A little over a month ago, I reviewed the standard Honolulu Pickleball CR paddles, and I was extremely impressed. Honolulu managed to bridge a difficult gap in the market by matching the explosive, hollow power of a Gen 3 while maintaining the sweet spot size and durability of a Gen 4. They were the first to do it, and the paddles were very well-received.

Lucky for us, Honolulu hasn’t rested on its laurels. They’ve just released a new version of the CRs featuring a unique face material: the Crystal Blue Endurance Surface. Let's take a deep dive into the Honolulu Pickleball CR Crystal Blue series to see how this new grit affects performance, if at all.

The Magic of the CR 

Before we get into the details regarding Crystal Blue grit, I first want to remind you about what makes the CR paddles so special. These paddles have an EPP foam core surrounded by an EVA foam ring, which sounds standard for a Gen 4, but they are anything but standard. Honolulu astutely engineered the CRs using three proprietary technologies to give them such a wonderful, unique feel.

At the heart of the core is the Dynamic PowerFlex technology. This does exactly what it sounds like it should: when you’re dinking, the paddle feels plush and when you swing hard, it springs the ball out with more power. Then there’s the Core Reactor tech which further amplifies the springy, "hollow" sensation, and finally, to add some control, Honolulu uses Control Joint Technology. This helps maintain the CR’s structural integrity to keep it stable and consistent.

Using all of these technologies in unison is how Honolulu has created a paddle that mimics the feel of a Gen 3, but with the consistency and forgiveness of a Gen 4.

Specifications and Shape: The J2 and J6

On paper, the Crystal Blue models are identical to the standard CRs. The J2CR Crystal Blue is a hybrid paddle, measuring 16.2 inches and weighing between 8.0 and 8.2 ounces. The twist weight is 7.0 and the swing weight ranges between 110 and 114.

The J6CR Crystal Blue is the elongated version, coming in at 16.48 inches and weighing 8.0 to 8.3 ounces. It has a slightly higher swing weight of 111 to 116 and a twist weight ranging between 6.2 and 6.7.

The Technology Update: Crystal Blue Endurance Surface

The only update coming from the standard CRs is to the surface. Instead of a raw carbon fibre face, Honolulu has implemented its Crystal Blue Endurance Surface. They describe this as a precision crystal-infused particulate encapsulation process that utilizes blue crystal media, mechanically interlocking the texture to the paddle face. While that is a mouthful of technical jargon, the idea behind it is to create a surface that maintains its grit longer than carbon fibre while also providing a more controlled bite over the ball.

The industry is calling these next-gen surfaces "Enhanced Grit Surfaces" and we already have a number of examples from other brands such as SixZero. Interestingly enough, when you first touch the CR Crystal Blue, you’ll notice that this grit doesn’t feel as aggressive as the one found on the Ruby Pro. It has a finer, almost chalky texture, which offers different playability benefits as well as some drawbacks. I’ll discuss these in a later section, but first, let’s get into why the Crystal Blue Surface is an improvement over raw carbon fibre.

It's also important to note that this Crystal Blue surface has not yet passed USAP Approval. Honolulu Pickleball are actively looking to find a solution for this, but for now, the Crystal Blue paddles are only sanctioned for UPA-A tournaments.

A New Standard for Spin Consistency

Usually when we talk about spin, the conversation revolves around top-end RPMs. If you’re expecting me to tell you that Crystal Blue Surface grit helps create significantly higher RPMs, that’s not the case.

To me, the top sheet is less important than the core in determining a paddle’s spin potential. Because the CR’s core is so plush and the ball sinks deep into the paddle face, it has a long dwell time which allows you to shape the ball very effectively. The top sheet’s job is to complement that core; it needs to be able to hold onto the ball during the whole dwell time without slipping.

In recent years, paddle cores have become so effective at generating spin that I’ve occasionally experienced "slippage" with standard raw carbon faces. This creates inconsistencies in the spin game and leads to shots that either sail long or drop into the net.

The Crystal Blue surface virtually eliminates that slipping sensation. You won't necessarily hit 20% more spin on every shot, but you'll be able to trust the spin every single time you make contact with the ball. Essentially, this enhanced grit surface provides more consistency in the spin game, and this applies to every type of shot.

To keep a drive in court, you need to generate enough spin for it to dip before the baseline. With the Crystal Blue, I felt I could hit more freely on my drives, serves, and returns because the ball would dip more consistently than with the standard CR.

This consistency was even more beneficial in the soft spin game and on volleys. These are more precise shots that require fine margins and the extra consistency helps to make those margins easier to hit accurately every time.

So while Crystal Blue grit won't revolutionize your spin game in terms of RPMs (no pun intended), it does make this paddle feel like a more precision-oriented instrument which will certainly help you in the long run.

Fine Grit vs. Rough Texture

Let's talk about the difference in playability between rough texture (Ruby Pro) and fine texture (CR Crystal Blue). Rough grit stands out on big shots like serves and drives where you can feel the texture digging into the ball. It provides a very "in-your-face" grabby feel that is addictive, but fine texture shines more in the touch game.

On rolled dinks, drops, or low, spinny volleys, rougher textures can sometimes feel a bit inconsistent because of the large gaps between the grit particles. The uniform, chalky surface of the Crystal Blue feels more like a scalpel. It provides a more predictable feel that allows for extreme precision when you are trying to manipulate the ball with subtle wrist movements. This allowed me to play with more confidence any time I was trying to spin the ball into the kitchen. I could aim for that zone just over the net, knowing the paddle had enough purchase to grab the ball and make it dip into the kitchen every time.

So the debate between rough texture and fine texture comes down to whether you want a more explosive spinny feel, or a more consistent spinny feel. Power-oriented players will likely prefer the former, while touch-oriented players will probably prefer the latter.

Power and Control

In terms of raw power, the Crystal Blue CRs are identical to the standard CRs, so they are power-oriented paddles. Their dwell time creates a trampoline effect which shoots the ball out with more velocity. This can make them difficult to control for players who prefer a muted, plush feel, but, at this point, everyone knows the story with power paddles like this. Some players have a very easy time controlling them, others don't. The question is, does the Crystal Blue surface change anything in the power and control game?

Because spin is the primary way we control depth in pickleball today, the increased consistency of this top sheet allows you to better control this paddle's natural power. You can swing harder and more confidently because you know the grit will grab the ball and force it to dip into the court. So on flat shots, the paddle plays identically to the standard version, but the moment you add some shape to the ball, it is marginally better.

It also allows you to play with more variety in the control game. You can hit tougher, lower-margin spin shots during a drop, reset, or a dink, instead of hitting it flat every single time.

Who is the Crystal Blue For?

Ultimately, the differences between the standard CR and the Crystal Blue versions are marginal, but will feel significant to the right player.

This paddle is designed for players who have already mastered the mechanics of spin and are looking for a tool that rewards that technique with better consistency. You will feel more confident hitting any type of spin shot, which, in the long run, will help to elevate your game. If you aren't a particularly spin-focused player, you likely won't feel any difference between the two versions, but if Honolulu's claims that this surface maintains its grit longer than raw carbon are true, then this becomes a no-brainer for every player.

If you are interested in trying these new CR Crystal Blue paddles, come visit us in-store for a demo, or you can check them out online. Sign up for notifications to be the first to know when new paddles arrive in-store.