Bread & Butter Shogun Pickleball Paddle Review

Introduction

The Bread & Butter Shogun is a captivating addition to the pickleball market, standing out with its innovative design and top-notch materials. Bread & Butter, founded by the dynamic duo Doug and Brodie, brings a refreshing blend of innovation and humor to the world of pickleball. Their story, straight out of a comedy script, seems to be inspired by a mashup of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly's greatest hits.

It goes like this: Doug and Brodie's tale began when their recently divorced parents met at an insurance adjuster's conference in Boise. Their parents' whirlwind romance led to a Vegas wedding and the merging of two reluctant stepbrothers. Their initial relationship was rocky, featuring epic battles like Brodie attempting to slash Doug's drum set with a Randy Jackson-signed samurai sword, and Doug trying to bury Brodie alive over a disagreement about "Baywatch." This could easily be mistaken for a scene from "Step Brothers." (Yes, I realize there's a lot of satire here! I bet these guys are a blast to hang around!)

The Shogun showcases Bread & Butter's innovative spirit with its groundbreaking Carbon Fiber and Titanium weave face. This unique surface texture, visible in the image below, sets a new standard in paddle technology. The elongated shape harnesses this material's potential, delivering good power and pop without sacrificing too much control.

My motivation for writing this review stems from a genuine desire to educate and inform pickleball paddle consumers about the Bread & Butter Shogun paddle. Yes, I want to help consumers make informed decisions, but there's more to it. I'm a gearhead product geek at heart. I love diving into the details of products, tinkering with them, and figuring out their benefits, what's awesome, and what could use improvement. My goal is to provide an honest assessment.

This paddle review will cover:

• Construction: Detailing the materials and build quality.
• Performance: Assessing control, power, spin, and overall playability.
• Comparisons: Evaluating how it stacks up against competitors.
• Durability and Maintenance: Insights into its long-term usability.

In a market saturated with paddles claiming to offer the perfect blend of power and control, my goal is to cut through the marketing noise and present a clear, unbiased evaluation of the Shogun. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to pickleball, I hope this review helps you make an informed decision about whether the Bread & Butter Shogun is the right paddle for you.

Ready to go and find out if the Shogun lives up to its hype and if it's the right paddle for your game? Let's go!

Testing the Bread & Butter Shogun 16mm Paddle

To provide a comprehensive assessment of the Bread & Butter Shogun, I put it through testing over several weeks. I spent a lot of time at Lifetime Fitness playing pickleball on indoor courts and at various clubs around town (both inside and out). The games I played with the Shogun paddle ranged from standard open play sessions to league play, ensuring a good variety of intense and enjoyable matches. Additionally, I used the paddle for drilling sessions, where I captured serve speed, punch volley speed, and assessed the paddle's ability to generate spin.

I spent three weeks using the Shogun as my primary paddle. This meant that most of my play consisted of using the Shogun, although it wasn't the only paddle I used during this period. To get a comprehensive feel for the paddle, I periodically switched it out for a game and then rotated it back in. This method helps me compare and contrast the unique properties of the paddle. During the testing period, I alternated between the Shogun and the Thrive Azure 16mm, Six Zero Ruby 16mm, and the Volair Mach 2 Forza 16mm. Comparing these paddles allowed me to highlight the Shogun's distinct characteristics, such as the Ruby's 100% Kevlar surface, the Azul's mixture of carbon fiber and Kevlar, and the Mach 2 Forza's friction-filled face.

Feedback was gathered from various players who used my paddle between games. Players described the Shogun using terms like "magic," "butter," and "silky smooth." Players appreciated the paddle's weight, noting that it felt light and easy to swing even though being at the top end of the spectrum on swing weight. However, some mentioned that it was easier to twist on off-center shots compared to their own paddles. This goes to show you that facts and metrics are one thing, but feel is important (and a subjective metric) as well. For reference, I'm including an image depicting where I believe the sweet spot is located on the Shogun.

In-Depth Playing Experience with the Shogun

Upon first handling the Shogun, the word craftsmanship immediately comes to mind. Its stunning design is matched by solid construction and a comfortable grip, offering an excellent playing experience from the start. The paddle feels head-heavy, which we'll explore in more detail later.

