Ronbus Quanta Review (2025): The Best Budget Foam Paddle? | Boomstik & Loco Compared

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Ronbus Quanta: A Deep Dive Review of the $99 Foam-Core Game-Changer

New foam paddles are hitting the scene faster than a popup in the gym at novice night. I’m a self-confessed paddle nerd, and this article is long, because it has to be. It covers everything you need to know about the latest wave of foam-core, power-focused sticks. But if you’d rather skip the rabbit hole, here’s the Ronbus Quanta short version:

• Selkirk Boomstik: $333, lifetime warranty, enormous sweet spot thanks to built-in MOI side weights. Explosive power out of the box, but heavy and less customizable.
• Bread & Butter Loco: ~$179.10, firmer feel, smoother feedback, and easier to control than Boomstik. Hybrid/standard shapes shine; elongated can feel hefty. The friendlier big-banger paddle.
• Luzz Pro 4 Inferno: ~$180. High power with exceptional stability. Unlike the Loco, the Inferno uses a carbon fiber core combined with foam perimeter, offering a different, highly consistent feel.
• Ronbus Quanta: $99 launch price (Sept 12). Stock swingweights are very light (101–111), but add 10–15 g tape and it starts to mimic Boomstik-level performance. Great value, super customizable, excellent for juniors or tinkerers.

Shop the Quanta Series

• Quanta R1: Elongated with curved top
• Quanta R2: Wide body
• Quanta R3: Elongated
• Quanta R4: Hybrid
• Quanta R5: Wide body with curved top

The Bottom Line: If you want maximum out-of-box pop and warranty*, pick Boomstik. Want value + customization? Choose the Ronbus Quanta. If you want approachable power with firmer feel, go Loco. If you need a premium, stable feel that mixes carbon and foam, the Luzz Inferno is the winner. Everyone else, scroll down and join me in paddle-nerd heaven.

Key Paddle Entities Defined

• Ronbus Quanta: A low-cost, 16mm foam-core raw carbon paddle series known for its light stock weight, excellent pop potential, and high degree of customization.
• Selkirk Boomstik: A premium, elongated foam-core paddle known for its explosive power, integrated MOI side weights for stability, and high price point.
• Bread & Butter Loco: A mid-tier foam-core paddle that offers a firmer, quieter feel than the Boomstik, sitting in the “approachable power” category for 4.0-4.5 players.
• Luzz Pro 4 Inferno: A powerful, stable paddle that uses a carbon fiber core combined with a foam perimeter, offering a crisp, solid feel that differs from pure foam-core models.
• Foam Core Technology: Paddle construction where EVA or EPP foam is injected around the edge and/or core of the paddle to enhance stability, dampen vibration, and expand the sweet spot.

Paddle Landscape Update: Ronbus Quanta vs. Luzz Inferno

The Luzz Pro 4 Inferno is a necessary recent inclusion to this power conversation. While the Boomstik, Loco, and Quanta all rely purely on foam core technology, the Inferno uses a distinct construction: a carbon fiber core surrounded by a foam-injected perimeter. This changes the feel entirely.

• Feel: The Inferno is crisp and solid; it avoids the slightly ‘hollow’ feel some players report with the pure EPP/EVA foam cores of the Quanta/Loco.
• Power/Control: The Inferno provides immediate, accessible power right out of the box, similar to the Boomstik, but its control is surprisingly linear. If you love the feel of a carbon core but want the stability of an EVA perimeter, the Inferno is your direct competitor to the Quanta.

In short: The Quanta is the Customizable Value Power paddle. The Luzz Inferno is the Stable, Ready-to-Play Carbon Power paddle. Read our full Luzz Inferno review here.

Third ball sails, hands battle stalls – what now?

Last month I walked onto a Picklr court in Biloxi with a loaner Boomstik demo and came off the court feeling that this was “the hottest paddle on earth.” The Boomstik ended up being a beast, a bit hard to control, but maximum power with a bit more control than previous Gen 3 power paddles. My first thought was that the foam technology is starting to blur the lines between control and power paddles.

Fast forward a few weeks. Enter the Ronbus Quanta Series: a family of 16 mm foam-core, raw-carbon paddles built to be light, customizable, and predictable when the ball speeds up. The core is fourth-gen: an EPP base ringed by an EVA + TPE elastomer, with carbon reinforcement at the edge and handle. Faces are textured raw Toray T700 carbon. Swingweights arrive very light – about 103 – 109, with twistweights near 5.6–6.2, and handles are 5.5″.

