Bread & Butter Loco Review: The TRUTH About Its Power

Quick Verdict: The Bread & Butter Loco delivers controllable top-tier power, a 2285 RPM spin ceiling, and better value than the Boomstik for most players. If you want a heavier counter, longer reach, and a firmer pocket without losing control, the Loco is the best $179 option in its class.

In direct testing, the Loco produced a cleaner launch than the Boomstik, more stability than expected for its weight, and a stronger value score than both the Boomstik and J2NF across power, spin, and forgiveness.

Black Friday Update: Bread & Butter is offering 50% off the Drip paddle and more. See the full Bread & Butter Black Friday deals. And yes the Loco is discounted for Black Friday.

Bread & Butter Loco Review: Power, Spin & Value Verdict vs Boomstik & J2NF (2025)

The Bread & Butter Loco pickleball paddle has exploded in popularity for one reason: it blends top-tier power with elite spin and enough control to compete with paddles like the Boomstik and J2NF. This hands-on court test breaks down how the Loco’s dual-density foam core performs under real match pressure, how each shape (Hybrid, Elongated, and Standard) changes your game, and why its $179 price point and trial offer are making players switch fast.

Last updated: November 23, 2025

Bread & Butter Loco Pickleball Paddle Quick Snapshot: 2285 RPM spin. Clean, linear power curve. Lightweight feel with tunable balance. Comparison-tested vs Boomstik and J2NF for speed, stability, and forgiveness.

Jump to the full Loco vs Boomstik vs J2NF comparison or keep reading for in-depth testing results.

Bread & Butter Loco Pickleball Paddle: Controlled Fire With Extra Reach

Kitchen line is chaos. A body speedup catches my chest, I squeeze the block and the Bread & Butter Loco pockets just long enough to let me roll a counter past the forehand. One swing, one breath, point over.

Coach says: “You do not guide this one. You commit. If you bring intent, the Loco brings the power.”

Updated: October 11th 2025

Bread & Butter Loco Summary

• Purpose and feel: a foam power paddle that still pockets; ball sits a beat then launches with a heavy, shaped ball
• Who benefits and who struggles: confident counters and drive first players thrive; floaty touch players may fight the hot center
• Core takeaway: power is real, but the pocket makes resets and drops playable once you respect the sweet spot
• Key Question: is the Bread & Butter Loco 16 mm Elongated good for reach power and spin while keeping control at the kitchen?

Why I Tested the Bread & Butter Loco

Although I prefer control paddles, I needed a paddle that adds reach and fire without turning my soft game into a panic. My doubles nights have been full of hands battles where a light touch gets bullied. The Loco promised a stronger counter with a pocket I could trust, so it went straight into the rotation for open play and drills. Most of my time spent with the Loco was with the 16 mm Elongated version. Here is my take.

What Makes This Paddle Different

The Loco line brings a dual density foam build into three classic shapes. The elongated version pairs a 16 mm foam core (EPP center wrapped by an EVA ring) with a T700 raw carbon face and a thin fiberglass layer in a CFC layup. Translation for players: firm pocket, clean bite, and a punch that feels linear rather than wild. Stock numbers are honest, swing weight around 118–120, twist weight about 6.28, octagon handle with dampening wrap, 5.5 inch grip length, and it is USAP approved.

Bread & Butter Loco On-Court Performance Review

At the kitchen, the pocket shows up fast. Blocks do not rocket long unless you jab. Hold your line, let the face absorb, then roll through and you get that heavy, dipping counter that lands at the toes. From the baseline, the extra reach buys you contact out in front; drives carry real weight and the ball shape stays down. Resets are strong if you respect the middle of the face, miss high center and you find a hotter spot that can sail until you dial it in.

Coach Sid says: “The Loco rewards a quiet wrist and a violent finish. Soft in, mean out. That is the rhythm.”

Verdict: It plays like controlled fire, rewarding committed swings and clean contact, punishing lazy hands near the hot center.

Bread & Butter Loco Strengths and Weaknesses

• The Loco shines when rallies speed up – thriving in hands battles, drive pressure, and heavy counters.
• It struggles with touch-first dinks if you float contact, and the high-center hot spot takes practice to tame.

