Bread & Butter is a family-run pickleball brand founded in Florida in 2022. Known for its playful design, its original foam-core LOCO was named Paddle of the Year at The Dink Awards 2025 (fan vote), and LOCO 2 is its successor. Since 2026, the brand has been part of the Selkirk Sport group.
Founder Doug Sapusek traces the brand back to a simple belief: that "pickleball should be fun and unconventional, and that great gear and great culture aren't mutually exclusive." It started as a family business in 2022 and has built its following mainly through direct sales on its own website.
The name comes from the everyday expression "bread and butter," meaning the basics you live on, the staple you can count on. The LOCO 2 face is printed with "DESIGNED IN OUTER SPACE" and features a skeleton character in a sombrero. The look is pure mischief, but the paddle underneath is seriously well engineered.
In May 2026, Selkirk Sport announced its acquisition of Bread & Butter. The brand, its website and its product direction remain independent, and the Sapusek family continues to lead the company.
2022
Doug Sapusek founds the brand as a family business.
2025
The foam-core LOCO is released.
2026
In February, LOCO is named Paddle of the Year at The Dink Awards 2025 (fan vote). In May, the brand joins the Selkirk Sport group. In October, LOCO 2 arrives with a new surface grit. Pickleball Lab begins carrying the brand.
Why Bread & Butter
Why Pickleball Lab Chooses Bread & Butter
The Original LOCO Was Named 2025 Paddle of the Year
The original LOCO was named Paddle of the Year at The Dink Awards 2025, where more than 10,000 people voted. The review site Pickleheads also called it "2025's clear paddle of the year." It was picked from 10 nominees that included new releases from major brands, and LOCO 2 carries over its foam core design.
A Look All Its Own
Selkirk introduces Bread & Butter as a "design-forward brand known for its energetic identity." A paddle people recognize at a glance on the court is a conversation starter all by itself. You should choose gear for its performance, but I think a paddle that lifts your mood every time you pick it up is a perfectly good reason, too.
Now Part of the Selkirk Group
Since joining the Selkirk Sport group in 2026, Bread & Butter now comes into Japan through Selkirk's official channels. As an authorized Selkirk dealer, Pickleball Lab brings Bread & Butter paddles to players in Japan through those same official channels.
Technology
Inside the LOCO 2
Core
16mm Dual-Density Foam Core
A 16mm core that skips honeycomb entirely and combines two types of foam, EPP and EVA. LOCO 2 carries over the core design that earned the original LOCO its reputation.
LOCO / LOCO 2
Face
T700 Raw Carbon + Fiberglass
A T700 raw carbon face with an added fiberglass layer for extra pop. Paired with the rebound of the foam core, it gives the paddle a power-leaning response.
LOCO / LOCO 2
Surface
Space Dust Grit
The new surface grit introduced on LOCO 2. The manufacturer promotes it for long-lasting spin, and it's the biggest change from the original LOCO.
LOCO 2
Handle
Octagon Handle
An eight-sided handle with a vibration-dampening wrap. An octagonal shape is generally said to make it easier to feel the face angle through the edges.
LOCO 2
Bread & Butter / LOCO 2
Foam Core Power
01
A Foam Core with No Honeycomb
For years, polypropylene honeycomb was the standard for paddle cores, but recently more paddles have moved to all-foam cores. LOCO is one of the paddles that earned acclaim in that shift, with a 16mm core that combines two types of foam, EPP and EVA.
Reviews of the original LOCO rate its power and pop highly. On the other hand, Pickleball Effect noted a firm feel and a loud sound on contact, which won't suit everyone. For LOCO 2, Pickleheads says its lively rebound means resets from midcourt take some getting used to. The more you like to take control of fast exchanges, the more this paddle has to offer.
LOCO 2 comes in two shapes: Elongated and Hybrid. The Elongated is long and narrow, about 419mm (16.5 in) long and about 187mm (7.375 in) wide, a shape that gives you reach and power through the swing. Its grip is about 140mm (5.5 in), longer than the Hybrid's (about 135mm / 5.3 in), so there's room for a two-handed backhand.
