Tabletennis Kingdom's Top 10 Blades of 2025
Let us start with shakehand. Penhold has little reference value, especially since many Japanese players use Japanese-style penhold.
Shakehand:
No. 1: Tomokazu Harimoto SUPER ALC
We have talked about this blade’s performance too many times; maybe some players can recite it. Based on this structure’s good error-tolerance and continuity, we also made the similar-structure Miao at the start of last year, and feedback was quite good — really steady. The similar Donic Lind also won favor over the past year. Of course, for this specific blade, the tally combined Japanese specialty shops and reader feedback. If we tallied domestic data and surveys, the No. 1 would most likely be a domestic player’s blade.
No. 2: OUTERFORCE ALC
I really have not played this Outerforce series, and have no interest. Tabletennis Kingdom’s top 10 shakehand blades, based on a questionnaire, are not necessarily flagships; some made it because respondents felt they were great value. The Outerforce series — decent looks, okay performance, with brand backing — is one of these. This blade is about 6.2mm thick, but uses a low-density ayous face ply, so its overall elasticity is even less than the Fan Zhendong ALC, per official data. Relatively, it is an easy-to-control one.
No. 3: Falck Carbon
I do not have a deep impression of this one. Inner aramid carbon, but with a kiri core, so I had little interest. Also, the domestic distributor barely promotes it. It may relate to the player himself — Falck is a short-pips player, after all. But honestly, in Japan many people use it with inverted rubber on both sides and find the feel good.
No. 4: OUTERFORCE CAF
Its features are not prominent, but the price is fairly friendly.
No. 5: Zhang Jike Original Carbon (Donic Red Zhang)
When most people feel you cannot play it well unless you are an expert, it may not be that good a blade. Of course, one reason for its popularity is still Zhang Jike, but half the reason for the doubt is its unreasonable price.
No. 6: Nina Hayata T2
Not H2, T2. This is just a training blade — do not be fooled. Just buy any cheap Yinhe or Sanwei blade.
No. 7: Koki Niwa ZC INNER
Very good looks, fairly reliable performance, and decent feel. We reviewed it before: the Koki Niwa ZC INNER — zen-like attack, can also be high-speed and high-efficiency.
No. 8: Inspiration Carbon King
Genuinely a bit unexpected, especially since Wang Manyu now plays the Fan Zhendong ALC. But this Zhongshan-made soft-type outer aramid carbon is actually quite good, with nice ball-holding and a good backhand. No wonder Liu Shiwen has used it for years.
No. 9: Hurricane King
Wang Chuqin’s King.
No. 10: Falck W7
Pure seven-ply wood, not much to say. There really are many substitutes.
By the way, here are the top 10 penhold blades, without separate analysis:
- OUTERFORCE ALC
- Yasaka Bazhe S (Japanese-style penhold)
- Tomokazu Harimoto SUPER ALC
- Swat Power
- Nittaku Cangtian C
- Nittaku Large Impact R (Japanese-style penhold)
- Donic Kiso Hinoki single-ply (another Japanese-style penhold)
- Koki Niwa ZC INNER
- Victas BLACK BALSA V 7.0 (this one is good for long pips — light and good at unloading pace)
- Cybershape Wavy