Ping pong, or table tennis as it’s more commonly known, is a fast-paced tabletop game that requires minimal amount of equipment and provides hours of fun.
It can be enjoyed almost anywhere, from your local sports club to a small room. To play it, all you need is a table, a ball and a paddle for serving and returning the ball.
Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, your ping pong paddle makes a great difference to your game.
Top 10 Best Ping Pong Paddle Comparison Table
| Picture | Name | Features | Rating (1-5) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Table Tennis Set - Pack of 4 Premium Paddles/Rackets and 6 Table Tennis Balls - Soft Sponge Rubber - Ideal for Professional & Recreational Games - 2 or 4 Players - Perfect Set On The Go. | High quality rubber. Complete set of paddles and balls. All-round capability. Low cost. | 3 | $ |
 | Professional Table Tennis Paddle Advanced Trainning Ping Pong Racket With Carry Case, 7 ply Wooden Blade with Long Handle(2PCS) | Corrosion-resistant Complete set of paddles and balls. All-round capability. Low cost. | 3 | $ |
 | Duplex | 4 Star Ping Pong Paddle - Table Tennis Blade with Rubber - Beginner through Expert Racket | Premium ITTF approved rubber. Weight balanced design. 100% happy player guarantee. All-round capability. | 3 | $$ |
 | Butterfly PetrKorbel-FL Blade with Flared Handle | Design inspiration from playing style of Petr Korbel. Use of limba wood for energetic topspin. Flared handle. Weight balanced design. | 3 | $$ |
 | Zhang Jike Super ZLC Blades Quality Goods | Made of Super ZL-Carbon. Awesome sweet spot. Weight balanced design. Available in flared and straight version. | 3.5 | $$$$$ |
 | Butterfly Joo Se Hyuk-ST Blade with Straight Handle | Design inspiration from Joo Se Hyuk’ defensive playing style. Excellent chopping and blocking ability. Thick five-layer construction of blade. | 4 | $$ |
 | XiomStrato FL Table Tennis Racket | Use of improved Energy Carbon and Kiso Hinoki wood. Highly energetic and stable topspin. Excellent preciseness or sweet spot. Flared handle design. Offensive and all-round capability. | 4 | $$ |
 | DSP Blade 750 Table Tennis Paddle - Competition ITTF certified | Premium ITTF approved rubber. Excellent sweet spot. Flared handle design. Defensive and all-round capability. Comes with a premium racket bag. | 4.5 | $ |
 | Duplex | Ping Pong Paddle Set of 4 - Best Professional Table Tennis Racket with High Performance Rubber - Wooden Blade with Long Handle | Premium ITTF approved rubber. Weight balanced design. 100% happy player guarantee. All-round capability. | 4.5 | $ |
 | Butterfly Viscaria-FL Blade with Flared Handle | Use of Aralyte Carbon. Excellent sweet spot. Flared handle. Weight balanced design. Exceptional speed, power, control and spin. | 5 | $$$$ |
While a good paddle can enhance your performance, a bad one can mess up your aim, spin and in general, cause you to make mistakes which you normally wouldn’t.
Finding a good paddle is tricky though, especially when there is such huge variety in market.
Today we will hone in on finding the best ping pong paddle according to your skill level and needs.
We will be walking you through the paddle types, benefits, drawbacks and the best options available. This guide has everything that you need to know when buying a new paddle.
What Types of Ping Pong Paddles Are There?
A paddle consists of few parts: blade (the wooden part in the middle), sponge, rubber and handle. Ping pong paddles can be categorized by blade type or also by playing style.
Talking of the blade, there are two types of paddles – one with penhold blade and the other with shakehand blade. Penhold blade paddles are for those who hold the paddle like they’d hold a pen while shakehand blade paddles are for those who hold it like shaking hands with someone.
Based on the playing style, there are three types of paddles: all-round, defensive and offensive. All-round types enable the player to adopt defensive or offensive playing style as per convenience. The blades of these paddles have hard plies in the inside and softer ones on the outside to restrict the speed of ball to medium. These are more popular among beginners and intermediates.
The defensive types have blades with softer and fewer wooden plies. This makes the blade very flexible and gives better control. Also, the rubber used has long pimples, which helps decrease the speed of ball to gain better defense.
The offensive ones are designed to achieve high speeds. Their blades have hard outer plies of wood and the sponge is also thicker. The rubber used has smooth texture so that nothing acts as an obstacle to ball’s speed.
Whichever type you choose, make sure that it suits you well. If you are just starting to play, it is best to go for a basic all-round paddle. Once you mature in the game, you will yourself realize what’s your grip like (penhold or shakehand) and if you are more of an offensive or defensive player.
Benefits of Best Ping Pong Paddle
You need only the best ping pong paddle to take your game to the next level. Once you have tried the best, you wouldn’t feel like going back to the cheap ones that may have come in the game set. The best paddle for you is the one that suits your grip, playing style & experience and at the same time, is durable enough to last for years.
