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The Best Table Tennis Blades for Looping

Best Table Tennis Blades for Looping

Rubbers are temporary, blades are forever! Unless you try the tomahawk serve and hit your blade to the table like I did… If you take care of your blade well you can use it for years without needing a replacement.  

But that’s not the only reason behind the importance of choosing a blade. As coach EmRatThich from PingSunday said, the blade affects 80% of your playstyle, the rubber makes up the rest so it is the most important equipment in table tennis. 

Choosing a blade without any guidance or proper knowledge is not easy. With so many brands, models, compositions, handle types and shapes to choose from, it can make it seem impossible to pick one. 

We will now talk about blades, how they affect your loops, and how you can find the right one for you so you can choose a blade that you will enjoy for years to come. 

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How the Blade Effects Your Loops

Looping, whether it’s a backhand or forehand loop, is simply giving the ball lots of topspin and speed. Resulting in a ball that bounces at the end of the table and kicks off with great acceleration.  

The more spin and speed we can put into the loop while keeping the ball low, the harder it is for the opponent to receive the shot. But how can the blade add more spin or speed to the ball?

Let’s talk about spin first. A grippy topsheet rubber can help with grabbing the ball but the blade actually plays a bigger part in grabbing the ball. 

A good blade will be soft and flexible enough to give the ball more contact time, and thus more spin but if the blade is too flexible, we will lose the energy and speed of the ball. It is a fine balance. 

These days the best way to achieve good synergy between your blade and the rubber is by having a softer, more flexible blade with a harder sponge rubber. 

It gives the ball great spin thanks to the rubber topsheet and the flexing blade. The combination of this with a harder, dynamic rubber gives the ball a great kick effect and speed. 

Check out our article on how to choose the best rubbers for looping here.

What Type Of Blade Is The Best For Looping

Let’s start off by saying the requirements of a blade on each level of play are quite different. Yes, the Viscaria’s and the ALC’s that pros play with are amazing blades but that doesn’t mean that it will make a beginner or an intermediate player hit better loops. 

Top athletes always push the limits of the sport and in table tennis that means their blades are usually the fastest ones, which in a less experienced player’s hand can result in unforced mistakes or even worse, adapting to wrong techniques. 

For an absolute beginner, a 5ply wood blade with limba and ayous layers is my recommendation as it helps the player develop a great feel for the ball and a great amount of spin. 

These types of blades have been on the market for years and it’s understandable why. Experienced players, when they feel the need to upgrade their blade can choose a softer blade with carbon reinforcement to add some stiffness and speed to their shots. 

No matter at which level you play, try to balance the blade with your rubber choice. I recommend choosing a softer blade and matching it with harder rubbers but if you prefer to play with softer rubbers, try to use a harder blade with it as an overall soft and flexible setup will make it really hard to transfer your power to your shots. 

To learn about the best rubbers for looping in ping pong, read our looping rubber recommendations blog.

For more details on blade and rubber choice, check out our table tennis racket buying guide.

Best Table Tennis Blades for Looping

Butterfly Petr Korbel – Best For Beginners

  • Plies: 5W
  • Thickness: 5.9mm
  • Weight: 89 grams(-+2)
  • Layers: Limba-Limba-Ayous-Limba-Limba

This is the blade I started playing with, and still to this day I recommend it to beginners. The Petr Korbel is a classic blade at his point, named after the Czech table tennis legend himself. The feeling of this blade is amazing. It almost makes you feel like you already know where your loop is gonna go before the ball even leaves your racket. 

Quality is top notch but that’s not a surprise this is Butterfly afterall. Keep in my that the head size is slightly larger than usual so with heavy rubbers the overall blade might become too top heavy. 

The blade is on the more flexible side so try to pair with at least a medium hardness sponge. It is not the fastest blade out there so you might feel like upgrading soon. I promise you if you stick with it for a while longer and improve your technique you will be enjoying every rally.

Everytime someone borrowed my racket to try it, they were amazed by the feel of it and how confident they felt with their loops. Someone in your club should have one so at least give the blade a try. You wont be disappointed. 

P.s. This blade $10 cheaper now on megaspin.com 

Sanwei Fextra and Sanwei Pro V5 – Best Budget Blades

Sanwei Fextra

best blades for looping
  • Plies: 7W
  • Thickness: 6.02mm
  • Weight: 89 grams(-+2)
  • Layers: Limba-Limba-Ayous-Ayous-Ayous-Limba-Limba

Think of this one as a cheaper, faster and a bit stiffer version of the Petr Korbel. How cheap you ask ? It is no longer in production and is replaced by the Sanwei Fextra One so it is on discount at every store. Click here to buy it while you can! 

Sanwei Pro V5

  • Plies: 7W
  • Thickness: 6.02mm
  • Weight: 90 grams(-+2)
  • Layers: White Ash – Ayous – Ayous – Ayous- Ayous – Ayous – White Ash

I havent tested this one myself but it is a popular budget option for those looking for an all wood blade that is on the stiffer side. Coach EmRaThick said its the best wooden blade option available right now for the price

DHS Hurricane 301 – Coaches Personal Choice

  • Plies: 5W+2 composite
  • Thickness: 5.8mm
  • Weight: 89 grams(-+2)
  • Layer: Koto-Ayous-Carbon-Ayous-Carbon-Ayous-Koto

Here is the blade I have been playing with for the last 3 years, the DHS Hurricane 301. It is known as the little brother of the DHS Long 5, the blade Ma Long uses. 

The middle layers are similar to the Long 5 but the Koto outer layer and the overall thinner structure makes it more flexible with a sharper feeling. The carbon layers are placed close to the inner layer, making the blades speed scale with the amount of power you use. 

The koto top layer might scare some buyers away and those people should try the blade first. It has a unique feeling, enough speed on fast shots and great touch play capabilities. The handle is quite slim on the flared version, so keep that in mind too. 

This blade is 24% off its regular price at megaspin.com, making it an even better deal . 

Butterfly Viscaria – 30 Years of Domination

Butterfly Viscaria
  • Plies: 5W+2 composite
  • Thickness: 5.8mm
  • Weight: 87 grams(-+2)
  • Layer: Koto-ALC-Limba-Kiri-Limba-ALC-Koto

When a blade has been in production for over 30 years, you know that it is good. And professional players who have been choosing the Viscaria agree with that.

 The flexibility combined with the composite carbon layer near the top layer results in a blade with great looping capabilities with great speed. It is the perfect blade for backhand dominant players and the only slight downside is that it might lack a little bit of power on forehand loops far away from the table. 

Table tennis legend Zhang Jike used to play with this, do I need to say more? 

Control Those Loops

In the world of table tennis looping, the right blade is your ultimate ally. Each blade reviewed here presents a unique blend of attributes, catering to diverse looping styles and preferences.

Whether you seek precision, explosive power, or all-round versatility, these top-notch blades will elevate your looping game to new heights. Choose wisely, and let your loops reign supreme on the table.

READ MORE:

Best Table Tennis Rubbers for Looping

Best Table Tennis Rubbers for Chopping

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