The 12 Best Ping Pong Paddles in 2023 (Compared)

  • Post category:Equipment / Racket
  • Post last modified:July 4, 2023
  • Reading time:64 mins read
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“Best ping pong paddle” is a relative term. It depends on your level of play. If you are a beginner, you should focus on paddles that offer more control rather than speed. A fast, spiny racket will not give you the best result.

Once you advance to the intermediate level, you will have the skill to deal with the fast rackets. The extra amount of spin and speed will help you to destroy your opponent with your unpredictable serve and topspin attack.

The problem associated to pick up the best ping pong paddle is judging the performance that fits your playing style and needs.

As I am playing ping pong for 20 years, I have tested many rackets of different brands. In our club, we also share our feelings about used paddles. Whatever knowledge I have gathered in this period, I would like to share to save your precious time by making the selection easier for you.

Best Ping Pong Paddle: At a Glance

Here is my list of the top ping pong paddles that will give you the best experience in your game.

  1. Palio Expert 3.0 (Class: Beginner)
  2. Killerspin JET 200 (Class: Beginner)
  3. Palio Master 3.0 (Class: Beginner)
  4. Butterfly 401 (Class: Beginner)
  5. Butterfly Timo Boll 3000 (Class: Beginner)
  6. STIGA Pro Carbon (Class: Intermediate)
  7. Killerspin Jet800 (Class: Intermediate)
  8. Palio Legend 3.0 (Class: Intermediate)
  9. STIGA Raptor (Class: Intermediate)
  10. JOOLA Infinity Overdrive (Class: Intermediate)
  11. STIGA Evolution (Class: Intermediate)
  12. Killerspin Jet600 (Class: Intermediate)

Best Ping Pong Paddle for Beginners: Comparison Table

Preview

Name

Features

Rating

View

Palio expert 3.0 table tennis racket

Palio Expert 3.0

  • Tacky Chinese rubbers

  • Redesigned blade for better feeling

98%
Killerspin jet 200 table tennis paddle

Killerspin Jet 200

  • 5 layers of wood blade and Jet basic rubbers

  • 3 vibrant colors

91%
Palio master 3.0 table tennis racket

Palio Master 3.0

  • Palio x ETT Master 3 blade

  • Palio CJ8000 tacky rubbers

96%
Butterfly 401 table tennis racket

Butterfly 401

  • 5-ply all-wood blade

  • Yuki 2.1 mm rubbers

94%
Butterfly timo boll 3000 racket

Butterfly Timo Boll 3000

  • Allwood 5-ply blade

  • Pan Asia 2.0 mm rubbers

89%

Best Ping Pong Paddle Reviews: For Beginners

These paddles are ideal for a beginner. They are excellent to develop your 4 basic table tennis strokes that are essential to begin your journey in table tennis.

For the selection of paddles for beginners, more value should be given to control rather than speed and spin.

1. Palio Expert 3.0

Palio Expert 3.0 ping pong paddle infographic

Specifications

  • Blade: All wood
  • Rubber:  Palio CJ8000 Rubber
  • Rubber Type: Inverted
  • Handle: Flared
  • Speed – 6/10
  • Spin – 9/10
  • Control – 10/10
  • Style: Shakehand
  • Weight: 0.57 lbs (259 grams)
  • Approval: ITTF
  • Suggested Score: 9.8 (Read the full review here)

Overview of Palio Expert 3.0

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. If you want a top-quality paddle for beginners with good value for money, this one is for you.

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 racket that gives impressive control with a sufficient amount of spin. This is not the type of racket that generates massive power. Rather it is designed for more control over speed. This feature helps to develop the basic techniques in the early stages.

This racket is an exclusive collaboration between Palio, a Chinese Table Tennis brand, and UK-based Expert Table Tennis.

Summary: Palio Expert 3.0 is made with an all-wood blade and soft, tacky Palio CJ8000 rubbers. The perfect combination of ultimate control and good spin with a sacrifice of speed makes this affordable Expert 3.0, the best ping pong paddle for beginners.

2. Killerspin JET 200

Killerspin JET 200 ping pong paddle infographic

Specifications

  • Blade: 5 Layers of Wood
  • Rubber: Jet Basic Rubber
  • Type of Rubber: Inverted or Pimples-in
  • Sponge: 1.8 mm thick
  • Weight: 175 grams
  • Style: Shakehand
  • Grip: Flared Handle
  • Performance RatingsSpeed: 6, Spin: 7, Control: 8.5
  • ITTF Approved: No
  • Suggested Score: 9.1/10 (Read the full review here)

Overview of Killerspin Jet 200

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 design motto of this paddle suits recreational players rather than learners in table tennis.

