STIGA is a brand that’s best known for its wide selection of table tennis necessities that cater to every playing style and skill level. For beginners, one of their premier choices is the STIGA Apex which has gotten quite a lot of attention since its release because of its easy price tag. This budget-friendly racket boasts ITTF approved Drive inverted rubber, and of course, world renowned STIGA craftsmanship. So it’s easy to see why it’s gotten so much attention.
The STIGA Apex was designed to cater mainly to beginners, featuring an easy profile that makes it a comfortable fit for amateur players. So ping pong enthusiasts who might want to step up from a cheap racket can find long hours of satisfying play with this intuitively built beginner bat.
Of course, we can’t say that the Apex will meet everyone’s needs or standards. If you’re wondering whether you should shell out that hard earned cash for this paddle, keep reading this STIGA Apex review to find out whether you’re one of the players who would benefit most from this design.
The STIGA Apex Construction
There’s a reason why the STIGA brand has become so popular throughout the years. As one of the leading brands in the table tennis industry, this prominent company focuses mainly on producing equipment that’s intuitively designed to help make the most of a player’s skill level and playing style - and the Apex is no exception.
Despite being a beginner’s bat, the Apex incorporates some pretty beneficial features that help put it a cut above other beginner paddles. One of these is the ever popular WRB weighting system unique to STIGA that helps focus energy in the area of impact to generate more speed and impart spin. It also features Drive inverted rubber that cushions the ball once it strikes. This works to improve control so you know how your ball will behave after being struck.
Other than that, the bat’s construction is pretty much industry standard. It features a 5-ply extra light blade that minimizes fatigue and helps beginners move with greater precision and speed, and it uses the typical flared handle to help improve grip.
Manufacturer Ratings
Each bat is usually rated by its speed, spin, and control to help users understand just how it works in play. These ratings are typically measured by manufacturers, and give you a clearer idea of how well a bat will work for your play style and skill level especially if you don’t get the chance to actually hold it and use it before purchase.
Speed rating: ★★★☆☆
It’s rare that you’ll find a beginner who’s capable of wielding a fast table tennis paddle without batting an eyelash. The fact is, amateurs and recreational players will often struggle to work with a racket that has a high speed rating because they can feel erratic and unpredictable in unskilled hands. Given that the Apex has a speed rating of just 3 out of 5 stars, it’s easy to see why it might make a good choice for beginners.
It owes this speed rating to the ratio of its rubber to the blade. While the blade is pretty thin, the rubber on it is slightly denser, as well as the sponge underneath. This helps cushion the impact of the ball, and dampens both speed and spin imparted by your opponent.
For beginners, this can be highly beneficial especially if you’re going up against someone more skilled and experienced. Of course, it might slow down the tempo of the game all together so once you get a hang of things, you might find that the racket won’t provide too much room for improvement. Even then, it’s a smart choice for those who want to learn the fundamentals first before challenging their knowledge.
Spin rating: ★★☆☆☆
Another reason why beginners might have an easier time with the Apex is because it doesn’t impart a lot of spin either. This is mainly again, a result of the thick rubber and sponge which tends to slow the ball down and neutralize is direction and movement. For recreational players who don’t really play to win, the low spin rating can be ideal as it makes the game feel straightforward and simple.
But for beginners hoping to add to their skill set, the lack of spin might not be quite as beneficial. To learn new tricks and strategies, a racket should allow certain ball behaviors. So since the Apex lacks quite a bit of spin, learning players might struggle to truly understand what it takes to generate specific shot. This can also dampen the way you develop into a new playing style, since the racket will only allow a small margin of shot varieties.
Control rating: ★★★★☆
Control wise, the Apex is exactly what you expect. The heavy, thickly padded blades are easy to predict, allowing you to strike the ball off center and still generate the same shot you intended. The sweet spot is rather large because the blade is consistent all throughout its surface area. So it really does help beginners land their shots the way they want to, given the lack of accuracy and precision.
Again, the issue arises when you consider the fact that some players might want to improve. That said, although the Apex might be a good starter paddle for learning the basics, it doesn’t ‘grow’ with the player. So as you move along in terms of skill and strategy, it’s possible that you might need to purchase a brand new paddle all together.
Who is the STIGA Apex Racket for?
Given all the information we’ve outlined above, it’s clear to see that the Apex is a paddle best suited for recreational players or beginners who have no intention or interest in stepping up the skill level ladder. The Apex is slow, careful, and controlled, letting you hit and move with confidence in your skills, no matter how lacking they might be.
If we’re talking room for improvement, the Apex offers very little. So anyone interested in becoming a better player might want to look for something a little more accommodating of growing skills and strategies. That said, if you want something that can keep up with a transitioning play level, we recommend the STIGA Titan.
After a comparison of the STIGA Apex vs Titan, we found that the paddles are pretty similar in terms of construction, but differ significantly when it comes to performance. But even if the Titan can grow with its player, it doesn’t feel confusing at the start. So it makes a great beginner paddle, as well as a transition paddle into intermediate play.
Pros of the STIGA Apex
l High control rating reduces erratic ball behavior and lets players anticipate landing more accurately.
l Slow design is ideal for beginners and recreational players who want to enjoy a relaxed playing pace.
l Low spin rating prevents unintentional strike outcomes especially for players who might not completely understand the physics of certain types of shots.
l Affordable price tag makes it a practical choice for non-invested ping pong players.
Cons of the STIGA Apex
l Doesn’t necessarily grow with its player, so room for improvement is significantly reduced.
l Beginners who want to challenge their skills to learn new strategies and techniques might feel limited by the bat’s low spin and speed ratings.
l Not necessarily the most durable paddle on the market, with many buyers complaining of issues concerning premature wear and tear.
STIGA Apex Review: Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆
Do we love the Apex from STIGA? It’s not a perfect bat, but it’s definitely not all that bad either - if you’re buying it for the right reasons. For one thing, it is an impressive recreational bat that costs a reasonable price. So compared to many other cheap rackets you might find, the Apex is definitely a cut above, offering much better performance at just the same cost.
On the other hand, when you consider the fact that it might not let you learn as much as other beginner bat’s would allow, it’s easy to see that the Apex might not have been intended for transition players all together. The low spin and speed ratings, and the high control rating makes it a very relaxed bat. So for beginners who want to improve, the Apex might not actually provide too much of a challenge.
Then comes in the issue of durability. Even for recreational players, a paddle that gives in to wear and tear much too easily might seem like a bad investment. Nonetheless, it is possible to extend the life of your Apex as long as you make an effort to take care of it and use it only for comfortable, slow paced play.