CRBN 1X vs 3X: Which CRBN Power Series Paddle Should You Buy?

By Tomás Reyes, FIP-Certified Padel Coach
Published 2026-07-22 · Last updated October 2026

Quick Answer

Key Takeaways

• Same face, same weight: both use raw T700 carbon fiber and list 7.8 to 8.1 oz with an 8.0 oz average.
• Core thickness is the big difference: 12 mm on the 1X, 16 mm on the 3X, and you feel it on every soft shot.
• The 1X is narrower with a longer handle: 7.25 in wide and 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 across eight sessions.
• Same $159 price: the CRBN 1X vs 3X decision is about your game, never your budget.

Quick Links

• CRBN 1X vs 3X: the short version
• Head-to-head specs
• On court with both paddles
• Who should pick which
• How CRBN compares with JOOLA and Selkirk
• Where to buy
• FAQ

CRBN 1X vs 3X: The Short Version

CRBN builds carbon-face pickleball paddles, and the Power Series is the line most of my club students ask about, mainly because $159 is a lot less than the $219 signature paddles from JOOLA and Selkirk. The two models we carry are the CRBN 1X Power Series 12mm and the CRBN 3X Power Series 16mm. Both come with a cover.

The quickest way to understand them is through the core. In pickleball, a thinner core generally sends the ball off the face sooner and with more pop, while a thicker core holds the ball longer and feels softer. CRBN's own numbers show 12 mm against 16 mm, so the 1X is the livelier paddle and the 3X the calmer one. That matches exactly what I felt on court.

The shape detail matters too. The 1X is a little narrower at 7.25 in and has a longer 5.5 in handle, which suits two-handed backhands and players who want reach. The 3X is 7.5 in wide with a 5.25 in handle, so slightly more face to hit with and a slightly shorter grip. If you want the full brand picture first, my CRBN pickleball paddle review covers it.

What "Power Series" means here

Both paddles carry the Power Series name, so do not read the 3X as a soft control paddle in the way a 20 mm Selkirk LUXX is. It is the more controlled of the two CRBNs, not a pure control frame. Both keep the same raw carbon face and foam-injected edges, and both still hit hard when you swing.

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

All rows come from the CRBN specification 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

Three rows differ and four match. Weight, face material, length and price are identical, so the whole CRBN 1X vs 3X question comes down to core thickness, width and handle length. Those are exactly the specs that change how a paddle feels on dinks and resets.

On Court With Both: Eight Sessions of CRBN 1X vs 3X

Besides padel, I coach pickleball at my club in the US, and I tested the CRBN 1X Power Series 12mm ($159) and the CRBN 3X Power Series 16mm ($159) in alternating sessions. Same drilling partner, same outdoor balls, and the same order every time: dinks, third-shot drops, resets, drives, kitchen-line hands, serves, then games. I wrote notes after each session.

Sessions 1 and 2: dinks

With the 3X, dinks felt easy. The ball stayed on the face a fraction longer and dropped short of the kitchen line without much thought. The 1X made my dinks firmer and a little deeper. It was perfectly playable, but I had to soften my hands to keep the ball down. The raw carbon face gave both paddles real bite on slice dinks.

Sessions 3 and 4: third-shot drops and resets

This is the clearest gap between the two. On the 3X, third-shot drops landed in the kitchen from the first session and blocks against hard drives died nicely. On the 1X, several drops floated in session three and I popped up two resets that got put away. By session four I had adjusted, yet the 3X stayed the more forgiving paddle for soft shots in every session that followed.

Sessions 5 and 6: drives and serves

The roles swapped. The 1X drive came off faster and flatter, with the ball jumping off the 12 mm core. Serves had real pace and heavy spin. The 3X drove well, still with plenty of topspin from the raw carbon, but with less free power. If you hit a lot of third-shot drives, you will notice this right away.