The 5-ply wood Shakehand style blade gives you a good feeling and control over your strokes. It builds 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 led to longer rallies.

Summary: The Killerspin Jet 200 is a combination of a 5-ply wooden blade and 1.8 mm Jet basic rubbers. This is a good racket for recreational players to play longer rallies with more consistency and even beginners may find the racket useful for them. This well-made Jet 200 is available in three eye-catching colors to add colors to your game.

3. Palio Master 3.0

Palio master 3.0 paddle infographic

Specifications

  • Blade: All wood Master 3.0
  • Rubber:  Palio CJ8000 Rubber
  • Rubber Type: Inverted
  • Handle: Flared
  • Speed – 8/10
  • Spin – 9/10
  • Control – 8/10
  • Style: Shakehand
  • Approval: ITTF
  • Suggested Score: 9.6 (Check the full review here)

Overview of Palio Master 3.0

This paddle is an upgraded version of Palio Master 2.0 with a redesigned handle and wider edge tape to keep the rubbers intact and safe.

Palio Master 3.0 is a combination of Master 3.0 all-wood blade and CJ8000 rubbers. The wooden layers of the Master 3.0 blade maintain a perfect balance between high speed and control. The Palio CJ8000 rubber is very tacky and soft. The tackiness of the rubber creates a lot of spins on soft strokes with a little effort. Due to the softness, the ball dips more into the sponge and springs with higher speed and spin. Also, it gives you a little more time to react which ultimately enhances feeling and control.

Palio Master 3.0 is a perfect all-rounder for speed, spin, and control. They design it to execute a higher level of spin and power without compromising control.

Summary: Palio Master 3.0 has a very good balance between speed and control. Also, the soft, tacky rubber has the full potential to produce lots of spins. With a very reasonable price, the Master 3.0 is the best ping pong paddle for advanced beginners to upgrade themselves to the next level.

4. Butterfly 401 Ping Pong Paddle

Butterfly 401 ping pong paddle infographic

Specifications

  • Blade: 5 layers of wood ply
  • Rubber: Yuki 2.1 mm inverted rubber
  • Sponge: 2.1 mm thick
  • Speed: 80
  • Spin: 80
  • Control: 85
  • Style: Shakehand
  • Handle: FL (Flared)
  • Warranty: 30 days
  • ITTF Approved
  • Suggested Score: 9.4 (Check the full review here)

Overview of Butterfly 401

If you are passionate about brands like Butterfly, then this Butterfly 401 is a good option for advanced beginners. It is like Palio Master, where you get everything, i.e. sufficient speed, decent spin, and impressive control.

The blade of Butterfly 401 has a 5-ply wooden structure for a medium feel. The harder outer surface can add more power when needed.

The Yuki rubber has a sponge thickness of 2.1 mm which is on the higher side to act as an energy storage device and rebounds the ball with higher speed and spin. The tacky inverted rubber grips the ball more making it easy to add more spin to your serve.

Summary: The Butterfly 401, very similar to the Master 3.0, is made with a 5-ply wooden blade and thick 2.1 mm Yuki rubbers. This racket is a good option for those advanced beginners who want to taste aggressive topspin play.

5. Butterfly Timo Boll 3000

Butterfly timo boll 3000 ping pong paddle infographic

Specifications

  • Blade: 5 layers of wood ply
  • Rubber: Pan Asia inverted rubber
  • Sponge: 2.0 mm thick
  • Speed: 85
  • Spin: 75
  • Control: 75
  • Style: Shakehand
  • Handle: FL (Flared)
  • ITTF Approved
  • Suggested Score: 8.9

Overview of Butterfly Timo Boll 3000

The Butterfly Timo Boll series for ping pong paddles has three models, Timo Boll 1000, Timo Boll 2000, and Timo Boll 3000. You can differentiate these three models on sponge thickness. The Timo Boll 1000 has a sponge thickness of 1.5 mm for medium speed in respect to the Timo Boll 2000 with 1.8 mm sponge thickness for medium-high speed. The Timo Boll 3000 has the highest speed rating among them with a sponge thickness of 2.0 mm for high speed.