For sanctioned play, they’re listed as USA Pickleball PBCoR .43 approved. Shapes cover widebody, hybrid, and elongated, so you can match the build to your tendencies instead of forcing your game to fit a mold. Picture this: For $99 you step into a hands battle, catch the ball early, and the paddle doesn’t kick, your counter stays on a string.

Two other names frame the conversation: the popular Luzz Pro 4 Inferno and the recently launched Bread & Butter Loco. All four circle a similar concept, an EVA perimeter ring around a lightweight EP/EPP core, but they diverge in ring thickness, throat support, and feel. That’s where the on-court story gets interesting.

Quick Summary: “Power on tap, control by design.”

• Quanta pre-orders opened September 5 (noon ET); full release was September 12. MSRP $119; launch $99 with code rcpickletip.
• Bread & Butter Loco sits near $179 with periodic pre-order windows. Hybrid and standard shapes earn early praise.
• Selkirk Boomstik lists $333 with integrated MOI side weights and a lifetime warranty; known for a huge sweet spot and explosive strike.
• Luzz Pro 4 Inferno lists $180; uses a unique carbon core with foam perimeter for stability and crisp feel.
• Core family: EVA perimeter ring around EP/EPP core (except Luzz). Relative ring thickness: Boomstik (thin) < Quanta (layered ring + support) < Loco (thicker solid ring).
• Quanta adds layered edge foam, throat reinforcement, and TPE corner inserts to damp vibration; very light stock mass invites customization.
• Power ladder (stock): Boomstik tops the chart; Loco sits close behind; Luzz Inferno is close to Boomstik; Quanta feels Boomstik-adjacent but lighter—add 10–15 g tape and it closes the gap.
• Ronbus lineup context: Ripple and Refoam look awkwardly priced now that Quanta delivers near-Boomstik outcomes for a third of the cost.

Ronbus Model Analysis: The Shortlist (MSRP vs Real Cost)

“Real cost” includes typical add-ons: 6–8 g lead tape + an overgrip. If you’re dialing balance, plan for 10–12 g. That small spend unlocks meaningful stability without torpedoing maneuverability.

*These are early launch target prices; retail figures vary by unit and tape placement. Out of the box, stability is modest (many twistweights < 6), which is why tuning matters. Use Ronbus Discount Code: rcpickletip

“Speed wins rallies, stability wins matches.”

I score paddles across five match-relevant categories, then pressure-test with drills that expose failure modes. The Quanta family did well because the heads are light enough to accelerate without spraying, then accept weight right where it counts.

Scoring rubric

• Speed to contact: How fast you can get square in a hands battle.
• First-volley forgiveness: Mishit penalty at full exchange speed.
• Counter-drive stability: Torsional give on off-center hits.
• Spin window: Usable friction without float on soft touch.
• Soft-game depth: Ability to land drops and dinks inside 12–18″.

Test protocol

1. 10× sets of 20-ball counters at the NVZ (measured put-away %).
2. Third-ball depth ladder (baseline to 5′ inside NVZ).
3. Cross-court dink discipline: error rate per 100 balls.
4. Two-up scramble: recovery speed + control on pop-ups.

Study our hands-battle framework to understand why stability outruns raw pop after rally three.

Why Control Beats Pop

The paddle that feels “crazy hot” in a store often breaks down under pressure. In gameplay, winners come from contact repeatability and ball depth, not just exit velocity. Many paddles that have recently been released are providing much more control in the power category. The Quanta profile leans into that truth.

X-ray & feel differences

• Boomstik: Thin EVA ring; foam/carbon throat support; integrated MOI side weights; huge sweet spot and explosive strike. Infinigrit is marketed to last longer than raw carbon, and the warranty is lifetime with a catch.
• Quanta: Thicker EVA ring with layered edge foam, throat reinforcement, and TPE corner inserts to damp vibration. Stock feel is crisp to stiff; with 10–15 g tape it becomes more plush and “dwelly.”
• Loco: Thicker, solid EVA ring around EP/EPP; no extra edge-foam layers. Firmer and less hollow than Boomstik/Quanta; quieter on contact.
• Luzz Inferno: Carbon core with foam perimeter. Provides the crisp feedback of carbon with the stability of a foam edge. High stability right out of the box.

