Best Table Tennis Blades 2024
The Guide To Finding The Best Table Tennis Blades That Fit Your Play Style & Wallet!
When you are playing table tennis for the very first time, most likely you are not very concerned about the quality and effectiveness of your equipment. After all, you are just trying to have fun. Many people have a ping pong table at work or basement, which usually come with cheap paddles and balls. However, once you fall in love with the game of table tennis (and we know you already have since you are here), you may want to dive into the world of high end table tennis gear.
Having high-quality table tennis gear can really improve your performance, and also make it possible for you to efficiently practice different shots and techniques properly. Because of this, many people find it is time to get a new table tennis blade and build their own custom paddle. Upon going deeper into the world of table tennis blades, you would find that the choice can be quite daunting.
☆ Best Table Tennis Blades ☆ (Quick View)
#2 Pick | #3 Pick | #5 Pick | ||
Butterfly Timo Boll ALC | CounterStrike Phantom Light | DHS Hurricane Long 5 | CounterStrike Alpha Dog | Butterfly Viscaria |
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Price: $$$$$ | Price: $$ | Price: $$$$$ | Price: $ | Price: $$$$ |
Performace | Performace | Performace | Performace | Performace |
Use Code: BetterTT for 10% OFF & FREE SHIPPING! | Use Code: BetterTT for 10% OFF & FREE SHIPPING! |
Luckily, we are here to help you avoid the confusion. Instead of you having to go through hundreds of different table tennis blades to select the most suitable one, we have shortlisted the best table tennis blades of 2024 for you to choose from. Read on to find out how you can differentiate between a low and high-quality blade, and the best products in the market.
WHAT ARE TABLE TENNIS BLADES & WHAT DO THEY DO?
The table tennis blade is an integral part of a table tennis paddle. Basically, the paddle consists of three components: the blade, rubber, and the handle. The blade is the actual core of the paddle (usually covered by the rubber) that you use to generate speed and spin by hitting the ball with it. When you are buying a table tennis blade, you should always look at the quality and materials from which the blade is constructed.
More importantly, when you are building you own customized table tennis paddle, choosing the right blade becomes even more crucial. The construction of the blade is also governed by regulations that are laid out by the International Table Tennis Federation, or the ITTF. According to these rules, the blade should have a flat and rigid surface from both sides.
Moreover, 85% of the blade’s composition should be natural wood, and extra layers of carbon fiber, fiberglass, compressed paper, engineered wood, or other materials can be added to the blade through adhesives, but they shouldn’t be collectively thicker than 7.5% of the total recommended thickness of the blade, i.e. 0.35mm.
As mentioned in the introduction, there are many different types of table tennis blades that you can choose from, and they have a major impact on how the paddle works. Let’s have a look at how you can differentiate between several types of blades.
MATERIALS:
First and foremost, it is important to remember that a high-quality and ITTF-approved table tennis blade should be made from 85% of natural wood. There are several variations of natural wood that you can use for the blade, and there is no restriction on how many types of wood you can use. Therefore, you may also find 7-ply blades that use 7 varieties of wood as well.
The different types of wood also have different densities, which also affects their strength and hardness. As compared to harder woods, softer ones offer more control but deliver a lower shot speed. On the other hand, harder woods offer more speed and spin, but the level of control is lower.
Some of the most commonly used types of woods include Abachi, Anegre, Ash, Beech, Balsa, Ebony, Red Cedar, and several others.
Other than that, you can reinforce the blade with different materials, including carbon fiber, fiberglass, synthetic wood, etc. These materials are added to the blade to make it harder or to add more speed or spin to it. Some of the common materials used with natural wood in table tennis blades are:
HANDLES
The choice of a handle also affects your performance in the table tennis game, and there are different types of handles that you can choose from. Let’s have a look at the handle types that you can choose between:
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A TABLE TENNIS BLADE
There are several factors that come into play when you are choosing a table tennis blade to complement your performance and to improve your playing skills. These factors will help you choose the best type of table tennis blade, even if it isn’t on our list.
PLAYING STYLE
First and foremost, you need to assess your playing style, since it will determine which type of blade will suit you best. For instance, if you are an all-round player, you need a blade that offers more control, and also has a decent amount of spin for when you want to play a topspin or sidespin. On the other hand, if you are more defensive than offensive, you will need a higher amount of spin, while you can compromise on speed.
SKILL LEVEL
The skill level ties in with your experience and the amount of time you have spent in practice. You will be able to classify yourself as a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player fairly easily. Once you have done so, you can check out different table tennis blades online to find out what they have to say about the suitability for different skill levels. You will be able to narrow down your options through this method. Generally, beginner players find it difficult in handling blades that offer a higher amount of speed.