Butterfly Timo Boll 3000 is an entry-level racket for newcomers and also suits well for recreational players. It consists of a 5-ply wood blade and 2.0 mm thick Pan Asia rubber. The Pan Asia Rubber is designed for novice players with an emphasis on control to build up their base in table tennis. However, the higher 2.0 mm sponge thickness provides a fair amount of speed and spin as and when needed. This paddle has a nice flared handle that gives comfort for gripping.

Summary: Butterfly Timo Boll 3000, a combination of 5 layers of the wooden blade and 2.0 mm thick Pan Asia rubbers is designed for new beginners and amateurs. Though the basic purpose of this paddle is more control, it has a reasonable speed for beginners.

Best Ping Pong Paddles for Beginners: Price Comparison Chart

Price comparison chart of best ping pong paddles for beginners

Best Ping Pong Paddles for Beginners: Performance Comparison Chart

Comparison among speed, spin, and control of ping pong paddles for beginners

From the above comparison charts, it is evident that Palio Expert 3.0 has the best combination of Price and Performance for beginners.

Palio Expert 3.0

The best ping pong paddle for beginners

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 is the best racket for beginners which helps them to successfully advance to the next level.

  • Excellent control

  • Value for money

  • Not for offensive play

Best Ping Pong Paddle for Intermediate Players: Comparison Table

Preview

Name

Features

Rating

View

Stiga pro carbon ping pong paddle

STIGA Pro Carbon

  • (5W + 2C) composite blade

  • 2.0 mm rubbers

97%
Killerspin jet 800 ping pong paddle

Killerspin Jet 800

  • 7 layers composite blade

  • 2.1 mm thick medium hard rubbers

96%
Palio legend 3.0 table tennis racket

Palio Legend 3.0

  • Palio Hadou tacky rubber

  • Affordable

96%
Stiga raptor ping pong paddle

STIGA Raptor

  • Blade: 5W + 2C

  • 2.0 mm rubber

95%
Joola infinity overdrive table tennis racket

JOOLA Infinity Overdrive

  • Blade: 5W + 2C

  • Rubber: JOOLA Micron 48

94%
Stiga evolution ping pong paddle

Stiga evolution 

  • 6-ply all-wood blade

  • STIGA premium 2.0 mm rubbers

94%
Killerspin jet 600 paddle

Killerspin Jet 600

  • 5-ply all-wood blade


  • 2.1 mm medium hard rubbers

94%

Best Ping Pong Paddle Reviews: For Intermediate Players

For the intermediate level, you rely more on speed and spin to win points. But at the same time, controlling and placing the ball is also important.

1. STIGA Pro Carbon

Stiga pro carbon table tennis racket infographic

Specifications

  • Blade: 5 plies wood + 2 layers of carbon
  • Rubber: 2.0 mm S5 Rubber
  • Rubber Type: Inverted
  • Style: Shakehand
  • Weight: 0.35 lbs
  • Handle: Concave Pro (Flared)
  • RatingsSpeed – 99, Spin – 100, Control – 80
  • ITTF Approved
  • Suggested Score: 9.7 (Check the full review here)

Overview of STIGA Pro Carbon

The unique design of the STIGA Pro Carbon makes it separate from other rackets. It consists of a composite blade (5W + 2C) and 2.0 mm thick STIGA S5 rubbers.

The Pro Carbon uses lightweight balsa wood as a material for the blade. Balsa wood is soft, porous, and springy which is favorable for the generation of spin.

The paddle incorporates four innovative technologies,

  • Carbon Technology: For more power and speed
  • ACS Technology: ACS technology includes microscopic air capsules in the rubber for high speed combined with maximum elasticity and good control.
  • NCT (Nano Composite Technology): The inclusion of NCT makes the bonds tighter and stronger in the rubber which results in higher speed and spin.
  • SDT (Shock Dispersion Tube): For a better feeling, a hollow tube runs through the handle which absorbs shocks and vibrations during impact and transfers the energy out of the handle in the form of sound energy.

The lightweight paddle can produce havoc spin and speed in your strokes. It is the best ping pong paddle for those intermediates who love today’s modern offensive play.

Summary: STIGA Pro Carbon, a combination of 7 layers composite blade and 2.0 mm rubbers gives you a wider sweet spot for powerful hits. This offensive paddle is excellent for looping and smashing and is one of the best options for intermediate players.

