Bread & Butter Filth - pickleball paddle review

The Bread & Butter Filth came out a few months ago and quickly earned a dedicated following, especially among hard-hitting power players. I had heard that it's almost identical to the CRBN-1X Power Series but at a fraction of the cost.

As I love the CRBN, I was eager to test this one out for myself. I'm happy to share my honest Bread & Butter Filth paddle review and say whether it really is a gem of a paddle.

The Bread & Butter Filth is first and foremost a power paddle—my number 1 for power in 2023. I had so much fun playing with it and genuinely looked forward to all my testing sessions.

It plays a bit more wild and lively than control-oriented paddles like the Vatic Pro PRISM Flash. This might trip some people up, but it suited my aggressive game.

Spin was great too. It was a 10/10 for me and right up there with the CRBN Power Series paddles, the Gearbox CX14E Ultimate Power, and the Six Zero DBD Control. It almost hit the spin levels of my top spin paddle, the Legacy Pro, which is saying something.

Then there was the control. It was a lot better than I expected, despite taking some getting used to. The more I played with it, the more I was able to dial in my drop shots. When you factor in all three of these aspects, I was able to play a really strong all-round game.

Another thing I like is how light yet powerful this paddle is. At 8 oz, it felt quick in fast kitchen exchanges, while keeping a ton of drive to put away shots. It plays a lot lighter than most thermoformed paddles I've used, with head heaviness not really being an issue.

Watch my first thoughts on the B&B Filth:

The Filth does have its drawbacks, however. The sweet spot is decent but it still has dead zones. This isn't surprising, as many elongated paddles play like this.

However, this paddle is a little lacking when compared to the elite sweet spot of paddles like the Six Zero DBD, where even if you hit in those dead zones the ball can still get over the net.

It's not as soft or plush as more expensive paddles like the CRBN-1X, which it plays close to. So, if control is an issue for you, you'll probably want to give this a miss. You'll also probably struggle with flyers in the beginning as the sheer pop off this paddle takes a while to adjust to.

All in all, I think this is a true all-court paddle—especially if you're a power and spin player. It has plenty to offer in those departments, and a lot more control than many other power paddles to help you play at a higher level.

If you want to compare the Bread & Butter Filth versus the Bread & Butter Loco, a softer hybrid-shaped paddle, read my comparison of these two paddles.

Bread & Butter is one of the coolest new brands to emerge in pickleball. Their funky psychedelic designs stand out from the basic raw carbon fiber paddles out there. Even better, they're built with a lot of the same cutting-edge materials you get in $250 paddles but cost way less.

Let's take a look at some of the design features.

The CRBN-1X is one of my go-to paddles and, on paper, the B&B Filth is almost identical and plays similarly on the court. I was expecting there to be a catch here (especially when I saw the affordable price tag), but it plays how thermoformed paddles are supposed to.

The thermoformed design adds a ton of power to a traditionally control-oriented paddle. The Filth also felt less stiff and a lot lighter than many other thermoformed paddles.

Like most performance paddles nowadays, the B&B Filth has foam injected around the edges and into the handle. This is meant to make it more stable and enlarge the sweet spot.

Though it's no doubt a durable and long-lasting paddle, I didn't feel the same stability as with the JOOLA Hyperion or CRBN-3X, though these are a lot more expensive.

The sweet spot played like a lot of elongated thermoformed paddles—fine if you hit it dead center but you could get mishits outside of it.

Bread & Butter knew what they were doing when they made the paddle surface. Chris from Pickleball Studio reported the Filth has a spin rating of 1,850 RPMs, so I can safely say it's great for spin.

The Filth hits hard. Like, really hard. It's a lot more powerful than I expected. My first few serves launched off the face and went hard and deep. It's excellent on overheads and putaways. Once I saw a window, I could almost always end the point with this paddle.

I'd even score the Filth a touch higher on power than the CRBN-1X, and it hits harder than other banger favorites like the Legacy Pro. I tested these two paddles in the same week and was surprised by how much harder the B&B Filth hit. That's why I named it my top power paddle of 2023.

On my first session, I had more than my share of flyers, so I expected to score this paddle at most a 7/10 for control. However, the more I played with it, the easier it became to control.

By my third or fourth game, I could hit drops, dinks, and resets with ease. I could dial in advanced touch shots too, like topspin drops and even third-shot drops taken off a deep return.

This paddle can put a ton of spin on the ball. From hard topspin serves and drives to backspin and sidespin, it did just about anything I wanted. I had many moments where my opponent mishit my shot only to complain: "Man, that had a lot of spin on it!"

This paddle has great feel as long as you're hitting the sweet spot. If you do, you get a really sweet connection that transfers a lot of energy to the ball.

That said, the sweet spot is not large. It's decent, like a lot of elongated paddles, and you'll find dead zones near the throat and edges. If you hit the ball here, it won't do much for you and will typically go right into the net.

Bread & Butter nailed the weight distribution on this one. At 8 oz, it's lighter than many thermoformed paddles, which are usually in the 8.1-8.4 oz range.

This makes it fast at the kitchen, which served me well in hand battles. You don't sacrifice any power with the lighter weight as the paddle still packs a big punch.

The grip felt comfortable for the most part. In the hot Phoenix sun, it did get a little slippier than I'd have liked, but overall it held up well. I love that the paddle comes with three color choices for the grip. I chose the brown faux leather and got quite a few compliments on the court for it.

This paddle felt rock solid and well-made to me. It's made from premium materials and has a thermoformed, unibody design to help avoid breaking, so I'm confident it will last years.

Elongated, thermoformed paddles tend to feel a bit head-heavy and sluggish, but the Filth wasn't too bad. I could get a good swing speed which helped me load up power and spin on almost any shot I needed.

Still, there aren't any special aerodynamic features to write about, so I can't score it any higher.

Before buying a paddle, it's important to make sure it fits your game. That's why I created a 30-second quiz that recommends the best paddles for your play style and budget.

Give it a try and see if the Bread & Butter Filth makes the list:

Though this paddle comes in at $165, I've heard many people ranking it alongside the $230 CRBN-1X. While it's almost at the CRBN level, I think you'll get a touch more responsiveness and controlled power with the 1X, with no sacrifice in spin.

So, if you have the budget, I'd still recommend the CRBN. However, if you want to spend under $200, the B&B Filth is a great alternative.

For just $165, you get a paddle that hits harder than any other, spins like the best, and has enough control to round out your game.

If you're an intermediate who likes to play aggressively, or even at tournament pro level, this is some of the best value for money out there. I know of at least a couple of players who qualified for Nationals using this paddle.

The Bread & Butter Filth is like a fancy sports car: it's super fun to take out and the more you test drive it, the better feel you get for it.

Also, if you're a banger like me, you're going to love this paddle. It's cheaper (and more powerful) than other hard-hitters like the JOOLA Hyperion, the CRBN Power Series, and the Six Zero DBD. It's great for spin and has enough control to boost your all-court game.

Just know that it's not as soft and dependable as the most expensive elite paddles. It plays a lot livelier, which will catch out some control-oriented players. However, at this price, I have to admit that Bread & Butter nailed it. They're one of the most exciting new brands of 2023.

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