If you like to play ping pong, you understand how the best table tennis paddle can improve your game. With a market filled with so many options, it can be difficult when determining which products truly make a difference.
We have seen these many selections and can empathize.
This article will help you better understand which features make a difference and why. Each item listed in our table is examined further with a more detailed review. We also answer some common questions most players have before we wrap it up.
How to choose the best ping pong paddle?
To better understand what your best table tennis racket might be it is necessary to elaborate upon key elements which should improve your play. This process starts by evaluating your skill level so that potential equipment matches your abilities.
Once that has been determined our examination can progress into how certain item designs will increase ball control. You would be surprised by the amount of spin, control, power, and speed that can be generated with subtle paddle tweaks.
Finally, you won’t have to break your bank for better gameplay either!
5 points you need to know before purchase a table tennis paddle
Find out your skill
Best table tennis paddle for beginners
Those with little experience will find it difficult to keep game balls in play. Your gear should provide speeds and weight promoting contact.
Best table tennis paddle for intermediate player
People who have been playing for some time understand body positioning and stroke. Here, equipment can focus more on speed and spin to take your play to a higher level. Look for features focusing on this.
Best table tennis paddle for advanced player
Advanced players understand how to generate increased speed and spin on most strikes and are looking to further increase gains. Potential products should include its best options that they can afford for features that will give an edge during play on game tables.
Best professional table tennis paddle
At this stage you’ve developed a favored style. An aggressive style could benefit from equipment that is faster or heavier, while defensive play requires control through lighter and slower rackets.
Best ping pong paddle for spin
Once your technique starts to improve, you’ll need an increased spin from paddle play. These shots are harder for your opponent to return accurately, often frustrating participants with lower skill levels. Your gear should include design features providing help by creating more spin on a ping pong ball.
- Those products rated as best table tennis paddle for spin often have their rubber pips facing towards its blade. This promotes contact with a smooth surface when your ball is hit.
- Rackets made for increasing spin will be lighter in their total weight. That will increase performance by allowing its user to operate with more manipulation of its face during their shot.
Items rated with a higher control for players will usually have a spin rating that is similar, due to similar characteristics for both points.
Best ping pong paddle for control
While speed and spin are gained through design, control is gained mostly through practice. Actually, rackets that help with these attributes will also shrink your room for error. This may actually translate into less control!
Better control at the table is more of a measure that is indicated by consistent strikes along with shot accuracy. The best ping pong racket will, therefore, provide you with control over these. Keeping that in mind, remember:
Beginners and casual participants see gains with their control through paddles that provide slower play at the table.
Intermediate users have enough skill developed that they can reliably play with rackets that produce faster play through lighter materials.
Advanced or professions players will have shot control and can take advantage of the fastest paddles on the market.
Power & Speed
You’ve probably noticed that the best ping pong paddle 2018 selections comes with ratings which indicate to potential customers how these products will perform within particular categories. Each category will be rated either 1 – 10 or 1 – 100, depending upon the manufacturer. Higher numbers indicate greater performance level in that particular category.
- Speed ratings can give players an idea of the top speeds that can be generated when the ball is hit. These products will play faster than other equipment, a trait that is common with the best table tennis racket for spin and speed.
If you’re planning on upgrading to a faster device, remember that it will take less energy with each shot to create speed on the ball. Contact that used to fall short of the net may easily clear it now.
- Power ratings indicate how much energy the paddle absorbs. Wooden materials used in the paddle and handle influence this rating, as well as the rubber and padding between them.
A higher number in this rating category will indicate to players a stronger return on hits.
Price range
If you are new to the game, or a casual participant, then you might get by with cheap ping pong paddles. However, players looking to truly improve their gameplay will want to invest in better equipment.
Even the best ping pong paddle under 50 dollars will provide you with features that can match your playing style.
Small upgrades can secure rackets that play slowly while offering more control. More expensive items include features designed for greater spin and speed. Finally, the best table tennis paddle you can afford will compliment your play style at the table.
| Player Skill Level
|
Spin
|
Control
|
Power & Speed
|
|
| STIGA Pro Carbon
|
Beginner
|
100
|
80
|
99
|
| STIGA Titan
|
Beginner-Intermediate
|
77
|
82
|
80
|
| Killerspin JET600
|
Intermediate-Advanced
|
9.0/10
|
8.5/10
|
8.0/10
|
| Palio Expert 2
|
Beginner
|
9.0/10
|
10/10
|
6.0/10
|
| Butterfly 603
|
Intermediate-Advanced
|
90
|
85
|
82
|
Top Ping Pong Paddles Reviews
If you seek the best table tennis paddle but don’t know where to start, the following reviews of our top five recommended products will give you some perspective. They range from beginners to more advanced uses in terms of skill level all with their pros and cons that we’ll address in addition to explaining their features. By the end, you’ll better understand which one is the best table tennis paddle for your skills.
STIGA Pro Carbon – Best Ping Pong Paddle
STIGA Pro Carbon is a best ping pong paddle in the world to make you feel like a pro. It has two layers of carbon to improve response and rigidness. This is lightweight to aid in speed. It also has a concave pro handle, features that make it tournament ready for beginners who are close to intermediate-level.
Here’s a summary of characteristics of this brand:
Key Features and Benefits
- Player Skill Level: Beginner
- Spin: 100
- Control: 80
- Power & Speed: 99
This is beginner-level that pushes users higher. There’s plenty of spin with speed, but control is sacrificed for it.
