and the Barrage 4 scored 75, and each one is about the same as the average paddle of its shape. In the widebody, the 14mm core is part of that, because the average 16mm full foam widebody scored 88 for sweet spot. The Barrage 4's sweet spot matches the average 16mm full foam hybrid's, so a thicker hybrid won't buy you much more forgiveness. Want more forgiveness? Lead tape at 3 and 9 o'clock raises twist weight, but it makes either shape swing heavier.
Dinks, resets and drops
Dinks are easy to place in both shapes, though they feel firm rather than plush. Third-shot drops are easy to learn, as long as your stroke is clean and steady. Resets are steady when you hit the center, but toward the edges they come off firm or die short. If you want the most control you can get in a widebody or a hybrid, this isn't the one.
How it feels in your hand next to other widebodies you can buy
About average in your hands, about average when you miss the middle
How heavy the paddle feels when you swing it. Lower means faster hands.
About average swing weight for a widebody.
How well the paddle resists turning in your hand when you hit off center. Higher means steadier.
About average twist weight for a widebody.
How its sweet spot stacks up against other widebodies you can buy
An average-size sweet spot for a widebody
Both rings are sized to their score.
Barrage 2 or Barrage 4? The widebody forgives more, and the hybrid moves faster
The Barrage 4 is the hybrid version of the Barrage, and it's one of the paddles people compare the Barrage 2 to the most. Both are $229.99 with the same core, face and handle, and power, pop and spin are about the same. The Barrage 2 scored 83 out of 100 for power and the Barrage 4 scored 87, and the Barrage 2 spun 2,282 RPM to the Barrage 4's 2,264 RPM.
You get a little more control and a little bigger sweet spot with the Barrage 2. It scored 71 out of 100 for control against 62 on the Barrage 4, and 81 for sweet spot against 75. The Barrage 2's twist weight is higher too, 6.78 against 6.47, so it twists less on mishits.
Want reach and a quicker swing? That's the Barrage 4. It's a little longer, 16.2 inches to 16.0, and swings a little lighter, with a swing weight of 106.2 against 108.9.
Get the Barrage 4 if you win points with speed-ups and counters at the kitchen and you hit the center most of the time. Get the Barrage 2 if you miss the center sometimes, or if you want an easier soft game. Can't decide? Get the Barrage 4, because its light swing is what stands out, and only three hybrids I've tested swing lighter. It also hits clearly harder and pops clearly more than the average hybrid. The Barrage 2's sweet spot and control are about average or a little under for a widebody, and cheaper widebodies beat it there.
Full foam, with far more power than the average honeycomb widebody
CRBN says it designed the Barrage for power that comes from pop, with a new core design on the same Gen 4 TruFoam technology CRBN uses in the Genesis and Waves. The core is 14mm full foam in both shapes. CRBN describes it as a floating foam core inside an EVA foam perimeter ring, with carbon fiber reinforcement around the perimeter. The face is raw T700 carbon fiber with a peel-ply texture.
Next to the average honeycomb widebody with perimeter foam, counting every core thickness, the Barrage 2 has far more power and pop and a little less control. Next to the average 16mm full foam widebody, it has a little more power, and its pop and control are about the same. Its sweet spot is a little smaller, though, which is the 14mm core showing up.
The Barrage 4 lines up the same way. Next to the average honeycomb hybrid with perimeter foam, it has far more power, clearly more pop and clearly less control. Next to the average 16mm full foam hybrid, it has a little more power and about the same sweet spot, with clearly less control, 62 out of 100 against 72.
CRBN lists the Barrage 2's swing weight at 110 to 112, and I measured 108.9, which is just under that range. CRBN lists the Barrage 4's at 108 to 110, and I measured 106.2, which is under that range too.
Both shapes weigh 7.8 to 8.2 ounces. The Barrage 2 is 16 inches long and 7.85 inches wide, and the Barrage 4 is 16.2 inches long and 7.8 inches wide. On both shapes, the 5.5 inch handle has room for two hands, and the grip is 4.125 inches. CRBN's warranty is one year.
Owners say it's quick in the hands, with no common defect so far
CRBN released the Barrage 2 and the Barrage 4 on March 17, 2026. The thing Barrage 2 owners mention most is that they felt comfortable with it right from their first session. They also say it's quick in the hands and strong on counters. Three Barrage 4 owners who posted between March and May 2026 said they love it, and one of them called it great at the kitchen.
