Bread & Butter Pickleball Loco Series Paddle Review

Intro

The Bread & Butter Loco represents a calculated approach to Gen 4 foam construction—delivering 90th percentile power without the unpredictable trampoline effect that plagues many foam-core builds. After testing all three shapes for over a month, this paddle stands out for pairing serious firepower with manageable control, a combination that's proven elusive in the current foam paddle market.

Bread & Butter sent these paddles for review with no strings attached, and I'm using discount code MPB to drop the price from $199 to around $180. The Loco marks the brand's first true dual-foam paddle, built around a floating core design that bridges Gen 3 and Gen 4 approaches. It's also the return of their discontinued Loco name, now with completely rebuilt internals.

The performance data tells a compelling story: serve speeds consistently hit 59-60 MPH across all shapes, placing them firmly in the 90th-plus percentile for power. Punch volleys sit in the middle tier at 37.0-37.4 MPH, while spin production consistently reaches the upper 70-80th percentiles at 2270-2285 RPM. This isn't just another hot paddle—it's serious firepower with legitimate spin capability and controlled response.

Tech Overview

The Loco's floating foam core design separates it from typical Gen 4 builds through its dual-foam engineering. The paddle features a dense EPP interior core surrounded by EVA foam along the perimeter, creating internal reinforcement that adds stability and extends dwell time without creating dead zones. This isn't marketing language—it's the foundation of how the paddle manages power output while maintaining control.

The construction process uses thermoforming with a peel-ply raw carbon fiber-fiberglass-carbon fiber layup, creating a CFC surface with excellent grit for spin generation. X-ray analysis confirms the floating core design, similar to paddles like the Honolulu J2FC+ that bridge Gen 3 floating cores with Gen 4 dual-foam engineering.

What makes this approach different is how the foams work together. The EPP core handles compression and energy return, while the EVA perimeter provides the ball pocketing that makes touch shots controllable. The entire core consists of designed foam that compresses, holds, and returns energy in a controlled manner, rather than foam simply injected into empty corners like cheaper builds.

At 16mm thickness across all shapes, the Loco sits in the sweet spot for foam-core construction. Compared to Bread & Butter's earlier Gen 2 offerings, it plays more settled and plush at contact, eliminating the hollow ring or unstable rebound common in lower-quality foam cores.

Specs

The elongated measures 16.5 inches by 7.375 inches with a 5.5-inch handle. My test unit weighed 7.91 ounces with a swing weight of 118.6 and twist weight of 6.05. This combination delivers maximum reach and leverage with serious plow-through on drives, but demands cleaner contact due to the lower forgiveness from that twist weight.

The hybrid strikes middle ground at 16.2 by 7.6 inches, weighing 8.03 ounces with a swing weight of 114 and twist weight of 6.75. This balance provides quicker hand speed while maintaining power output and improving stability on off-center hits. It represents the most versatile option in the lineup.

The standard measures 16 by 8 inches at 8.11 ounces, with the lowest swing weight at 109.9 and highest twist weight at 7.3. This makes it the most forgiving and quickest in hand while still delivering elite power and spin numbers. You sacrifice reach and leverage but gain significant stability. All shapes feature a 4.25-inch grip circumference.

Performance numbers remain remarkably consistent across shapes. Serve speeds range from 59.4 to 60.2 MPH, punch volleys between 37.0 and 37.4 MPH, and spin production sits at 2270-2285 RPM. Firepower scores range from 70-75, confirming legitimate power paddle status across the entire lineup.

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Playtest

Initial testing revealed an important lesson about review consistency. Playing these paddles outdoors for several days—a departure from my usual indoor testing routine—initially made them feel stiff and one-dimensional. The change in environment affected my paddle calibration, leading to a negative first impression that completely reversed once I returned to familiar indoor venues.

Once properly calibrated, the Loco plays dense and controlled with real substance behind each hit. There's no springy or hollow feeling—just solid, plush compression that gives time to shape shots before release. The paddle exhibits a subtle break-in period where it softens slightly over time, becoming more dwelly with extended play. The hybrid, which saw the most court time, now plays softer than the elongated, while the standard remains the stiffest having seen minimal use.

Drive power separates the Loco from the field. Those 90th-plus percentile serve speeds translate directly to court performance—when you accelerate through the ball, serious pace is available. The elongated provides maximum plow-through with its higher swing weight and balance point, while the standard delivers quicker hand speed without sacrificing much serve velocity.

What impressed me most was the manageable nature despite elite power output. Compared to the Selkirk Boomstik, the Loco proves more predictable and easier to control. There's minimal trampoline effect, allowing access to elite power without the runaway pop that sends resets sailing long. The dual-foam construction provides enough control to guide drops and manage pace effectively.

Pop during hand battles sits in the middle range—45th to 59th percentile across shapes. This isn't ultra-hot like some Gen 4 builds such as the Flik F1 or Gruvn LAZR Solid Foam. Instead, you get softer, more controlled rebound that's fast enough for speedup victories but not so explosive it becomes unmanageable.