Pros
- Good balance
- Easy to replace the rubber
- Good speed for offensive players
Cons
- Rubber gets indented
- The handle can feel rough
- Rubber may lose tackiness
STIGA Pro Carbon is tournament-ready at an affordable price, making it the best ping pong paddle for the money, especially with offensive players who want to take their skills to the next level.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EFY9F9E
STIGA Titan – Best Table Tennis Paddle for Advanced Player
The best STIGA paddle designed with those looking to challenge themselves while maintaining control is STIGA Titan. It’s thick, lightweight, and good for offensive or defensive playing. There’s enough speed with control to place it among advanced ping pong paddles.
Here’s a summary of characteristics of this brand:
Key Features and Benefits
- Player Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate
- Spin: 77
- Control: 82
- Power & Speed: 80
This beginner-intermediate level racket has average spin, while Crystal Technology increases speed.
Pros
- Helps you improve at a fast rate
- Good lightweight feel
- Sturdy grip
Cons
- Appears to have a dead spot
- Foam can get crushed in packaging
- Handle feels unfinished
STIGA Titan is a go-to racket for advanced users that are a step below the pros. Approved by tournaments, it’s useful whether you’re playing offensive or defense in terms of control.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003JK000I
Killerspin JET600 – Best Intermediate Ping Pong Paddle
Killerspin JET600 is a best ping pong paddle for intermediate to advanced users. It feels soft with a good amount of spring heavy hitters will enjoy. Constructed with three types of wood, it’s light with a balance to help you transition your skill level.
Here’s a summary of characteristics of this brand:
Key Features and Benefits
- Player Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
- Spin: 0/10
- Control: 5/10
- Power & Speed: 0/10
Intermediate users who are training to reach that next stage benefit from this as it provides a balance between control and aggressive playing.
Pros
- Quality rubber material
- Works well with transitioning skills
- Easy to control
Cons
- Small for some users
- Can lose its balance at times
- Feels top-heavy
Killerspin JET600 is useful to push your skills. It has a good balance of speed, control, and spin to make it the best table tennis racket for intermediate players.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002TX6SA2
Palio Expert 2 – Best Beginner Ping Pong Paddle
Palio Expert 2 is the best ping pong paddles for beginners. They have a redesigned blade that gives beginners proper command. A flared handle offers comfort while also increasing accuracy, which can assist those just starting out.
Here’s a summary of characteristics of this brand:
Key Features and Benefits
- Player Skill Level: Beginner
- Spin: 0/10
- Control: 10/10
- Power & Speed: 0/10
This offers the most control at a minimum speed so beginning players can feel comfortable.
Pros
- Quality spin
- Improved stability
- Comes with case
Cons
- Rubber can loosen
- Quality control problems with a sponge
- Can feel heavy
As a table tennis racket for beginners, Palio Expert 2 does away with some of the speed so you have great control and stability.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016BQTCFU
Butterfly 603 – Best Ping Pong Paddle for Spin
Butterfly 603 is a top choice ping pong paddle for a spin. If you want to attack opponents, this has springy, tacky rubber that aid with giving you a powerful spin. Because of that, intermediate or advanced users find it more beneficial.
Here’s a summary of characteristics of this brand:
Key Features and Benefits
- Player Skill Level: Intermediate-Advanced
- Spin: 90
- Control: 85
- Power & Speed: 82
This gives an ideal amount of spin for professional use while balancing speed and control.
Pros
- Sturdy grip
- Offers good response
- Good amount of attack
Cons
- Rubber can disconnect
- The handle can be too short
- Air bubbles may appear on rubber
Butterfly 603 is the ping pong paddle with the most spin thanks to its tacky, springy rubber. It even offers a great ergonomic grip to make it stable.
FAQ About Ping Pong Paddles
Whether you’re just becoming interested in table tennis or are an expert, it never hurts to understand more about ping pong rackets. Below, you’ll discover some common questions people have about them. This includes what may be a better beginner bat compared to advanced users.
What is the best ping pong paddle for beginners?
Choosing an entry-level ping pong bat requires you to understand what beginners need. There should be balance in speed so that you don’t have too much or too little. Instead, focus on control to get a feel of everything. Palio Expert 2 is the best table tennis racket for beginners as it offers maximum stability and command over it while giving enough balance between control and spin to improve.
What is the best Butterfly ping pong paddle?
Butterfly rackets are a top-seller and have been over 60 years now. Out of all of their products, we recommend Butterfly 603 as best Butterfly paddle if you want an incredible attack. Its springy, tacky rubber helps give it quality spin as well.
The Best Table Tennis Paddle – Here is the Winner
Our choice best table tennis paddle is STIGA Pro Carbon. It’s great to help entry-level users climb ranks. More so, it offers a good response, speed, and power to play in tournaments. You can even replace the rubber, giving it longevity.
We also recommend these table tennis rackets:
- STIGA Titan: Crystal Technology hardens blade to increase speed.
- Killerspin JET600: Amount of speed, spin, and control offer balanced playing.
- Palio Expert 2: Redesigned blade improves feel, quality, and stability.
- Butterfly 603: Springy, tacky rubber makes a powerful spin and attack.
We hope our reviews and guide helps you find the best table tennis paddle for your playing needs.