OOAK Table Tennis Forum

The short version
Blade: Anything ALL to OFF-.
AVOID DEF, OFF, OFF+. AVOID ANY COMPOSITE BLADE - CARBON, ARYLATE, KEVLAR, ETC.
Rubber: Something 'normal' in about 1.5mm to 1.8mm
AVOID MAXIMUM AND 2.0MM THICKNESS RUBBERS, RUBBERS <1MM THICK, TENSORS, BUTTERFLY HIGH TENSION, TENERGY, SPRING SPONGE, TSP HI TENSION, FORMULA DONIC, YASAKA SPIN TENSION SYSTEM, YASAKA PRYDE, JOOLA GREEN POWER, JOOLA EXPRESS, ANYTHING THAT SAYS TENSION IN IT, SHORT PIPS, MEDIUM PIPS, LONG PIPS, ANYTHING THAT COSTS TOO MUCH, SUPERSOFT STICKY RUBBERS, ANTISPIN ETC.


No, this isn't a place for you to tell us about your first bat. What we're doing here is a blurb about great bats to kick off your table tennis odyssey (It's another beginner equipment thread!)




Blades:
<---More Expensive--->
Andro Supercore ALL+
Andro Suss Hinoki ALL
Avalox P500
Avalox BT550
Avalox BT555
Butterfly Grubba Pro
Butterfly Primorac OFF-
Butterfly Timo Boll ALL
Donic Applegren Allplay V1
Donic Waldner Senso V1
Nittaku Kasumi Basic
Nittaku Narcus
Stiga Allround Classic
Stiga Allround NCT
Stiga Energy Wood
Stiga Offensive Classic
Yasaka Extra
Yasaka Extra 3D



<---Less Expensive--->
Galaxy 961
Galaxy N10
Galaxy U4
LKT Bomb
LKT Instinct (OP Note: I have issues recommending this blade these days. I have seen at least 6 snapped blades. They seem typically weak around the neck)


OP Note: Cheap vs Expensive. What's the difference?
If you take care of your blade, they'll last about the same. Generally the more expensive blade will have a better finish and better wood/construction quality. If you abuse it, you'll ruin an expensive blade just as quickly as a cheap blade.



Rubbers:
Rubber thickness: 1.8mm

Grip:
Butterfly Sriver FX
Butterfly Sriver EL
Butterfly Sriver L
Donic Coppa
Donic Coppa Tagora
Donic Coppa Tenero
Donic JO Waldner
Nittaku Annsort
Stiga Mendo
Stiga Mendo Energy
Tibhar Rapid
Tibhar Varispin
Xiom Vega Intro
Yasaka Mark V
Yasaka Mark V AD

Sticky:
Friendship 729 Higher
Friendship 729 Cream
Palio CJ8000






















I'll go first.

On the cheap:
- Galaxy 961 or LKT Instinct
- 729FX Lightening 2.0mm
Total price: <$50 AUD.
Description:
Medium speed blade for all round style play, 729FX Lightening for good control and spin generation. Choose the 961 for a softer touch or the Instinct for stronger attack.

Quality costs money:
- Stiga Allround Classic
- Yasaka Mark V 1.8mm
Total Price: Approx $120 AUD
Description:
Spin Offensive class blade for controlled attacking play, quality Yasaka Japanese rubber for strong controlled attack.

_________________
Chasse Patate

LKT Instinct
LKT Pro XP
LKT Pro XP

Butterfly Primorac Off-
Sriver fx 1.9
Sriver fx 1.9

IMHO Coppa Tagora is a little fast for a beginner better try Sriver FX first.

Excellent idea Silver! I'll sticky this thread once we get a few more entries (stickying it now may make it get lost a little among the other stickied topics).

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

I think this thread does not need to be about beginner players, but more for those players that are new to equipment, and need some help to pick a decent setup to suit their style...

Offensive 2-winged looper - 729 setup:
729 Bomb
729 Higher
729 higher

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

And what are the beginners' blades for penholders ?

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Roots 9 C-Pen
Red Acuda P2

Beginners C-pen:

Traditional chinese close to the table player:
729 Bomb c-pen
RITC 2000 2.0mm

Beginner to intermediate looper:
729 Bomb c-pen
729 Lightening 2.0mm

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Yes that's true.

Japanese/European rubber spin game:
Avalox P500 (Or similar Limba top blade)

(Glue)
Sriver FX
Mark V 30

(Non-Glue)
Tango
Desto F2, F3

_________________
Chasse Patate

All of the aformentioned blades are available in Penhold

I'd take a off- speed limba topped blade with something soft. Sriver FX, Mark V 30 are great, especially for consistent RPB.

Forehand is a matter of taste: If you're a loop rallier, european rubbers are better (imo). If you prefer to stay close, stickier rubbers are better.

_________________
Chasse Patate

ok

looper with glue:
Sriver FX 2.1
Bryce FX 2.1

looper without glue:
Bryce Speed fx 2.1
Donic Sonex JP gold

When I have to advise a racket for a beginer, it also depends on his game but I always chose something with good control as an allround blade and two rubbers as a tibhar varispin, tibhar legen or a tibhar rapid if he is more offensive. I would advise 1.8 as max thickness to begin: it is fast enough to attack and offers a good control.
I don't often advise friendship beacause a lot of people here only know the 729 ritc with blue ponge. Some of them looks me like this when I say they are plenty of friendship, even very soft one.

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Blade : Tibhar COS3
Forehand: Moon Pro 2.0
Backhand: Neubauer Desperado Ox
****
http://www.diabolosyl.net (my own site)
http://www.tennis-de-table.com (biggest forum in France)

For Penhold (probably Shakehand as well) I'd recommend:

Blade: Yasaka Extra or Extra 3D.
Rubbers: MarkV/Sriver (non-tacky) or Cream (tacky).

After over 1 year and 4 blades, playing with Yasaka Extra still felt really, really great. I'd really like to get another all-wood blade just because of the last session with it.

For a beginner wanting a carbon blade I'd say the Galaxy 2024 wouldn't be a bad choice.

And for rubber, I would also throw into the pot the Butterfly Flextra. Its not too expensive (as far as BTY goes), has good control and spin and enough speed too.

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I'm always in the dark, but the Dark sheds lights upon everything!! Beauty is only pimple deep! Beauty is in the eye of the pipholder!
S/U 1: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Andro Rasant 2.1 . BH Red Tibhar Grass Dtecs
S/U 2: Blade: Bty Gergely . FH Black Hexer+ 2.1 . BH Red GD Talon
S/U 3: Blade: Bty Gergely . No rubbers...thinking of adding Red Dtecs and Black Rasant
Aussie Table Tennis Shop / Aussie Table Tennis Facebook Page / Equipment Review Index / Read my Reb Report Blog: click here.

Good god, no. Even regular Sriver is a tad fast for a beginner, and no beginner should be using glue, in ANY context. Bryce and Sonex are perfect ways to kill any newbie's game.

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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

LKT Instinct
LKT Pro XP
LKT Pro XP

Butterfly Primorac Off-
Sriver fx 1.9
Sriver fx 1.9

these are beginners setup

the other 2 setups are for advanced players that are relatively new to equipment.