Who Should Use This Paddle

Counterpuncher: Wants a pocket that turns blocks into stingers and steals speedups at the chest.

Power hitter: Loves to swing through the ball and live at the baseline; reach adds free contact out in front.

Control freak: Can manage a firmer face and will practice centering to unlock soft game feel without losing bite.

3.5 and higher Players: If you are a player that still struggles with consistency, the Loco is a little too powerful.

Loco vs Boomstik vs J2NF: Full Comparison Breakdown

Versus the true sledgehammer class, the Loco keeps top end heat but feels more linear off the face. You get plenty of pop, less trampoline. Compared to smooth foam control paddles, the Loco hits harder and sends a heavier ball, while giving up a bit of floaty dwell. If you crave maximum reach and pressure, the elongated shape is your best fit. The Hybrid trims swing weight for quicker hands. The Standard is the most forgiving and stable of the trio.

Care & Setup Tips

Add thin edge tape to protect the top third and tame chips. If you want more stability on counters, run a light weighted tuning strip from four to eight on the throat. If you like faster roll on backhand flicks, build the butt cap with a small counterweight to bring the balance closer to the hand, then recheck your swing path. Keep the face clean with a dry towel; grit stays grippy longer when you avoid harsh cleaners.

Spin, Sweet Spot, and Stability

One thing that stood out in testing is just how much spin the Loco can generate. I’d place it just under the Flick F1 for sheer ball grab, ahead of many big-name foams like the J2NF. The raw carbon face plus the floating EP core work together to put a heavy dip on drives and flicks without feeling unpredictable.

The same floating core also gives the Loco a very forgiving sweet spot. Even slight mishits feel surprisingly stable, especially on the Hybrid and Standard shapes. If stability is your top priority, the Standard is the safest choice. If you want a middle ground, the Hybrid balances forgiveness with reach. The Elongated, while the least stable, is the shape that delivers maximum leverage and power.

Loco Pickleball Paddle FAQ

Loco vs Boomstik vs J2NF

Here’s how the Loco compares with the Boomstik and J2NF across power, spin, feel, and value.

The Loco sits just under the Boomstik for raw power, with a more linear launch that is easier to steer in traffic. Think heavy ball without wild jump.

Feel wise, the Loco is a toned down Boomstik – firm and lively, yet with a touch more pocket that helps soften the first bounce at the kitchen. It brings top tier power in a durable foam build and comes in under the Boomstik on price.

Against the J2NF, the Loco and J2NF both rate high on sweet spot quality, but the J2NF often feels lighter in the hand even when static weight runs higher, thanks to balance. The range in twist weight between these models is tight.

Spin is serious on the Loco – near the top group and rivaling fast grab paddles like the J2NF, sitting just under the top spin leader class.

Under the hood, x-rays show the Loco’s floating core with a closed ring look that adds a compressive pocket. That contrasts with patterned meetups in some NF builds that feel a bit stiffer. The Loco’s x-ray even looks similar to the Boomstik and uses a CFC face layup.

Comparison Table

Policies, Pricing, and Real Value

Bread & Butter backs the Loco with a 30-day “love it or return it” trial, letting you test it under real match pressure without risk. This policy makes it easier to commit compared to some brands that only offer shorter warranties or stricter return rules.

At $199 retail ($179 with code PICKLETIP), the Loco undercuts premium paddles such as the Selkirk Boomstik while still bringing near-top-tier power and modern Gen-4 foam construction. That combination of price, playability, and return policy makes it one of the more approachable high-end paddles on the market.

Coach Sid says: “Pick the flavor of fire you can steer. Loud heat favors the Boomstik. Heavy ball with pocket favors the Loco. If you want fast hands with steady feel, J2NF is your lane.”

Where to Buy

📢 Loco Pre-Order Notice (October 25, 2025): Standard and Hybrid shapes are currently sold out. Elongated is the only shape available for immediate shipping. All pre-orders will ship by November 4, 2025. Orders ship in the order they’re received – once the Elongated sells out, the next batch won’t go out until that date. Paddle shape cannot be changed after checkout.

Buy direct from Bread & Butter. MSRP is $199, and code PICKLETIP drops it to $179.10 at checkout. If you’re looking for a paddle that combines affordability with high performance, this is a great value option that we included in our list of the best pickleball paddles of the year.

