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JOOLA's Flagship Models
JOOLA Ben Johns Perseus 3S (UPA-A/USAP Certified)
A high-end model supervised by world top player Ben Johns. A certified model and a go-to for those seriously aiming for tournaments.
CRBN's Flagship Model
CRBN Power Series Pickleball Paddle
CRBN's flagship, balancing spin and power with a carbon face. For spin-focused players.
A Comparison of the Two Major Brands
JOOLAandCRBNare the two most-watched brands in the current pickleball market. Both offer paddles with top-class performance, but there are clear differences in design philosophy and technology. This article compares the features of both brands from multiple angles to support you in choosing the paddle that fits you.
Brand Background
JOOLA
JOOLA has over 50 years of history as a German-born table-tennis equipment maker. Applying the rubber technology and knowledge of spin cultivated in table tennis to pickleball, it developed paddles with excellent spin performance. It raised its brand recognition all at once with a contract with the world No. 1-rankedBen Johnsplayer.
CRBN
CRBN is a pickleball-specialist emerging brand. With its proprietary surface technology called "Raw Carbon," it achieves overwhelming spin performance. With a simple design and a performance-first stance, it has gained a core fan base.
Spin Performance Comparison
JOOLA's CAS Technology
JOOLA's Carbon Abrasion Surface (CAS) technology is a design that applies a texture to the carbon-fiber surface to maximize friction with the ball. With a proprietary approach applying table-tennis rubber technology, it produces stable spin.
CRBN's Raw Carbon
CRBN's Raw Carbon technology exposes the raw carbon-fiber strands directly on the surface, achieving spin performance from the natural roughness. True to the name "raw carbon," it makes the most of the grip that unprocessed carbon possesses.
In spin performance the two are at a level hard to separate, but there's a difference in impression: CRBN has a somewhat stronger "grabbing" sensation, while JOOLA gives a "stable" spin.
The Difference in Ball Feel
JOOLA is characterized by a table-tennis-derived "firm ball feel." The sensation of catching the ball transmits clearly to your hand, giving an impression of being easy to control. CRBN has a somewhat "softer" ball feel, with a sensation of the ball sticking to the face.
Power and Control
In power, JOOLA is slightly ahead. The offensive paddles typified by the Ben Johns model in particular have high force on drives and smashes. In control, CRBN's soft ball feel delivers a delicate touch, with an established reputation for dink precision.
Price Comparison
For both brands, the higher-end models are positioned in the same price band (roughly $150–$250). Rather than choosing by price difference, the smart judgment is to choose by the compatibility of ball feel and playing style.
Recommendations by Playing Style
For offensive bangers, JOOLA. It can bring out the force of drives and smashes to the fullest. For dinkers centered on the soft game, CRBN. Delicate touch and spin control become weapons.
All-around players will be satisfied with the performance whichever they choose. Ideally, try hitting with both and choose the one that fits your hand.
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