For durability, look for the overall material the paddle is made of. While most paddles use plastic, plastic tends to break and splinter within few months of use. The best paddles use wood or a combination of wood with other materials like titanium or carbon fibers. Also their blades should have at least five layers of materials for increased durability.
Rubber texture is also a key factor to look for. The paddle that has deeper or larger texture of rubber gives more speed but less spin while a thinner or smaller texture gives less speed or power but more spin. The best paddles have a different type of rubber on each side to give the best of both worlds.
Downsides of Ping Pong Paddles
It takes a lot of time to experiment and understand what feels best in hand. If you are a beginner, you can start with the pre-made paddles like the ones we have highlighted here but as you advance, you will need customized paddles. It is costly to get your own customized ping pong paddles made.
Furthermore, you will have to get them approved by International Table Tennis Federation in case you want to use them in competitions and tournaments. Settling on the right ping pong paddles for serious gaming is thus not as straightforward as one would like to believe it is. Moreover, they require regular maintenance and usually do not last very long.
Table Tennis Set – Pack of 4 Premium Paddles/Rackets and 6 Table Tennis Balls – Soft Sponge Rubber – Ideal for Professional & Recreational Games – 2 or 4 Players – Perfect Set On The Go.
This table tennis set from ABCO comprises of 4 professional quality paddles and 6 40mm balls. The pack measures 12.9 x 7.4 x 2.8 inches and weighs 1.8 pounds, so it is easily portable. The manufacturer recommends it for use by players aged 3 years and up.
The paddles are made up of 5-ply blades with 5.6 mm thickness, which are great for all-rounder style and give an edge when playing loop strokes. The multi-layer construction of blades not only adds to strength but also increases the life of the paddles. They have rubber on one side for spin moves and a smooth, slippery plastic on the other.
There is a thin foam layer between the outer rubber surface and the wood. The handles have a flared design which means that they are narrower at top and wider at bottom.
Note that flared handle design has been a popular choice of top players around the world as it offers superior grip on the blade and enough flexibility for all sorts of shots.
It has a more control oriented design to offer consistent play and precision. Another attractive feature is that the rubber on the blades is inverted 1.5 mm on the surface for superior control and spin. Unlike the inferior quality paddles, the rubber used is soft and spongy and does not come off easily. The high quality rubber contributes to top-notch performance and lasts longer.
The paddles have vibrant red and black colored rubber and they look great. Two paddles are red and two are black. Similarly, three balls in the set are white and three are orange.
This set is complete in itself and lets you start your game immediately without having to go elsewhere to find extra gear. It is durable and offers a top quality experience for beginners and intermediate level players who do not want to spend much.
Pros:
- High quality rubber.
- Complete set of paddles and balls.
- All-round capability.
- Low cost.
Cons:
- Some users complained that the balls are of low quality and do not always bounce right.
Professional Table Tennis Paddle Advanced Trainning Ping Pong Racket With Carry Case, 7 ply Wooden Blade with Long Handle(2PCS)
This is a low cost Jebor paddle with seven layers of cottonwood in the blade for increased durability and speed control. Cottonwood also renders excellent endurance and corrosion resistance.
The paddles are red colored on one side and black on the other. There is a protective film on top of the paddle to avoid dust & friction and a 0.4mm sticky rubber protector on edges to prevent blade damage.
The 2mm sponge is highly elastic and capable of giving great shots. It is a thick but well-made paddle for beginners. The pack includes 2 paddles, 3 ping pong balls & a zipper bag and it weighs 1.2 pounds only.
The paddles are light weight and stable. The quality is average but considerably well for the price. If you are just getting started and need the lowest cost option, this could be the best ping pong paddle for you.
Pros:
- Corrosion-resistant
- Complete set of paddles and balls.
- All-round capability.
- Low cost.
Cons:
- Some users complained that the rubber on the paddle easily peeled off.
Duplex | 4 Star Ping Pong Paddle – Table Tennis Blade with Rubber – Beginner through Expert Racket
The Duplex 4 Star Ping Pong Paddle is a high performance paddle with a very tactile and durable rubber that’s made up to ITTF Standards. Needless to say, this rubber lasts longer than many others.
Also, it has a 7-ply pure wood blade construction that makes it a long lasting and high impact paddle. Weighing 6.3 ounces, it is light and feels great in hand. The design is well balanced in weight, giving accurate shots.
The handle is slightly smaller than a normal paddle but has a nice grip. It is a very sturdy, high performing all-round paddle for beginners. Users seem to be very happy with its spinning.
The company guarantees that this paddle performs better than others in the similar price range and if it doesn’t or if the player doesn’t like it for any reason, they’ll replace it or refund the money.
