OOAK Table Tennis Forum

The only major type of blade I have not tried so far are chinese penhold blades. But I found myself gravitating towards a more RPB style. I am currently using a Violin Jpen hybrid/twiddler. I can use it for RPB but the dimensions (cork front-end of the handle a bit too far into the blade so that my finger has to reach through a wider part of the neck) are so that I feel that I will have to sand the blade a lot more to get it really comfortable for RPB. I have already sanded the blade a lot on both sides, if I sand more then I will be cutting into the shape of the blade. So I thought before I mutilate my violin further maybe I should try a proper Chinese penhold blade that's supposedly more RPB compatible.

So any suggestions please? Btw, I really like the feel of the Violin, but I'm not prepared to spend that much again, so while the Violin CS would be a logical choice, I'd rather try a cheaper alternative for now. Is there a cheap chinese equivalent to the Violin CS? Or any other Cpen around the same speed and control and weight? The violin is supposedly OFF, and my Jpen twiddler weighs 71grams.

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Galaxy K-4/ Xiom Vega Pro/ Xiom Vega Pro

If 50-60 USD is a good range, definitely go with Avalox. The BT555 and the like are some of the finest Cpens out there for a looping game, and they'd pair wonderfully with your usual rubbers. If that's still too much pricewise, you could look into Galaxy's stuff. The T-8 is good if you don't mind a dulled feeling from the Aralyte (it's fast, but has good touch and loops quite well- it'd be a good match for the 999 Elite rubbers). U-6 and U-8 are better for all wood (I think U-8 is better overall, but U-6 is a bit faster, these would probably be nice with the 999 Elite rubbers as well, but would perhaps be a bit too soft).

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Jpen: Galaxy 982 juniper 8mm- Darker Provine Tension-50 2.2 or Tibhar Torpedo Soft 2.2
Shake OFF: Galaxy T8 ST- FH: Darker PT-50 2.2, BH: Juic Varites 1.5
Shake DEF: modified Joo- FH: Reactor Corbor 2.2, BH: Globe 979 1.5

I didn't really like the shape of the avalox cpens - they're by far the longest, handle is set back the furthest and most head heavy of the lot.

The stiga cpens are the best shape imo.

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Chasse Patate

71gr is pretty hard to match. I don't think I know of any All-Wood OFF blade weighing around that. Maybe you could look into Yasaka Extra 3D (available in 78-80gr). It has pretty good speed (OFF-), dynamics and comfortable to play with.

Stiga's CPen handle is pretty comfortable, feels a bit boxy. However, for their price range, I'm not impressed with Stiga's quality in general. Also, I don't think Stiga's WRB is suitable for CPen.

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.:[:. YEO : H2 - Coppa JO-G .:]:.

The Donic WSC cpen I have has a fairly good shape. Not the best I've used though

Anyway I like the Stigas because the handle is set further into the blade - meaning that the balance is more neutral.

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Chasse Patate

The most popular blade for RPB is still the Yasaka Extra, and you can often get one in the 70-80 gram range. Very soft and springy and a long head which helps with the reverse shot. In the U.S. they are under $40.

The Avalox 550 is also a good choice. The Galaxy 2004 looks good and my U-2006 is only 78 grams, so the thinner and slower 2004 may be lighter.

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-- Andrew

Spintech All Around Penhold blade
Spinlord Keiler II 1.5 black
Nittaku FastArc G1 red

729 all around blade
Tibhar Grass D-Tec S Red
Nittaku FastArc G1 black

If you are fussy about the weight like me, then it is hard to find suitable one for you. I have Violin twiddler 72 grams as well as Violin C-pen, but the latter weighs 77 grams. Perhaps you can follow the recommendation from Agooding2 since he said it is possible to get one at 70 grams.

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Expert II crwi C-Pen
Red Acuda P1

Is the Yasaka Extra about the same as Primorac, speedwise?

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Galaxy K-4/ Xiom Vega Pro/ Xiom Vega Pro

I'd say the two (Primorac and Yasaka Extra) are pretty similar.

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-- Andrew

Spintech All Around Penhold blade
Spinlord Keiler II 1.5 black
Nittaku FastArc G1 red

729 all around blade
Tibhar Grass D-Tec S Red
Nittaku FastArc G1 black

thanks for everyone's suggestions. i'll have to try holding the blades in person at a store to really judge the fit.

but the other option is probably to put a high throw rubber on the RPB side. Since RPB has a naturally closed racket angle, the high throw rubber compensates to help lift the ball up, so you don't need to dislocate a finger trying to open the angle so much. since i have a spare mark V rubber (of the right color too!) maybe i'll try that instead of the 999 Elite Ultima. I believe the Mark V has higher throw, is this correct?

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Galaxy K-4/ Xiom Vega Pro/ Xiom Vega Pro

I checked out the yasaka ma lin blades. Carbon, soft carbon, and use extra offensive. Very hard to tell the speed and feel apart just from bouncing a ball. Also looked at a stiga oc cr. The stiga had a wider neck. The yasakas were really comfortable to hold. Makes me regret getting a jpen twiddler a little. i'm leaning more towards the yeo for now because it is the lightest at 80g. have not checked out any cheap chinese blades yet

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Galaxy K-4/ Xiom Vega Pro/ Xiom Vega Pro

YEO is a good one for all-wood, but pretty solid for a 5W blade. Pretty uniqe feel, with large sweetspot area. There're two layers of hard stripe-wood which I've not seen before, and generally all wood layers are fairly solid. I should mention mine weighs 86.5gr, so likely to feel more solid than an 80gr one.

MLC & MLSC are great CPen carbon blades with woodish feel. Bought the MLSC for a friend, and use the MLC myself. YEO might feel a bit thick if you're used to Violin, but I think MLC & MLSC would feel great for you. I'm pretty sure they're available in 80gr weight as well. Take extra care of these carbon blades though, as they're fragile.

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.:[:. YEO : H2 - Coppa JO-G .:]:.

Is a YEO a offensive 40? Or is it a different blade?

I was under the impression that most yasaka blades were quite flexy. I'm eyeing off a max wood though...

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Chasse Patate

I guess there are rumours that YEO is the same as Offensive 40. Judging from Yasaka's speed rating of Offensive 40, I doubt it, since YEO feels close to but slower than MLC. YEO is also on the harder side, not that flexy and has very little vibration. I was looking for Max Wood before getting YEO, but the stores I usually go to didn't carry it.

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.:[:. YEO : H2 - Coppa JO-G .:]:.

No, the Offensive 40 is a 7 ply and Extra is a 5 ply.

If you want something stiff, the 7 ply Max Wood is definitely that.

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-- Andrew

Spintech All Around Penhold blade
Spinlord Keiler II 1.5 black
Nittaku FastArc G1 red

729 all around blade
Tibhar Grass D-Tec S Red
Nittaku FastArc G1 black