10 Best Table Tennis Paddle Reviews and Ways to Choose The Best One
If you are continually trying to take your table tennis game to the next level without much improvement, your paddle could be the problem. This is something that many table tennis players tend to overlook, but it could be derailing your performance big time.
Choosing the right ping pong paddle could be the key to improving your aim, spinning, and avoiding unnecessary mistakes when you play. In this article, we’ll share a list of the 10 best table tennis paddles to improve your play.
How to Choose the Best Table Tennis Paddle For You
Before we dive into our extensive selection of tennis rackets for a variety of players, let’s take into consideration the main features to look out for during your search. Everyone has a different budget, style of play, and preferences, so we want to help you choose what’s best suited for you.
Grip
The grip on your ping pong paddle is essential to your overall performance, and there are different types of grips to choose from. Some players prefer a Shakehand grip while others like the feel of a Penhold grip. So, what’s the difference between the two and how can you choose the best option for you?
The Shakehand grip resembles a position of shaking hands with someone, with the thumb facing up. However, the Penhold grip requires you to hold the ping pong paddle at an angle similar to how you would with chopsticks. The main difference between these two grips is how the thumb is positioned, which can be more comfortable for players one way or another.
If you prefer a firm grip, Penhold might be a good option for you as these paddles feature a shorter handle so you can use more force when hitting the ball. On the other hand, Shakehand grip might feel more natural for some as you mimic this action in daily life anyway.
Blade
This is another of the most important parts of a ping pong paddle, and you should take great consideration when choosing a blade for your equipment. This is usually made of wood but can sometimes contain a fraction of other materials too, such as carbon fiber. These different materials are layered together to create a finalized blade.
Although a paddle must be made of at least 85 percent wood, it’s crucial that the remaining 15 percent of materials are best suited to your budget and style of play. Wood is a natural material that means each paddle will play slightly differently as not every two pieces of wood are the same. The disadvantage of this is that the shape of the blade can slightly change over time so you’ll have to regularly practice with the same paddle. It’s also worth noting that two wooden ping pong paddles will play differently, even if only slightly.
You can certainly adjust and get used to this wood paddle as you play ping pong more often. But, if you choose a carbon fiber in addition to wood, you’ll add more predictability to the paddle. A ping pong paddle made from carbon fiber elements will provide more speed, stability, and precision each time you hit the ball.
On the other hand, you can purchase a ping pong paddle that is made from 100 percent wood to provide better spin. You can decide on the blade materials purely based on the amount of speed and power you want to add to your play.
Get the Best Table Tennis Paddle for You
Choosing a suitable ping pong paddle should entirely depend on your skill level – and maybe the price. It may be tempting to buy a racket for advanced players when in fact you’re an intermediate player at your best.
Here Are Our Full Reviews of the Top 10 Best Ping Pong Paddles for 2018
Butterfly Balsa X5-FL Carbo
This is the best table tennis paddle for speedy plays and heavy spins. Its carbon fiber guarantees a wider sweet spot for consistency and gives you a tremendous spin and easy looping. These two carbon layers work together for a balanced effect that is committed to attacking the ball when immense speed and power.
The balsa core and carbon plies facilitate forceful play and incredible placement. As well as offering high speeds, you can also softly touch the ball to heighten your performance. The racket is incredibly light, making it easier to control the ball in tight situations. However, an extra-light paddle isn’t ideal for beginners, as it requires more control to prevent overshooting the ball and it landing on the floor.
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STIGA Apex
If you’re a novice player, the Stiga Apex could be the best table tennis paddle for you. It weighs about 5 ounces, courtesy of the light plywood used to make it. With such a light paddle, you can play for hours without fatigue.
Moreover, Stiga’s WRB technology guarantees you fast and precise shots with insane spins. Being an easily controllable paddle, it will help you build killer precision and admirable stroke mechanics in no time.
This Stiga paddle also features a thick sponge in the blade to help absorb any power so you can have better control over the ball. The blade is also most out of 5-ply extra light blade to make it a great purchase for children or those who are put off heavier paddles.
A huge advantage of this Stiga product is the price. Compared to competitor brands, it’s extremely well-priced to make it even more appealing for beginners. In fact, it’s probably one of the cheapest beginner ping pong paddles you’ll find online.
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Killerspin JET600
This one is suitable for both intermediate and advanced players. The Killerspin JET600 is a unique combination of lightness, power, and balance. This is all thanks to the light premium 5-ply wood used for the racket.
This material makes the ping pong paddle extremely high-quality and ideal for anyone who’s looking for durable equipment. The combination of multiple layers of wood within the blade creates a dense base with excellent precision and increased power for everyone that uses this paddle.
The Nitrx-4z rubber facilitates exceptional grip to help you quickly deal with heavy spinners as well as make precise spun shots yourself. Its thin sponge really comes in handy when playing against hard-hitting opponents.
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DHS Hurricane II
The DHS Hurricane is designed for serious players and those who compete in tournaments. It’s slightly bigger than most paddles on the market, allowing a more significant surface area for hard-hitting return swings. It features rubber on both sides of the paddle for ultimate comfort, especially if you have a tight grip when competing for long periods.
Its surface is also dimpled to enhance the spin of your serves and returns. As a result, it’s aimed towards players with more power and control. Additionally, this paddle has a long handle to help defend against quick placements. Getting used to a long handle requires patience, practice, and control, so don’t jump straight to this piece of equipment without any prior experience.