Session 7: hand speed at the kitchen line

Both paddles weigh the same, but the 1X felt slightly quicker in hands battles, probably because of its narrower face. Counters snapped back with pace. The 3X was a touch slower to turn, though its wider face forgave a couple of off-center blocks that the 1X sent long.

Session 8: games and arm comfort

In match play I hit more winners with the 1X and made fewer soft-game errors with the 3X, the same pattern I see when comparing thin and thick cores from any brand. Neither paddle left my forearm or elbow sore after 90 minutes. The 3X felt a little more muted on mishits, which some players with sensitive arms will prefer.

CRBN 1X vs 3X: Who Should Pick Which

1. You drive your third shot and attack early: pick the 1X. The 12 mm core gives you free pace.
2. You drop your third shot and win long dink rallies: pick the 3X. The 16 mm core kept my soft shots lower.
3. You are a 3.0 or newer player: pick the 3X. Pop-ups cost more points at that level than missing pace.
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: pick the 3X first. Converted players tend to overhit, and the calmer response helps.
6. You want the biggest hitting area: pick the 3X for its 7.5 in width.
7. 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) to protect the raw carbon, and a damp cloth to clean the face after play.

Raw carbon faces grip best when clean. Dust and court grime reduce bite over time, so a quick wipe after every session keeps the spin you paid for.

How CRBN 1X and 3X Compare With JOOLA and Selkirk

At $159, the CRBN pair sits $60 below the JOOLA and Selkirk paddles we stock. Here is how the specs line up against a few $219 alternatives.

Paddle	Weight	Core	Face	Price at Padelnox
CRBN 1X Power Series 12mm	7.8 - 8.1 oz	Polypropylene honeycomb, 12 mm	Raw T700 carbon fiber	$159
CRBN 3X Power Series 16mm	7.8 - 8.1 oz	Polypropylene honeycomb, 16 mm	Raw T700 carbon fiber	$159
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta 13mm	7.7 - 8.1 oz	Polymer honeycomb, 13 mm	Fiberglass and carbon fiber hybrid	$219
Selkirk LUXX Control Air InfiniGrit Invikta 19mm	7.9 - 8.3 oz	X7 Thickset honeycomb, 19 mm	Florek carbon fiber, InfiniGrit	$219
JOOLA Simone Jardim Hyperion	7.9 - 8.3 oz	Honeycomb propulsion, hyper-foam edge wall	Textured carbon fiber	$219

The 1X is closest in spirit to the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air Invikta 13mm in Grey ($219), reviewed on my Vanguard Power Air page. The 3X sits between the CRBN 1X and thick control paddles such as the Selkirk LUXX Control Air InfiniGrit Invikta 19mm in Red ($219). For a spin-friendly JOOLA alternative, the JOOLA Simone Jardim Hyperion ($219) plays calmly too; see my JOOLA Hyperion review and Perseus vs Hyperion comparison. Selkirk's elongated shape is explained in my Selkirk Invikta guide, and the full shortlist is in my best pickleball paddles for 2026.

Where to Buy the CRBN 1X and 3X

Both paddles are in our CRBN paddles collection, and every model we carry is in pickleball paddles. If you landed here searching for a pickleball racket, that is the same thing. You can also compare against the JOOLA paddles and Selkirk paddles. Padelnox is a US-based online store with 221 frames and bags in stock, shipping worldwide. Everything is genuine brand stock, never replicas, and each order is 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 their original packaging can be returned within 30 days, and damaged or incorrect items are replaced or refunded when reported with a photo within 7 days. Read our shipping and returns policy for the details. 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, with no coupon needed, as the discount code page confirms. If you play both sports, my padel vs pickleball guide explains the differences. 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 struggle with most. Its 7.5 in face is also slightly wider than the 1X. The 1X rewards an attacking swing and soft hands that most beginners are still building.

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 rather than extra mass. The trade-off is less margin on soft shots.

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 at Padelnox 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.