Foam core paddles have generated a lot of buzz in the pickleball world due to promises of increased durability, but do they always deliver on performance? Diadem recently introduced their BluCore series, featuring fully foam and triple layered foam cores, joining the ranks of the CRBN TruFoam Genesis and Selkirk Labs 008. For this review, I’ll compare Diadem’s BluCore lineup directly against the popular CRBN TruFoam paddles.
I would like to thank Diadem for sending me these paddles; however, this article is not sponsored by them. The opinions expressed here are solely my own and are intended to help you find the best paddle for your game.
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Table of Contents
Diadem BluCore Lineup Overview
The Diadem BluCore series features nine distinct paddles, priced at $280 each (save 10% with my code PBEFFECT on Diadem’s website). While the number of options initially feels overwhelming, they become manageable once broken down:
Shapes: The series is offered in three shapes. Pro (elongated, 5.5” handle), Standard (elongated, 5.25” handle), and Max (widebody, 5” handle).
Thickness: Each shape is then available in 14mm, 16mm, and 19mm thickness options. The 14mm and 16mm feature pure foam cores, whereas the 19mm has a triple-layer core combining Kevlar honeycomb and foam.
Foam core paddles have successfully addressed two common issues found in traditional honeycomb, thermoformed paddles: core crushing and paddle break-in periods. The BluCore’s foam core is resistant to crushing and maintains consistent performance over extended use. Diadem supports these durability claims with a lifetime warranty on the foam core.
Specs
Here’s a look at the stats of the models I was sent. The swingweights across the board are low for respective shapes and thicknesses. The Max 19 in particular had an interesting set up with a heavy static weight but lower swingweight. I’m glad they bumped up the static weight because without it, it would have not had enough mass to carry through the ball well with how low the swingweight is. The sweet spots played bigger than their twistweights suggested, particularly on the Pro 16. Then the spin numbers, as I’ll get into more later in the performance section, were lower with the vast majority of modern paddles coming in at 1980 to 2050 RPMs and really good ones in the 2100s.
| Metric | Standard 14 | Pro 16 | Max 19 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Static Weight |
7.8 oz |
8.1 oz |
8.4 oz |
|
Swingweight |
107 |
112 |
108 |
|
Twistweight |
5.58 |
5.81 |
7.45 |
|
Balance Point |
232 mm |
234 mm |
228 mm |
|
Spin (RPMs) |
1935 (medium) |
1936 (medium) |
1926 (medium) |
For more paddle stats like this, check out my paddle database.
Performance Analysis: BluCore vs. CRBN TruFoam
The paddle’s out-of-the-box performance was underwhelming before you added weighted tape.
Offensive Capabilities
When comparing pure offensive power, CRBN TruFoam paddles clearly come out ahead. The BluCore Pro 16 and Standard 14 are true control-oriented paddles, while the Max 19 offers slightly more offensive punch, categorizing it as an aggressive control paddle.
Spin rates for BluCores averaged around 1930 RPM, noticeably lower than the TruFoam paddles’ 2000 RPM. While sufficient for control play, the BluCore paddles lacked the extra dip and threat that higher-spin paddles offer, particularly during aggressive rolls and drives.
Control and Comfort
BluCore paddles excel in control, surpassing the TruFoams with a pleasant, dampened feel thanks to their foam cores. Notably, the difference between the 14mm and 16mm models was subtle, unusual for pickleball paddles, making thickness choice less critical in terms of feel. However, thicker BluCores do launch at slightly higher angles.
Forgiveness and Maneuverability
The Max 19 offered impressive forgiveness with an oversized sweet spot, outperforming the CRBN 2 TruFoam. The Pro 16 had an average sweet spot compared to elongated paddles, slightly edging out the CRBN 1 TruFoam. Conversely, the Standard 14 disappointed in forgiveness, feeling dead around the edges.
Maneuverability is a significant strength of the BluCores. They boast lighter swingweights, enhancing their agility on the court—ideal for players prioritizing quick reactions and control.