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STIGA Pure Color Advance Racket
As the name suggests, this is a paddle for advanced players. It’s more of an offensive paddle designed to bring the best out of a skilled player. This advanced racket has a hard rubber that might be low-grade compared to the rest of the brand’s selection, but this material helps to create excellent spins.
The thin layer of sponge also helps you spin the ball more efficiently. The sponge is also helpful when responding to volleys, although it might take some adjustment to get used to this material if you’ve been used to a hard handle.
Its ACS technology and concave handle facilitate easy control of the racket, enabling you to make powerful shots with so much ease. This handle provides a comfortable grip as if you’re shaking hands and feels balanced once in your hands. It’s also lightweight which is great if you intend on playing ping pong often and for longer sessions.
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Killerspin JET800
This is the ideal choice for professional players and a more advanced model of the JET600. It gives nothing short of a tournament-level performance which makes this ping pong paddle a great choice for advanced players.
It comes as a 7-ply blade covered in layers of carbon fiber for compelling returns and resilience. Combined, these materials offer enhanced accuracy and create an extra pop of aggression when required in the game. You’ll also love how this blade looks as the design is elegant and natural for a professional appearance.
The Killerspin JET800 is incredibly light for a wooden paddle and features a special rubber layer for a strong spin. A true offensive masterpiece! The handle is designed to offer an exceptional grip that is ideal for heavy spins when serving the ball. Bring out your competitive side with this piece of equipment.
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STIGA Supreme
Another great paddle choice for newbies is the STIGA supreme. This racket is designed to bring the best out of defending players. It also boasts impressive control and a light weight of about 5 ounces. This reduced weight mIGHT take some getting used to, but once you’re confident with this piece of equipment, you’ll never want to switch to another ping pong handle.
The paddle is comprised of 6 layers of premium wood, sponge, and rubber. And while it doesn’t necessarily have the best rubber in the market, it is still efficient for good spins. The combination of these three materials helps to offer good control and make the paddle idea for chopping and back spinning the ball for a competitive game.
However, the STIGA Supreme does not respond very well to incoming spins, nor is it as fast as other advanced paddles on this list. Nevertheless, it is a good option for beginners who don’t want to spend so much on equipment.
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Killerspin Kido 7P Premium
The Killerspin Kido is the best table tennis paddle for professional players. It offers the toughest spins and strongest returns you can get on the market today. Its tough spins are courtesy of the ITTF approved Fortissimo rubber used to make the paddle, and the wooden blade enhances the power of your shots.
There’s something about the design of this paddle that makes it stand out from the rest of the equipment on this list. It’s sophisticated, professional, and a product that will definitely earn you some compliments.
The Killerspin Kido also delivers when it comes to easy control and speed. This piece of equipment is designed to offer a great balance of speed and control for players with a competitive nature.
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Palio Expert 2
This is the ideal paddle choice for beginners. It generates a strong spin, thanks to the premium Chinese rubber used to make the blade. However, it’s not a fast racket that will send the ball flying and give you little control.
It also offers a well-balanced mix of control, speed, and power, making it the perfect paddle for beginners who want to take their game to the next level. We’re impressed by the handle that feels comfortable to hold throughout an entire game with no discomfort. Palio really went above and beyond with high-quality wood on the handle to ensure the player has maximum control over the spin, angle, and speed.
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Killerspin JET200
The Killerspin JET200 is perfect for intermediate players. It features a 5-ply wooden blade and high-quality rubber for a substantial spin. This piece of equipment offers an equal-weight distribution and expert quality construction to provide all ping pong players with the focus they need for precise shots.
Compared to other brands in its category, this paddle slightly lags when it comes to speed and power. However, it makes up for this inadequacy by having better control, making it the perfect choice for players seeking to work on ball control. This speed reduction isn’t necessarily a bad factor as you can precisely hit the ball with this paddle.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do you hold a table tennis paddle?
There’s a lot of ways to grip the handle of the pallet blade. The Penhold grip, which used to be the most popular, has you holding the paddle like a pencil (as the name suggests).
Then there’s the Shakehand grip, which makes it so that your index finger is over the rubber of the pallet. This particular grip offers a lot of power for forehand and backhand shots and is frequently seen being used by European and American professionals.
Are there multiple tennis paddle handle types?
The handle of a ping pong paddle is the part you grip with your hand. There are roughly about 4 types of paddle handles.
There’s the Penhold handle, which has been designed to be used by those who make use of the, well, Penhold grip. Probably the most popular handle type in most of Asia. The downside to using this handle is that it’s difficult to attempt a backhand move.
Flared handles are self-explanatory. They’re primarily favored by new players and most likely the most common handle type throughout the world, being featured on most average paddles. Flared handles don’t favor players that make use of many different grips, but they’re not meant to.
Next are straight handles, which are perfect for more experienced players. If you frequently change your grip, then this type of handle is exactly what you’re looking for, as its simplicity makes it superb for versatile playstyles. They’re not very common, though, so you might struggle finding some.
Anatomical handles are quite unique. Their primary design intent is to be comfortable and to allow your hand to mold onto it during play. They’re even harder to find than straight handles but a pleasure to use.
Which Is Your Favorite Ping Pong Paddle?
Once you’ve selected the best ping pong paddle for your play, it’s time to get practicing the sport. Practice is the key to improving your skills but also to get used to your new piece of equipment.
Make sure that you properly look after your ping pong paddle by wiping the surface with warm water using a soft cloth. Store in the original packaging and keep away from hot or cold surfaces to maintain the quality.
Which of the above ping pong paddles caught your eye? Share your thoughts or any other recommendations in the comments.