Pro Tip: If you live in the kitchen and counter for a living, try the Standard first. If you hunt lines and love extended reach, the Elongated is the play. Weights land near eight ounces; choose the lighter end if you add tape later.

The Three Shapes of the Loco Paddle

The Loco series comes in three distinct shapes, each tuned for a different style of play. Whether you want max reach, balanced versatility, or a giant sweet spot, there is a Loco for your game.

October 11th 2025 Update: Bread & Butter Loco – How the Loco Has Aged (and Leveled Up)

When I first posted the Bread and Butter Loco Review, it felt like a promising power paddle with upside. But in the months since, a wave of independent testing and side-by-side comparisons with top foam paddles has made its position in the power landscape much clearer.

Over Ten different reviewers have now logged serious court time with it. Their numbers, impressions, and head-to-head matchups paint a much sharper picture of where the Loco stands in 2025 – and it’s holding its own with the big dogs.

“The Boomstick might have the bigger engine, but the Loco has better handling.” – Coach Sid

Below is a breakdown of how the Loco stacks up today, what’s changed in perception, and where it truly shines compared to the broader Gen 4 foam field.

🔥 Power That’s Manageable

The consensus is clear: the Loco lives in the upper tier of power paddles but doesn’t cross into “uncontrollable” territory. Serve speeds are consistently clocking in the high 80th to low 90th percentiles. That’s top-shelf firepower – but delivered in a more predictable, linear way than the Boomstick’s explosive rebound.

For many intermediate and advanced players, that linear power curve is exactly what makes the Loco so playable: you get the speed without feeling like you’re hanging on for dear life.

🪶 Firm, Hollow, Tunable Feel

Over time, testers have honed in on the Loco’s distinct feel profile: firm, slightly hollow, reminiscent of JOOLA Perseus Pro 4 (14 mm). It plays broken-in right out of the box, with a crisp response that many Boomstick users actually found easier to manage.

Because it ships lighter than the Boomstick, the Loco gives players more room to tune their balance and forgiveness through simple weighting adjustments – something that matters more the longer you play with a paddle.

🧱 What’s Under the Hood

The Gen 4 dual-foam construction hasn’t changed, but its performance ceiling has become more obvious as players push it. The floating EPP core, EVA perimeter ring, and carbon tape reinforcement produce a pocketing feel without trampoline recoil. Spin numbers consistently land in the 2270–2285 RPM range, which is elite territory.

Thermal durability tests, break-in observations, and long-term play all show the Loco holding up remarkably well. Reviewers consistently report no noticeable performance drop-off after months of play.

⚔️ How It Stacks Up Now

🧭 Shape Behavior Revisited

While nothing has changed in the shape lineup, community consensus has settled in:

• Elongated – Max power and reach. Heavier SW (~120). Smaller sweet spot. Best for heavy drivers.
• Hybrid – The most balanced shape. Great for players who like to counter, roll, and mix it up at the line.
• Standard – Quickest hand speed, biggest forgiveness window. Ideal for fast-hand players and counter attackers.

🎯 Ideal Fit in 2025

• ✅ Best for: 3.5–5.0 players who want controllable power and top-tier spin without Boomstick chaos.
• 🛠 Great for players who like to tune their paddle with weight and balance mods.
• ⚠️ Not for those seeking plush, ultra-soft feel (J2NF still owns that lane) or max forgiveness in elongated shapes.

💰 Price & Trial Policy

Retail remains $199, with discounts bringing it down to $179. The 30-day return window and 6-month warranty give players some real breathing room to test it in match settings.

🏁 Final Verdict (2025)

The Loco hasn’t just held its ground – it’s aged into a clear top-tier power paddle. It delivers the pace players want with more control than the market’s hottest paddles, plus enough tunability to grow with your game.

Coach Sid’s call: “The Boomstick is a race car. The Loco’s the sports sedan that can still smoke you down the line.”

About the Author

Coach Sid is a coach, paddle tester, and flawed perfectionist behind PickleTip.com. He has tested more than a hundred paddles and still loses a hands battle when adrenaline takes over.

Coach Sid insight: “Power is not loud. Power is a calm swing that finishes through the court. The Loco rewards that every time.”