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Bread & Butter Loco Hybrid Pickleball Paddle Review

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The hybrid shape of Bread & Butter's foam-core Loco: 16.2 x 7.6 in with a 16 mm dual-density EPP and EVA foam core and a raw T700 carbon face with a fiberglass layer.

$149.25Checked October 16, 2026. Prices change often; the checkout price is final.
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Edited by DanPublished Updated How we research

Quick Verdict

Foam-core pop in a balanced hybrid shape with thousands of strong buyer ratings.

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Key Specifications

Brand
Bread & Butter
Weight
7.9–8.1 oz
Shape
Hybrid
Length
16.2 in
Width
7.6 in
Grip length
5.3 in
Grip circumference
4.25 in
Core material
Dual-density foam (EPP and EVA)
Surface material
Raw T700 carbon fiber with a fiberglass layer
Balance
Swing weight 112–115; twist weight 6.65 (per Bread & Butter)
USA Pickleball status
Approved: the Loco Hybrid 16 mm is on the USA Pickleball approved paddle list (checked 2026-10-03).

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Foam core with strong power (9.5) on our scale
  • Balanced hybrid shape with good spin (9.0)
  • 2,900+ buyer ratings averaging 4.8 out of 5, the most of any Bread & Butter paddle we review
  • On the USA Pickleball approved list

Cons

  • Not returnable while on sale
  • Several buyers received it without the listed paddle cover
  • A few cosmetic quality-control complaints on arrival
  • No thermoformed construction

Performance Review

Our 1–10 ratings, built from the maker’s published specs and scored the same way for every brand. How we score

Power9.5
Control8.5
Spin9
Sweet spot8.5

Scores by Player Type

Beginners8.7/10
Touch players8.7/10
Power hitters9.1/10Best fit
Spin players9.0/10

Calculated from our four ratings, weighted for each kind of player. How these are weighted

Power

9.5/10

Why it scores 9.5 for power

On our spec-based scale it rates 9.5 for power: the all-foam core, fiberglass layer and hybrid shape add power, while the 16 mm thickness keeps it controlled. Bread & Butter calls it a true all-court paddle.

The specs behind the rating

Core thickness
16 mm
Core type
Dual-density foam (EPP and EVA)
Weight
7.9–8.1 oz
Shape
Hybrid
Face
Raw T700 carbon fiber with a fiberglass layer

How our power rating works

Every paddle starts at 7. Points are added or taken away for each feature it has, using the maker’s published specs. Ratings never go above 10 or below 1.

  • Core 13 mm or thinner+1.5
  • Core 14–15 mm+0.75
  • Core 17 mm or thicker−1
  • Weighs 8.3 oz or more+0.75
  • Weighs 7.9–8.2 oz+0.25
  • Weighs under 7.5 oz−0.5
  • Elongated shape+1
  • Hybrid shape+0.5
  • Fiberglass face+0.75
  • Hybrid (mixed) face+0.5
  • Foam core+1.5
  • Heat-sealed or one-piece build+0.75
See the full rating scale

Control

8.5/10

Why it scores 8.5 for control

A 16 mm core and hybrid shape give it a control rating of 8.5.

The specs behind the rating

Core thickness
16 mm
Weight
7.9–8.1 oz
Shape
Hybrid
Face
Raw T700 carbon fiber with a fiberglass layer

How our control rating works

Every paddle starts at 7. Points are added or taken away for each feature it has, using the maker’s published specs. Ratings never go above 10 or below 1.

  • Core 17 mm or thicker+1.5
  • Core 16 mm+1
  • Core 14–15 mm+0.25
  • Core 13 mm or thinner−0.5
  • Weighs 7.5–8.2 oz+0.25
  • Standard shape+0.5
  • Hybrid shape+0.25
  • Carbon face+0.75
  • Hybrid (mixed) face+0.25
  • Fiberglass face−0.25
See the full rating scale

Spin

9/10

Why it scores 9 for spin

Its raw carbon face, carbon-fiberglass layup and hybrid shape give it a spin rating of 9.0.

The specs behind the rating

Face and texture
Raw T700 carbon fiber with a fiberglass layer
Shape
Hybrid
Length
16.2 in

How our spin rating works

Every paddle starts at 7. Points are added or taken away for each feature it has, using the maker’s published specs. Ratings never go above 10 or below 1.

  • Carbon face+1
  • Hybrid (mixed) face+0.75
  • Fiberglass face+0.25
  • Long-lasting grippy texture (grit coating or peel-ply)+1.5
  • Basic texture+0.75
  • Elongated shape+0.75
  • Hybrid shape+0.5
See the full rating scale

Sweet Spot

8.5/10

Why it scores 8.5 for sweet spot

A 7.6 in face, 16 mm core and 7.9–8.1 oz weight give it a sweet-spot rating of 8.5.