2. Killerspin Jet 800

Infographic of jet 800 paddle by killerspin for playing ping pong

Specifications

  • Blade: 5-ply premium wood + 2 layers of carbon
  • Rubber: Nitrx-4Z rubber
  • Rubber Type: Inverted
  • Sponge Thickness: 2.1 mm
  • Grip: Shakehand
  • Handle: FL (Flared)
  • Performance ratingSpeed – 9.5/10, Spin – 9/10, Control – 8/10
  • Weight: 190 grams
  • Warranty: 30 days
  • ITTF approved
  • Suggested Score: 9.6 (Check the full review here)

Overview of Killerspin Jet 800

This Jet 800 is a premium quality paddle designed by Killerspin, a Chicago-based company. If you are an aggressive player, this powerful racket will make you extremely happy.

The blade of Killerspin 800 has 5-ply wood and 2 carbon outer layers. The stiff carbon layers widen the sweet spot and act as an additive for more power hitting over a wider area while the premium wood maintains the feeling and control.

Killerspin’s Nitrx-4z rubber is tacky and medium-hard. The tackiness of the rubber creates more spin on soft strokes while the medium-hard 2.1 mm thick rubbers generate massive power and spin on hard strokes.

Killerspin induces a new Wooden Side Tape Technology in this paddle. The wooden side tape protects the internal blade. You may never need to replace your paddle by simply changing the worn-out rubbers. This racket has a flared grip handle that suits most players.

Summary: The Jet 800, the top model of the Killerspin’s Jet series is very similar in terms of performance to the Pro Carbon. It has a carbon composite 7 layers blade and 2.1 mm medium-hard rubber that gives massive power to your strokes with a good amount of spin. This heavy premium paddle is very good for offensive play away from the table.

Related Topic: “STIGA Pro Carbon Vs Killerspin Jet 800: Which is Better?

3. Palio Legend 3.0 Ping Pong Paddle

Infographic of palio legend 3.0 table tennis racket

Specifications

  • Blade: All wood Legend 3.0
  • Rubber:  Palio Hadou Rubber
  • Rubber Type: Inverted
  • Handle: Flared
  • Speed – 10/10
  • Spin – 9/10
  • Control – 6/10
  • Style: Shakehand
  • It includes a lovely carrying case.
  • Suggested Score: 9.6 (Check my full review here)

Overview of Palio Legend 3.0

This upgraded version of Palio Legend 2.0, is a collection of joint ventures between Palio, a Chinese Table Tennis Brand, and UK-based Expert Table Tennis. It suits players who love to generate lethal speed and massive spin in their strokes.

The Palio Legend 3.0 consists of an all-wood redesigned Legend 3 blade that gives high power and feeling. The ITTF-approved Palio Hadou rubber has the characteristics of a typical Chinese tacky rubber. Due to the high tackiness and hardness of this Hadou rubber, the Palio Legend 3.0 is capable to produce extreme speed and spin.

I played with this paddle for over 6 months and experienced exceptional speed. My opponents were astonished by finding the ball at rocket speed from my racket.

For a few weeks, it felt hard to control my shots when the balls were spinning over the table many times. This is the major drawback of this bat.

Summary: It is the most advanced model of the Palio series which is designed for aggressive intermediate players. The hard wooden blade and hard tacky rubbers give you extraordinary speed and massive spin but the racket lacks control. With a very attractive price bracket, the Legend 3.0 gives the best value for money for aggressive players with good techniques.

Related Topic: “Palio Expert Vs Master Vs Legend: Which is the Best?

4. STIGA Raptor Ping Pong Paddle

Infographic of the stiga raptor ping pong paddle

Specifications

  • Blade: 5-ply wood + 2 layers of carbon
  • Rubber: 2.0 mm thick S5 Rubber
  • Weight: 0.47 lbs
  • Handle: Concave Pro (Flared)
  • Ratings: Speed: 99, Spin- 100, Control- 80
  • ITTF Approved
  • Suggested Score: 9.5 (Check the full review here)

Overview of STIGA Raptor

STIGA Raptor is an offensive plus racket that has almost similar features as the popular Pro Carbon. The only feature that can differentiate between the two, is the weight. STIGA Raptor is heavier with a weight of 0.47 lbs in respect to the STIGA Pro Carbon of weight 0.35 lbs.

