OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Hi

Currently using a Sanwei Fextra 7 with Sanwei rubbers; am happy with it as my game seems to have improved...
Am a recreational player, more of a blocker/pusher/chopper with a very weak BH.

Am looking for an ALL+ / OFF- blade with a conical handle.
Hoping it use it for different rubbers and maybe twiddle.... used to do that long ago with premade rackets... not easy at all with most blades being with Flared handles.

Found that Neottec has few models with conical handles...
Any other manufacturers?

(should I try to reduce the flare of the Fextra??)

Thanks!!

(I think long-time readers know what's coming next.. )

If you want to experiment with sanding down handles, etc. without feeling guilty about ruining an expensive blade, I'd suggest this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32635784830.html

No, this isn't a joke, this is an excellent blade with excellent touch, ALL+ to OFF-. I play with it myself. The handle is a little thin, which might make it easier to twiddle. I often turn the bat over while waiting to receive a serve, though I don't actually twiddle (since I use two inverted sheets anyway). Anyway, another way to alter a handle's contours is to use grip tape (I think something like cloth bandage tape or kinesiology tape would work better than badminton or tennis grip tape) - you can apply layers of it to the parts of the handle that you want to be thicker.

Iskandar

Ospblades offer a conical handle for most of their blades, they call it "Elcon". Soulspin is calling the conical handle "G7". Sdcttblades will build pretty much everything you ask for, probably even a blade similar to your Fextra (or maybe even something better) but with a conical handle. I guess that goes for other independent blade makers, too.

Aliexpress does not have that (and other options) when I browse from India... I think many portals do not ship to India since a while...

Handmade / custom made blades are out of my budget.

Any idea if regular manufacturers have blades that are less flared and more rounded?
Thanks!

The only cheap blade with a conical handle that I know is the Tibhar IV-L: 4 layers (therefore the "IV") all Ayous. I never played one but it is said to be ALL+/OFF- with a soft touch and good feeling. You could also change the handle of your favourite blade. I tried it once and broke the blade but there are a lot of excellent woodworkers in India. If it is only for twiddling, you could try an anatomic handle. These are available for a lot of different blades. Many greetings to India!