The specs behind the rating

Width
7.6 in
Core thickness
16 mm
Weight
7.9–8.1 oz
Length
16.2 in

How our sweet spot rating works

Every paddle starts at 7. Points are added or taken away for each feature it has, using the maker’s published specs. Ratings never go above 10 or below 1.

  • 8.0 in wide or wider+2
  • 7.75–7.99 in wide+1.25
  • 7.5–7.74 in wide+0.5
  • Core 16 mm or thicker+1
  • Core 14–15 mm+0.5
  • Heat-sealed, one-piece or extra edge weight+0.75
  • Weighs 8.0 oz or more+0.25
See the full rating scale

In-Depth Review

Each section is our analysis of the manufacturer’s published specs unless it says otherwise.

Maneuverability

Manufacturer data

Weight7.9–8.1 oz
BalanceSwing weight 112–115; twist weight 6.65

Bread & Butter publishes a swing weight of 112–115.

Handle & comfort

Bread & Butter lists a 5.3 in handle: a mid-length handle that suits one-handed play and leaves a little room for a second hand. The grip circumference is 4.25 in, thicker than most paddles, which favors larger hands; it can't easily be made slimmer. At about 8 oz, it is in the mid-weight range most paddles fall into. Comfort is personal: grip size, handle length and weight are the published specs that affect it most.

Stability

Manufacturer data

Weight7.9–8.1 oz
Width7.6 in

A published twist weight of 6.65.

Build quality

Manufacturer information

The Loco uses a 16 mm dual-density foam core (EPP and EVA foam) behind a raw T700 carbon fiber face with a layer of fiberglass that Bread & Butter says adds pop, in what it calls a CFC layup. The octagonal handle has a vibration-dampening wrap, and the graphics are UV printed. Bread & Butter doesn't list thermoformed construction for the Loco. The listing includes a paddle cover. Bread & Butter offers a 30-day "Love it or Return it" policy for U.S. orders placed on bnbpickleball.com (you pay return shipping; removing the factory grip, altering the butt cap or other handle modifications void it) and a one-year warranty from delivery against defects in workmanship and materials for the original purchaser from its website, excluding normal wear and damage from hitting anything other than a ball. While the Loco is on sale, Bread & Butter says it isn't eligible for the 30-day return policy; the warranty still applies.

Feel

Manufacturer description and buyer feedback

Bread & Butter describes the Loco as plush and controlled with just the right amount of pop. As of October 2026, Bread & Butter's site shows an average of 4.8 out of 5 from 2,900+ buyer ratings. The 488 most recent reviews we read average 4.81, and buyers most often mention its power, followed by control. The low ratings center on delivery and quality control rather than play: several buyers received it without the listed paddle cover, and a few found cosmetic flaws on arrival such as a peeling edge guard, blurry printing or a chipped grip. One buyer reports the carbon cracking after an edge hit in cold weather. These reports don't add up to a consistent pattern the specifications don't already show.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I choose the Loco, the Filth or the Psycho?

The Loco has a 16 mm dual-density foam core and a carbon face with a fiberglass layer, for foam-core pop. The Filth is a thermoformed polypropylene-core paddle with a raw T700 carbon face and Bread & Butter's best-seller. The Psycho (final sale) is a 14 mm thermoformed standard-shape paddle with a fiberglass layer for pop.

Which Bread & Butter shape should I choose?

The Loco and Filth come in three shapes: Standard (16.0 x 8.0 in, 5.3 in handle) for hand speed and the most forgiving face, Hybrid (16.2 x 7.6 in, 5.3 in handle) as the all-court middle ground, and Elongated (16.5 x 7.375 in, 5.5 in handle) for reach and power.

Is the Bread & Butter Loco Hybrid tournament legal?

Approved: the Loco Hybrid 16 mm is on the USA Pickleball approved paddle list (checked 2026-10-03).

Can I return the Loco?

Not while it is on sale: Bread & Butter says sale Locos aren't eligible for its 30-day return policy. The one-year warranty against defects still applies to paddles bought on its website.

Where to Buy

Ready to Play with More Power?

See today’s price and availability for the Bread & Butter Loco Hybrid at Bread & Butter. We link to Bread & Butter. It is on the USA Pickleball approved paddle list.

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Sources and How We Researched This Review

  • Specifications and product details: the manufacturer's published information, labelled "Manufacturer data" in the review.
  • Ratings: calculated from those specifications on our published rating scale, the same for every brand, and labelled "Our analysis".
  • Buyer feedback: 2,900+ buyer ratings on BNBPickleball.com, summarized in the Feel section and labelled "buyer feedback".
  • Hands-on testing: we haven't play-tested this paddle. Everything here comes from the sources listed and our analysis of them.
Bread & Butter Loco HybridResearch score 8.9/10 · Bread & Butter$149.25at Bread & Butter
$149.25at Bread & ButterBuy at Bread & Butter