The Raptor is made with 7 layers (5W + 2C) composite blade and the STIGA S5 2.0 mm thick inverted rubber. This quality paddle is the result of 5 innovative technologies. 

  1. Crystal Technology: The outer carbon layers provide high stiffness to the paddle surface. So when you hit a ball, you will get more speed over a larger hitting surface.
  2. Balsa Technology: The incorporation of balsa wood as an inner material increases flexibility and for that, the ball stays longer on the paddle surface. This results in more spin and increased control.
  3. NCT: The Nano Composite Technology tightens the bonding strength among the molecules in the rubber. For this the elasticity of the rubber increases resulting in more speed and spin.
  4. ACS: The introduction of tiny air capsules in the sponge increases the elasticity of the rubber.
  5. WRB Technology: The handle of the Raptor is a concave pro which is very similar to the popular flared handle. To get a better feel during impact with the ball, the weight of the paddle is shifted towards the head area by running a hollow metal rod throughout the handle.

Summary: STIGA Raptor, almost similar to the Pro Carbon racket, is also known as the New Pro Carbon. This offensive plus paddle is ideal for advanced intermediate players who want to dominate their opponents with massive speed and spin.

Related Topic: “STIGA Raptor Vs Pro Carbon: Which is Better?

5. JOOLA Infinity Overdrive

Specifications

  • Blade: 7-ply (5-ply Wood + 2 layers Carbon Kevlar)
  • Rubber: JOOLA Micron 48
  • Rubber Type: Inverted
  • Handle: Flared
  • Performance: Speed: 100, Spin: 99, Control: 92
  • Suggested Score: 9.4
Joola infinity overdrive racket

Overview of JOOLA Infinity Overdrive

JOOLA Infinity Overdrive is a good offensive paddle, the construction of which is easily comparable with any premium quality racket. The blade consists of 5 plies of wood and 2 layers of Carbon-Kevlar. Three different kinds of premium woods i.e. Hinoki, Koto, and Ayous are used to increase the effectiveness of the blade.

Due to the tackiness of the top sheet, the JOOLA Micron 48 rubber grips the ball more during contact which is conducive for more spin on soft strokes, like in serves and pushes. The maximum sponge thickness of the ITTF-approved rubber helps to generate a good amount of speed and spin.

JOOLA Infinity Overdrive is a well-built racket that can boost your performance with powerful attacks and tricky spins. Though the command of control is sufficient considering the aggressive nature of the racket, it is not good enough for entry-level players to act as an additive for the development of skills in the early stages.

Summary: JOOLA Infinity Overdrive is a very good option for offensive players as a transition racket to step up from the Intermediate to the advanced level. The Infinity Overdrive offers massive speed and spin that takes your aggressive game to the next level. The added advantage is that you can get this performer at a price of nearly $50 on Amazon, which is a very good value for money.

6. STIGA Evolution Ping Pong Paddle

Stiga evolution table tennis racket infographic

Specifications

  • Blade: All wood, 6 ply
  • Rubber: STIGA Premium 
  • Type of Rubber: Inverted
  • Sponge Thickness: 2.0 mm 
  • Performance RatingsSpeed: 96 Spin– 94 Control– 90
  • Style: Shakehand
  • Handle: FL (Flared)
  • Weight: 170 gm
  • Approval: ITTF
  • Suggested Score: 9.4 (Check the full review here)

Overview of STIGA Evolution

STIGA Evolution, a premade paddle from Stiga, is the second-best popular choice after Pro Carbon.  While Pro Carbon impresses for its aggressive nature, the Stiga evolution is for consistency.

It has a 6-ply, lightweight balsa wood blade combined with a 2.0 mm thick premium sponge. The rubber is the result of the ACS and NCT that gives stronger, tighter bonds in the rubber. This increases the speed and spin of Stiga evolution more than the ordinary premade racket which can an ideal choice for those who want speed without sacrificing control.

The unique feature of the shock dispersion tube separates this racket from the others. This tube absorbs the vibrations and transfers the energy out of the handle. This gives a nice sound at the time of hitting the ball which gives you a good feeling.

Summary: STIGA Evolution has a 6-ply all-wood blade with 2.0 mm thick rubber. This popular paddle is the result of many innovative technologies that make it equally good in every attribute, speed, spin, and control. This lightweight racket suits most players with all-round ability.

