nico the lefty.Honest Pickleball Reviews

Bread & Butter Loco 2 vs Honolulu J2CR Crystal Blue

Comparisons cover the paddles I've reviewed, so every score is mine. Pick any other paddle to request its review.

Bread & Butter Loco 2

Bread & Butter Loco 2 →

Power paddleGood control

Loco 2

$198 w/ code · Hybrid · 16mm

Honolulu J2CR Crystal Blue

Honolulu Pickleball J2CR Crystal Blue →

  • Tougher Grit
  • Costs Less
Power paddleStrong spinGood control

J2CR Crystal Blue

$175.50 w/ code · Hybrid · 16mm

No winner on this page on purpose. The numbers are below and the call is yours. Buying through my links or with code supports the testing at no extra cost to you. How this site makes money

Loco 2

No stat edge worth calling out. The build table has the details.

J2CR Crystal Blue

  • Grit tested more durable: +9.5
  • Costs $23 less with code
  • Longer handle: +1.25 in

By the numbers.

Scores run 0 to 10. Measurement bars are relative to each other.

Loco 2

J2CR Crystal Blue

Spin

RPM, lab average

–

one lab only · not shown

2,448RPM

lab avg · 2 sourcesTop 10% of the database

Power

drives and serves

8.8/10

8.9/10

Pop

speed off the face on short swings

8.8/10

9.1/10

Control

stability and a calm face

8.5/10

9.0/10

Spin score

how well it shapes the ball

9.5/10

9.5/10

Grit durability

how long the bite lasts

0.0/10

9.5/10

Swing weight

lower swings quicker

111.0

brand claims

112.0

brand claims

Twist weight

higher forgives mishits

6.70

brand claims

7.00

brand claimsTop quarter

Static weight

ounces on the scale

8.1oz

brand claims

8.2oz

brand claims

Power, Pop, Control, Spin score and Grit durability are my scores on my 10-point scale. Every paddle starts from a default I compute from where its measurements land against the whole database, and I set the number myself once I've played the paddle. Power is drives and serves, Pop is speed off the face on short swings, Control is stability with a calm face, Spin score is how well it shapes the ball, Grit durability is how long the bite lasts. Spin, swing weight, twist weight and static weight are raw measurements: “lab avg” averages the independent reviewer labs in my database (John Kew, Pickleball Studio, Matt's Pickleball, The Pickleball Blast), and “brand claims” is the manufacturer's published number. I don't own a bench rig, and I say so.

The build

Loco 2J2CR Crystal Blue
ShapeHybridHybrid
Core16mm16mm, Core Reactor multi-density foam (EPP core, EVA perimeter)
Face–Carbon fiber with Crystal Blue Endurance Surface (Blue Grit)
Length × width16.2 × 7.6 in16.2 × 7.8 in
Handle4.25 in5.5 in
Certification–UPA-A approved (not USAP)
MSRP$220$195
With code NICOTHELEFTY$198$175.50
Nico's score8.9 / 109.0 / 10

Still deciding?

I'll email you when either paddle's price moves. One email, then nothing.