Ping pong or table tennis is the favorite activity of many people around the world. The popularity of this game is huge among the people. So, with this in mind, we are here to assist you in finding the best ping pong paddles, and since it is so much popular, the topic deserves an entire post.
Having the best table tennis racket is vital, and you must have the one according to your exact needs.
Check Out Best Ping Pong Balls.
Are you a newbie in this game or want a paddle that you can use at home? Or you are a Pro player of ping pong that needs a durable paddle for a competition? Or maybe you want a ping pong paddle for your kids.
Whatever the case is, in this read, you will get all the answers. We will start the things with some of the best paddles for table tennis in the market, and then there is a comprehensive buying guide about the ping pong paddles.
Product Reviews:
1. STIGA PRO CARBON – OUR #1 BEST PING PONG PADDLE
Let’s kick off the things with this Stiga Pro Carbon ping pong paddle, which will lift your game to the next level. The thing that we appraise the most about this paddle is its comfortable grip and light-weight design.
It has the capability to absorb all the vibrations, and as a result, it offers superior comfort and maneuverability. The handle features an angled design and robust construction. This Stigma Carbon ping pong bat is also perfect for offensive playing style. The loops and smashing are ideal when you are using this paddle.
This Carbon Pro paddle features a seven-ply blade along with an S5 rubber, which is highly durable and can resist daily wear and tear. It also contains a 2mm sponge that can efficiently absorb the ball’s speed and allows you to return the forceful serves.
Lastly, the Stiga Pro Carbon Paddle features a spin rating of 100, a speed rating is 99, and a control rating is 80.
2. KILLER SPIN JET 800
Killerspin Jet 800 is a durable ping pong paddle with a stylish and elegant structure. The paddle features light-weight construction, and it is more suitable for offensive ping pong players. The price is reasonable, especially when you compare the features that it offers.
The Killerspin Jet ping pong paddle features seven layers, two of them are carbon fiber while the others are constructed of premium, lightweight wood.
The paddle is covered with Nitrix 2.0 mm rubber; one side is black, and the other side is red. For your convenience, it features a flared handle.
This Killerspin Jet 800 table tennis racket also features a wooden side tape. This wooden tape absorbs the vibrations and looks beautiful as well.
The light-weight design of this paddle enables you to use it for hours without feeling tired. The top-notch rubbers of the paddle allow for a better spin. The spin rating of the paddle is 90. The control rating is 80, and it has a speed rating of 95.
3. Idoraz Table Tennis Paddle Professional Racket –
The best table tennis paddle many times turns out to be the only difference between winning and losing. So, never compromise on that and try to get the one that gives great power, and our this pick, the Idoraz Table Tennis Paddle, offers the same. It is among the best rackets for ping pong in the market.
According to consumer reports, this ping pong paddle offers awesome balance and decent spin. The International Table Tennis Federation also approves the unit, and you can use this paddle in competitive table tennis tournaments.
The overall built quality of the unit is reliable and highly durable. It features pure wood, which allows for excellent control and improves your gameplay. The unit is expertly designed and will aid you a lot in your serves and backspin.
Overall, we can say the paddle is light-weight, around 0.4 pounds. Hence, there will be no issues in carrying it for a long time. Lastly, the paddles come with a handy storage case. The spin rating of this paddle is 93, the control rating is 90, and it has a durable rubber coating of 2mm.
4. KILLERSPIN JET200
Here comes the best ping pong paddle for beginners. This Killerspin Jet200 is explicitly made for newbies and recreational players.
The paddle enables you to have full control over the paddle and improves your gameplay. The light-weight design allows you to practice various shots with ease without feeling any fatigue on your hand. To be precise, the paddle weighs around 6.2 ounces.
However, according to our experts, this paddle is more suitable for defensive as it gives more control and less speed and spin. It features a spin rating of 70, the speed rating of the unit is 60, whereas the control rating is 85.
The construction of this Killerspin Jet200 is solid and durable. It has five-ply construction so that it will serve you for a long time. The grip is comfortable, and the handle is flared shape. It is a flexible paddle that the beginners will love to use.
To sum up, the rubber is built to last and contributes to precise control and accurate spin.
5. Stiga Supreme
This STIGA Supreme is a widely popular Table Tennis Racket among the players. The paddle is available at an affordable price, and it is suitable for both beginners and experts.
Overall, the performance is satisfactory, and it feels good in the hand. It features a 2mm sponge and a light-weight blade that offers six layers. To improve your gameplay and increase speed, it features innovative tube technology. Due to this technology, the surface of the paddle is thicker than the others. The Future inverted rubber on the blade looks elegant and beautiful.
The ITTF approves the unit so you can use it in tournaments and leagues. The Speed rating of the paddle is 90, whereas it features a spin rating of 92. Control lacks a bit for professional players, but it is suitable for beginners. The control rating of the paddle is 89.
It comes with replaceable rubber, and the process is simple. One thing worthy of mentioning here is that the unit lacks when you compare it with other Stigma products, so look out for that when buying.
6. Butterfly 401 Table Tennis Racket
This Butterfly 401 table tennis racket set is perfect for novice players. A butterfly is a name that you can trust blindly, and it will not let you down.
The first thing that we liked about this reputable paddle is its reasonable price. The unit is ideal for practicing powerful serves and spin shots. It features durable Butterfly Yuki rubber on both sides of the blade.
It also features a 2.1mm sponge layer for a bouncy feel and speed. To make the storage simple and quick, it comes in a lovely racket cover.
