Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Pickleball Paddle
Description
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Pickleball Paddle — 2025 Paddle of the Year
The Bread & Butter Loco 16mm is the foam-core paddle that rewrote the power-versus-control tradeoff. A 16mm dual-density foam core sits behind a T700 raw carbon fiber face, delivering genuine put-away power with a plush, connected feel and one of the widest sweet spots in pickleball. Pick your head shape — Elongated, Hybrid, or Standard — in Tan, Black, or Azul.
Why the Loco plays differently
- Dual-density foam core (EPP + EVA). Instead of a polymer honeycomb, the Loco uses two foam densities: a softer inner section for dwell time and feel, and a denser outer section for a stiff, powerful response near the edges. The paddle stays alive out toward the tip and shoulders, where honeycomb cores typically go dead.
- Fully floating foam perimeter. The core is not rigidly bonded to the frame, which widens the effective sweet spot and keeps off-center contact on line instead of spraying it.
- T700 raw carbon face with a fiberglass layer. The raw carbon peel-ply texture grips the ball for spin, while the fiberglass sublayer adds pop. Independent lab testing measured roughly 2,050–2,150 RPM of spin and a 0.41–0.42 KewCOR power rating — elite-tier firepower, on par with the most powerful paddles on the market.
- Vibration-dampening octagonal handle. A 4 1/4" grip circumference with a dampening wrap, so all that power doesn’t travel back into your wrist and elbow.
- UV-printed graphics. Artwork is printed directly onto the surface — no decals to peel or bubble.
- USAP approved. Legal for USA Pickleball sanctioned tournament play.
Elongated vs. Hybrid vs. Standard: which Loco should you buy?
| Spec | Elongated | Hybrid | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddle length | 16.5" | 16.2" | 16.0" |
| Paddle width | 7.375" | 7.6" | 8.0" |
| Handle length | 5.5" | 5.3" | 5.3" |
| Static weight | 8.0–8.2 oz | 7.9–8.1 oz | 8.0–8.1 oz |
| Swing weight | 118–120 | 112–115 | 108–110 |
| Twist weight | 6.28 | 6.65 | 7.3 |
| Best for | Maximum reach, heavy drives and serves, two-handed backhands | All-court players who want reach without giving up hand speed | Fast hands at the kitchen, quickest maneuverability, most forgiveness |
| Comes from | Tennis or singles-heavy backgrounds | Players torn between the other two | Doubles specialists and dinkers |
Short answer: take the Elongated if you want the biggest serves, drives and reach. Take the Standard if you win points with hand speed at the net. Take the Hybrid if you want both — it is the shape most testers land on, and its higher twist weight makes it the most stable of the three when you add lead tape.
Full specifications (all shapes)
- Core: 16mm dual-density foam (EPP + EVA), fully floating perimeter
- Face: T700 raw carbon fiber with fiberglass layer
- Core thickness: 16mm
- Handle: Octagonal, vibration-dampening wrap
- Grip circumference: 4 1/4"
- Graphics: UV printed directly onto the paddle surface
- Certification: USA Pickleball (USAP) approved for tournament play
- Colorways: Tan, Black, Azul
- Shapes: Elongated, Hybrid, Standard
Who the Loco 16mm is for
- Intermediate to advanced players (3.5+) who want to add a gear to their drives, serves and speed-ups.
- Players coming off a thermoformed carbon paddle who love the power but want a softer, less jarring feel and a more forgiving sweet spot.
- Anyone who mishits toward the tip or shoulders. The floating foam perimeter is the single biggest reason the Loco feels bigger than it measures.
- If you are a touch-first, reset-everything player who wants the ball to die on your paddle face, the Loco’s pop may be more than you want — a control-oriented 16mm honeycomb paddle is the better fit.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm USAP approved?
Yes. All three shapes of the Loco 16mm are approved by USA Pickleball and legal for sanctioned tournament play.
What is the difference between the Loco 16mm and a 14mm paddle?
The 16mm core is thicker, which means more dwell time, a softer feel and better control on resets and dinks. A 14mm core is stiffer and pops more but is less forgiving. Because the Loco uses a dual-density foam core rather than honeycomb, the 16mm version keeps far more power than a typical 16mm paddle.
Is the Loco a power paddle or a control paddle?
Primarily a power paddle. Independent testing places its firepower in the elite tier (0.41–0.42 KewCOR), with spin around 2,050–2,150 RPM. The foam core and floating perimeter add enough dwell and forgiveness that it still resets well — but it is built to hurt people.
Which Loco shape has the biggest sweet spot?
The Standard (widebody) shape, with the highest twist weight at 7.3, is the most stable and forgiving on off-center contact. The Hybrid is a close second at 6.65.
What grip size is the Loco 16mm?
All shapes use a 4 1/4" grip circumference with an octagonal, vibration-dampening handle. Add an overgrip to build it up if you prefer a thicker feel.
Can I add lead tape to the Loco?
Yes, and it responds well to it. Testers found the Hybrid handled weight modifications best. Adding lead at 3 and 9 o’clock raises twist weight and stability; adding at 12 o’clock raises swing weight and power.
Buy the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm at Racquet Point
Racquet Point is a specialty racquet sports retailer — pickleball, tennis, padel, squash and badminton — and we stock the full Loco 16mm line in all three shapes and all three colorways. Not sure which shape suits your game? Get in touch and we will help you pick.