Boomstik deep dive: “Built-in heft, outsized sweet spot.”

Two things define the Selkirk Boomstik: the feeling of free power and the size of the usable face. Its pre-installed side weights deliver a remarkable sweet spot right out of the box. That stability is why some players describe it as the easiest “rocket” to control at speed.

There are trade-offs. At $333 it’s priced well above most peers. The built-in weights mean you have fewer placement options if you love to tinker or require ultralight builds. If you want ready-to-play power with strong support, it’s an easy pick. If you need custom balance at lower static mass, keep reading.

Quanta vs Boomstik vs Loco vs Luzz Inferno (apples-to-apples)

If you chase clean power, pair a Quanta R1/R3 with 4–8 g split at 3/9. Want more kitchen discipline? This dinking guide explains why swingweight ceilings win long points.

“The Ronbus Quanta makes ‘tier-one’ power feel less scary.”

The Loco –  A Quieter Boomstik

The Bread & Butter Loco hits a sweet spot for ambitious club players. It keeps the big-offense DNA but trims the “unruly” edges. Many testers describe it as firmer and less hollow than Boomstik or Quanta, with a quieter hit and a smoother feedback loop.

Shapes & weighting notes

• Hybrid and standard shapes get the nod for balance and sweet-spot efficiency.
• The elongated Loco can feel hefty (reports around 120 swingweight; ~6.2 twistweight). If reach is a must, keep tape minimal and mind late-contact errors.
• Practical tape plan: ~2 g at 3/9 to calm counters; avoid heavy 12 o’clock loads unless your hand speed is elite.

In plain terms: the Loco is the friendlier Boomstik. Still powerful, but easier to live with. For 4.0–4.5 players who want to swing big yet keep shape, it may be the most logical bridge.

BnB Loco vs Honolulu J2NF

A tournament A/B test clarified why some 4.0–4.5 players still favor the J2NF. Power matters, but not at the expense of stability where you actually make contact.

Tournament setup & tape

• J2NF: ~114 swingweight; ~7.12 twistweight. Tape: ~1.5 g on each corner.
• Loco hybrid: ~115 swingweight; ~6.81 twistweight. Tape: light 0.5 g/in strips near the throat; removed upper-face tape to keep swing manageable.

Why the mid-event switch happened

On the Loco, low-contact hits near the sharp taper died more often. The J2NF’s sweet spot runs farther down the face, and its geometry felt faster in the hands. Against a heavy-driving team, the extra stability made blocks cleaner.

Where J2NF fits in the power tiers

It’s often classed as a “lower tier power” paddle. That doesn’t mean weak. It means balanced, excellent sweet spot and stability at a friendlier price, without the hyper-crisp pop of a Boomstik or a heavily weighted Quanta. Several other paddle experts back that up.

Market Shock & Paddle FOMO

The Quanta did more than arrive, it detonated. It undercut not just Selkirk’s $333 Boomstik, but even Ronbus’s own mid and premium offerings. To the average buyer, the pricing ladder now feels upside down. Why spend two to three times more if $99 gets you close once you add tape?

The release was unusual: review units appeared without the usual ambassador gauntlet. Stock swingweights are extremely light (101–111), twistweights mostly under 6. Out of the box, that means modest stability. Add 12–15 g, and the feel shifts, more plow, more dwell, and blind sound tests make it hard to tell Quanta from Boomstik.

Context & FOMO check

• If you already own: Boomstik, Loco, or Luzz Inferno, you’re fine. Those paddles remain elite. No reason to panic-buy.
• If you tinker: Quanta’s light stock weight + low swingweight make it a builder’s dream.
• If you want ready-to-play: Boomstik remains the most powerful, most stable, out of the box.
• Approachable offense: Loco stays a sweet middle path, powerful, smoother feel, and easier to rein in.
• Crisp stability: Luzz Inferno offers a carbon-core feel with maximum foam stability.

Our paddle science primer explains why swingweight and twistweight set performance ceilings more than surface headlines.

Community Takes: Early Playtest Notes from Reviewers & Reddit

Note: I haven’t yet logged enough on-court hours with the Quanta. What follows is a curated set of impressions pulled from other trusted reviewers and early Reddit testers. Treat these as collective signals, not my final verdict.