Pros:
- Premium ITTF approved rubber.
- Weight balanced design.
- 100% happy player guarantee.
- All-round capability.
Cons:
- Some users complained that the material is of subpar quality.
Butterfly PetrKorbel-FL Blade with Flared Handle
Butterfly is known for its high quality table tennis products and this paddle is no exception. Inspired by the top-ranked Czech player Petr Korbel, it is designed more for speed than control. Its fast attacking blade has a 5 ply combination of limba and ayous woods. Limba is a European wood that is extremely soft and provides great top spin.
It measures 12.2 x 7.5 x 2 inches and weighs 3.5ounces. The weight is well distributed, so it feels light. The construction is very similar to that of the popular Primorac but the head is larger in case of Butterfly PetrKorbel. It has a comfortable, flared handle with a nice grip and flexibility.
It offers a consistent forehand and backhand looping, so with proper skills and posture, the looping is great. However, it requires more power to loop far from table. The power of the blade is kind of medium but good enough for beginners. This paddle is a good option for those who want to develop an aggressive game as opposed to lobbing from the back.
Pros:
- Design inspiration from playing style of Petr Korbel.
- Use of limba wood for energetic topspin.
- Flared handle.
- Weight balanced design.
Cons:
- It is not as fast as arylate carbon blades.
Check Prices On Amazon
Zhang Jike Super ZLC Blades Quality Goods
This is another high quality, speed oriented paddle on our list. It is the most expensive paddle in market and there is a reason why. It is the very first model with Super ZL-Carbon which is the latest technology of Butterfly.
The material is a woven combination of carbon fiber and ZL fiber; carbon fiber has a high reaction level and the ZL fiber provides superior strength, elasticity and lightness.
With it, Butterfly has succeeded in achieving not only a better reaction than most existing blades but also the expansion of the high-reaction area. The ‘sweet spot’ is thus awesome. Even when the ball hits close to the rim of the paddle, it bounces back with a surprised level of stability.
Also, it gives superior power and control at the same time. The blade is made by a 7 layered configuration of wood and super ZL-carbon plies, which gives best in class blade feel and stiffness for offensive playing style. It is used by world-class athletes.
The blade thickness is 5.6 weights and it weighs around 90gms. The weight is evenly distributed, even with the rubbers. The paddle is available in two handle sizes:
(flared handle version) 100x25mm and (straight handle version) 100x23mm, so you can choose the one you like. The grip type is shakehand. It is a premium paddle for offensive players and though its price is high, it is worth every penny.
Pros:
- Made of Super ZL-Carbon.
- Awesome sweet spot.
- Weight balanced design.
- Available in flared and straight handle versions.
Cons:
- High price.
Butterfly Joo Se Hyuk-ST Blade with Straight Handle
Inspired by the world class defensive player Joo Se Hyuk, this paddle is an ultimate defensive weapon from Butterfly. Joo was personally involved in the development of this paddle, so all its parts were designed in a way to help his game.
He was using Butterfly diode blade before this one. The highlight of this paddle is its chopping ability. Regardless of its heavy weight (97 g), it is considered to be one of the best for aggressive chopping which is the modern defensive style.
It offers immense amount of backspin and requires relatively less effort to execute. The blade is 5.9mm thick, pretty stiff and has a hard feel which some choppers like very much. It has a 5 layer wooden configuration and very few soft spots on it.
It has an enlarged head to help chopping and blocking. The design provides decent control with necessary speed for defense as well as counter spins from mid to far distance. It has a straight handle which has shakehand grip style.
Basically, it is a good blade for specialized choppers who can move fast, chop from the back hand and attack from forehand. It is not suitable for those who like to play very close to the table like classic defenders.
Pros:
- Design inspiration from Joo Se Hyuk’ defensive playing style.
- Excellent chopping and blocking ability.
- Thick five-layer construction of blade.
Cons:
- Heavy weight.
Check Prices On Amazon
XiomStrato FL Table Tennis Racket
XiomStrato FL is an offensive style paddle with a 7mm thick blade having high speed and power ratings of SPEED OFF++ and POWER OFF+ respectively. The blade has 5-ply configuration.
The top 3 plies are made of Kiso Hinoki wood while the other two are made of Energy Carbon. The older carbon is replaced with the newly developed Energy Carbon which has a lower damping. This results in improved control and allows you to make more powerful strokes with relatively less effort.
The top layers of kiso hinoki provide a very comfortable and mild feel to the blade. These are thick and firm, giving a more precise signal. The topspin is very stable and draws a sharp trajectory with good control. The flared handle design ensures superior grip and flexibility.
Though it is a very fast paddle, it can also be used for an all-round play, thanks to the improvisations in material. The speed is just right for playing rallies but may feel a little too fast for playing in competitions when on defense. It is fast, precise and has good control & spin, which makes it a right choice for intermediate to high level players.