Performance
Skill Level
Intermediate/Advanced
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Pickleball Paddle — 2025 Paddle of the Year
The Bread & Butter Loco 16mm is the foam-core paddle that rewrote the power-versus-control tradeoff. A 16mm dual-density foam core sits behind a T700 raw carbon fiber face, delivering genuine put-away power with a plush, connected feel and one of the widest sweet spots in pickleball. Pick your head shape — Elongated, Hybrid, or Standard — in Tan, Black, or Azul.
Why the Loco plays differently
- Dual-density foam core (EPP + EVA). Instead of a polymer honeycomb, the Loco uses two foam densities: a softer inner section for dwell time and feel, and a denser outer section for a stiff, powerful response near the edges. The paddle stays alive out toward the tip and shoulders, where honeycomb cores typically go dead.
- Fully floating foam perimeter. The core is not rigidly bonded to the frame, which widens the effective sweet spot and keeps off-center contact on line instead of spraying it.
- T700 raw carbon face with a fiberglass layer. The raw carbon peel-ply texture grips the ball for spin, while the fiberglass sublayer adds pop. Independent lab testing measured roughly 2,050–2,150 RPM of spin and a 0.41–0.42 KewCOR power rating — elite-tier firepower, on par with the most powerful paddles on the market.
- Vibration-dampening octagonal handle. A 4 1/4" grip circumference with a dampening wrap, so all that power doesn’t travel back into your wrist and elbow.
- UV-printed graphics. Artwork is printed directly onto the surface — no decals to peel or bubble.
- USAP approved. Legal for USA Pickleball sanctioned tournament play.
Elongated vs. Hybrid vs. Standard: which Loco should you buy?
| Spec | Elongated | Hybrid | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddle length | 16.5" | 16.2" | 16.0" |
| Paddle width | 7.375" | 7.6" | 8.0" |
| Handle length | 5.5" | 5.3" | 5.3" |
| Static weight | 8.0–8.2 oz | 7.9–8.1 oz | 8.0–8.1 oz |
| Swing weight | 118–120 | 112–115 | 108–110 |
| Twist weight | 6.28 | 6.65 | 7.3 |
| Best for | Maximum reach, heavy drives and serves, two-handed backhands | All-court players who want reach without giving up hand speed | Fast hands at the kitchen, quickest maneuverability, most forgiveness |
| Comes from | Tennis or singles-heavy backgrounds | Players torn between the other two | Doubles specialists and dinkers |
Short answer: take the Elongated if you want the biggest serves, drives and reach. Take the Standard if you win points with hand speed at the net. Take the Hybrid if you want both — it is the shape most testers land on, and its higher twist weight makes it the most stable of the three when you add lead tape.
Full specifications (all shapes)
- Core: 16mm dual-density foam (EPP + EVA), fully floating perimeter
- Face: T700 raw carbon fiber with fiberglass layer
- Core thickness: 16mm
- Handle: Octagonal, vibration-dampening wrap
- Grip circumference: 4 1/4"
- Graphics: UV printed directly onto the paddle surface
- Certification: USA Pickleball (USAP) approved for tournament play
- Colorways: Tan, Black, Azul
- Shapes: Elongated, Hybrid, Standard
Who the Loco 16mm is for
- Intermediate to advanced players (3.5+) who want to add a gear to their drives, serves and speed-ups.
- Players coming off a thermoformed carbon paddle who love the power but want a softer, less jarring feel and a more forgiving sweet spot.
- Anyone who mishits toward the tip or shoulders. The floating foam perimeter is the single biggest reason the Loco feels bigger than it measures.
- If you are a touch-first, reset-everything player who wants the ball to die on your paddle face, the Loco’s pop may be more than you want — a control-oriented 16mm honeycomb paddle is the better fit.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm USAP approved?
Yes. All three shapes of the Loco 16mm are approved by USA Pickleball and legal for sanctioned tournament play.
What is the difference between the Loco 16mm and a 14mm paddle?
The 16mm core is thicker, which means more dwell time, a softer feel and better control on resets and dinks. A 14mm core is stiffer and pops more but is less forgiving. Because the Loco uses a dual-density foam core rather than honeycomb, the 16mm version keeps far more power than a typical 16mm paddle.
Is the Loco a power paddle or a control paddle?
Primarily a power paddle. Independent testing places its firepower in the elite tier (0.41–0.42 KewCOR), with spin around 2,050–2,150 RPM. The foam core and floating perimeter add enough dwell and forgiveness that it still resets well — but it is built to hurt people.
Which Loco shape has the biggest sweet spot?
The Standard (widebody) shape, with the highest twist weight at 7.3, is the most stable and forgiving on off-center contact. The Hybrid is a close second at 6.65.
What grip size is the Loco 16mm?
All shapes use a 4 1/4" grip circumference with an octagonal, vibration-dampening handle. Add an overgrip to build it up if you prefer a thicker feel.
Can I add lead tape to the Loco?
Yes, and it responds well to it. Testers found the Hybrid handled weight modifications best. Adding lead at 3 and 9 o’clock raises twist weight and stability; adding at 12 o’clock raises swing weight and power.
Buy the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm at Racquet Point
Racquet Point is a specialty racquet sports retailer — pickleball, tennis, padel, squash and badminton — and we stock the full Loco 16mm line in all three shapes and all three colorways. Not sure which shape suits your game? Get in touch and we will help you pick.
Intermediate/Advanced