As with any other sport, investing in the right table tennis gear is one of the ways you can help improve the way you play. Take a peek into the market of table tennis equipment, and you’ll find that there are countless brands and models of rackets, all designed to meet specific needs, preferences, and standards. As you may have guessed, these paddles also range in terms of their prices. The better the design, the more expensive it’s likely to be.
While many of us (even pros) would find a racket that exceeds a hundred bucks to be a bit of an expensive purchase, you’d be surprised to know that there are some rackets that can cost more than four times that price. Don’t believe us?
We’ve scoured the web and made sure not to leave any stone - or table tennis catalogue page, in this case - unturned to give you information on the most expensive ping pong paddle on the market, as well as some of its close competitors.
Which Ping Pong Paddle is the Most Expensive?
Scraping in at just under $500 USD, the Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC Table Tennis racket is hands down, the most expensive bat you’ll find on the market. This easily costs four or five times the price of many other paddles from the same brand, and from competing companies, which might cause a few eyebrows to raise - even on professional players.
So what is it about the Zhang Jike that makes it worthy of a price tag that steep?
Why the Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC is so Expensive
As we’ve mentioned time and time again, table tennis paddles tend to bump up their prices depending on the tech and performance they offer. The more advanced, intuitive, and efficient a paddle, it becomes more and more deserving of an expensive tag. So what does the Zhang Jike offer that makes it worthy of such a steep price?
The technology that Butterfly wants to bring front an center with the Zhang Jike is its super ZL carbon. As one of the first table tennis racket models that features this premium carbon insert, the Zhang Jike is propped up as a cut above most other paddles in terms of spin, control, and speed. In many ways, that turns out to be true.
Speed: 8.6
Control: 9.1
Stiffness: 4.8
Hardness: 5.1
The ZL Carbon inserts help make the Zhang Jike incredibly easy to control, especially because the intended function of the insert is to widen the sweet spot on the paddle. The carbon evens out weight distribution and helps generate the same force no matter where on the paddle the ball lands. This results to incredible control, supported by explosive speed and super spin capabilities.
Other than all of that, the ZLC insert definitely gives a different feel to the blade all together. For experienced users, a noticeable “pang” upon ball strike makes the Zhang Jike incredibly satisfying to play with. The crisp yet light bounce gives superb feedback, so it’s easy to learn and become accustomed to.
3 Close Competitors for the Most Expensive Rackets
Of course, there are a few other insanely expensive rackets out there, albeit slightly cheaper than the Zhang Jike. Even then, these paddles provide impressive performance as well, and feature unique qualities that just might make them worth the steep price tags.
1. Killerspin Diamond TC RTG Premium Table Tennis Racket
The name itself tells you that this Killerspin paddle doesn’t play around. Designed with professional table tennis players in mind, the Diamond TC RTG is one of the brand’s top-of-the-line premade rackets, featuring premium 7-ply construction that’s built for speed.
Of course, it does perform as expected when it comes to generating outstanding speeds. The light, efficient head produces a satisfying pop with each hit, imparting lightning speed with a slight downward throw. It does come with a slightly lower control rating though, so erratic ball movement can be anticipated if the paddle is used by anyone with less skill than a professional.
In terms of spin, there really isn’t a lot to complain about. The paddle bursts with spinning force, lending multi-directional spin to a ping pong ball in play with nothing more than a flick of your wrist.
Speed: 10
Control: 7
Spin: 8.5
Price: Approximately $250 USD
2. Donic Carbotec 7000 Table Tennis Racket
Have you ever seen a paddle made exclusively from carbon? Well, there’s a first time for everything. The Donic Carbotec 7000 Table Tennis Racket is one of few 100% carbon blades, promising lightning speed and brutal spin, perfect for highly aggressive attack type players.
The lightweight blade is effortless to wield, allowing players to go through several rallies with minimal fatigue. On top of that, the Donic Carbotec 7000 is also exceptionally durable, holding up well against the onslaught of daily or frequent use without sustaining any damage.
For what it’s worth, we genuinely think that the Donic Carbotec 7000 is a well-performing paddle. It’s high ratings can have anyone tantalized at a glance, especially if you’re an aggressive offensive type player. Do we think it’s worth the money though? All things considered, the Carbotec 7000 is a good paddle, but it seems overpriced given that there are other rackets out there that could offer similar performance at a much more accessible cost. At the end of the day, it seems you’re paying for the 100% carbon claim, which ends up seeming gimicky after a while.
Speed: 10
Control: 8
Spin: 8
Price: Approximately $230 USD
3. DHS Hurricane Long 5 FL Table Tennis Paddle
The last entry on our list of the most expensive ping pong bats is the DHS Hurricane Long 5 FL Table Tennis Paddle. Made with 7 plies of material, this carbon infused racket is fast and flexible, ideal for players who want an attack type racket that doesn’t sacrifice too much control.
The premium timber used for the blade can bend and deform upon impact, allowing a slight cushioning of the ball for longer dwell time, and dampening speed slightly. This feature helps offensive players regain control of a rally, especially if they’re going up against someone who’s equally aggressive.
What we do like about the DHS Hurricane is that it offers the ideal combination of spin, control, and speed to make it a suitable tool for aggressive players who don’t necessarily want to bump up their tempo. The DHS Hurricane is still pretty relaxed, despite being rather fast, and makes a great choice for professional players who enjoy a controlled pace without sacrificing excitement.
Speed: 9
Control: 9
Spin: 8
Price: Approximately $200 USD
Who Could Use These Paddles?
While many of us tend to believe that the only way to improve would be to invest in expensive gear, that’s not actually the truth. Sometimes, even the most affordable rackets can help us step up our skills because improvement doesn’t solely depend on your equipment.
Although a good paddle might help you learn more and master new techniques, the best ones aren’t necessarily those with the steepest price tags. At the end of the day, these rackets are all reasonable choices, but whether or not they’re good for you depends on what you need.
Personally, we found that these expensive rackets are best for professional players with highly aggressive, heavy topspin play styles. They’re attack type rackets, offering lightning speed and mind blowing spin that might not be fully exercised in the hands of a beginner or even an intermediate player.
If you were thinking about buying any one of these paddles simply because of the idea that “expensive is ideal”, then you probably need to take a step back to reassess your need. Instead of looking at prices, consider performance. And if you find that one of the paddles caters to your play style or preferences, then maybe you might want to make that investment. Of course, that’s if your pocket goes that deep.
Bottom Line
In many ways, the market for the most expensive ping pong paddles might seem like an impractical dream reserved for those with fat wallets and long hours they can dedicate to playing table tennis. Do we think they’re worth the price? Just like any other table tennis bat, these expensive choices can be suitable purchases as long as you’re certain they offer what you need and want out of a paddle.
No doubt, they might seem unnecessarily expensive for a lot of less invested players, but for the right buyer, these paddles can be valuable companions for the playing surface