Bread & Butter Fat Boy Pickleball Paddle Review
Bread & Butter Fat Boy Review: A Kevlar Widebody from BNB?
The Bread & Butter Fat Boy paddle adds exciting new dimensions to the Bread & Butter lineup with its widebody shape and Kevlar face. This release has generated significant anticipation among players, but it comes with some unexpected features. Initially, I anticipated a purely control-focused paddle, ideal for defensive play at the net, offering excellent control on resets and drops due to its widebody design. However, BNB took a different approach. While the Fat Boy remains an excellent choice for those seeking a forgiving paddle with a large sweet spot, it also provides offensive capabilities near the kitchen, making it a versatile option for various play styles.
Overview
The Bread & Butter Fat Boy is a standout paddle with a unique tight Kevlar and carbon fiber weave. It features a thermoformed unibody design with edge foam and a twill weave surface sheet, making it a top choice for players looking for control and pop. This paddle is ideal for intermediate to advanced players who appreciate a balance of control and pop.
Specifications
- Weight: 8.0 – 8.2 oz
- Dimensions: 15.9 inches x 8.1 inches
- Thickness: 16 mm
- Material: Kevlar and carbon fiber weave
- Handle Length: 5.3 inches
- Grip Circumference: 4.25 inches
Performance Analysis
- Control/Feel: 8/10 – Offers excellent control with a plush feel
- Power: 7/10 – Good power for a widebody paddle
- Spin: 8/10 – Generates above-average spin
- Pop: 8/10 – Good responsiveness
- Forgiveness: 9/10 – Large sweet spot and forgiving on off-center hits
- Maneuverability: 8/10 – Low swing weight makes it easy to handle
Bread & Butter Fat Boy In-Depth Review
Design & Build Quality
The Bread & Butter Fat Boy features a unique design with a Kevlar and carbon fiber weave face. This is a great looking paddle. The paddle’s sky blue edge guard and midnight blue Kevlar with pink highlights provide a distinct aesthetic appeal. Its thermoformed unibody with edge foam ensures durability and performance.
On-Court Performance
The Fat Boy excels in real-game scenarios, particularly in speed-ups and counters near the kitchen. It offers a soft touch for dinks and increased stiffness for baseline drives, providing a dynamic feel.
Control
This paddle allows for precision shots, thanks to its large sweet spot and forgiving nature.
Power
While not the most powerful paddle, the Fat Boy surprises with its pop at the line, especially for a Kevlar blend face.
Spin
With an average spin potential of 2070 RPM, the Fat Boy is effective in generating spin on the ball. It’s not on the Gen 3 level, but still provides great dip to shots.
Pop
The paddle is responsive, providing a lively feel on short swings and defensive shots.
Forgiveness
Its wide sweet spot and stability make it forgiving on off-center hits, offering consistent performance.
Maneuverability
The low swing weight (110) makes the Fat Boy easy to handle, beneficial for net battles and quick shots.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent control and feel
- Good spin potential
- Large sweet spot
- Distinct and appealing design
- Forgiving on off-center hits
- Durable build quality
Cons:
- Not the most powerful paddle
- Some players may find the handle length limiting for two-handed shots
- Initial mishits for those transitioning from heavier swing weight paddles (Take your time)
Player Feedback
Local players that used this paddle praised the Bread & Butter Fat Boy for its control, large sweet spot, and unique design. Some noted the initial learning curve due to its low swing weight but appreciated the paddle’s performance once adjusted. Feedback has been mixed regarding the handle length, with some players preferring a longer grip for two-handed shots.
Final Thoughts
The Bread & Butter Fat Boy is a versatile paddle suitable for various playing styles, leaning slightly towards control but still offering significant pop. Its balance of control and pop makes it an excellent choice for intermediate to advanced players. The paddle’s unique Kevlar face and widebody design set it apart from others in the market, making it a compelling option for those seeking a forgiving and well-rounded paddle.