As of October 21, 2026, about seven months after both shapes first shipped, I haven't found a defect that three or more owners report on either shape.
On October 21, 2026, CRBN shows both shapes in stock at $229.99. That's a sale price, down from $279.99, and CRBN calls the sale limited time without giving an end date.
Should you get the Barrage 2 or the Boomstik Widebody?
The Boomstik Widebody is $333, and the code INF-STSPICKLEBALL adds a $40 Selkirk gift card instead of lowering the price. That's $103.01 more than the Barrage 2 at list. With my code, the Barrage 2 drops to $206.99 and the Boomstik Widebody stays at $333, so the gap grows to $126.01.
The two are about the same on power, pop, control and spin. The Boomstik Widebody's sweet spot is clearly bigger and its twist weight is higher, so it's the more forgiving paddle. It also comes with Selkirk's lifetime warranty.
Swing weight is about the same, 108.9 on the Barrage 2 against 110.2. The Barrage 2 is also on the UPA-A list, and the Boomstik Widebody's only USA Pickleball approved.
Cheaper paddles that match or beat the Barrage in each shape
Two paddles you might pick instead
How it stacks up against the Pegasus Power 2 and the MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Widebody
A paddle only wins a score when it leads by 5 points or more.
TruFoam Barrage 2Widebody · $206.99
Pegasus Power 2Widebody · $199.99The Pegasus Power 2 hits harder, has more pop, spins more and has a bigger sweet spot. Control is about the same. The Pegasus Power 2 costs about $7 less.
TruFoam Barrage 2Widebody · $206.99
MPP Turbo ArmorGrit WidebodyWidebody · $99.99The MPP Turbo ArmorGrit spins more and has a bigger sweet spot. Power, pop and control are about the same. The MPP Turbo ArmorGrit costs about $107 less.
For widebody shoppers
On my numbers, eight widebodies I've tested that cost at least $10 less than the Barrage 2 match or beat it on both pop and sweet spot, and five of them are below. Two of those five, the Pegasus Power 2 and the MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Widebody, match or beat it on every score I give.
11SIX24 Pegasus Power 2, $209.99, or $199.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. The Pegasus Power 2 is $20 less, and it's for players who want everything the Barrage 2 does with a bigger sweet spot. Its sweet spot scored 100 out of 100, more than any other paddle I've tested. It also has more spin, a little more power and a little more pop, and its twist weight is higher. Control and swing weight are about the same. You give up USA Pickleball approval, since it's only on the UPA-A list. The warranty is one year, and the handle is a little longer at 5.75 inches.
Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Widebody, $119.99, or $99.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. For value, this is the one. It's $110 less than the Barrage 2, and its power, pop and control are about the same. Its sweet spot is clearly bigger, it has more spin, and it swings a little lighter. It's USA Pickleball approved but not on the UPA-A list, and the warranty covers the core for one year.
Honolulu J3CR Crystal Blue, $195, or $175.50 with code STS10. The J3CR Crystal Blue is $34.99 less, and it's the pick for spin-first players. It has far more spin than the Barrage 2, plus a little more control and a little bigger sweet spot. Power and pop are about the same. It has a 6 inch handle, it's only on the UPA-A list, and the warranty is one year.
Enhance EPP Turbo Widebody, $119.99, or $99.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. The EPP Turbo has the same kind of core, an EPP foam center with an EVA foam perimeter, plus a raw peel-ply face, for $110 less. It has a little more power and a little bigger sweet spot, and pop, control and spin are about the same. Keep in mind the 5.3 inch handle is tight for two hands. It's USA Pickleball approved but not on the UPA-A list, and the warranty covers the core for one year.
Ronbus Quanta Pro R2.16, $119.99, or $107.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. The Quanta Pro R2.16 is $110 less, and it's for hands players who want even more pop. It has a little more pop and a little bigger sweet spot, with about the same control and spin. It has clearly less power, though. It's USA Pickleball approved but not on the UPA-A list, and the warranty is six months.
Friday Aura Pro Widebody, $169, or $159 with code STS. The Aura Pro Widebody is $60.99 less, and it's for attackers who want more pace and spin. It has a little more power, more spin and a clearly lighter swing, with a swing weight of 103.8 against 108.9, and pop and sweet spot are about the same. It has clearly less control, though. It's USA Pickleball approved but not on the UPA-A list, and the warranty is six months.