7. Killerspin Jet 600 Ping Pong Paddle

Killerspin jet 600 ping pong paddle infographic

Specifications

  • Blade: 5 layers of wood ply
  • Rubber: Nitrx-4Z inverted rubber
  • Sponge: 2.1 mm thick 
  • Speed: 8.0
  • Spin: 9.0
  • Control: 8.5
  • Style: Shakehand
  • Handle: FL (Flared)
  • Weight: 175 grams
  • Warranty: 30 days
  • ITTF Approved
  • Suggested Score: 9.4 (Check the full review here)

Overview of Killerspin Jet 600

Killerspin Jet 600 is the lightest and most balanced ping pong paddle in the Killerspin Jet series. It has a combination of a 5-ply wood blade and 2.1 mm thick Nitrx-4Z rubbers that can help you to deal with enormous spin.

The combination of three premium wood makes the blade thinner for a better feeling. The dense structure of the complementary wood adds more accuracy to the precise placement of the ball blended with power.

The high-tension rubber makes the top sheet thinner to penetrate the ball more into the sponge and react with more energy that ends with high speed and spin. The tacky rubber produces more spin with a little effort.

Killerspin Jet 600 mainly suits advanced beginners and intermediate all-rounders with a balanced combination of spin, speed, and control.

Summary: The Jet 600, the most balanced, thinnest, and lightest paddle of Kellerspin’s Jet series, is made with 5-ply wood and 2.1 mm thick Nitrx-4Z rubbers. The optimum control and extraordinary spinning capacity make this paddle a very good option for advanced beginners and intermediate players who depend on both offensive and defensive play.

Best Ping Pong Paddles for Intermediate Players: Price Comparison Chart

Price comparison chart of best ping pong paddles for intermediate players

Best Ping Pong Paddles for Intermediate Players: Performance Comparison Chart

Comparison among speed, spin, and control of ping pong paddles for intermediate players

From the above comparison charts, it is evident that STIGA Pro Carbon has the best combination of Price and Performance for intermediate players.

STIGA Pro Carbon

Best Ping Pong Paddle for intermediate players

STIGA Pro Carbon is an offensive ping pong paddle that has the combination of a composite blade of 7 layers and 2.0 mm thick rubbers. This racket is the result of many innovative technologies that make it a great performer, especially for intermediates. This lightweight racket is very good for topspin attacks which is the most used shot in modern table tennis.

  • Excellent offensive racket

  • Great for looping

  • Not for beginners

Which is the Best Brand for Ping Pong Paddles?

You may be curious about the best manufacturer, but it’s really hard to pick a single one. With a series of quality paddles, three well-reputed companies that are front runners for the best, are:

  1. STIGA
  2. Palio & Expert Table Tennis
  3. Killerspin

If you want to pick a single one for the best, it’s probably STIGA.

STIGA is a Sweden-based company that has been producing table tennis equipment since 1944. STIGA’s products, especially the premade rackets are very popular due to their excellent quality and affordability.

Ping Pong Paddle Buying Guide

Infographic for buying guide of a table tennis racket
Table Tennis : Ping Pong Paddle Information
A table tennis racket consists of blade and rubber

A ping pong paddle consists of a blade and rubbers which are pasted on both sides of the blade. The combined characteristics of the blade and rubbers determine the performance of the racket.

Types of ping pong paddles

Table tennis rackets are of two types, Shakehand style, and Penhold style. Shakehand rackets are for those who use Shakehand grip and players with Penhold grip use Penhold paddles. Shakehand paddles are the most common and easier to hold, especially for a beginner.

All the Shakehand style rackets come with flared handles (There may be slight modifications) that have enlarged portions at the end to prevent slipping from your hand.

For a better selection, you should check the following factors before buying your paddle.

  • Blade Properties
  • Rubber Properties
  • Speed, spin, and control

1. Blade Properties

  • The power and control of your racket come from the blade and rubbers. Blades are broadly classified into three types, Offensive (OFF), All-round (ALL), and Defensive (DEF). Offensive blades give maximum power, defensive blades give a maximum feeling, and all-round blades lie in between them.
  • Table Tennis blades are of two types, all-wood blades, and composite blades. In composite blades, in addition to wood layers, a different harder material like carbon, and glass fiber is used as the outer surface. The inclusion of composite material adds power over a larger sweet spot but the stiffer composite blade has less feel than an all-wood blade.
  • The number of layers of ply also correlates with speed and control. A 7-ply blade will give you more speed whereas a 3-ply blade is better for control.
  • The type of wood also influences the performance of a blade. I am giving a very brief idea of some popular woods used as a material for a blade.
Type of Blade woodNatureBest for
Balsa (The most popular wood for the core material of blades)Soft, Porous, and SpringyLoopers and choppers who want to produce a lot of spins
Limba (Classic European topspin wood)Heavy and fast but not springy. It has also excellent acoustic properties.Generates superb control for topspin players.
Hinoki (Classic Asian topspin wood named golden wood)Very soft. Maximum durability and preservabilityFor a nice soft touch but very fast at the time of hitting.