PRICE
The affordability of the table tennis blade is another factor that you need to grapple before you can make your decision. Like we always say, a more expensive blade isn’t always better, so you should look for the quality and features of the blade before you make a choice based on how expensive or inexpensive it is.
FREQUENCY OF USE
While examining different options to find the best table tennis blade, you will also have to consider how many times you will actually use your table tennis paddle. If you already play with your friends or in competitions, you would know how often you will play with the new blade, as well as how competitive the game can get.
Normally, competitive games and tournaments can have a lot of aggressive and quick hitting, which means that a lower quality table tennis blade won’t offer you the power and precision needed to deliver such shots. Therefore, the more competitive and professional players tend to spend more and get a high-end blade just to ensure that their performance isn’t hindered.
On the other hand, casual and less experienced players don’t worry about the quality or features of the blade and buy the one they find most affordable.
☆ Best Table Tennis Blades ☆ (Full Reviews)
If you haven’t already, you can read about the best table tennis paddles of 2024, and now we will tell you how you can choose the best table tennis blade from among the hundreds of options available. If chosen correctly, having a fully customized blade can definitely enhance your performance at a casual and competitive level. So… without further ado, let’s have a look at the best table tennis blades to consider buying:
1. ⭐ BEST OVERALL ⭐ | Butterfly Timo Boll ALC Blade
The Butterfly Timo Boll ALC comes with three different types of handles: anatomical, flared, and straight. You can choose among them according to how you like to hold the handle, and each of them is suited for different playing styles. Therefore, whether you are on the offensive and playing close to the table, or you play deep and like to counter every shot with precision, this blade was created to basically do it all.
The Butterfly Timo Boll ALC works well with all kinds of high-quality rubber that you can find out there, and it has also been used by several professional table tennis players. This makes it an all-round great table tennis blade that you can use to enhance your playing performance. Considering that this is a Butterfly product, it is naturally expensive, but it is a quality product and, like we stated previously, will produce results.
2. CounterStrike Phantom Light Blade
If you are looking for a table tennis blade that truly complements your offensive style of play, then we bring you the CounterStrike Phantom Light Carbon Table Tennis Blade. CounterStrike is relatively newer table tennis company but is widely known as a reputable and quality table tennis manufacturer. The Phantom Light Blade offers you impeccable control, touch, and consistency. This blade also produces stable and balanced shots even when struck at high velocity. It is definitely a world class blade loved by both professional and casual players around the world.
The CounterStrike Phantom Light is specially designed for players with an intermediate or advanced skill level. It is made from fiver layers of natural wood and two layers of carbon fiber, thus making it strong, lightweight, and highly durable. The blade has a blue color with the CounterStrike and Phantom Light logos printed on it separately. Its frame and shaft are also made from a combination of wood and carbon, thus making them highly durable.
One of the main reasons this blade is so high on our list is that it is extremely affordable for the quality. We loved this blade and recommend you give it a try, if you are looking for something new and don’t want to break the bank.
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3. DHS Hurricane Long 5 Blade
Our third pick of the list is the DHS Hurricane Long 5, which is specially designed for players with an all-round style of play, but who enjoy playing a little offense from time to time. You can use this table tennis blade for attacks as well as loops when needed. This table tennis blade is constructed quite well, and that construction translates to more power and speed in your shots.
The DHS Hurricane Long 5 is constructed with five layers of wood and two layers of Arylate-Carbon, which gives it a weight of 96g, give or take 5g. Ideally, table tennis blades weigh no more than 85g, so this is a little on the heavier side. This may affect the play of some if they like lighter paddles or weaker wrists.
This table tennis blade has a long flared handle, which facilitates players that prefer a shakehand grip on the handle. They can easily move their wrists quickly and perform different types of shots without any discomfort or difficulty. Overall, the DHS Hurricane Long 5 is a high-performance and inexpensive table tennis blade that you can use to develop a fully custom ping pong paddle for all your tournaments and matches.
4. ⭐ BEST VALUE ⭐ | CounterStrike Alpha Dog Blade
Another stellar table tennis blade by CounterStrike Table Tennis is the Alpha Dog Blade, which is known to provide the most value among the best table tennis blades you can find out there. It is designed to provide a superior attack loop performance, and is specially designed for players with a balanced style of play who switch between defensive and offensive throughout their matches. Moreover, it is suitable for all skill levels from beginner to professional. Therefore, you can use it for practicing your skills as a beginner, and also for playing major tournaments as a professional.