Customization and Stability
Experimenting with tungsten tape showed minimal noticeable improvements in power or stability on BluCore paddles. In contrast, CRBN TruFoam paddles responded significantly better to weight adjustments, offering players more flexibility to customize performance.
| Pros |
|---|
|
Excellent durability with lifetime foam core warranty |
|
Superior comfort and dampened feel |
|
Outstanding maneuverability and control |
|
Good forgiveness in thicker models (Max 19) |
|
Lightweight and easy on the arm |
| Cons |
|---|
|
High price point compared to similarly performing paddles |
|
Lower spin potential than competitors |
|
Minimal responsiveness to customization with weighted tape |
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Value Assessment
At $280, BluCore paddles are priced on the premium end of the control paddle spectrum. You can get paddles like the Vatic Pro Prism series or the 11SIX24 Jelly Bean series for around $100 that offer similar levels of control and comfort. While BluCore paddles provide unique features—like a lifetime foam core warranty and a soft, dampened feel—the performance differences just aren’t significant enough to warrant nearly triple the price for most players.
Additionally, one of Diadem’s key selling points—durability—carries less weight in the control paddle space. Gen 1 and Gen 1.5 paddles that dominate this category typically don’t suffer from the same durability issues as Gen 3 thermoformed power paddles. Core crushing and break-in aren’t widespread problems for these types of paddles, so BluCore’s durability advantage doesn’t address a pressing concern for control-focused players.
That said, if your priorities include a very soft, arm-friendly feel and a lightweight build that’s easy to maneuver, and you’re willing to pay a premium for those traits, the BluCore paddles may be worth a look. But for most players, the performance difference isn’t likely to change your on-court results compared to much more affordable options. In those cases, paddles like the Prism or Jelly Bean not only offer excellent value but let you refresh your grit with a second paddle while still spending less.
Final Thoughts & Recommendation
The Diadem BluCore series introduces a new construction approach to control paddles, offering a dampened foam feel, low swingweights, and standout durability. But when it comes to overall performance—power, spin, and customization—the difference just isn’t big enough to justify the $280 price tag for most players, especially when strong alternatives like the Vatic Prism and Jelly Bean paddles are available for a third of the price.
And while BluCore’s durability story is compelling, the top control paddles on the market—many built on Gen 1 or 1.5 tech—don’t tend to struggle with core breakdown as much as full thermoformed or gen 3 style constructed paddles anyway. That makes BluCore’s key benefit less essential in this category.
If you’re specifically looking for a control paddle that’s ultra-comfortable, soft-feeling, and easy on the arm, BluCore might be worth the premium. But if you’re after foam core feel with added offensive capability, the CRBN TruFoam Genesis series is a better all-court option.
Who Should Buy
- Players who prioritize a soft, dampened feel and arm comfort
- Those looking for a lightweight control paddle with excellent maneuverability
- Anyone interested in a paddle with a lifetime core warranty and strong durability focus
Who Should Pass
- Players seeking top-tier spin or more offensive power
- Those who want strong performance gains over $100 paddles
- Players looking for paddles that respond well to customization
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Braydon competes at the 5.0 level and plays in 5-10 tournaments a year. He plays/drills 3 to 4 times a week and would play more if time allowed it.
Paddle Terms Glossary
We’ve categorized paddles into three categories. Control, All-Court, and Power. Paddle categories are determined by Braydon after he hits or reviews the paddle.
- Control paddles offer a softer feel and better absorbs pace off the ball but doesn’t give you as much power.
- All-Court paddles give you a blend of power and control and does well at everything though it doesn’t excel at anything.
- Power paddles often have a firmer feel and will return more power but are harder to control.
A paddle’s weight represents the inherent mass of the paddle as measured on a scale. However, relying solely on this static weight measurement can be misleading when assessing the true perceived heaviness of the paddle. Even if two paddles both clock in at 8 oz, their actual heft in your hand can markedly differ due to variations in weight distribution within the paddle. This is why the static weight should be considered with the swingweight of the paddle. See the definition of swingweight below.
The weight value listed in the database corresponds to the paddle’s weight that I used to gather the swingweight and twistweight measurement. It’s possible that if your paddle has a different static weight than then the swingweight and twistweight may be slightly different.
There are three primary shapes a paddle can have which consists of the length and width of the paddle. These three shapes are:
- Elongated: The dimensions for an elongated paddle are 16.5″ x 7.5″.
- Standard: A standard shaped paddle has dimensions of 16″ x 8″.
