5 Best Ping Pong Paddles for Control to Build Consistency

  • Post category:Equipment / Racket
  • Post last modified:January 4, 2024
  • Reading time:18 mins read
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Among the three attributes, i.e. speed, spin, and control of ping pong paddles, control gets the most weightage when the question of building skills is required. A speedy carbon racket is good only for experienced players. Newcomers and amateurs find it difficult to handle. Rather a control-oriented paddle boosts their confidence to play more strokes in the early stages. So to get enjoyment with more rallies, here are my 5 best ping pong paddles for control that are not only top performers but also the best in terms of price-performance ratio.

Best Ping Pong Paddle for Control: Quick Answer

Palio Expert 3.0

The Best Ping Pong Paddle for Control

The Expert 3.0, the starter of the Palio series, is designed to exhibit ultimate control and good spin with a little sacrifice of speed. With a very attractive price, Palio Expert 3.0 helps to successfully advance you to the next level by building authority in your game.

  • Excellent control

  • Good spin

  • Value for money

  • Not for offensive play

Best Ping Pong Paddle for Control: Comparison Sheet

Image

Name

Blade

Rubber

Performance

Store

Palio Expert 3.0, best ping pong paddle for control

Palio Expert 3.0

All Wood

CJ8000

Speed: 6

Spin: 9 Control: 10

Eastfield allround professional, a control oriented racket

Eastfield Allround Professional

5-ply

All-wood

Eastfield A-Soft 2.1 mm

Speed: 6

Spin: 8 Control: 10

Stiga clipper cr, a table tennis blade for massive control

STIGA

Clipper CR

7-ply

All-wood

---

Speed: 112

 Control: 64

Killerspin jet 200 paddle

Killerspin

Jet 200


5-ply

All-wood

Jet Basic

(1.8 mm)

Speed: 6

Spin: 7 Control: 8.5

Stiga evolution table tennis racket

STIGA Evolution

6-ply

All-wood

STIGA Prem 2.0 mm 

Speed: 96

Spin: 94

Control: 90

Palio Expert 3.0/ Best Ping Pong Paddle for Control

Palio expert 3.0 , best ping pong paddle for control
BladeAll Wood
RubberPalio CJ8000
Rubber TypeInverted/ Smooth
HandleFlared
StyleShakehand
Performance (Manufacturer’s Rating)
Speed6/10
Spin9/10
Control10/10
Weight0.57 lbs (259 grams)
ApprovalITTF

The Palio Expert 3.0 is an upgraded version of the popular Palio Expert 2.0 with a redesigned blade for more power, wider edge tape for the protection of rubbers, and a better-carrying case. 

Palio Expert 3.0 consists of an all-wood Expert 3 blade and tacky CJ8000 rubbers. The Expert 3 blade is widely experimented with and specially designed for more feeling and control. The typically Chinese tacky rubbers produce lots of spins. Also, the soft nature of rubbers enhances the dwell time of the ball during impact which adds to the control rating.

Palio Expert 3.0 is the ideal beginner’s paddle that gives massive control with a sufficient amount of spin. This is not the type of racket that generates extreme power. Rather it is designed for more control over speed. This feature helps to develop the basic techniques in the early stages.

Palio Expert 3, the best ping pong paddle for control, is an exclusive collaboration between Palio, a Chinese Table Tennis brand, and UK-based Expert Table Tennis.

Pros

  • Massive control
  • Good spin
  • Perfect beginner’s racket
  • Damaged rubbers can be replaced
  • Approved for tournament play
  • Great value for money

Cons

  • Not suitable for advanced players
  • Tacky rubbers need frequent cleaning

Eastfield Allround Professional

Eastfield allround professional, a control oriented paddle
BladeAllwood (5-ply)
RubberEastfield A-Soft 2.1 mm
Rubber TypeInverted
HandleFlared
StyleShakehand
Performance (Manufacturer’s Rating)
Speed6/10
Spin8/10
Control10/10
Weight0.42 lbs (190 grams)
ApprovalITTF

Eastfield Allround Professional, very similar characteristics to the above-mentioned Palio Expert 3, consists of a 5-ply all-wood blade and 2.1 mm soft rubbers. The paddle has a high authority on control which is evident from its control rating (10/10). The paddle works best close to the table, especially blocking a piece of cake.

Despite impressive control, the Allround Professional can generate a good amount of spin, especially on soft strokes.

The downside is the lack of speed which is beneficial for building skills.

