Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Both paddles are scored using the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 takes the higher overall IQ score, but the right pick depends on which traits you value.
Add a third paddle to this comparison →
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of specialty retailers, we may earn from qualifying purchases — full disclosure.
Quick answer
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 edges it on the overall Paddle IQ score (85.3 vs 84.1), but the two split the scored categories — pick on the one trait you care about most.
Power
Too close to call
89 vs 86
Spin
Too close to call
88 vs 87
Control
Too close to call
88 vs 85
Forgiveness
Too close to call
86 vs 83
Hand speed
Too close to call
113 vs 114 kg·cm² swing weight
Value
Too close to call
$170 at IQ 85.3 vs $180 at IQ 84.1
Overall pick: Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 · $170 · IQ 85.3
Paddle DNA head-to-head
- 89Power86
- 85Control88
- 88Spin87
- 83Forgiveness86
- 85Sweet spot87
- 85Stability86
- 72Maneuverability75
- 84Pop82
- 83Touch85
- 85Consistency86
- 81Swing weight76
- 79Twist weight85
- 61Launch angle56
- 86Plow through82
- 85Softness84
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 specs
Every spec side by side. Highlighted values are the better of the two where one is objectively better.
| Spec | Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid | Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $180 | $170 — better |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 84.1 | 85.3 — better |
| Weight(oz) | 8.2 | 8.1 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 114 | 113 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.4 | 6.6 — better |
| Shape | hybrid | hybrid |
| Face length(in) | 16.3 | 16.3 |
| Face width(in) | 7.6 | 7.6 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| Grip circumference(in) | 4.25 | 4.25 |
| Surface | Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face | Raw carbon |
| Core material | Full foam dual-density core | Thermoformed polymer |
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.
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 verdict
The Forza is the sensible hybrid: nothing extreme, everything solid. It is the paddle to hand someone moving off a big-box starter without overwhelming them.
The verdict
Scored on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA model, the clearest separation is twist weight: Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 scores 85 against 79 for Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid — a 6-point gap. They are effectively level on power, control, forgiveness, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Price is close enough ($180 vs $170) that it should not break the tie.
Twist weight
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads by 6 points (85 vs 79).
Swing weight
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads by 5 points (81 vs 76).
Launch angle
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads by 5 points (61 vs 56).
Plow through
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid leads by 4 points (86 vs 82).
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
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 is a narrow pick at this level — twist weight 85 vs 79, forgiveness 86 vs 83, sweet spot 87 vs 85. Twist weight 6.6 keeps the face steadier on off-centre contact.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.3 vs 84.5 on the weighted index). Pick on static weight — 8.2 oz on the Loco 16mm Hybrid, 8.1 oz on the Mach 1 Forza 16.
- Control
- Maneuverability
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.7 vs 84.3 on the weighted index). Pick on static weight — 8.2 oz on the Loco 16mm Hybrid, 8.1 oz on the Mach 1 Forza 16.
- Plow through
- Power
- Spin
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.4 vs 84.7 on the weighted index). Pick on static weight — 8.2 oz on the Loco 16mm Hybrid, 8.1 oz on the Mach 1 Forza 16.
- Twist weight
- Forgiveness
Which one should you buy?
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid
Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid if you want swing weight (+5), launch angle (+5), plow through (+4). Its swing weight of 114 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid review →Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Take Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 if you want twist weight (+6). Its swing weight of 113 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 review →Where to Buy
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid
Volair Mach 1 Forza 16
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid vs Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 FAQ
- Which is better, the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid or the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.3 vs 84.1), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — twist weight — Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads by 6 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16, at 113 kg·cm² swing weight against 114 for Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid. Lower swing weight is the single best predictor of hand speed in fast exchanges.
- Which paddle has more power, the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid or the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid scores 89 for power against 86 for Volair Mach 1 Forza 16. That comes from a 16 mm Full foam dual-density core swinging at 114 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 at 88 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?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid scores 88 for spin off its Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face, against 87 for the Raw carbon face on Volair Mach 1 Forza 16. In practice a 1-point gap is small enough that technique matters more.
- Which is more forgiving on off-center hits?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16, with the higher forgiveness score (86 vs 83). Its 6.6 twist weight against 6.4 is what drives it — higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- They are within $10 of each other, so price should not decide this matchup.
- Do they use the same core and face?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid: 16 mm Full foam dual-density core with a Carbon–fiberglass–carbon face. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16: 16 mm Thermoformed polymer core with a Raw carbon face.
- Which is better for a two-handed backhand?
- Too close to call — neither has an advantage here. Both run a 5.5 in handle, long enough that neither forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 86 and sweet spot 87 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid rewards a repeatable swing and can feel less stable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 at 8.1 oz against 8.2 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (113 vs 114) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid to the Volair Mach 1 Forza 16?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 leads on twist weight by 6 points; everything else is within 5 points. At $180 vs $170, the money is better spent elsewhere unless that one trait is your weak spot.
Related comparisons
The other matchups shoppers open in the same session as this one.
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 Hybrid vs Pegasus Gen 3
- Loco 16mm Hybrid vs Loco 2 Hybrid 16mm
- Loco 16mm Hybrid vs Oni 16
- Loco 16mm Hybrid vs Nova R1
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Nova R1
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Loco 16mm Standard
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Loco 2 Hybrid 16mm
- Mach 1 Forza 16 vs Pro Ultimate Elongated 16
Top alternatives to both
Paddles that beat one of these two on a specific trait or on price.
Guides featuring these paddles
Still deciding? These buying guides put Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid and Volair Mach 1 Forza 16 in context against the rest of the database.
Read the full reviews: Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Hybrid and Volair Mach 1 Forza 16. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.