Spin represents a legitimate strength. The coarse peel-ply surface combined with the foam's ball-pocketing ability provides excellent grab, with RPMs consistently reaching the upper 70-80th percentiles. This enables effective topspin drives and controlled ball placement with margin for error.

Touch shots play more connected than most power paddles. Drops dial in easily and stay on target, resets don't float unpredictably, and the sound remains low and controlled—more like a settled Gen 3 than a sharper Gen 4. Off-center hits don't cause excessive paddle twist like lighter builds.

Shape Comparisons

Shape selection significantly impacts the Loco's performance characteristics. The elongated at 16.5 by 7.375 inches delivers maximum reach and leverage through its highest swing weight of 118.6 and balance point of 24.9 centimeters. This translates to serious plow-through on drives and fastest serve speeds, but reduced forgiveness with that 6.05 twist weight demands cleaner contact.

The hybrid provides the most balanced approach at 16.2 by 7.6 inches. With swing weight dropping to 114 and twist weight increasing to 6.75, you gain stability and quicker hand speed while retaining substantial power output. It offers the best compromise between power and forgiveness without major sacrifices in either direction.

The standard at 16 by 8 inches features the lowest swing weight at 109.9 but highest twist weight at 7.3, making it most forgiving and quickest in hand while delivering elite spin and power. You lose some reach and leverage but gain significant stability on off-center hits and faster reloads at the kitchen line.

In practice, the elongated suits drivers who prioritize maximum reach and leverage on full swings. The hybrid works for players wanting power without the elongated's technical demands. The standard fits fast-hand players who value forgiveness and quick transitions during kitchen battles.

All three shapes deliver similar power and spin output—the differences lie in handling characteristics, forgiveness levels, and leverage available on full strokes.

Recommendations

The Loco lineup targets players seeking elite power without unpredictable hot paddle behavior. If you generate your own power and prioritize shot placement over maximum trampoline effect, this delivers serious firepower with sufficient control for accuracy.

Choose the elongated for maximum reach and leverage if you're a driver who can handle the technical demands. You'll access the most power but need cleaner contact and stronger technique to manage the reduced forgiveness.

The hybrid works for players wanting power with balance. It's the most versatile shape—enough leverage for drives, quick enough for kitchen work, stable enough for consistent performance across shot types.

Select the standard if you value forgiveness and hand speed. You'll get elite spin and power output with maximum stability and quickest handling in the lineup, ideal for players who rely on fast transitions and consistent contact.

If you've found the Boomstik or Flik F1 unmanageable due to excessive pop, the Loco provides nearly identical firepower with significantly more control. It's not just Bread & Butter's best paddle—it's among the most balanced foam power builds currently available.

Players who should look elsewhere include those relying on maximum dwell time for guided touch shots, as the Loco plays more direct than ultra-soft paddles. Players needing trampoline-style rebound or ultra-soft pocketing will find it more tempered than expected. It's also not ideal for players wanting maximum free power—this works best with clean acceleration through the ball, rewarding earned power rather than effortless pace.

Price and Value

The Loco retails for $199, or approximately $180 with code MPB, positioning it competitively within the Gen 4 price range. Bread & Butter backs this with a 30-day "love it or return it" guarantee that reduces purchase risk, plus a six-month warranty on workmanship.

For power players seeking elite performance with controlled response, it represents solid value. The dual-foam construction and three-shape strategy provide options to dial in your preferred balance of power, forgiveness, and handling characteristics.

Build quality feels premium, and Bread & Butter's production oversight in China suggests serious attention to quality control. While the six-month warranty isn't as extensive as Selkirk's lifetime coverage or some 12-month warranties, the 30-day trial period allows full testing before commitment—a valuable feature at this price point.

The controlled release schedule through six 72-hour preorder windows starting August 20 and running weekly through September 26 helps maintain production quality and avoid extended delays. Each batch ships sequentially, so early window purchases receive priority shipping.

Conclusion

The Bread & Butter Loco delivers elite power with controlled response, but it's not for players seeking maximum dwell or effortless pace. This represents a serious power paddle that rewards good technique and provides tools to pressure opponents without sacrificing shot placement accuracy.

The floating core design successfully bridges Gen 3 and Gen 4 approaches, offering more personality and dwell than typical full foam builds while maintaining the durability advantages of foam construction. However, it still doesn't match the crisp, connected response of the best thermoformed honeycomb paddles—it plays differently, not necessarily better or worse.

For players who've struggled with uncontrollable hot paddles but still want elite power output, the Loco finds that elusive sweet spot between firepower and manageability. The shape options allow fine-tuning your preferred balance of power and forgiveness, though the elongated pushes the limits on swing weight for most players.

Use code MPB for savings at checkout if you're interested in testing one. The 30-day trial period provides ample opportunity to determine if the Loco's controlled power approach fits your game. For more detailed paddle breakdowns and performance analysis, subscribe to the newsletter and follow along on YouTube for the latest reviews and testing updates.

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