Actually, the Bread & Butter Filth isn't just another thermoformed paddle; it's another elongated, thermoformed paddle with a 5.5-inch handle and an identical shape to the CRBN1X 16mm. That then begs the question: is it the same paddle? Well, beyond the 5.5-inch handle, 16-millimetre core, and 16.5-inch length, the Filth weighs 8.0 ounces and has a raw T700 carbon top sheet… Alright, that's just a CRBN Power, is it not? No, it's not.

There's no denying these paddles' similarities, but digging deep into the Filth's performance; it has unique characteristics that make it very interesting in its own right.

For one, the Filth's handle is slightly more rectangular than the more square one on the CRBN1X Powers. It's a minimal difference but present nonetheless, so if you like the feel of a more rectangular grip, the Filth could be perfect. The Filth also has a slightly higher stock swing weight, coming in three points higher on our new Wilson Baiardo Tune Pro.

Of course, because they are so similar and because we've already reviewed the CRBN Power, I'll be making a lot of direct comparisons throughout this review. Let's get into it.

Swing Pattern & Hand Speed

There's a reason Bread & Butter has come into pickleball with this exact paddle shape, and that's because, time and again, brands are proving that it works. There's something about this design's swing pattern, sweet spot, and manoeuvrability that works exceptionally well for my game and obviously for many others. 

Such a long handle-to-paddle face ratio gives the Filth an element of whippiness that extended paddles with longer faces don't have. You can bring it quicker through contact, which helps put more power and spin on the ball and gives it an impressive amount of hand speed despite its 16.5-inch length.

What you gain in overall quickness, you lose in the paddle's user-friendliness because there is less paddle face to push back on the ball. It's a tradeoff you must be willing to make, but one that many advanced players, in particular, will appreciate. 

Paddle Feel

I'm happy to report that the biggest difference between the CRBN1X Power 16mm and the Bread & Butter Filth is in the paddle's "feel," and the reason that makes me so happy is that it's proof that their eerily similar exterior is sandwiching a completely different core.

Ok, "completely different" may be a bit of a stretch, but it is still proof that they're not CRBN copies of each other… See what I did there.

To put it as bluntly as possible, the CRBN's core feels more technologically advanced than the Filth's, which is neither good nor bad. The Filth feels much more raw, much less muted on contact, almost as if there is nothing "extra" getting in the way of what an unadulterated paddle and ball interaction should feel like. The CRBN's core feels as though it was developed to hold onto the ball ever so slightly longer, which mutes some on-contact vibrations, and that's a sensation that isn't there with the Filth.

 

Sweet Spot

The Filth's sweet spot is relatively small, especially compared to other thermoformed paddles. It is important to note that thermoformed paddles usually have fairly forgiving sweet spots because they are so rigid and hold up quite well around the edges. The Filth is, at least comparably, less forgiving. That's one of the downsides of its less-developed core, but it's definitely not all bad.

As a general rule of thumb, the smaller the sweet spot, the better the actual sweet spot feels. Also, because the paddle punishes you when you make contact outside the sweet spot, it forces you to make consistently better contact, which positively impacts your game. So the Filth's sweet spot may be small, but it is extremely precise, and because the paddle's feel is so raw, you can feel every vibration (both positive and negative) make its way into your hand for feedback.

I had no issue with this slightly smaller sweet spot, but if you want to make the Filth a little more forgiving, you can always add lead tape to the paddle's edge guard to expand it.

Spin

The Filth is thermoformed, but it is just a notch under the Vatics and CRBN1X Powers in terms of spin. The ball doesn't sink into the top sheet and grab onto the carbon's grit as much as it does on either of those paddles.

This is probably due to the Filth's instantaneously launchy feel; with that extended ball-into-paddle dwell time on the CRBN, the ball has more time to sink into the carbon and grab all that extra grittiness. I do want to point out this is an extremely marginal difference. It was only noticeable when I directly compared the two back to back, so do not worry; the Filth is still extremely spin friendly.

Power

It's also extremely powerful. Again, as you would expect from a thermoformed paddle, the power is top-notch, but this time that notch is slightly above the Vatics and CRBN1X Powers. The only paddle noticeably more powerful than the Filth is the ProDrive Ghost, but that one is truly in a tier of its own.

This elevated power, again, has to do with the Filth's more instantaneously responsive dwell time. The ball loses less energy during pocketing, so it naturally shoots out with a bit more power, although, once again, the difference is marginal. You won't hit bigger serves, better volleys, or end points quicker; you will just feel a slightly more powerful response.

Control

The more I play with thermoformed paddles, the more I start to prefer them for control, but that is highly subjective because objectively, softer paddles cushion the ball more, so they are technically better in the soft game.

The reason I prefer paddles like the Fifth is because their instantaneous, crisp response provides the most connection to the ball. With softer paddles, the extra bit of cushioning also leads to a loss of ball feel, a sensation you don't have with thermoformed paddles, especially such a "raw" one like the Filth. You know exactly where the ball will go when you make contact; with poor contact, it's going nowhere near where you want it to, but with good contact, it's going exactly where you point it.

The Filth has a slightly more "bouncy" response than some other thermoformed paddles, but the feel is so good that once I was dialled in and finding the sweet spot, it actually excelled in the soft game. Also, remember that customizing your paddle with lead tape can make it feel softer. The lower you apply the lead, the less consequential of an effect it will have on other characteristics, but more weight will always make your paddle feel relatively more plush.

Who is it for?

The Filth, like most thermoformed paddles, is made for attacking players who like to hit full, penetrating groundstrokes, especially for those players who require spin to feel control on the court.

It's also a perfect platform paddle. Platform paddles play well in stock form but can be tailored into even better performers with different lead combinations. Because the paddle's sweet spot is so raw, it's a blank canvas to customize to whatever spec is best for you.

Final Thoughts

Bread & Butter is a brand we at Rackets & Runners are extremely excited to keep working with. We are proud to announce that we have become their exclusive Canadian retailer and can't wait to see what they have in store for the future. They are a laid-back group but care deeply about the quality of their products, and what they are making right now is excellent! If you want to demo the Filth, you can come visit us in-store or you can check it out online.