Whether you need to smash, return shots with precision, loop, chop, or even goof around and try some trick shots, the Alpha Dog table tennis blade has got you covered. It is one of the very few all-wood construction blades that you may find on this list. In our opinion, it’s high quality construction has given it more strength, speed, touch, and consistency. Moreover, the CounterStrike Alpha Dog is built according to the ITTF regulations, so you can conveniently use it in tournaments and competitions.
For the price, you cannot do better than the Alpha Dog Blade by CounterStrike Table Tennis.
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5. Butterfly Viscaria Blade
Moving on, let’s have a look at the Butterfly Vascaria Table Tennis Blade, which is also made from a combination of five layers of plywood and two layers of Arylate-Carbon, thus giving it maximum durability and strength. Moreover, it has a high amount of control, touch, speed, and consistency, which makes it perfect for a wide range of playing styles.
The Butterfly Viscaria Table Tennis Blade features a pronounced sweet spot, which results in a highly consistent power. Moreover, it also enhances the control that you have over your shots and smashes. This table tennis blade has been popularly used by several renowned table tennis players, which is a testament to its quality and construction.
It uses of the carbon fibers found in Butterfly Timo Boll ALC blade, which we have reviewed earlier in this guide. This brings additional features and characteristics to this table tennis blade, such as light weight, shock absorption, high amount of flexibility, and minimal energy dissipation as well. Therefore, the shot power won’t be wasted when you return a high-speed shot with a smash.
The Butterfly Viscaria Table Tennis Blade comes with two types of handles, flared and straight. You can choose between the two according to your preferred type of grip, as well as what suits you best. Overall, this product has a high-quality construction, and has also undergone strict quality control, so you don’t have to worry about its quality or any other factor.
6. Stiga Clipper Blade (Double Pack)
Our next pick is the Stiga Clipper Table Tennis Blade. This table tennis blade is preferred and recommended by players who require high speed and extra power behind every shot. Moreover, the Stiga Clipper is used by several world-class and decorated players, so you can imagine how it would enhance your performance.
The Stiga Clipper is more suited for intermediate, advanced, and professional players, mainly because beginners aren’t usually able to handle the high speed that it provides. It consists of seven layers of different types of natural wood, each of which add more strength, stability, and speed to the blade. Moreover, it has a special “Stiga touch” that enhances the speed, thanks to its advanced CR system. This helps offensive players speed up their attack and throw their opponents off-guard.
When it comes to handle types, you can find a straight handle variant, as well as wide flared, master flared, and anatomical handles. This helps you master the grip on it and use it to perform all types of shots. It also helps you loop and block shots with maximum precision and accuracy.
7. Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive Blade
The Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive is another world-class table tennis blade. As the name suggests, it is specially built for players who like the extra power and speed to complement their offensive style of play.
This is another all-wood table tennis blade, and it features five layers of natural wood. This gives it a weight of 84g, thus making it lightweight and easier to handle by all levels of table tennis players, ranging from beginner to professional. Moreover, the blade features a flared handle, which makes it highly suitable for players who employ the shakehand grip on their paddles.
The “Ma Lin” in the Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive comes from the fact that this very table tennis blade was used by 2008 Olympic Gold Medal winner, Ma Lin. Although he used the penhold variant, the shakehold version was later developed to cater to a wider audience of players who use it. Overall, this table tennis blade has a superior speed performance that facilitates you in attacks, and also makes blocking easier.
8. Butterfly Timo Boll ZLC Blade
Here comes another Butterfly Timo Boll variant. The Butterfly Timo Boll is quite similar to the ALC version, but it is made from five layers of natural wood and two layers of ZL Carbon fiber, which is quite different from Arylate-Carbon fiber. This table tennis blade is specially designed for players with intermediate, advanced, and professional skill levels, and it can be readily used to build a tournament-ready ping pong paddle.
The Timo Boll ZLC retains the touch, feel, and power of carbon blades and enhances them tenfold. It allows the ball to hold on to the paddle for much longer, thus causing lower energy dissipation. Moreover, it also has a high dwell time, which results in a higher amount of spin and speed. The ZL Carbon material also absorbs the impact from the ball, which makes it perfect for counter-attacking.
Moreover, this table tennis blade weighs only 84g, which isn’t too heavy and easier to control. Plus, this blade comes with the straight, flared, and anatomical handle types. It is perfect for attackers that like to mix loops and smashes in order to secure points and win rounds. It is also compatible with a wide range of rubber types and brands.
