Table tennis has increasingly become popular since its inclusion in the 1988 Olympic Games. Since then, the demand for better table tennis rackets had also increased in the world. At present, there are myriads of brands and models of table tennis rackets and this fact makes it difficult for buyers to choose the ideal racket to suit their game styles. To help buyers find the best table tennis rackets, we have delineated a list of the 7 Best table tennis paddle models on the market in 2020:
Reviews of Best Table Tennis Paddles in 2020
Contents
- 1 Reviews of Best Table Tennis Paddles in 2020
- 1.1 STIGA Pro Carbon: Best Paddle
- 1.2 Killerspin JET800 Speed N1 Ping Pong Paddle
- 1.3 STIGA Evolution Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket
- 1.4 Palio Expert 2 Table Tennis Racket & Case
- 1.5 STIGA Supreme Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket
- 1.6 Ping Pong Paddle JT-700 with Killer Spin
- 1.7 Killerspin JET200 Table Tennis Paddle
- 2 Factors How To Choose Ping Pong Paddle in 2020
- 3 FAQs About Ping Pong Paddle
- 4 Wrap Up
Instead of buying and trying each model of ping-pong rackets on the market for beginners, for kids, or for advanced players, your easiest way to figure out the ideal table tennis paddle for your own use is to read some informative reviews online. Thus, in this review, we are going to talk about the top 7 table tennis paddles on the market today.
STIGA Pro Carbon: Best Paddle
Pros:
- The Pro Carbon has a seven-ply blade.
- It provides a better recovery rate.
- It provides better speed and spin.
- Its rubber has a tighter bond.
Cons:
- It sacrifices control over spin and speed.
The Stiga Pro Carbon is ideal for use by more advanced players, although amateurs can also choose it to improve their games. This ping-pong racket has an ITTF-approved rubber, and it features a seven-ply blade that is very light. Moreover, it uses carbon technology. This technology features minute air capsules that are meticulously fitted into its very rubber.
The STIGA Pro Carbon also features a WRB weight balance technology. This technology readily shifts the racket’s weight to the ball’s contact point. Additionally, it makes use of balsa technology that makes this racket very lightweight. It is barely 165 grams in weight making it one of the lightest rackets on the market today.
The Pro Carbon, however, comes with a heavier handle, although it is still lighter than the STIGA Evolution which has a less heavy handle.
When it comes to speed, control, and spin ratings, the Pro Carbon comes with a speed rating of 99, control rating of 80, and spin rating of 94. You will notice that the control rating of Pro Carbon is low because its speed and spin ratings are higher. It is basically best for spin.
The Pro Carbon offers uniform bounce for the ball. This is due to the fact that the carbon composite embedded in the racket rubber allows for a greater level of predictability to the bounce afforded by the racket.
Killerspin JET800 Speed N1 Ping Pong Paddle
Pros:
- The Killerspin Jet 800 offers impressive spin and speed.
- It provides better control as compared to Pro Carbon.
- It is durable and comes with good design.
Cons:
- It is not meant for beginners.
- It provides better speed and spins but sacrifices control.
The Killerspin Jet 800 is considered to be the best in the Killerspin racket series. It features a seven-ply paddle with Nitrx-4Z rubbers. It is perfectly designed for serious players who like to be aggressive in their games.
With its dual carbon fiber layers, it can provide great pop and absorbs shock while dissipating this shock in sound vibration form. With its great design, it is very comfortable to use and provides great accuracy and speed for its users. It also comes with a large sweet spot for hitting the ball. At the onset, if you are a tyro in table tennis, you will find this racket hard to control.
When it comes to control, speed, and spin ratings, the Killerspin Jet 800 shows great spin and speed ratings of 90 and 95 respectively, while its control rating plummets at 80. It also provides great uniform balance because of its carbon composite layers.
This racket is ITTF-approved likewise. It has a remarkable capability to absorb shocks and offers great stability and balance. Lastly, it comes with a higher price tag as compared to Pro Carbon. However, its manufacturer offers a 30-day no question-asked warranty.
