So, you’re tired of using those cheap table tennis rackets they keep with the ping pong table at work and you’re ready to buy something a little more advanced. We’ve got you covered. A table tennis blade will make or break your performance, and will make it easier to learn the different strokes and techniques you can leverage on the table.
Unfortunately, once you do dive into the world of table tennis blades, you might find that it’s not really that easy to zero in on a choice. With so many different options, it’s easy to get lost and feel clueless amidst the countless designs available on the market.
So now you’ve found it necessary to do some research and find out what exactly is the best table tennis blade out there? Fortunately, you’ve found the ultimate guide. Read on through to find out what you need to know about choosing the right blade for your needs with our comprehensive write up.
What are the Different Kinds of Blades?
Check your options, and you’ll find that there are quite a few factors that separate blade designs from one another. These change the way they perform, and help cater to different types of users and playing styles.
Here are some of the specific kinds of blades you might come across during your search:
Material Variations
· Wood – Wooden blades are heavier and tend to work best for defensive players. Being that they do have quite a bit of weight to them, they also make it easier to control the ball. Wooden blades are thus considered the better choice for beginners who aren’t quite as skilled with ball handling just yet.
· Composite – Made from lightweight composite material, composite blades are much lighter than their wooden counterparts. That said, they make a suitable match for players who prefer performing with high speed and killer precision. Of course, the trade-off is that composite blades tend to work better for advanced players because they make it slightly more difficult to control the ball.
· Mixed – Hybrid blades offer unique performance, based on the ratio of the materials used. Carbon is the most common material used in combination with other materials to create a hybrid blade.
Handle Variations
· Flared – Flared handles get wider towards the end, giving you a firmer grip on your blade to prevent it from flying out of your hand during use. Most blades feature the flared silhouette, and most competitive players prefer this type of handle.
· Straight – Featuring a handle with a uniform width from top to end, straight handles are simpler, sleeker, and can be more comfortable to use for some players. Often, these handles are wrapped in a non-slip material to make them easier to keep a hold of.
· Anatomical – Designed with subtle curves that fit into the shape of a closed hand, the anatomical handle was developed to provide an optimal surface for a steady grip. Some players tend to feel clumsier handling an anatomical handle, but it’s all a matter of preference.
Thickness
· Thin Blades (less than 6mm) – The thinnest blades are considered looping blades and are often used for high speed games because they can flex more readily to lend greater bounce to a ball.
· Medium Blades (6mm to 7mm) – These blades are typically used for driving, delivering powerful shots that can possibly stop an opponent’s loop and change the course of the game.
· Thick Blades (7mm) – Thick blades are intended for blocking. These thicker blades have very little give to them, so they’re less likely to add to a ball’s spin or speed. Thick blades are best for defensive players who want to stop an offensive player’s spinning shots.
How to Choose the Right Blade
Choosing the right blade depends mostly on your preferences, so there isn’t necessarily a single correct design. There are a few things you can look into though to make sure you’re choosing a paddle that’s right for your preferences and standards.
1. Consider Your Style – What kind of table tennis player are you? Some blade designs work better for certain types of playing styles, so it pays to know how you perform to understand what will work to optimize your play.
2. Think ‘Investment’ – If you’re reading this guide, it’s likely that you don’t want just any table tennis racket. So that possibly means that you’re interested in something that’s intended for advanced play. With that in mind, you should consider a blade that has replaceable rubbers. These can be easier to maintain over time, eliminating the need to keep purchasing brand new blades later on.
3. Know Your Budget – Blades come in a wide range of prices, so you need to set your budget before you make your purchase. As with everything else, you get what you pay for. So more expensive blades tend to be better performers than cheaper choices.
The 5 Best Table Tennis Blades
1. Butterfly Flared Handle Viscaria-FL Blade
Butterfly is known the world over as one of the premier brands catering to the table tennis market. Their Viscaria-FL Blade is one of their best designs to date, combining arylate fiber and carbon to give you a flexible paddle that’s perfect for fast paced play.
What makes it so impressive is the fact that it’s designed to be an attack paddle, but it still offers superb control. For that reason, it makes a suitable choice for buyers who want to transition to more a more competitive playing style coming from a relaxed, recreational style.
The downside? Well, it does cost a little upwards of a hundred bucks, so unless you were willing to spend that much, it might not seem like such a practical choice.
2. STIGA Clipper CR WRB Champ Handle Blade
Snagging the second spot on our list is the STIGA Clipper CR WRB Champ Handle Blade. The blade features slightly thicker construction, using 7 layers of material to achieve its heavy-duty design.
Despite being slightly thicker though, it’s intended to be an offensive blade. It achieves this by way of its flexible material that lends substantial bounce to a ball in play. Cost-wise, it’s also not too bad given that it does perform just as good as a professional blade. It’s also worth mentioning that STIGA has quite a number of table tennis rubbers to choose from, so it’s easy to switch between different textures to find the right style for you.
3. Butterfly Pro-Line Hand Assembled Pro Racket
Really considering starting out a professional career in table tennis? It’s possible with table tennis blades used by professionals. The top pro blade on our list has to be the Butterfly Professional Pro-Line Hand Assembled. Made from strong and lightweight materials, this particular racket is designed for powerful attacks at the farthest distances, allowing you to leverage the upper hand during a match.
Performance-wise, it’s really easy to feel the difference between this top quality blade and all the others you might be able to use. The only issue is that it is quite expensive, so it might not be the most affordable pick out there. If you’re really serious about joining tournaments though, you should know it’s not likely to have to find a replacement blade for this premium design even years after you pop it out of its packaging.
4. Ma Lin Extra Offensive Table Tennis Blade
For those in search of an affordable racket that performs well for its price, the Ma Lin Extra Offensive Table Tennis Racket makes a great pick. The design was used by the 2008 Olympic winner Ma Lin, which is why it has gotten quite a lot of positive feedback and patronage throughout the years.
Designed as an offensive blade, this model offers excellent performance for those who are just starting to learn the ropes of competitive play, as well as those who consider themselves pros. But what really makes it such a big hit among buyers is the fact that it comes at just a few dollars over $50, making it a suitable cost-effective choice that’s been proven effective as a competitive blade.
5. YinHe N-11S Table Tennis Blade
If you’re really trying to work within a budget and you’re just looking for something better than those generic paddles you’ve been using at the office ping pong room, the YinHe N-11S Table Tennis Blade could be the one for you.
This affordable blade boasts impressive control and speed, perfect for players who are only just learning the different strokes they can do to play a little more competitively. They’re light and easy to get the hang of, so if you were hoping to step up your play and learn a little more of the skill that goes into ping pong, this blade can be a good starter.
Bottom Line
Not all table tennis blades are designed for improved performance. So be sure you’re getting something that matches your style, your needs, and your level of expertise. Our top bet for the best table tennis blade comes in the form of the Butterfly Viscaria-FL Blade with Flared Handle which is the best ping pong blade for all kinds of players, thanks to its versatile design and capabilities.
If you want to learn more about the options available to you though, be sure to check out the choices we’ve listed above to help you in your search for the right blade for your standards.