9. CounterStrike Rally Bandit Blade
Our next pick is the CounterStrike Rally Bandit, which is another world-class product by CounterStrike. This specialized table tennis blade is suitable for skill levels ranging from intermediate to professional. Moreover, it offers impeccable speed, control, and consistency. This makes it an all-round great option for players that like to play on the offensive, and also enjoy looping from time to time.
The CounterStrike Rally Bandit Table Tennis Blade consists of five layers of wood and two layers of carbon fiber. Normally, the carbon layers are placed near the outer surface of the blade, but in the case of the Rally Bandit, the carbon layers are closer to the core of this table tennis blade, which increases touch and consistency while still providing a bit of power.
This table tennis blade offers impeccable control and consistency, even when you are playing faster offensive shots that are the most difficult to control. So, if you are confident you know where the ball will land, the Rally Bandit will help you get it there. Since the carbon layers are placed near the core, the blade maintains the soft touch of the wood layers, but also takes its speed from the carbon layers. Moreover, it also allows you to play looping shots at high speed without compromising on control.
The CounterStrike Rally Bandit comes with a flared handle, which makes it easier for players with shakehand grips to use it for their matches. Since it abides by ITTF regulations, the blade can be used for all professional competitions and tournaments.
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10. Tibhar Samsonov Force Pro Black Edition Blade
Our last pick for the list is the Tibhar Samsonov Force Pro Black Edition, which is an amazing option for players ranging from beginners to experts. This table tennis blade is a rare find, and it is perfect for players who like a soft touch with lots of speed and spin. Therefore, if you have an offensive style of play, then you will certainly enjoy using it for your tournaments and training sessions.
The Tibhar Samsonov Force Pro Black Edition has been manufactured in collaboration with renowned European and World Cup Champion Vladimir Samsonov, who tested the prototype and marveled at how he could feel each shot on the blade, no matter how hard or soft it was. So, you can be assured of using a world-class blade for your paddle when you buy this one.
This table tennis blade is constructed with seven layers of different varieties of wood, which give it a collectively high speed, control, and consistency. Due to the high speed that it provides, it may be too fast for beginners to use. Last but not least, it comes with both flared and anatomical handles, so you will enjoy the grip that it provides.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of our guide on the best table tennis blades of 2024. Hopefully, by now, you have a much clearer idea of how important blades can be to your unique style of play, as well as how each blade differs from another. By using our list, we hope you were able to zero in on a suitable table tennis blade to fit your budget and play style.
If you ask us, we would always recommend the Butterfly Timo Boll ALC, which is one of the best table tennis blades that you would find. Granted, it can be a tad expensive, but it rewards you in the form of spectacular performances. It offers the perfect combination of speed, spin, and control that you desire in a blade. However, if you want to spend a lot less money and get a carbon blade of equal quality, we would recommend the CounterStrikePhantom Light Blade.
FAQ
What Is The Best Table Tennis Blade?
1. ⭐ BEST OVERALL ⭐ | Butterfly Timo Boll ALC Blade
Our first pick of the list is the Butterfly Timo Boll ALC, which offers the perfect combination of speed, spin, feel and control. It is made from Arylate-Carbon plies, which are much softer compared to normal carbon fiber. Therefore, they have a longer dwell time and offer better control over your shots. Plus, they also help dampen vibrations caused by the ping pong ball upon impact. This table tennis blade is specially designed for a wide range of spin, thus enhancing the way in which player can loop or flick the ball.
What Is The Second Best Table Tennis Blade?
2. CounterStrike Phantom Light Blade
If you are looking for a table tennis blade that truly complements your offensive style of play, then we bring you the CounterStrike Phantom Light Carbon Table Tennis Blade. CounterStrike is relatively newer table tennis company but is widely known as a reputable and quality table tennis manufacturer. The Phantom Light Blade offers you impeccable control, touch, and consistency. This blade also produces stable and balanced shots even when struck at high velocity. It is definitely a world class blade loved by both professional and casual players around the world.
Which Table Tennis Blade Has The Best Value?
4. ⭐ BEST VALUE ⭐ | CounterStrike Alpha Dog Blade
Another stellar table tennis blade by CounterStrike Table Tennis is the Alpha Dog Blade, which is known to provide the most value among the best table tennis blades you can find out there. It is designed to provide a superior attack loop performance, and is specially designed for players with a balanced style of play who switch between defensive and offensive throughout their matches. Moreover, it is suitable for all skill levels from beginner to professional. Therefore, you can use it for practicing your skills as a beginner, and also for playing major tournaments as a professional.
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