It is made from five layers blade that offers superb power in your shots during the gameplay. As it features a tacky surface, there will be no issues in spinning the ball. However, the paddle’s surface is prone to dust, so we will recommend you to keep covered when it is not in use.
The handle of this Butterfly ping pong paddle features a round flared design that provides a comfortable grip even if you use it for hours. The shake hand style handle is colorful and makes it a classy table tennis paddle.
7. Palio Master 2
If you are just starting your table tennis journey, we recommend starting with this Palio Master 2. This table tennis bat is ideal for practicing purposes and provides exceptional control and power.
This ping pong racket is flawlessly designed, keeping in mind the needs of the up-and-coming players. If you’re serious about your gameplay, then this paddle is ideal for you.
The five-ply wood blade offers great force and keeps your hand comfortable while you are using it. In this way, you will not feel tired even if you use them for long sessions. The other that we loved the most is the CJ8000 rubbers. These are superb and offer nice spin and speed in your shots. You will be amazed by the amount of spin that this ping pong bat offers to you.
The flared shaped handle feels soft and offers a firm grip. Lastly, this amazing paddle for ping pong comes in a zippered case for secure storage.
8. JP WinLook (Set of 4)
Our last pick is fun for the whole family. This four-pack set comes with everything that you will for a great game. This JP WinLook set contains four high-quality ping pong paddles and eight balls.
These paddles are made from plywood that gives optimum control, spin, and speed. The included rubber sheet offers a soft sponge and even bounce.
To make the grip comfortable, it features five plywood blade along with a rubber sheet. So, you will not face any issue when using it for hours.
The pack also contains eight three-star ping pong balls. The ITTF approves these white balls; these are safe to use in leagues and tournaments.
For your convenience, this ping pong paddle set comes in a zipper carrying bag. In this way, you can comfortably carry it wherever you want.
Lastly, this set is ideal for both experts and newbies. The features that it offers makes it the best paddles set in the market today.
Ping Pong Paddle Buyer’s Guide
Many users have only one question in their mind, how to buy the best paddles to play ping pong, and what features to look out for? To help, we’ve mentioned our opinion below that you must know when buying your new table tennis racket.
The Handle
All the paddles that are mentioned above featured a “flared” or “concave” handle. This means the racket curves interiorly from the center, and it has a wide bottom and top. This is the most used shape of the handle and offers excellent flexibility and a comfortable grip.
The other common shapes of ping pong handles are “anatomic” and “straight.”
The anatomic handle looks like the flared handle, but it has an outward shape from the center. According to the experts, these are well-suited for professionals, but they are difficult to use.
Professionals prefer straight handles due to their straight design. These are the most flexible handles of ping pong paddle but certainly not the comfortable one.
The Blade
Usually, the blade of the paddle is made from several layers of hardwood. The number of layers differs from brand to brand. Generally, these are between 5 and 9. More layers make the paddle stiff. Some ping pong bats are made from carbon fiber material instead of wood. The carbon fiber is light-weight than the wood and durable as well. However, professional players prefer wooden ones.
The Sponge
Between the blade and the rubber, you will find a layer of sponge. The thickness of the sponge can be between 1.2 mm to 2.5 mm. The thinner sponge offers precise control but less power when hitting the ball. And thicker sponge has less control but excellent power and speed. Most users prefer the paddles with the thick sponge.
The Rubber
On both sides of the blade, you will find a layer of rubber. Perhaps it is the most important part of the ping pong paddle. It has pimples on the surface. These pimples have many variations, such as long ones or short ones and pointing inward or outward. These variations directly affect the spin and grip of the paddle.
Rubbers should be your primary consideration when buying the paddle. The rubber on the paddle should be approved by the ITTF if you are buying a paddle to use in pro leagues and tournaments.
Your Playing Style
When you’re new to the game, you will have to focus on enhancing your basic skills. So, for this purpose, you need a paddle that offers excellent control.
As you progress, your gaming style will begin to develop, and it is a point where you need to change your paddle. If you are an attacking player that loves speed, then you a paddle that is light in weight and fast. If you have a defensive approach, then you should go for the one that offers more control.
FAQs
What is the difference between the red and black sides of the paddle?
The answer is straightforward. The red side offers a smaller amount of spin but more speed to the ball. Whereas the other side (black) offers more spin to the ball, but the speed of the ball is slow.
Furthermore, the audience and the challenger get to know what type of shot is coming and plan their hit. To explain more, the Red side means “the attack,” and the black side means “the defense.”
Are expensive ping pong paddles worth it?
Absolutely! But expensive is not always better. It mainly depends on your skills. If you’re a starter, then buying the expensive ping pong paddles is useless; however, if you’re a professional player, then it makes sense to buy an expensive paddle.
Which side of a table tennis racket is forehand?
The red side indicates the forehand play, whereas the black side of the paddle indicates the backhand strokes.
How can the ping pong paddle be maintained?
To make sure that your new ping pong paddle lasts for years, you must properly clean it. All you need to clean your ping pong paddle is water, soft fabric, and mild soap. Similarly, keep checking the physical condition of the paddle regularly. In this way, you can identify the defects timely and perform the repairs.
Final Words
These were our thorough reviews of the best ping pong paddles that you can get nowadays. Mostly, the choice of paddles depends on the playing style. But, there are some other essential features to look out for as well. These additional features, such as design, color, handle shape, and other details, will greatly improve your gameplay.
It is vital to check out all the features that we have mentioned in the ping pong paddle buying guide so that you can buy the one that offers excellent value for your money.