Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated vs Electrum Model E Max V3
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Electrum Model E Max V3 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
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Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 92Power82
- 82Control88
- 88Spin86
- 76Forgiveness86
- 79Sweet spot88
- 82Stability86
- 67Maneuverability72
- 86Pop74
- 80Touch86
- 83Consistency88
- 86Swing weight78
- 72Twist weight84
- 60Launch angle50
- 91Plow through82
- 84Softness78
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated vs Electrum Model E Max V3 specs
Every measured spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated | Electrum Model E Max V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $180 — better | $200 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 81.4 | 84.7 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 118 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.2 | 6.9 — better |
| Shape | elongated | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.5 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face | Raw Toray T700 carbon |
| Core material | Full foam dual-density core | Polypropylene honeycomb with foam perimeter |
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated verdict
A full-foam power paddle at roughly a hundred dollars under the comparable CRBN and JOOLA builds. The fiberglass middle layer is what produces the pop; the foam is what stops that pop turning brittle.
Electrum Model E Max V3 verdict
The Max is the widest-body Electrum yet, and the numbers show it: sweet spot 88 and twist weight 84 are both top-quartile. It is a forgiving elongated paddle, which is not a common combination.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is pop: Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated scores 86 against 74 for Electrum Model E Max V3 — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on spin, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated is $20 cheaper at $180.
Pop
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated leads by 12 points (86 vs 74).
Twist weight
Electrum Model E Max V3 leads by 12 points (84 vs 72).
Power
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated leads by 10 points (92 vs 82).
Forgiveness
Electrum Model E Max V3 leads by 10 points (86 vs 76).
Which one is right for your level?
Each call below re-weights the Paddle DNA traits that matter at that level, so the winner can differ from the overall pick.
Beginner
New to 3.0 — still building a consistent contact point
Electrum Model E Max V3
Electrum Model E Max V3 is the clearer pick at this level — forgiveness 86 vs 76, sweet spot 88 vs 79, twist weight 84 vs 72. Twist weight 6.9 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Twist weight
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Electrum Model E Max V3
Electrum Model E Max V3 is a narrow pick at this level — forgiveness 86 vs 76, control 88 vs 82, maneuverability 72 vs 67. At 118 kg·cm² swing weight it stays quick enough for hands battles.
- Forgiveness
- Control
- Maneuverability
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.6 vs 83 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated and keep the $20.
- Power
- Plow through
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (79.6 vs 81.3 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated and keep the $20.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated
Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated if you want pop (+12), power (+10), launch angle (+10). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated review →Electrum Model E Max V3
Take Electrum Model E Max V3 if you want twist weight (+12), forgiveness (+10), sweet spot (+9). Its swing weight of 118 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Electrum Model E Max V3 review →Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated vs Electrum Model E Max V3 FAQ
- Which is better, the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated or the Electrum Model E Max V3?
- Electrum Model E Max V3 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.7 vs 81.4), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — pop — Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated, at 118 kg·cm² swing weight against 118 for Electrum Model E Max V3. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated or the Electrum Model E Max V3?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated measures 92 on power against 82 for Electrum Model E Max V3. That comes from a 16 mm Full foam dual-density core core swinging at 118 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Electrum Model E Max V3 at 88 versus 82. Its 16 mm core holds the ball on the face slightly longer, which is what makes resets and dinks land shorter.
- Which paddle spins the ball more?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated scores 88 for spin off its Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face face, against 86 for the Raw Toray T700 carbon face on Electrum Model E Max V3. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Electrum Model E Max V3, with 6.9 twist weight against 6.2. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Electrum Model E Max V3 carries the higher forgiveness score (86) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated costs $180, $20 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on whether you actually use the traits it trades away — check the head-to-head DNA bars above before paying up.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated: 16 mm Full foam dual-density core core with a Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face face. Electrum Model E Max V3: 16 mm Polypropylene honeycomb with foam perimeter core with a Raw Toray T700 carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.5 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Electrum Model E Max V3 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 88 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated at 8.3 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (118 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated to the Electrum Model E Max V3?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated leads on pop by 12 points; everything else is within 12 points. At $180 vs $200, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Also worth comparing
Head-to-heads that share DNA with this matchup — useful if you're still deciding between shapes, cores or price tiers.
- Loco 16mm Elongated vs TruFoam Genesis 1
- Loco 16mm Elongated vs Hyperion CFS 16
- Loco 16mm Elongated vs Labs Project 006
- Loco 16mm Elongated vs GX2 Power Elongated
- Model E Max V3 vs Double Black Diamond Control V2
- Model E Max V3 vs Mach 1 Forza 16
- Model E Max V3 vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Model E Max V3 vs Pursuit MX 6.0
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Read the full reviews: Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Elongated and Electrum Model E Max V3. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.