What causes paddle delamination and core crush, and why are they banned?

In high-performance thermoformed paddles, intense heat cycles and repeated 70+ mph strikes can shear the bond between the carbon fiber face and the polymer honeycomb core, or fracture the cell walls. This creates an internal hollow vacuum ('core crush'). Paddles with core crush produce a distinctive hollow 'crunching' sound and exhibit dangerous, unpredictable power, resulting in immediate disqualification at tournament equipment checks.