Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard vs Electrum Model E Max V3
Both paddles measured on the same 15-trait Paddle DNA test. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard 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
- 86Power82
- 87Control88
- 86Spin86
- 88Forgiveness86
- 89Sweet spot88
- 87Stability86
- 77Maneuverability72
- 82Pop74
- 85Touch86
- 86Consistency88
- 76Swing weight78
- 86Twist weight84
- 62Launch angle50
- 80Plow through82
- 86Softness78
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard 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 Standard | Electrum Model E Max V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Street price(USD) | $180 — better | $200 |
| IQ score(/ 100) | 85.7 — better | 84.7 |
| Weight(oz) | 8.1 | 8.3 |
| Core thickness(mm) | 16 | 16 |
| Swing weight(kg·cm²)Lower swings faster | 111 | 118 |
| Twist weight(kg·cm²)Higher is more stable | 6.8 | 6.9 — better |
| Shape | standard | elongated |
| Face length(in) | 16 | 16.5 |
| Face width(in) | 7.9 | 7.5 |
| Handle length(in) | 5.25 | 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 Standard verdict
The forgiving Loco. Widening the face lifts sweet spot and twist weight and drops the swing weight below the other two shapes, at the cost of some reach and drive.
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 launch angle: Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard scores 62 against 50 for Electrum Model E Max V3 — a 12-point gap. They are effectively level on forgiveness, consistency, swing weight, so those traits should not decide the purchase. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard is $20 cheaper at $180.
Launch angle
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads by 12 points (62 vs 50).
Pop
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads by 8 points (82 vs 74).
Softness
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads by 8 points (86 vs 78).
Maneuverability
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads by 5 points (77 vs 72).
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 (87.4 vs 86.6 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard and keep the $20.
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
- Sweet spot
Intermediate
3.0–3.9 — playing organised rec and early tournaments
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (84.7 vs 83.6 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard and keep the $20.
- Maneuverability
- Power
- Forgiveness
Advanced / tournament
4.0+ — repeatable swing, fast hands battles
Too close to call on the traits that matter here (83.8 vs 83 on the weighted index). Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard and keep the $20.
- Power
- Maneuverability
Arm-sensitive players
Anyone managing tennis elbow or shoulder load
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard is the clearer pick at this level — softness 86 vs 78, forgiveness 88 vs 86, twist weight 86 vs 84. Its 16 mm Full foam dual-density core core at 8.1 oz is the softer, lower-shock build of the two.
- Softness
- Forgiveness
- Twist weight
Which one should you buy?
Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard
Take Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard if you want launch angle (+12), pop (+8), softness (+8). Its swing weight of 111 kg·cm² and 16 mm core are what produce that profile.
Read the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard review →Electrum Model E Max V3
Take Electrum Model E Max V3 if you prefer a elongated face and a 5.5 in handle — it gives up nothing measurable to Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard.
Read the Electrum Model E Max V3 review →Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard vs Electrum Model E Max V3 FAQ
- Which is better, the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard or the Electrum Model E Max V3?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard carries the higher overall Paddle IQ score (85.7 vs 84.7), but IQ is a weighted average. On the trait that separates them most — launch angle — Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads by 12 points.
- Which one is faster at the kitchen line?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard, at 111 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 Standard or the Electrum Model E Max V3?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard measures 86 on power against 82 for Electrum Model E Max V3. That comes from a 16 mm Full foam dual-density core core swinging at 111 kg·cm² — mass behind the ball, not face material.
- Which one gives more control and touch?
- Electrum Model E Max V3 at 88 versus 87. 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 Standard scores 86 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 0-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 6.8. Higher twist weight means the face rotates less when you miss the middle, and Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard carries the higher forgiveness score (88) as a result.
- Is the price difference worth it?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard 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 Standard: 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?
- Electrum Model E Max V3, at 5.5 in of handle against 5.25 in. Anything under 5.25 in forces you to choke the bottom hand onto the face bevel, which Electrum Model E Max V3 avoids.
- Which one is better for beginners?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard is the safer first paddle here: forgiveness 88 and sweet spot 89 mean fewer mishits while your contact point is still inconsistent. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard rewards a repeatable swing and can feel unstable before that.
- Which is lighter in the hand?
- Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard at 8.1 oz against 8.3 oz. Static weight matters for arm fatigue and elbow comfort; swing weight (111 vs 118) is what you feel mid-rally.
- Is it worth upgrading from the Electrum Model E Max V3 to the Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard?
- Only if you need what it actually adds. Bread & Butter Loco 16mm Standard leads on launch angle by 12 points; everything else is within 8 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 Standard vs Mach 1 Forza 16
- Loco 16mm Standard vs Nova R1
- Loco 16mm Standard vs Tenon
- Loco 16mm Standard vs Oni 16
- 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 Standard and Electrum Model E Max V3. Or build a different comparison, browse the full database or find paddles within 5% of your current one.