The Foam Paddle with a Cult Following
The foam core category is becoming increasingly crowded, but Bread & Butter stands out as a strong contender in both performance and player experience. They have become a notable name in the space for their unique paddles like the Shogun, and most recently the newest addition of the Loco.
After spending a couple of months myself with the Bread & Butter Loco paddle in the elongated 16mm shape, it's become the paddle I find myself reaching for most often in my bag. As I’ve spent more time with the paddle, a few things consistently stood out to me.
The Good, the Bad, the Loco
The first thing initially was how solid the paddle felt on contact. There's little to no muted feeling, and rather a connected feel throughout the paddle that gives you confidence on your drives, counters, and hands battles. It has more than enough power to finish points, but it never felt overly hot or unpredictable.
What surprised me most was the balance between power and control. Many power-focused paddles ask you to sacrifice touch around the kitchen, but I found the Loco to be comfortable in both the soft game and offensive situations.
You may notice that the paddle feels slightly heavier with a “top heaviness”, as the Loco elongated sits about .2 - .4 oz more than comparable paddles. This weight helps with the twist of the paddle, allowing you to still get your consistent shots on balls that stray from the sweet spot. And if you wanted to distribute the weight throughout the paddle a bit more, additional modifications like weighted tape placed closer to the handle have shown improvements with the overall balance.
The textured carbon fiber face of the Loco also generates a consistent amount of spin, making drives and rolls easy shape. And throughout the extended periods of time with consistent play, has retained its grit.
Final Thoughts: Who Is This Paddle For?
If you're a player looking for a paddle that offers power, spin, and stability without giving up control, the Loco Elongated is worth a serious look.
The Loco feels premium and plays consistently, as well as coming in 3 different colorways. It's also especially appealing for players who prefer an elongated shape, enjoy their offense, and want something that feels different from the typical power paddle on the market.