Bread & Butter
Bread & Butter Loco Standard
Players who want foam-core pop with a big, forgiving face
$149.25at Bread & Butter
Dan’s Take
Both are 16 x 8 inch wide-body paddles, so it's weight and core. The Bread & Butter Loco Standard has a 16 mm dual-density foam core at 8.0–8.1 oz; the Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C uses a polymer core (we scored the 12.7 mm version) and is lighter at 7.5–7.8 oz. On our scale the Loco leads on power (9 vs 8.5), control (9 vs 8) and sweet spot (10 vs 9), and the two tie on spin at 8.5.
Buyers give the Loco 4.8 out of 5 from 1,000+ ratings on Bread & Butter's site and the ESQ-C 4.9 from 20+ on Paddletek's. The Loco usually costs less, too. Pick the Loco for most people; pick the ESQ-C if you specifically want a lighter paddle.
By Dan · Based on each brand’s published specs and buyer ratings, October 2026. We don’t play-test paddles.
Paddletek
Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C
Players who want a light, forgiving paddle with pop
$199.99at Paddletek
Ratings Head to Head
Bread & Butter Loco StandardPaddletek Bantam ESQ-C
Power98.5
Control98
Spin8.58.5
Sweet spot109
Research score9.18.5
Which Suits Your Game?
| Player type | Bread & Butter Loco Standard | Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C |
|---|---|---|
| Beginners | 9.4 | 8.5 |
| Touch players | 9.2 | 8.4 |
| Power hitters | 9.1 | 8.5 |
| Spin players | 8.9 | 8.5 |
Weighted from the four ratings. How these are weighted
Key Differences
- The biggest gap is control: the Bread & Butter Loco Standard rates 9 to the Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C’s 8.
- Sweet spot goes to the Bread & Butter Loco Standard (10 vs 9).
- Power goes to the Bread & Butter Loco Standard (9 vs 8.5).
- They tie on spin (8.5).
- Core thickness: 16 mm for the Bread & Butter Loco Standard against 12.7 mm or 14.3 mm (scored at 12.7 mm) for the Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C. The thinner Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C should give more pop; thicker cores lean toward control.
- Weight: the Bread & Butter Loco Standard is the heavier of the two, by about 0.4 oz on average.
- Price: the Bread & Butter Loco Standard costs less right now (see the prices above).
The Verdict
Choose the Bread & Butter Loco Standard if you want more power, more control and a bigger sweet spot, especially if you’re a beginner or a touch player.
Pick the Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C if you want a lighter feel.
Specs Side by Side
| Spec | Bread & Butter Loco Standard | Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 8.0–8.1 oz | 7.5–7.8 oz |
| Shape | Standard (wide-body) | Standard (wide-body) |
| Length | 16 in | 16 in |
| Width | 8 in | 8 in |
| Core thickness | 16 mm | 12.7 mm or 14.3 mm (scored at 12.7 mm) |
| Core | Dual-density foam (EPP and EVA) | Bantam QRT (Quick Response Technology) polymer core |
| Face | Raw T700 carbon fiber with a fiberglass layer | PT-700 unidirectional raw carbon fiber (Toray 700) |
| Handle length | 5.3 in | 5.5 in |
| Grip size | 4.25 in | Not published by Paddletek |
| Price | $149.25 (list $199) | $199.99 |
| USA Pickleball approved | Yes | Yes |
Specs as published by each manufacturer. Prices are checked daily on each brand’s own store; the checkout price is final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, the Bread & Butter Loco Standard or the Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C?
On our spec-based scale the Bread & Butter Loco Standard scores higher (9.1 vs 8.5). By player type, the Bread & Butter Loco Standard suits beginners, touch players, power hitters and spin players better.
Which has more power, the Bread & Butter Loco Standard or the Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C?
The Bread & Butter Loco Standard rates higher for power on our scale (9 vs 8.5).
Which is better for beginners, the Bread & Butter Loco Standard or the Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C?
The Bread & Butter Loco Standard scores higher for beginners (9.4 vs 8.5), mainly from its sweet spot and control ratings.
Are the Bread & Butter Loco Standard and Paddletek Bantam ESQ-C approved for tournament play?
Yes. Both are on the USA Pickleball approved paddle list.
More Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Bread & Butter Loco Standard vs Paddletek Tempest Wave Pro-C
- Bread & Butter Loco Standard vs Selkirk OMNI Widebody
- Bread & Butter Loco Standard vs Bread & Butter Filth Hybrid
- Bread & Butter Loco Standard vs Bread & Butter Filth Standard
- Bread & Butter Loco Standard vs Bread & Butter Psycho
- Bread & Butter Loco Standard vs Paddletek Honeyfoam ESQ
Next Step
Compare More Paddles
Line up to four paddles side by side on the same research scale.