Pros

  • Ultimate control
  • Good spin
  • Nice grip
  • Value for money
  • ITTF approved

Cons

  • Not for advanced players

STIGA Clipper CR

Stiga clipper cr, a table tennis blade for massive control
Blade7 Ply
Blade MaterialWood
Thickness6.4 mm
StiffnessStiff
HardnessMedium
CharacteristicsOFF+
Performance (Manufacturer’s Rating)
Speed112
Control64
Weight90 ± 5 grams
ApprovalITTF

STIGA Clipper, one of the best-selling STIGA blades for the last 40 years, is for consistency. It is a 7-ply all-wood blade that has ultimate control that boosts your confidence with the easiness of putting the ball on the table. It is a fantastic blade for blocking. The non-responsive nature of the STIGA Clipper helps for good work in the service and receiving department. STIGA Clipper CR is for those who want extra power with the massive control of the Clipper blade.

The downside of this blade is that it will not give the speed that you can expect from a carbon blade. This is beneficial for those who are in the advanced stage of developing skills in table tennis. STIGA has added the CR system in the Clipper blade where the inclusion of the WBR system (UV treatment of the front part of the blade) negates the deficiency of speed. In a nutshell, the STIGA Clipper works great as a transition blade from an all-wood blade to a fast carbon blade.

Pros

  • Excellent Control
  • Great for blocking
  • Easy to play
  • Most effective for short pimple rubbers

Cons

  • Not as fast as carbon blades

Killerspin Jet 200

Killerspin jet 200 table tennis paddle
BladeAllwood (5-ply)
RubberJet Basic (1.8 mm)
Rubber TypeInverted 
HandleFlared
StyleShakehand
Performance (Manufacturer’s Rating)
Speed6/10
Spin7/10
Control8.5/10
Weight0.39 lbs (175 grams)
ITTF ApprovalNo

Killerspin Jet 200, the basic paddle of Killerspin’s popular Jet series consists of a 5-ply wood blade and 1.8 mm thick Jet basic rubbers. It has models in three eye-catching colors i.e. Navy Blue, Lime, and Mocha. 

The 5-ply wood Shakehand style blade gives you a good feeling and control over your strokes. It is built with a flared handle for easy gripping.

The purpose of designing this paddle with 1.8 mm thick rubbers is to edge control over speed. The lower thickness of the Jet basic rubber helps beginners build consistency in stroke with more feeling and for recreational players, it encourages them to enjoy the game of ping pong by bouncing the ball on more occasions which leads to longer rallies.

Pros

  • Great control
  • Lightweight and durable
  • Comfortable grip
  • 3 eye-catching color options

Cons

  • Not for serious players
  • Not approved for playing tournaments

STIGA Evolution

Stiga evolution table tennis racket
BladeAll Wood (6-ply)
RubberSTIGA Premium 2.0 mm
Rubber TypeInverted
HandleConcave Pro (Similar to FL)
StyleShakehand
Performance (Manufacturer’s Rating)
Speed96/100
Spin94/100
Control90/100
Weight0.35 lbs (159 grams)
ITTF ApprovalYes

STIGA Evolution is a lightweight paddle combined with a 6-ply wooden blade and 2.0 mm rubber. The design motto of this racket is high control which is the most desired attribute for developing players. The innovative Nano Composite Technology induces more speed and spin. The incorporation of ACS technology by inducing microscopic air capsules in the rubber balances speed with control.

The implementation of the shock dispersion technology separates this racket from the ordinary others. The Concave Pro (Similar to FL) handle of the racket consists of a hollow portion that absorbs the vibrations and transfers out of the handle in the form of energy. This gives a nice sound at the time of hitting the ball which gives you a good feeling.

Pros

  • Great control
  • Good all-round racket
  • Approved for tournaments

Cons

  • Not suitable for attacking players

What to Look for in a Control-Oriented Racket?

Blade Material: Always opt for all-wood blades. Don’t consider carbon blades. These blades are faster and hard to control. Carbon blades are for skilled players who have total command over their shots.

Rubber Thickness: The thickness of the rubber affects how fast the rubber is and how much control it has. A thicker sponge of 2.1 mm is faster but has less control whereas thinner sponges have more control but less speed. Consider rubbers in the range of 1.9 mm for the best combination of control and speed.

Sponge Hardness: The harder the sponge, the faster the rubber. A soft sponge has less speed but more spin than a hard sponge. The type of sponge depends on the type of shot you rely on. Smashers and drivers prefer harder sponges whereas a relatively soft sponge brings good results for loopers.

Weight: More the weight, the more momentum the paddle can deliver. So a heavy racket is good for speed whereas a light racket is easy to maneuver. 

Related Post:

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