The Hybrid is about 411mm (16.2 in) long and about 193mm (7.6 in) wide. Because it's a little shorter and wider than the Elongated, it has a lower swing weight, a measure of how heavy the paddle feels when you swing it (official figures: Elongated 118, Hybrid 111). That makes it easier to get the face up in fast exchanges at the net. Both shapes weigh about 224–232g (7.9–8.2 oz).
Elongated: built for reach and power. On both the USA Pickleball and UPA-A (the approval used on the pro tour) approved lists (October 2026)
Hybrid: built for quick hands. Its twist weight, a measure of resistance to twisting, is the higher of the two (official figures: Hybrid 6.7 / Elongated 6.3)
* Figures are the manufacturer's published specs (converted from inches to millimeters by Pickleball Lab).
LOCO 2 Elongated or Hybrid: Which Should You Choose?
Even within LOCO 2, the shape changes how the paddle swings quite a bit. Choose the one that's closest to how you usually play.
Elongated
“I want to drive the ball from the baseline, and I want more reach.”
↓ Our pick
LOCO 2 Elongated
The long shape and the foam core's rebound make it easy to put power behind drives and serves. The grip is longer than the Hybrid's, so it also suits players with a two-handed backhand. The trade-off is a heavier swing weight, so watch out for being late on fast exchanges at the net.
“I want to get my paddle face up fast in exchanges at the net.”
↓ Our pick
LOCO 2 Hybrid
A little shorter and wider than the Elongated. Its lighter swing weight makes it quicker to maneuver, so it's easier to square up the face in volley exchanges and on resets. The Elongated is generally the easier shape for generating power, but the core and face construction are the same. If you plan to use it in sanctioned play, please check its approval status in the FAQ below.
“I've never used a power paddle. I'm not sure I can handle one.”
↓ Also consider
SLK / Selkirk
LOCO 2 is a power-oriented paddle with a lively rebound. If you'd rather put control first, or you're just getting started, SLK or Selkirk from the same group may be a better fit. If you're torn, tell us how you usually play on LINE.
Answers to the questions we hear most before people buy.
How are Bread & Butter and Selkirk related?+
In May 2026, Selkirk Sport announced its acquisition of Bread & Butter, which brought the brand into the Selkirk group. That said, the brand, its website and its product direction remain independent, and the founding Sapusek family continues to lead the company. Think of it as a separate brand from Selkirk's own paddles.
What's the difference between LOCO and LOCO 2?+
The biggest difference is the surface. LOCO 2 builds on the foam core design that earned the original LOCO its reputation and switches the face surface to the new Space Dust Grit, which the manufacturer promotes for long-lasting spin. It comes in two shapes, Elongated and Hybrid, and its weight and swing weight differ slightly from the original.
Can I use LOCO 2 in sanctioned tournaments?+
We've confirmed that LOCO 2 Elongated is on both the USA Pickleball and UPA-A (the approval used on the pro tour) approved lists (as of October 2026). When we checked, the Hybrid was not yet on the lists. We'll post an update on the product page as soon as we can confirm it has been listed. Some tournaments require a specific approval, so please check the tournament rules before you play.
Can beginners use LOCO 2?+
They can, but LOCO 2 is a power-oriented paddle with a lively rebound. The ball can fly farther than you intend, which can make control a struggle, so if you're just starting out, we recommend beginning with a more manageable model. SLK, also part of the Selkirk group, is one option to consider.
What's the difference between gray-market (parallel-import) and genuine products?+
The biggest difference is the support you get after purchase. With gray-market products, even an initial defect can mean dealing with an overseas seller. As an authorized Selkirk Sport dealer, Pickleball Lab sources Bread & Butter paddles through official channels as well, and if a paddle arrives with an initial defect, we're your point of contact and handle it locally, right here in Japan. Warranty terms vary by where you purchased, so please contact us for details.
Official Partner
Bread & Butter Authorized Dealer
As an authorized Selkirk Sport dealer, Pickleball Lab also delivers paddles from Bread & Butter, part of the Selkirk group, through official channels. Every product we deliver is genuine, and we handle initial-defect inquiries and after-sales support locally from within Japan.