Comparable Paddles
- Spartus Apollo
- 11SIX24 Monarch
- Honolulu J3K
- Groov Laser
- Ethos Dunamis
- Engage Pursuit Pro EX
Q&A
What makes the Bread & Butter Fat Boy unique?
The Bread & Butter Fat Boy stands out due to its Kevlar face and widebody design, offering a unique combination of control and pop.
Is the Bread & Butter Fat Boy suitable for beginners?
While it can be used by beginners, the Fat Boy is best suited for intermediate to advanced players who appreciate its balance of control and pop.
How does the Fat Boy compare to other paddles?
Compared to other paddles, the Fat Boy offers a large sweet spot, good spin potential, and a forgiving nature. Its Kevlar face provides a plush feel, making it unique in its category.
What are the dimensions of the Paddle?
The paddle measures 15.9 inches in length and 8.1 inches in width, with a thickness of 16 mm.
How can I purchase the Bread & Butter Fat Boy?
You can purchase the Fat Boy from the Bread & Butter website and get 15% off by using discount code PICKLETIP at checkout. $161.49
Update: The Fatboy paddle sold out in 4 minutes today, on it’s release date 7/23/24. New drops will be done in batches of 250 on Tuesday for the next few weeks.
When can I buy this?
I played with this as a demo. Can’t wait to be able to order one. The control the Fat Boy offers at the net is incredible. It absorbs and reflects drives beautifully and makes dinking a breeze.
I was lucky to get my order in for the first batch. Got it today. The Fat Boy paddle is phenomenal! The Kevlar with Carbon Fiber surface feels plush but retains a decent amount of power. It’s light, offers superb control, and I got it at a great price.
I bought the Fat Boy for its looks, but it quickly became my favorite paddle. The large sweet spot and light weight have improved my game significantly, reducing wrist pain so far.
Without a doubt, this is the best paddle out there. The design is stunning, and using it is fun. Bravo to Bread & Butter for this fantastic paddle. And the package was awesome. I even got hot sauce.
This paddle exceeded my expectations for a widebody paddle. It has a great feel, an excellent sweet spot, and the overall experience with Bread & Butter was fantastic. A reset machine.
Today’s drop will have more than 250 in it and the Fat Boy will be in stock regularly starting today. We have enough inventory, our shipping team is trained up, and we are ready to let this Fat Boy fly free.
There is still a chance of this paddle selling out before our next batch of inventory gets here, but there are only 500 more orders to go before we stop shipping a bottle of the Sweet Heat Hot Sauce with the paddle. That means starting at 1:00 pm today the next 500 paddles to be shipped get a spicy addition to their order.
Since its release, the Fat Boy has been my go-to paddle. It offers excellent hand speed and spin, making it perfect for different styles of play.
Compared to my old paddle, the Mach 2 Forza. The fat boy is more poppier and little more powerful then the m2 Forza. Great spin. Nice big sweet spot. If you like a wide body paddle with little pop and power. The fat boy is for you. The m2 forza is a softer feeling paddle.
My pickleball game has never been better since I started using the Fat Boy. I’m now a loyal Bread & Butter customer.
This paddle has elevated my game! It offers great spin, easy resets, and enough power for returns and drives. Truly a winner!
The design of this paddle is eye-catching, and its performance is outstanding. Resets and drops are fantastic with the Fat Boy.
The Fat Boy provides an excellent balance of control and power. It’s a fantastic paddle for any player.
An awesome paddle! It has everything I need for a top-tier game.
Switching to the Fatboy was the best decision. It delivers more powerful drives, controlled dinks, and has a stylish design.
A Fat Boy playing with a Fat Boy. The B&B FatBoy is exceptional! It offers great power, control, and comfort with a large sweet spot. I recommend it.
Another hit from B&B! This paddle offers more power and pop than standard widebody paddles, with a plush feel for dinks and resets.