Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid vs Proton Series One Project Black
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid 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
- 89Power86
- 85Control86
- 88Spin90
- 83Forgiveness80
- 85Sweet spot82
- 85Stability86
- 72Maneuverability72
- 84Pop82
- 83Touch82
- 85Consistency84
- 81Swing weight76
- 79Twist weight86
- 61Launch angle54
- 86Plow through86
- 85Softness68
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid vs Proton Series One Project Black 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 Hybrid | Proton Series One Project Black |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $180 — better | $200 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.1 — better | 83.8 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.2 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 117 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 7 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16.3 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face | Raw carbon fiber |
| Core material | Full foam dual-density core | Thermoformed unibody with foam walls |
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid verdict
The shape most Loco buyers should start with. It keeps the long handle and most of the drive output while widening the face enough to make off-center contact survivable.
Proton Series One Project Black verdict
A thermoformed unibody built around stability. The foam walls push twist weight to the top of our measured range, which is why off-center drives still land deep.
The verdict
Measured on the same 15-trait test, the clearest separation is softness: Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid scores 85 against 68 for Proton Series One Project Black — a 17-point gap. They are effectively level on power, forgiveness, sweet spot, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid is $20 cheaper at $180.
Softness
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads by 17 points (85 vs 68).
Twist weight
Proton Series One Project Black leads by 7 points (86 vs 79).
Launch angle
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads by 7 points (61 vs 54).
Swing weight
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads by 5 points (81 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
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.4 vs 83.6 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid and keep the $20.
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
- Consistency
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (82.8 vs 83.3 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid and keep the $20.
- Forgiveness
- Power
- Touch
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.4 vs 84.7 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid and keep the $20.
- Power
- Touch
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid is the clearer pick at this level — softness 85 vs 68, forgiveness 83 vs 80. Its 16 mm Full foam dual-density core core at 8.2 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Proton Series One Project Black
Take Proton Series One Project Black if you want twist weight (+7). Its swing weight of 117 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Proton Series One Project Black review →Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid
Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid if you want softness (+17), launch angle (+7), swing weight (+5). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid review →Proton Series One Project Black vs Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid FAQ
- Which is better, the Proton Series One Project Black or the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (84.1 vs 83.8), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — softness — Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads by 17 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid, at 114 kg·cm² swing weight against 117 for Proton Series One Project Black. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Proton Series One Project Black or the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid measures 89 on power against 86 for Proton Series One Project Black. That comes from a 16 mm Full foam dual-density core core swinging at 114 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Proton Series One Project Black at 86 versus 85. 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?
- Proton Series One Project Black scores 90 for spin off its Raw carbon fiber face, against 88 for the Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face face on Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid. In practice a 2-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Proton Series One Project Black, with 7 twist weight against 6.4. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid carries the higher forgiveness score (83) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid 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?
- Proton Series One Project Black: 16 mm Thermoformed unibody with foam walls core with a Raw carbon fiber face. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid: 16 mm Full foam dual-density core core with a Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Proton Series One Project Black, 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 Proton Series One Project Black avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 83 and sweet spot 85 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid at 8.2 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (114 vs 117) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Proton Series One Project Black to the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads on softness by 17 points; everything else is within 7 points. At $200 vs $180, 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.
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- Loco 16mm Hybrid vs Nova R1
- Loco 16mm Hybrid vs TruFoam Genesis 3
- Series One Project Black vs Ruby
- Series One Project Black vs Oni 16
- Series One Project Black vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
- Series One Project Black vs 2X Power Series
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 Hybrid and Proton Series One Project Black. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.