Selkirk vs JOOLA vs CRBN: Which Paddle Brand Fits You
Compare the Selkirk Vanguard Power Air S2, JOOLA Perseus 3S Dual 16 mm and CRBN 1X on weight, face, core and warranty from maker pages, then take the quiz.
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Quick answer
Pick Selkirk for the largest face and the longest warranty, JOOLA for an elongated textured carbon paddle with dual certification, and CRBN for a T700 carbon face in a 14 or 16 mm elongated shape. These picks come from each maker’s own spec page, not from testing.
- Shape. The Selkirk S2 is a large face with a shorter handle. JOOLA Perseus and CRBN 1X are elongated at 16.5 in.
- Face. Selkirk lists a fiberglass and carbon blend, JOOLA a textured carbon surface, CRBN a T700 carbon surface.
- Cover. Selkirk lists a limited lifetime warranty, CRBN one year and JOOLA 6 to 12 months.
Which brand fits you: four questions
Say what you want from the paddle, how much spin matters, whether your arm is sore and how much warranty matters. You get one of the three paddles below and the option to choose on the Amazon listing.
This is guidance built from maker spec pages, not a test result. Prices are left out because they change daily and differ by option.
One paddle from each brand
Each brand sells many lines. We picked one current paddle per brand so the specs line up, all read from maker pages. Paddlory earns a commission on qualifying purchases through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Selkirk Vanguard Power Air S2
Selkirk lists 7.7 to 8.1 oz, 15.75 by 8 in, a 13 mm core and a fiberglass and carbon face. The listing covers the Power, Power Air and Pro lines, so choose Power Air, S2, Midweight.
JOOLA Perseus 3S Dual 16 mm
JOOLA lists an 8.0 oz average, 16.5 by 7.5 in, a 16 mm core and a textured carbon face. The listing mixes Perseus, Hyperion, Scorpeus and Magnus shapes in 14 and 16 mm, so choose Perseus 16mm.
CRBN 1X from the X Series
CRBN lists 7.8 to 8.1 oz, 16.5 by 7.25 in, a T700 carbon face and a 14 or 16 mm core. The listing mixes 1X, 2X and 3X options, so choose CRBN1X and your thickness.
Video: how to demo paddles side by side
This six-minute video shows how to demo several paddles side by side, including models from all three brands, and which features to compare.
Spec table: Selkirk, JOOLA and CRBN side by side
These are the three paddles above, read from the maker pages in November 2026. Where a maker prints nothing, the cell says so.
| Spec | Selkirk Vanguard Power Air S2 | JOOLA Perseus 3S Dual 16 mm | CRBN 1X | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shape and size | Standard S2, 15.75 by 8 in | Elongated Perseus, 16.5 by 7.5 in | Elongated with long handle, 16.5 by 7.25 in | Maker product pages |
| Weight | 7.7 to 8.1 oz, midweight | 8.0 oz average | 7.8 to 8.1 oz | Maker product pages |
| Core | 13 mm polymer honeycomb | 16 mm Propulsion Core | 14 or 16 mm | Maker product pages |
| Face | Hybrid fiberglass and carbon fiber | Textured carbon fiber | T700 Toray carbon fiber | Maker product pages |
| Edge | Edgeless DuraEdge, foam perimeter | Dual-color gradient edge guard | Foam reinforced perimeter | Maker product pages |
| Handle | 4.375 in handle, 4.25 in grip circumference | 5.5 in grip length, 4.25 in circumference | 5.5 in handle, 4.125 in circumference | Maker product pages |
| Certification | Described as USAPA-approved | UPA-A Pro and USAP dual certified | Described as USAP-approved | Selkirk and JOOLA pages, CRBN Amazon listing |
| Warranty | Limited lifetime with registration | 6 to 12 months | One year on registered paddles | Selkirk, JOOLA and CRBN warranty terms |
Decision table: your situation and which brand to buy
| Your situation | Buy this | Drawback | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| You want the largest face and a shorter handle | Selkirk Vanguard Power Air S2 | Less reach than an elongated paddle, and the warranty excludes chips to the sides of edgeless paddles | Selkirk product and warranty pages |
| You want an elongated paddle with a textured carbon face and a 16 mm core | JOOLA Perseus 3S Dual 16 mm | The shortest stated warranty of the three, 6 to 12 months | JOOLA product page |
| You want a T700 carbon face and a choice of 14 or 16 mm | CRBN 1X | The Amazon listing bullet gives dimensions that do not match the maker page for the 1X, so check the option you open | CRBN product page and Amazon listing |
| You enter sanctioned events | Any of the three, and JOOLA states dual certification | Approval is model by model, so check the current USA Pickleball approved list | JOOLA page and USA Pickleball rulebook |
| You want the strongest warranty | Selkirk, limited lifetime with registration | It covers defects only, not wear or edge chips on edgeless paddles | Selkirk warranty page |
| Your arm is sore | The 16 mm JOOLA or CRBN, or the Selkirk with its foam perimeter | No maker publishes a vibration figure, so weight and grip fit matter too | Maker statements on vibration and core thickness |
Selkirk: what its page says
Selkirk lists the Vanguard Power Air S2 as its largest sweet spot with a shorter handle. The face is a four-layer blend of two FiberFlex layers and two Quantum+ carbon layers.