Pros:
- Use of improved Energy Carbon and Kiso Hinoki wood.
- Highly energetic and stable topspin.
- Excellent preciseness or sweet spot.
- Flared handle design.
- Offensive and all-round capability.
Cons:
- The handle is very thick, which may feel uncomfortable.
DSP Blade 750 Table Tennis Paddle – Competition ITTF certified
DSP Table Tennis is known for its premium yet affordable game equipment. The company collaborated with Double Power Rubbers to equip this paddle with premium ITTF approved rubber for tournament play.
Its premium rubber and elastic 1.8mm thick sponge enables superior response to attacks and breaks the ball spin. The sponge is thicker than most other paddles, allowing it to create greater spin and control. The sweet spot is surprisingly oversized.
It is a defensive style paddle that counters opponents’ spin shots and serves with relatively less effort. Offensive-wise also, it is good but lacks optimal power. Its 6mm blade is made of 5-ply premium wood.
The total weight of the paddle is 160 grams and it is heavier than most other paddles. It has a flared smooth handle with handshake style grip. Overall, it is a low cost defensive style paddle that can drastically advance your game.
It may not be the best ping pong paddle in market but with this price, the quality is unbeatable!
Pros:
- Premium ITTF approved rubber.
- Excellent sweet spot.
- Flared handle design.
- Defensive and all-round capability.
- Comes with a premium racket bag.
- Low cost.
Cons:
- The handle has no coating and may feel a bit slippery.
Check Prices On Amazon
Duplex | Ping Pong Paddle Set of 4 – Best Professional Table Tennis Racket with High Performance Rubber – Wooden Blade with Long Handle
This set of 4 premium all-round paddles is perfect for novice to advanced players.
These are high performance paddles with a very tactile and durable rubber that’s made up to ITTF Standards. The blades are made with a premium six star 7-ply wood blend that makes them dense and powerful.
Each paddle is meticulously engineered to have the center of the paddle weight at the point of ball contact. Being weight balanced, the paddles give accurate shots and improve the player recovery time.
The paddles are light weight and develop relatively high speed with decent spin and control. The handles are long and have good grip. These are sturdy, high performing all-round paddles at a reasonable price.
The company guarantees that the paddles perform better than others in the similar price range and if they don’t or if the player does not like them, they’ll replace the set or refund money.
Pros:
- Premium ITTF approved rubber.
- Weight balanced design.
- 100% happy player guarantee.
- All-round capability.
Cons:
- Unlike the Duplex 4 star set, balls are not included.
Check Prices On Amazon
Butterfly Viscaria-FL Blade with Flared Handle
Butterfly Viscaria-FL is a high quality paddle with 7-ply blade consisting of five plies of wood and 2 outer plies of arylate fiber. It is one of the first blades that made use of Aralyte Carbon or ALC. This fiber gives the blade superior shock absorption and flexibility for fast attacking.
Also, it feels much softer than most carbon blades. The paddle has a compact head size which makes it ideal for quick re-looping right off the bounce. It has an excellent sweet spot and gives accurate shots.
It weighs around 84gms and the weight is well distributed. Its comfortable flared handle offers superior grip and does not slip even when the player’s palms begin to sweat.
It is a speed oriented paddle, though the control is also exceptionally good. It has very high speed & power ratings and is ideal for advanced level players having solid game fundamentals or else, this could be more than one can handle.
It is designed for professional use, not for beginners. It is an all time classic blade for offensive players and never fails to impress.
Pros:
- Use of Aralyte Carbon.
- Excellent sweet spot.
- Flared handle.
- Weight balanced design.
- Exceptional speed, power, control and spin.
Cons:
- The paddle is heavy, so long hours of play may feel more tiring.
Check Prices On Amazon
Editors Choice of Best Ping Pong Paddle
The best ping pong paddle is clearly the Butterfly Viscaria-FL Blade. Butterfly is the world’s most popular brand of high quality table tennis products and this model is a real gem. It is a very popular and quick selling paddle. Made of superior Aralyte Carbon, it has excellent shock absorption, precision and flexibility.
It is comfortable, easy to use and has just the right amount of all 3 major components (speed, spin & control) that make a great blade. With just a punch, it generates a ton of power.
Looping, blocking, driving, flat hits, flicks, counter-topspin, topspin stroke, short game- all can be played extremely well with this blade. This is a professional level paddle made with a lot of expertise. We recommend it and rate it 9.5 out of 10 on our scale of excellence.
Have you used the Butterfly Viscaria-FL Blade or any other paddle on our list? Which one do you think is the best ping pong paddle? Do share your views by leaving comments in the box below. For more reviews related to ping pong or games make sure to check out others on our site!
Related Reviews:
- Ping Pong Table
- Poker Table
- Air Hockey Table
- Foosball Table