2. Rubber Properties

The paddle’s performance depends on the thickness, hardness, and nature of the rubbers.

  •  A table tennis rubber consists of a top sheet and a sponge. The thickness of the rubber denotes the sponge thickness. Thicker rubbers give you more speed but less control whereas in reverse thinner rubbers give more control but less speed. A 2.1 mm rubber is for speed and a 1.5 mm rubber is for control.
Sponge Thickness of RubberRebound SpeedStyle of Play
< 1.5 mmSlowDefensive
1.5 mm – 1.9 mmMediumAll-round
2.0 mm – 2.1 mmFastTopspin Attack
2.2 mm – MaxVery FastPower Attack
  • The degree of hardness of the sponge is related to speed, spin, and control. Hard rubbers generate more spin at high speed whereas soft rubbers produce more spin at low speed. Also, rubbers of higher hardness give more speed and less control. The reverse is true for soft rubbers. For a beginner, a medium-soft rubber gives the best result.
  • The nature of the top sheet of rubber, like tackiness, and high tension also affects the performance. Tacky rubbers grip the ball for a longer duration which helps for more spin on soft strokes. High-tension top sheets rebound the ball with more speed and spin.

3. Speed, Spin, and Control

These three attributes ultimately evaluate the quality and style of the paddle depending on the above-mentioned two factors, i.e. the blade and rubber properties. Beginners should look for more control rather than speed whereas intermediate players should have their options open either to maintain equality between speed and control or to incline towards speed for aggression in their game.

Conclusion

For Beginners: Ping pong paddles play a big role in developing your technique in the early stage. You should focus more on control rather than speed. As you get used to controlling your shots, go to add some power to your strokes.

If you are serious about ping pong, Palio Expert 3.0 is the best bet for you. This affordable paddle offers ultimate control over speed and will help to build up your technique in the early stage.

For intermediate players: The intermediate players should look for paddles that offer more speed and spin with decent control.

Stiga Pro Carbon with its unique feature for producing high speed and spin with decent control is the champion paddle in the intermediate category.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are table tennis rackets black and red?

The two colors system is used in table tennis to distinguish between the forehand side and the backhand side. It allows a player to judge the types of rubbers used by his opponent. Though only red and black color is allowed for better visibility, after Tokyo Olympics 2021, bright colors like blue, green, pink, and purple are also included to use along with red on one side but on the other side, it must be black only. 

What is the difference between the red and the black side of a table tennis bat?

Black rubbers are softer and tackier than red rubbers. So the black rubbers spin more than the red rubbers, while the red rubbers are faster than the black rubbers.

What is the name of the most common grip in ping pong?

The Shakehand grip is more common than the Penhold grip. For a beginner, the Shakehand grip is a convenient way to hold a paddle.

What are the 4 basic strokes in table tennis?

The 4 basic strokes in table tennis in chronological order are:
1. Backhand Push
2. Forehand Drive
3. Backhand Drive
4. Forehand Push

Which shot do the players use most in table tennis?

It is the topspin in table tennis. If you watch modern table tennis, you will find the attackers using topspin in most of the shots.

How long does a table tennis bat last?

After about a year of decent usage (2 to 3 times per week), the rubbers will slowly lose their spin and should be replaced. If the rubbers are removable, then new rubbers can be stuck down in their place. Alternatively, you may purchase a new racket.

How do you clean a table tennis racket?

During play, the rubbers attract dust from the ball and will lose their feeling of stickiness. You can simply clean the rubbers by wiping them down with a bit of water on a clean cloth.

Related Topic:

  1. 12 Most Expensive Ping Pong Paddles in 2022
  2. The 5 Best Ping Pong Paddles for Spin Reviews
  3. The Best Table Tennis Blades to Buy in 2023
  4. The 16 Best Table Tennis Rubbers in 2023

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