The Soul of the Bat: How to choose the right blade

When it comes to table tennis, having the right blade can make a world of difference in your game and will contribute to your overall improvement. Whether you're just starting out or you're a seasoned player looking to up your game, it's important to remember that the blade is the most crucial part of a table tennis bat and we'll explain.

Friendship/729 Blue Arylate Carbon (FL) is a fast, spin oriented blade with great control and feel. Recommended for intermediate to advanced players

Summary:

• Blades are essential – They impact consistency, technique, and play style, unlike rubbers that need frequent replacement.

• Blade types matter – Offensive (fast, spin-heavy), All-Round (balanced), and Defensive (slow, control-focused) cater to different play styles.

• Composition affects performance – Inner plies determine feel, while outer plies influence spin, speed, and ball contact.

• Handle choice impacts grip – Flared, Straight, Anatomic, and Penhold handles offer different levels of comfort and control.

• Choosing the right blade – A well-suited blade enhances improvement, while an unsuitable one can hinder progress.

What's so important about a table tennis blade? Won't any suffice?

Unfortunately, no, not all blades will suffice when beginning or continuing your table tennis journey. Your blade should compliment your play-style, amplifying your consistency which improves your game.

It's important to remember that the blade will continue to be reused, and does not need replacement as it will serve as the basis of your bat, unlike rubbers which require replacement more frequently (depending on how often you play).

A good table tennis blade will allow you to improve much quicker due to having a better feeling. Additionally, it will also influence your technique and play style during practice and games. However, it should be noted that not all popular options are fitting for your play style, and you should understand the key aspects of a blade that influences its quality and suitability:

• Types of Blades

• Blade Composition

• Handle Types

Types of Blades

There are different categories a blade will fall under and sub-categories to will help you determine if it is right for you.

• Offensive - These are generally faster with more spin, however, feeling and control are lost to an extent compared with an All-Round blade. They have a smaller head which reduces momentum needed to retain the same amount of power as an all-round blade. The three sub-categories of an offensive blade include:

  • Offensive Minus (OFF-) - This is slowest of the offensive blade line up and still holds excellent control, spin and feeling with a small speed boost

  • Offensive (OFF) - Being the middle ground of the line up, intermediate to advanced players commonly use these types of blades as it has a noticeable speed and spin difference but does not sacrifice highly on control nor feeling. Beginner players also use these types of blades combined with slower rubbers to ensure good feeling and speed as well as spin characteristics

  • Offensive Plus (OFF+) - The fastest blades you can purchase in table tennis have extreme levels of speed. Often sacrificing on control and feeling, not many players use these as the speed is uncontrollable, especially for players without strong technique and lots of experience.

• All Round - It strikes a balance between speed, spin, control and feeling. For beginner and intermediate players, a quality all-round blade can allow players to increase their comfort playing quickly close-to-the-table and can develop technique quickly. Beginner and intermediate players are recommended to use these blades to ensure their foundational skills are built properly as they lean towards control and precision over speed due to their flexibility, translating to a slower ball.

• Defensive - These blades are often used by defensive choppers and blockers due to their precision. Often paired with long pimple rubbers, it provides good control and speed which will allow players to play aggressive attacks when needed.

Blade Composition

A blade can consist of between five and seven plies, which will ultimately influences its power and spin characteristics. There are two main parts that contribute to its composition:

• Inner Plies: Also known as "Core Plies", these directly contribute towards a blade feel and influences its characteristics. There are many different types of wood that can be used such as:

  • Kiri: Most commonly found in Butterfly blades, Kiri offers a combination of softness and speed which provides players with excellent control without compromising on pace.

  • Ayous: More commonly found in Stiga and Xiom, it specialises in providing users with surreal control due to it softness.

  • Balsa: This is typically combined with carbon or composite materials due to its lightweight nature. This is due to its softness and flexibility

• Outer plies: These come in direct contact with the ball, with different materials having different effects on the ball. Popular materials include:

  • Limba: Paired with hard Chinese or fast Euro/Japanese rubbers, it provides a large speed boost while still maintaining its degree of softness and stiffness

  • Ayous: This is know for being control focussed due to its softness which provides good feeling, being a great choice for beginners and can be commonly found in all-round blades.

  • Koto: While providing a quick rebound, it allows players to increase 'dwell time' (time the ball spends in rubber) which increases precision. This is due to its medium stiffness giving a balance between speed and control and is recommended for intermediate players.

  • Hinoki: A control-based material that is usually combined with a composite material such as carbon, to provide a speed boost and without sacrificing on control nor spin.

Handle Type

The handle of a blade significantly impacts players performance, as the handle controls your overall comfort. Picking a blade that has the right handle for you can boost your confidence, thus leading to better performance. Here are some handle types to know and a diagram to increase your understanding of how they look:

Source: Guide to Choosing a Table Tennis Blade (Megaspin.net)

• Flared (FL) - This is the most common handle type for players use, and consists of the handle becoming wider towards the bottom, which leads to a more secure grip.

• Straight (ST) - This involves the handle remaining the same width from top to bottom. It makes it easier for players to twiddle the bat and some players believe that it provides them with a truer feeling from the bat.

• Anatomic (ANAT) - Mimicking the natural shape of the hand, the bulge in the middle makes it the most comfortable grip for players. Providing great comfort to the player, it offers a snug fit, however, is not popular and therefore, many brands do not make this handle.

• Chinese Penhold/C-Pen (CS) - Popular amongst Asian players, it consists of using the index finger and thumb around the handle, similar to holding a pen. It offers excellent wrist flexibility for powerful forehand strokes and quick attacks, making it ideal for fast, close-to-the-table play. However, it is primarily forehand oriented which creates a weaker backhand, putting penhold players at a disadvantage compared to shakehand players when defending aggressive shots.