The rim is edgeless. Selkirk says its foam perimeter adds durability, enlarges the sweet spot and absorbs vibration.
JOOLA: what its page says
JOOLA says the 3S Dual meets both UPA-A and USAP certification, so one paddle works in either type of event. The 16 mm version adds control and forgiveness compared with the 14 mm, per JOOLA.
The paddle ships with a dual-color gradient edge guard. Our guide to edge guards covers what that guard does.
CRBN: what its page says
CRBN lists a T700 Toray carbon fiber surface, a reinforced unibody and a fortified handle it says reduces vibration. The 1X is the elongated long-handle shape in the X Series.
The Amazon listing is a parent page for 1X, 2X and 3X options. Its dimension bullet reads 15.75 by 8 in and 14 mm, the length and width CRBN prints for the square 2X, so confirm the option before you buy.
Where to go next
For head-to-head pages, read Selkirk versus JOOLA and CRBN versus Selkirk. For ranked picks across brands, see the best paddles ranked and control, power and spin paddles.
Shape and material come next: elongated versus standard, carbon fiber versus fiberglass and paddle weight explain the trade-offs.
If you are between 3.0 and 4.0, start with paddles for intermediate players. If budget is the limit, see paddles near 150 dollars, and check the approved paddle list before an event.
How we sourced these figures
We did not test these paddles. Specs, certification and warranty terms come from the Selkirk, JOOLA and CRBN product and warranty pages, with the Amazon listings used for option names and CRBN approval.
Prices are left out because they change daily and differ by option. Where a listing and a maker page disagree, the table says so.
Frequently Asked Questions
None wins in every case. Selkirk lists the S2 as its largest sweet spot with a limited lifetime warranty. JOOLA lists an elongated Perseus with a textured carbon face and 6 to 12 months of cover, and CRBN lists an elongated 1X with a T700 carbon surface and a one-year warranty.
JOOLA states that its 3S Dual paddles meet both UPA-A and USAP certification. Selkirk describes the Vanguard Power Air S2 as USAPA-approved, and the CRBN X Series listing says USAP-approved. Approval is model by model, so check the current USA Pickleball approved paddle list before a sanctioned event.
Selkirk lists a limited lifetime warranty for registered paddles, CRBN lists one year for registered paddles, and JOOLA lists 6 to 12 months on the Perseus 3S Dual page. All three cover manufacturing defects, not normal wear, and Selkirk also excludes chips to the sides of edgeless paddles.
Both exist. CRBN offers the 1X in 14 and 16 mm, and the Amazon listing also carries 2X, 3X and a 12 mm signature option. The listing bullet shows 15.75 by 8 in and 14 mm, which does not match CRBN's 16.5 by 7.25 in for the 1X, so check the option page.
No maker publishes a vibration measurement. Selkirk says its foam perimeter absorbs vibration, JOOLA says its 16 mm core adds control and forgiveness, and CRBN says its fortified handle reduces vibration. If your arm is sore, see a clinician and read our weight guide before changing paddles.
Mostly, but the Amazon listings are parent pages with many options. Selkirk's covers the Power, Power Air and Pro lines, JOOLA's mixes Perseus, Hyperion, Scorpeus and Magnus shapes in 14 and 16 mm, and CRBN's mixes 1X, 2X and 3X. Pick the option named on the card before you buy.
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Last updated: November 1, 2026