STIGA Evolution Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket
Pros:
- The Stiga Evolution allows for perfect balance on point of contact of the ball.
- It makes use of quality rubber along with 2mm sponge.
- It is lightweight.
- It utilizes crystal technology for speed.
Cons:
- Its speed and spin ratings, compared to Pro Carbon, are low.
- It offers better control, but slower speed.
The STIGA Evolution offers performance-level design and comes with a 6-ply blade. It is lightweight and sports a shock -dispersion technology (SDT). This technology uses a composite rod integrated into the handle and blade. This rod readily absorbs all shock vibrations and dissipates these shock vibrations via sound waves.
The STIGA Evolution sports a 2mm thick sponge with concave pro handle. It is barely 170 grams or 6 Oz. Its rubber is ITTF approved.
The STIGA Evolution offers a great level of comfort when used, although it is heavier than the Pro Carbon. Thus, if you play long hours of ping-pong, you will easily tire using this paddle.
This paddle is great for beginners because it offers greater control. Its speed rating is 96, its control rating is 90, and its spin rating is 94. With its higher control rating, you will surely find this paddle easy to use. Lastly, it is made mostly of wood, it doesn’t offer uniform bounce. Thus, it is quirky at times; but you will surely get used to it.
Palio Expert 2 Table Tennis Racket & Case
Pros:
- Palio Expert 2 offers sticky rubber for improved and better spin.
- It comes with a comfortable blade that is easy to master.
- It is affordable.
- It is good for use by intermediate players and beginners.
Cons:
- Between its blade and rubber, it has a different sponge.
The Palio Expert 2 is a product of a collaborative effort between two companies, namely, the Palio and the Expert Table Tennis. Thus, they were able to come up with a professional grade paddle for a better playing of table tennis. Its rubbers are made of Palio CJ8000, and these rubbers are ITTF-approved.
Palio Expert 2 features a redesigned blade for better control and better feel. This paddle is light and offers great balance.
This racket is perfect for beginners who want to learn the rudiments of playing table tennis. It is suitable for people who thrive in spin and those who need better control.
Palio Expert 2 offers a speed rating of 6/10, spin rating of 9/10, and 10/10 control. A cursory look at these ratings readily suggests that it is meant for perfect control in a game and is one of the best rackets under 50.
STIGA Supreme Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket
Pros:
- The STIGA Supreme is lightweight at 4.6 ounces.
- It offers great control with a control rating of 9/10.
- It features a user-friendly design.
- It is great for a defensive playing style.
Cons:
- It is recommended for beginners, but not for advanced players.
- It lacks spin.
The STIGA Supreme is a lightweight racket that is ideal for use by beginners who are simply trying to learn the basics of table tennis. It does not offer great speed and spin, but it offers great control.
It comes with a 6-ply blade made of light wood. It makes use of STIGA’s Crystal Tech along with Tube Technology. It is cool to use and doesn’t tire your hand. Its inverted rubber with 2mm sponge will let you have perfect control of the ball. It is best for returning and blocking the ball.
Basically, the strong points of this racket include its being lightweight and its ability to give you perfect control of your game.
Ping Pong Paddle JT-700 with Killer Spin
Pros:
- The Ping-pong Paddle JT700 is a lightweight paddle that features high-quality rubber and wood.
- It comes with a unique design.
- It offers great speed and unpredictable spin.
- It also provides stable control of your game.
Cons:
- It comes with two different paddle sides.
- It sacrifices a bit of control over speed.
- It usually takes time to master the use of this paddle.
The Ping pong Paddle JT700 comes with a unique design. It comes with a yellow ping-pong paddle design that stands out in a crowd. Its rubber is the SPGM Pro Hornet Series rubber that offers great speed. Its blade is 2-mm thick. It also features a 5-ply blade made of pure wood that makes it very lightweight.
Killerspin JT-700 is packed with stability and base strength. It also offers unpredictable spin that would baffle your opponent. Its speed, spin, and control ratings are 82, 91, and 79 respectively.