- Hybrid: A hybrid shaped paddle falls somewhere in between the standard and elongated shapes, with approximate dimensions of 16.25″ x 7.5″-7.7″.
Then there are two less common shapes you’ll see. These are:
- Extra-Elongated: This shape is 17″ x 7″
- Widebody: This any paddle shorter than 16″ long.
When considering the advantages and trade-offs of paddle shapes, it’s important to understand the characteristics of each shape.
- Elongated Paddle: An elongated paddle offers increased reach, spin, and power. However, this additional reach comes at the expense of forgiveness, particularly from side-to-side.
- Standard Paddle: In contrast, a standard-shaped paddle provides less reach and a little less power & spin but offers greater overall forgiveness. This means that while you may not have the same extended reach as an elongated paddle, you gain better control and stability.
- Hybrid Paddle: The hybrid shape serves as a middle ground between the elongated and standard shapes. It provides a balance between reach and forgiveness, offering players a versatile option that combines aspects of both shapes.
It’s interesting to note that advanced players often prefer elongated shapes. On the other hand, players at lower skill levels typically opt for the extra forgiveness offered by standard shaped paddles.
Ultimately, the choice of paddle shape depends on an individual’s playing style, preferences, and skill level. Whether your focus is on reach or forgiveness, understanding the unique benefits and trade-offs of each shape can assist you in selecting the paddle that best suits your game.
Swingweight is a measure of the paddle’s resistance to swinging about the end of the handle. The higher the swingweight number the heavier it will feel in your hands. A higher swingweight has more power but is harder to swing, lower swingweight is easier to swing but has less power. Sometimes a faster swing with a lower swingweight can make up for power lost in swingweight. The price paid for that is greater impact shock. Stock swingweights will vary between 100 – 140.
Twistweight is the resistance to rotating around the long axis through the middle of the paddle from butt to tip. The higher the twistweight the more resistance the paddle has to rotating on off center hits. This measurement is closely related to the amount of forgiveness or the size of the sweet spot of the paddle. A higher twistweight indicates a bigger sweet spot. Twistweight numbers range from 5 – 8.
Measuring the revolutions per minute (RPMs) off of a serve you get a number that shows the spin potential of a paddle. Using these RPM measurements I’ve created five buckets that a paddle will fall into indicating its overall spin potential. The five buckets are:
1900 or Higher = Very High
1700 – 1900 = High
1500 – 1700 = Medium
1300 – 1500 = Low
1300 or less = Very Low
You can tell a big difference in the amount of spin a paddle generates when you compare a Very High paddle to a low paddle. But the gains from Medium to High to Very High are marginal. We’ve found that having at least a medium rating is often enough if you’re looking for a good spin paddle. However, if you’re a big hitter then you will benefit more from a high spin paddle to help you keep the ball in play more often.
The power level of a paddle is shown in miles per hour (MPH) after taking ten measurements with a speed gun of hitting a serve as hard as I can. This measurement gives you an idea of how hard you can hit the ball when given the chance to take a full swing. So shots like serves, drives and overheads. The higher the MPH reading the more power you can generate with the paddle.
I also show the percentile ranking of the measurement to give you an idea of how it stacks up against the rest of the paddles in my database.
The pop level of a paddle is shown in miles per hour (MPH) after taking the average of ten speed gun measurements of hitting a punch volley as hard as I can. This measurement gives you an idea of how hard you can hit the ball on shorter swings and gives you an idea of how quickly a ball comes off the face when you apply less force on the ball. So shots volleys, dinks, counters, and resets are all affected by the pop measurement. The higher the pop measurement the stronger your counters will be but it takes more skill to keep the ball from floating or popping up on you when resetting a hard hit ball or when dinking.
I also show the percentile ranking of the measurement to give you an idea of how it stacks up against the rest of the paddles in my database.
The term “forgiveness” pertains to both the size of the sweet spot and the stability of the paddle. A paddle that is more forgiving offers a larger sweet spot, greater stability, and yields more power when hitting off-center shots. On the other hand, a less forgiving paddle has a smaller sweet spot and does not provide as much power when hitting off-center shots.
While there seems to be only benefits of more forgiving paddles, less forgiving paddles are often more maneuverable and is easier to generate more paddle speed.