For hybrid shoppers
Seven hybrids I've tested that cost at least $10 less than the Barrage 4 match or beat it on both pop and sweet spot, and four of them are below. Two of those four, the Vapor Power 2 and the Zen S+, match or beat it on every score I give except swing weight, where the Vapor Power 2 swings a little heavier.
11SIX24 Vapor Power 2, $209.99, or $199.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. The Vapor Power 2 is $20 less, and it's for UPA-A players who want the Barrage 4's pace with far more spin. It spun 2,374 RPM in my spin test, against 2,264 RPM on the Barrage 4. Power, pop, sweet spot and control are about the same. It swings a little heavier, with a swing weight of 110.6 against 106.2, and its 5.75 inch handle is a little longer. You give up USA Pickleball approval, since it's only on the UPA-A list. The warranty is one year.
Pickleball Apes Zen S+, $188.88, or $169.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. If you only play USA Pickleball events, this is the better buy. It's $37 less than the Barrage 4 with the codes. The Zen S+ scored 100 out of 100 for power, and it has a clearly bigger sweet spot, a little more pop, a little more control and more spin. Swing weight is about the same, 104.4 against 106.2. Just know it's USA Pickleball approved only, Pickleball Apes doesn't say what foam is in the core, and at 16mm it's 2 millimeters thicker. Its 5.75 inch handle has room for two hands, and the warranty is one year.
Enhance MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Hybrid, $119.99, or $99.99 with code STSPICKLEBALL. This is the value pick in a hybrid. It's $107 less than the Barrage 4 with the codes, and power, pop and sweet spot are about the same. It spins more, and it has clearly more control, scoring 73 out of 100 against 62, so your resets are easier to keep down. It's USA Pickleball approved but not on the UPA-A list, and the warranty covers the core for one year.
Honolulu J2CR Crystal Blue, $195, or $175.50 with code STS10. For spin-first players who play UPA-A events, this is the one. It's $31.49 less than the Barrage 4 with the codes. It has far more spin, clearly more control, a little bigger sweet spot and a little more pop, for a little less power. Its 5.375 inch handle is tight for two hands, it's only on the UPA-A list, and the warranty is one year.
Bread & Butter Loco 2 Hybrid, $220, or $198 with code STSPICKLEBALL. If you need both approvals in a hybrid and can wait a few weeks, this is the one to get ahead of the curve. Bread & Butter labels it Dual Certified for USA Pickleball and UPA-A, and USA Pickleball added it to its approved list on October 19, 2026. It's $8.99 less than the Barrage 4 with the codes. Power, pop, sweet spot and control are about the same, and it has far more spin. It plays stiff and hollow instead of dense. It also swings a little heavier, with a swing weight of 110.6 against 106.2, and its 5.3 inch handle is tight for two hands. As of October 21, 2026, Bread & Butter has the Loco 2 Hybrid on pre-order at $220 and expects it to begin shipping on November 11, 2026.
Get it for the feel and the pace, not for value
Get the Barrage 4 if you win at the kitchen with fast hands and you want a dense, solid paddle instead of a hollow one. Get the Barrage 2 if you want a widebody that hits like a power paddle. It feels solid, and it's got the pop for fast hands battles. Play both USA Pickleball and UPA-A events? Both shapes work for that too. Care more about price than feel? The Pegasus Power 2 and the MPP Turbo ArmorGrit Widebody give you as much or more on my numbers for less, and in a hybrid, the Vapor Power 2 and the Zen S+ do the same, though the Vapor Power 2 swings a little heavier.
Skip the Barrage if you want a soft paddle that holds the ball, or if you want the biggest sweet spot you can get in a widebody, since the average 16mm full foam widebody has a bigger one.
Testing details
- Tested, 2
- May 1, 2026
- Tested, 4
- September 15, 2026
- Power and pop
- 20 full serves for power and 20 punch volleys for pop, every ball speed read on a Stalker radar gun.
- Spin
- 20 more serves on the radar. I drop the outliers and average the rest.
- Swing and twist weight
- Measured on a Briffidi SW1 swing weight machine.
- Sweet spot and control
- The same dinks, drops, resets and drives off a Titan ONE ball machine, for every paddle.
- The scores
- Out of 100, with the same tests for every paddle. The top paddles I've tested score 100.
- Published
- Scores from
- My database, updated October 21, 2026. How I test
No. 1
No. 1
No. 2
No. 3
No. 4