As mentioned above, this paddle is perfect for those who thrive in spin. With the use of this paddle, you can improve your skill and up your game. It is perfect for beginners and intermediate level players.
Killerspin JET200 Table Tennis Paddle
Pros:
- The Killerspin Jet200 comes with good control rating that is ideal for beginners.
- It comes with a usable box as a case. It is also very affordable.
- It comes with a 30-day warranty.
Cons:
- It offers poor speed rating.
- It does not have a good handle.
- Its rubbers are not ITTF-approved.
The Killerspin Jet200 is designed for beginners as a Shakehand style paddle. It is great for beginners because it allows for great control which is badly needed by beginners. It has a speed, spin, and control ratings of 6.0, 7.0, and 8.5 respectively.
The Killerspin Jet200 features a 5-ply extra light blade and has a flared grip handle. Its rubbers are not ITTF-approved.
Factors How To Choose Ping Pong Paddle in 2020
Finding the ideal table tennis racket among the myriads of brands and models of rackets is not an easy process. You would need to know the important features that you must consider to figure out the ping-pong racket that would suit your playing style and level. Here are the basic features that you need to consider when buying a ping-pong racket:
A. Rubber Type
The main padding of the table tennis racket is the rubber. A simple alteration in the paddle’s rubber will surely change your game. Moreover, the rubber’s tensile strength will surely play a great deal in your playing speed and the swiftness of the ball. It will also determine the amount of recoil or bounce of the ball.
B. Blade Type
The blade type will also have an implication on your game. Its design is crucial to your winning a game. Lighter blade, for example, will be great for offensive shots. It is also great for a defensive stance.
Lighter blades enable you to maintain the ball speed, allowing you to engage in rapid shots against your opponent. Heavier blades, on the other hand, are great for a defensive type of game.
C. Sponge Type
Sandwiched between the rubber and the blade is the sponge. The sponge can vary in design and material. A harder sponge can lessen the capability of the racket to absorb shock. Lighter ones, on the other hand, can slow down the ball.
D. Durability
Durability is another crucial factor to consider when buying a ping-pong racket. You surely don’t want a paddle that is easily damaged. It should be able to withstand heavy banging every game. It should also be durable enough to last throughout the years.
E. Grip Style
The grip style is often crucial to your winning many games in table tennis. There are different types of grips like the Shakehand grip, Penhold grip, Flared handle, and Straight handle. Hence, your choice of racket’s grip should complement your playing style.
F. Playing Style
Another critical factor that you need to consider is your playing style. You should know your skill set and playing style so that you can choose the ideal racket type to complement your playing style.
Some rackets are meant for speed. Some are for control and spin; while some are for defensive games. Some are designed for highly offensive stance.
FAQs About Ping Pong Paddle
Those who would like to play table tennis have enough questions in their mind about the ping-pong rackets. Hence, we have collated some frequently asked questions about table tennis racket, and here are two of these questions:
- What is the ideal table tennis paddle?
Table tennis rackets vary in design and built. There are table tennis rackets that are designed for beginners, and there are also rackets for advanced players. But basically, your playing style, level of skill, and the other abovementioned factors will determine the racket that would be ideal for your use.
- Can I customize my table tennis racket?
Yes, you can step up from a ready-made paddle to a custom-made paddle. But this process can be a bit daunting. To create the best paddle that would suit your playing style, you need to carefully choose the blades and rubbers that you would use for your paddle. You should also choose something that is approved by ITTF if you plan to use your racket in any recognized tournament.
Wrap Up
Your choice of the best table tennis paddle usually boils down to your preference. If you wish to have a controlled offensive game, you can choose the Killerspin Jet 800. But if you want an all-out offensive game, then the STIGA Pro Carbon may be your best choice among the abovementioned 7 options.
Of course, these two table tennis rackets—Killerspin Jet 800 and STIGA Pro Carbon—are two of your best choices among the top 7 rackets that we have listed. However, we are a bit inclined to favor the STIGA Pro Carbon over the Killerspin Jet 800 because it is less expensive than the Killerspin Jet800. These two rackets, however, are your best choices among the abovementioned table tennis rackets.
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