If you’ve read my reviews, you know I’m a fan of Bread & Butter Pickleball. I’ve playtested two of their paddles and often use them as benchmarks. The brand is funky, fun, and full of personality—with standout paddles like the Shogun and the Invader, both of which I rated highly and still use.
With names like The Fat Boy, The Loco, The Drip, and their bestseller, The Filth, you know they’re confident in what they’re doing—and they’ve backed it up with excellent customer service (shoutout to Aurora, aka Nerd Liaison Extraordinaire and wife of CEO Doug, Chief Excitement Officer).
So when I heard they were relaunching The Filth—their Gen 2 elite power paddle—with a new look and two shape options (hybrid and standard), I reached out. I tested the hybrid first and I’m giving it a solid 4.25 balls out of 5 as a fantastic all-court value paddle.
T700 Carbon Face for spin and power
Thermoformed Build = strength + control
Hybrid Shape = pop + finesse
Built for Balance—swing hard, play smart
By The Numbers
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Length | 16.2” |
| Width | 7.6” |
| Core | 16 mm (8mm honeycomb cells) |
| Grip Length | 5.3” |
| Grip Circumference | 4.25” |
| Weight (as tested) | 8.08 oz (marketed: 8.0–8.1 oz) |
| Price | $165 |
Nuts And Bolts
- Thermoformed unibody
- High density polypropylene core
- Foam edge wall injection
- T700 carbon fiber weave face
- UV printed graphics
- Wrap-around, hard protective edge
- Perforated tennis grip handle
- USA Pickleball-approved
First Impressions
Right out of the case, the paddle looks sharp—subtle carbon fiber face graphics, a clean white edge guard, and a matching white handle give it a sleek, modern feel. It may look like your typical poly core carbon fiber paddle at first glance, but the vibe is all Bread & Butter. The neoprene cover is a great touch, and yes, their signature stickers are proudly repping on my water bottle.
And then there’s the paddle face: “Designed in Outerspace.” Every time I see it, I grin. That playful, not-too-serious energy is exactly why I like this brand.
In hand, the paddle feels balanced and responsive. I’m not usually a fan of hybrid or wide-body shapes, but this one feels great—especially on air swings. The grip’s a bit short for my liking, but it’s still comfortable. As for the face grit? Definitely above average.
Game On: Play Testing
I first broke in the paddle while teaching a beginner, which gave me a chance to demo a full range of shots. As expected from a hybrid, it offered a generous sweet spot, solid control, and quick hand speed, with just enough pop to keep things fun. Spin was definitely above average. Was it earth-shattering? No. But it did exactly what a Gen 2 hybrid should—and did it well. Aside from a slightly short handle, there was little to critique.
Eager to test it in real action, I put it to work over five weeks of rec play and a charity tournament, evaluating it across power, control, spin, and hand speed—all while comparing it to other all-court paddles in my rotation.
1. Power:
Plenty for most players. Serves, drives, and putaways had satisfying pop. You’ll need a bit more arm to access it, but it delivered consistent performance.
It came close to the Diadem 18K Power Max and Franklin C45 in punch, though not in the same league as true power paddles like the Joola Agassi Pro or CPX Max Pro.
2. Control:
This is where the paddle shines. Dinks, drops, and precision shots felt effortless thanks to the wide sweet spot. It reminded me of the control I get from the Stinger MC3 or Bread & Butter’s own Invader.
3. Spin:
Topspin and slice both rated above average—on par with carbon fiber face paddles like the Holbrook Mav Pro 2.0 and Franklin FS Tour Featherweight Temp. Still, The Shogun, The Invader, and Holbrook Aero T Metallic generate more. Notably, there was no noticeable grit loss after six weeks of heavy play.
4. Hand Speed:
The balance and shape offered snappy response at the kitchen and in quick exchanges. It’s not quite as fast as the lighter Ethos Dunamis or Franklin C45, but it’s close—and feels fast when it counts.
The Final Score
| Category | Rating (1 Out of 5) |
|---|---|
| Design / Build | 🎾🎾🎾🎾¼ |
| Grip | 🎾🎾🎾🎾 |
| Control | 🎾🎾🎾🎾½ |
| Spin | 🎾🎾🎾🎾 |
| Power | 🎾🎾🎾🎾 |
| Price Point / Value | 🎾🎾🎾🎾¾ |
| OVERALL | 🎾🎾🎾🎾¼ |
The Filth continues to deliver as a reliable, all-court performer—now with a fresh new look, more colorways on the way, and three shape options to suit different player preferences. It’s a paddle that will feel right at home in the hands of most beginners to intermediates, regardless of style.
Big kudos to Doug, Aurora, and the Bread & Butter crew for sticking to what works, expanding the lineup thoughtfully, and—just as important—keeping the price well below what you’ll pay for paddles with similar Gen 2/Gen 3 tech.
Bottom line? It’s a great paddle from a great company at a great price. While I can’t rate it higher due to the increasingly stacked Gen 3 and 4 competition, it still earns a strong score for value. If you’re ready to move past your $50 Amazon or Target starter paddle, this is the upgrade to make.
Pickle on my friends, pickle on…