The Shogun stands out with its pioneering Carbon Fiber and Titanium weave surface, a cutting-edge material that, combined with the elongated design, offers a blend of power and precision. It's equipped with premium features expected in 2024:

• Thermoformed T700 Unibody construction for strength and durability
• T700 Carbon Fiber and Titanium weave face for a unique power-control combination
• High-Density Polypropylene core for balance and durability
• EVA Foam Injected Edge-Walls to reduce vibration and soften off-center hits

With extended play, I grew to appreciate the Shogun's potential. It strikes a balance between power and control, favoring power while offering ample control. Its swing weight of 122.6 (high end) and twist weight of 6.12 (low end) contribute to solid, stable sweet spot shots. These values can be adjusted with strategically placed weights.

The standout feature is the Shogun's spin potential, consistently recording an average of 2,168 RPMs. This high spin capability enables dynamic and unpredictable shots. Dinking and resetting shots came easily, thanks to the 16mm core thickness and forgiving sweet spot, though off-center shots are less forgiving.

The Shogun feels softer than the Ruby, with a surface hardness of 88.5 Shore D compared to the Ruby's 91. Despite this, it hits nearly as hard, with a serve speed of 55.3 MPH and a punch volley speed of 35.9 MPH. The balance point at 24.8 cm (10% past midpoint) contributes to its head-heavy feel, which may not suit all players.

The paddle truly shines in feel and control. Its responsive surface makes precision shots feel effortless. As one player commented, "sweet spot shots feel like butter." The unique weave pattern significantly enhances grip and overall feel, allowing for unparalleled accuracy and confident execution of both powerful and finesse shots.

Durability is another strong suit, with the Carbon Fiber and Titanium weave face offering excellent abrasion resistance. Even after weeks of play, the surface looks brand new, ensuring consistent performance and feel over time.

Who Will Like This Paddle

Let's break down who this paddle is for, starting with the looks (because let's face it, we all care about that), then diving into who'll love playing with it, and finally, backing it all up with some hard numbers.

In terms of recommending this paddle for beginners, I'm going to have to say it's not the best fit. While the Shogun is an all-court paddle, it leans more towards the power side. Beginners need all the control they can get, and the narrower sweet spot on this elongated shape doesn't do them any favors. I watched some newbies struggle with basic shots and missing the sweet spot during testing. (To be fair, a few games might not be enough time for a beginner to get the hang of this beast.)

Now, for intermediate (3.0 - 4.0) and advanced (4.0+) players, the Shogun is a sick paddle. It's like a chameleon - hits hard at the baseline when you need power (thanks to that high swing weight), but can play soft and controlled at the kitchen. Plus, it's got a ton of spin potential for shaping your shots. The sweet spot is still on the narrow side due to the elongated shape, but when you nail it, the Shogun is highly maneuverable.

One thing to note: the twist weight is lower than average (in the bottom 30%), which means off-center hits can be trickier to control. You can add some weight to the sides to boost stability and widen that sweet spot, but I kept it stock for this review to give you the out-of-the-box experience.

Durability and Maintenance

I've been playing with the Shogun since it launched. And before I give my criticism about the paddle I want to say that building products is hard. I've been there, but only on the software side of things. I've built digital products that hundreds of millions of users use every single month. It's hard, especially when something doesn't go well. But unlike building something physical, with software, we can fix and ship an update to fix a flaw. You can't do that once you commit a physical product to manufacturing.

The only thing that I can speak negatively about the Shogun is something that doesn't affect its performance. The paddle has not delaminated. The core has not been crushed. But there's something loose inside of my paddle that makes it sound like a maraca which sometimes makes it fun because at Lifetime Fitness where I mostly play, there's often music playing in the background, and when I'm playing with the Shogun it means that sometimes I can groove out with my paddle that also doubles as a musical instrument. :)

Aesthetics & Design

The paddle is beautiful. If you want to catch the attention of fellow picklers on the court, if you want to attract head turns and double takers, you want this paddle. It's beautifully designed. It looks great. The surface is unique and second to none. The T700 Carbon Fiber and Titanium weave is beautifully designed in a pattern of grays, reds, and silver (the titanium), with a contrasting white bezel. The surface artwork is professionally done. The handle is comfortable, but like other OEM handles, they're just OK and the taper of the handle is good. But look and performance are obviously quite different and important in their own respects. With a handle length of 5.12 inches, you might think that's too short to get two hands on comfortably, but because the neck taper into the elongated shape starts narrowly, it's actually very easy to get two hands on this handle.

Whoever is responsible for designing Bread & Butter paddles should win a design award. The Shogun is good stuff!

