Dunlop CR-THREE v1.0 Pickleball Paddle

The Dunlop CR-THREE v1.0 (often stylized as CR-THR33) represents the all-court, balanced model within Dunlop's debut 3-Series paddle line. Positioned right between the pure power of the AG-THREE and the heavy control of the TT-THREE, the CR-THREE is engineered for intermediate-to-advanced players looking for a versatile "all-court" weapon.

The primary design shift from the 5-Series (CR-FIVE) is the shape and thickness: the CR-THREE moves to a wider, traditional shape and a slightly thicker core to favor a massive sweet spot, forgiveness, and accessible control without completely starving the paddle of put-away power.

Core Technologies & Performance Profile

1. 15mm Hybrid Foam Core: The core utilizes a polypropylene (PP) honeycomb base where the individual cells are injected with a power-generating foam. The 15mm thickness offers a soft, plush feel for resets and dinks, while the foam injection stops the core from crushing over time and supplies crisp "pop" when you step up to drive the ball.
2. Wider Face Geometry: Unlike the tapered, aerodynamic hybrid shape of the CR-FIVE, the CR-THREE features a wider, more traditional block shape. This broadens the lateral hitting surface, expanding the sweet spot closer to the edges and giving you a highly stable, forgiving response on off-center hits.
3. Thermoformed Unibody Construction: Carbon fiber walls wrap around the perimeter under high heat and pressure, sealing the edges. This modern manufacturing method significantly reinforces the paddle's structural integrity, increases twist weight (stability), and prevents the handle from snapping off under heavy use.
4. Peel Ply Max Texture: The hitting surface uses a resin-infused raw carbon fiber layer textured during the curing process. Rather than a sprayed-on grit that wears down in weeks, this permanent texture aggressively grabs the ball's plastic skin to deliver reliable, heavy topspin and cut on slices.
5. Continuous Carbon Handle: The handle is an extension of the paddle face's carbon structure, delivering uniform flex and a clear, uninterrupted feel from the ball to your hand.

The Takeaway: The CR-THREE v1.0 is built to be a crowd-pleaser for the modern all-court player. Because it is 15mm thick and has a wider 7.9" face, it blocks and resets velocity with much less twisting in the hand compared to the thinner 14mm paddles. If you want a comfortable, highly consistent paddle that softens the game at the kitchen line but still has the foam-backed punch to drive the ball deep, the CR-THREE is the sweet spot of the lineup.

Specifications

• Performance Type: All-Court / Balanced Forgiveness.
• Construction: Thermoformed Unibody.
• Core Material: Hybrid Foam Core (Foam-injected PP Honeycomb).
• Core Thickness: 15 mm.
• Face Material: Raw Carbon Fiber with Peel Ply Max.
• Paddle Shape: Traditional / Widebody All-Court.
• Overall Length: 16.0 inches.
• Overall Width: 7.9 inches.
• Handle Length: 5.3 inches.
• Grip Size: 4.25 inches (4 1/4").
• Average Weight: 7.7 – 8.1 oz.
• Average Swing Weight: ~114.
• Average Twist Weight: ~6.2 (Very stable on off-center blocks).
• Approvals: USAP Approved.