• Light out of the box: Several testers said all Quanta shapes (R2, R3, R4) felt “almost too light” at first contact. Example reported measurements: R2 ~7.67 oz static / 102 swing / 6.4 twist; R3 ~7.65 oz / 110 swing / 5.6 twist; R4 ~7.71 oz / 104 swing / 5.85 twist.
• Quanta vs. Refoam: Early feedback suggests Refoam feels softer and more plush, while Quanta plays crisper with more direct punch.
• Spin & ball flight: On topspin drives, players noticed the ball diving more aggressively, with a linear power curve that stayed predictable.
• Power ladder context: Community consensus slots Quanta below the Selkirk Boomstik and Loco in raw power, but not by a huge gap, especially once weight is added.
• MOI comparison: Some noted that playing the Boomstik without its built-in MOI system makes it feel remarkably similar to a weighted Quanta.
• Stock stability limits: Twistweights in the 5–6 range led to comments about “wobbly” off-center hits and touch shots requiring extra focus.
• Customization anecdotes: A few testers used tungsten tape at 3/9 and 12 o’clock. Reported outcomes: expanded sweet spot, more planted punch volleys, and steadier resets.
• Handle & volleys: The 5.5″ handle worked fine for two-handed backhands. Testers also noted that the EVA perimeter ring gave punch volleys a lively response, less springy than Boomstik, but still responsive.
• Who it fits: The recurring phrase was “a players’ paddle for tinkerers.” Value seekers and gear modders seemed most excited, though out-of-box control-first players were less impressed.

Taken with a grain of salt

As always, I’ll reserve my own full take until I’ve logged enough matches with production units. For now, these community impressions sketch a profile: light builds with explosive pop potential, a bit raw in stock form, but highly rewarding if you enjoy dialing in custom balance.

Ronbus Quanta: Pick the shape that forgives your habit.

Tennis convert who drives first

Start with the Ronbus Quanta R1/R3 (elongated). Add 2–4 g at 12 if your drives float. If counters wobble, migrate that mass to 3/9. Want a firmer impact with similar power? Try Loco hybrid before spending on Boomstik. For maximum stability and power, look at the Luzz Inferno.

Counterpuncher living at the NVZ

Quanta R5 (widebody curved top) tightens defense. Keep swingweight modest (~104–106). Prefer a quieter, smoother strike? Loco standard mirrors the goal with less hollowness. If you need maximum stability at the NVZ, the Luzz Inferno is often cited as a top choice.

All-court “get-in, get-out” player

Quanta R4 (hybrid) balances reach and blocks. Tape 2 g at 10/2 for calmer first volleys without dulling hand speed. If you want instant blast and a decent sweet spot, Boomstik answers the bell. The Luzz Inferno is the best all-court option for players who like a crisper feel.

Developing soft game

Quanta R2 (widebody) gives you width for dink discipline. Pair with a control-biased ball and deep return patterns to buy time. Want firmer feedback and pop? Loco hybrid keeps touch crisp while you learn depth.

Juniors or ultra-light seekers

Stock Quanta builds are extremely light. Juniors can swing them without fatigue, then grow into stability by adding tape in small steps. Keep grip sizing in mind; an overgrip can help smaller hands settle in.

Ronbus Quanta Paddle Shape Comparison (R1-R5)

The Ronbus Quanta series offers five distinct shapes, all sharing the same foam core construction, with the main differences being dimensions, head shape, and resulting feel/playability. All paddles in the series are categorized as power paddles that often require added weight for optimal stability and sweet spot performance.

➡️ For full specs and details, visit the Ronbus Quanta Series page.

General Consensus:

• Most Recommended Shapes (Best Value/Performance): The R2 (for forgiveness/maneuverability) and R3 (for maximum power/reach) are frequently cited as favorites by reviewers, with the R4 being a strong hybrid option.
• Customization is Key: All Quanta paddles are very light stock, which makes them less stable and unforgiving until perimeter weight (lead tape) is added. They are designed to be “tinker-able” paddles that unlock higher-tier performance once the player fine-tunes the balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Try this paddle for five sessions and track how many resets you win in transition.

About the Author: Coach Sid is a gritty technician who tests paddles against match-play realities and teaches players to win boring before they win big.