You can tell that Bread & Butter obsessed over the details of the aesthetics of the paddle, and they like to have fun with it. Bread & Butter isn't a serious brand — well — I mean as a paddle maker they are totally serious — but what I mean is, the company likes to have fun and they don't take themselves too seriously. Just look at their content. How can you not root for these guys?

The Bread & Butter Shogun is priced at $189.99 and includes a head cover, stickers, coozie, and I believe (but don't quote me on this) a delicious hot sauce (I didn't get that). Put plainly, their unboxing experience is off the hook.

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You can save 15% off your purchase and support my website by using my discount code, MPB, to purchase the Shogun.

Surface Texture

The Shogun features a Carbon Fiber and Titanium weave face. While I don't have any tools that can measure dwell time, the surface's performance speaks for itself. To the touch, the surface does not feel gritty like a carbon fiber face would with a coarse peel ply. However, as evidenced by the spin RPM the Shogun generates (2168 RPM), it produces a considerable amount of spin, putting it at 50% of other paddles, and more than enough for intermediate and advanced players.

During my play testing in matches, a well-executed drive from the baseline will drop nicely over the net. You can visually see the ball dip. I would attribute this to how the paddle grips the ball, which is known as "dwell time," meaning the amount of time the ball dwells on the surface as you execute a shot.

This paddle has been through at least 60 matches, and the paddle surface looks brand new.

I also want to include photos showing the surface of the paddle at 100x and 1000x magnification under a microscope.

OEM Paddle Characteristics

• Weight: 8.0 oz
• Swing Weight: 120
• Twist Weight: 6.18
• Size: 16.5"x 7.375" (419mm x 187mm)
• Thermoformed T700 Unibody construction
• Face Material: T700 Carbon Fiber and Titanium weave
• Core Thickness: 16mm
• High-Density Polypropylene Core
• Graphics are UV printed directly onto the surface
• 5.5" Grip Length, 4.25" Circumference
• Octagon Handle with vibration-dampening wrap
• USAPA APPROVED

The "Shogun" features a never-before-seen Carbon Fiber and Titanium weave face, making this paddle an experimental powerhouse. Bread & Butter opted for an Elongated shape to accentuate the power and pop provided by the surface material. The Shogun is a thermoformed paddle.

Optimizing Your Paddle

The low twist weight makes this paddle more difficult to control during off-center shots. To counter this paddle behavior, I recommend adding weight to the sides of the paddle, just above the bend into the elongated shape. Any higher doesn't affect the swing weight positively and you want the weight to be as low as possible on the paddle so that it doesn't contribute any more to the paddle's head heaviness. 3 grams on each side increases the twist weight slightly by .5 kg cm squared while marginally increasing the swing weight.

Pricing & Value

The Bread & Butter Shogun is priced at $189.99 and includes a head cover, stickers, coozie, and I believe (but don't quote me on this) a delicious hot sauce. Put plainly, their unboxing experience is off the hook. My box and stuff is strewn about my house so this is a photo taken by "Bryan K" who posted a review on the Bread & Butter's website. The only other paddle unboxing that is nearly this good — not as good — but nearly as good is Volair's.

I love when companies put this much attention to detail into the products they ship. Creating a product is hard, but thinking through the end user's experience and excitement when they receive and sit down to open it is next-level thinking about your customers. If they put this much detail into the unboxing experience, you know they've put more focus and detail into the performance of the Shogun paddle. It's like the old Steve Jobs story from Walter Isaacson's biography about him:

"I thought my dad's sense of design was pretty good," Jobs told Isaacson, "because he knew how to build anything. If we needed a cabinet, he would build it. When he built our fence, he gave me a hammer so I could work with him."

Fifty years after the fence was constructed, Jobs showed it to Isaacson, still standing and recalled a lesson about making things of quality that he learned from his father. Touching the boards of inside of the fence, he said that "He loved doing things right. He even cared about the look of the parts you couldn't see."

If you want to buy the Shogun and you learned something from my review please enter coupon code MPB at checkout to save 15% and take the price from $189.99 to $161.50.

Conclusion & Recommendation

After thorough testing and analysis, it's clear that the Bread & Butter Shogun 16mm Pickleball Paddle is a strong contender in the market. Its innovative design, impressive spin capabilities, and balanced performance make it a great choice for intermediate to advanced players looking to elevate their game.