CRBN 1X vs 3X: Power Series 12mm or 16mm

Quick Answer

Key Takeaways

• Core thickness is the whole story: 12 mm on the 1X against 16 mm on the 3X, and you feel it on every soft shot.
• Same face, same weight: both list raw T700 carbon fiber and 7.8 to 8.1 oz (8.0 oz average).
• The 1X is narrower with a longer handle: 7.25 in wide and a 5.5 in handle, against 7.5 in and 5.25 in on the 3X.
• Raw carbon brings spin on both: serves and rolls bit hard with either paddle.
• Price is a tie: the CRBN 1X vs 3X decision is about your game, never your budget.

Quick Links

• The short version
• Head-to-head specs
• On court with both paddles
• Who should pick which
• Where to buy
• Frequently asked questions

CRBN 1X vs 3X: The Short Version

Both paddles are in the grid above, and both come with a cover for $159. CRBN builds raw-carbon pickleball paddles, and the Power Series is the line my club students ask about most, mainly because $159 is a lot less than the $219 signature paddles from JOOLA and Selkirk.

The quickest way to read them is through the core. A thinner core sends the ball off the face sooner with more pop. A thicker core holds the ball longer and feels softer. CRBN's own numbers show 12 mm on the CRBN 1X Power Series 12mm ($159) and 16 mm on the CRBN 3X Power Series 16mm ($159), so the 1X is the livelier paddle and the 3X the calmer one. My full brand write-up is the CRBN pickleball paddle review, and the deeper head to head is my CRBN 1X vs 3X guide.

CRBN 1X vs 3X Head-to-Head Specs

Every row comes from the CRBN sheets we hold for each listing.

Spec	CRBN 1X Power Series 12mm	CRBN 3X Power Series 16mm
Shape	Elongated	Elongated
Weight	7.8 - 8.1 oz (8.0 oz average)	7.8 - 8.1 oz (8.0 oz average)
Length and width	16.5 in by 7.25 in	16.5 in by 7.5 in
Handle length	5.5 in	5.25 in
Core	Polypropylene honeycomb, foam injected edges, 12 mm	Polypropylene honeycomb, foam injected edges, 16 mm
Face	Raw T700 carbon fiber	Raw T700 carbon fiber
Price at Padelnox	$159	$159

Weight, face and price match. Core thickness, width and handle length differ, and those are the specs that change how a paddle feels on dinks and resets. The brand-level comparison with the premium paddles is in Selkirk vs JOOLA.

On Court With Both: CRBN 1X vs 3X

Besides padel, I coach pickleball at my US club, and I tested both CRBN paddles in alternating sessions. Same drilling partner, same outdoor balls, same order every time. My full testing method is on my about page.

Dinks and resets

The 3X took this clearly. The ball stayed on the 16 mm core a fraction longer, so dinks dropped short of the kitchen line without much thought and blocks against hard drives died nicely. The 1X made my dinks firmer and a little deeper, so I had to soften my hands to keep them down. The raw carbon face gave both real bite on slice dinks.

Third-shot drops

Same pattern. On the 3X, drops landed in the kitchen from the first session. On the 1X, a few floated early until I adjusted. If you drop your third shot and build the point, the 3X is the safer tool.

Drives, serves and hands

The roles flipped. The 1X drive came off faster and flatter, jumping off the 12 mm core, and serves had real pace with heavy spin. In fast hands battles the narrower 1X felt a touch quicker to turn, and counters snapped back with pace. The 3X drove well with plenty of topspin, just with less free power, and its wider face forgave a couple of off-center blocks the 1X sent long. Neither paddle left my arm sore after 90 minutes.

CRBN 1X vs 3X: Who Should Pick Which

1. You drive your third shot and attack early: pick the 1X for the free pace off the 12 mm core.
2. You drop your third shot and win dink rallies: pick the 3X for the calmer 16 mm core.
3. You are a 3.0 or newer player: pick the 3X, since pop-ups cost more than missing pace at that level.
4. You hit a two-handed backhand: lean 1X for its 5.5 in handle, against 5.25 in on the 3X.
5. You come from padel or tennis: start with the 3X, since converted players tend to overhit.
6. Set up either paddle the same way: one overgrip if the handle feels thin, the included cover or a Pickleball Paddle Bag in Black ($19.99), and a wipe after play to keep the raw carbon biting.

Where to Buy the CRBN 1X and 3X

Both paddles are in the CRBN paddles collection, and every model we carry sits in pickleball paddles. If you searched for a pickleball racket, that is the same thing. You can also compare the JOOLA paddles and Selkirk paddles, which I set against CRBN in my Selkirk Vanguard Power Air review. Padelnox is a US-based online store with 221 frames and bags in stock, shipping worldwide, genuine brand stock only, every order inspected before dispatch and shipped tracked.

Orders are processed in 1 to 3 business days, with delivery 7 to 14 business days from dispatch. Shipping is free and tracked over $99 and $9.95 flat below, so either CRBN ships free. Unused items in original packaging return within 30 days, and damaged or incorrect items are replaced or refunded with a photo within 7 days, as our shipping and returns page sets out. Every racket over $150 ships with the free Court-Ready Kit, an overgrip 3-pack and a frame protector.

Pick three or more items from accessories and 15% comes off automatically, no coupon needed, as the discount code page confirms. If you play both sports, my padel vs pickleball guide explains the differences, and the best pickleball paddles of 2026 has my full shortlist. Questions about the CRBN 1X vs 3X go to helppadelnox@outlook.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the CRBN 1X or 3X better for beginners?

The CRBN 3X. Its 16 mm core holds the ball a little longer and felt clearly more forgiving on dinks, third-shot drops and resets in my testing, which are the shots newer players miss most. Its 7.5 in face is also wider than the 1X at 7.25 in. The 1X rewards an attacking swing and soft hands that most beginners are still building, so it is the harder starting point.

Is the CRBN 1X more powerful than the 3X?

Yes, in my sessions. The 1X has a 12 mm core against 16 mm on the 3X, and its drives, serves and counters came off faster and flatter. Both list the same 7.8 to 8.1 oz weight and the same raw T700 carbon face, so the extra pop comes from the thinner core, not extra mass. The trade-off is less margin on soft shots like drops and resets.

Do the CRBN 1X and 3X come with a cover?

Yes. Both listings we carry, the CRBN 1X Power Series 12mm and the CRBN 3X Power Series 16mm, are sold with a cover, and both cost $159 with free tracked shipping. Use the cover every time you pack the paddle, because a raw carbon face loses some of its grip when it rubs against keys, shoes or other paddles in a bag.