Table Tennis Racket Selection Guide

1 · Who is it for?

A starting point, not a rule: each choice sets the level and the flags that usually suit that player, never a budget, and you can change any of them afterwards. A racket whose maker states no level is left out of a choice that sets one.

2 · Narrow it down

BrandRacket or setITTF approvalNeeded for league and tournament play. Not needed at home.WherePlaying styleAs the maker describes the racket. Many state none.Ships inIn stock ships in 1-2 days. Special order is ordered in for you and takes longest.

Budget :

Choosing a ready-to-play table tennis racket? This guide places the 147 rackets and sets we carry, from Butterfly, Joola, Cornilleau, Donic-Schildkröt, Andro, Tibhar, Victas and Donic, by the player each maker says it is for. Pick who it is for, narrow by brand, budget and what is in stock, then open the rackets that are left. Competition rackets assembled from a named blade and rubbers have their own section further down.

3 · The chart: player level, brand by brand

Shape:RacketSet of racketsOutdoor racket or setColour:ITTF-approved rubbersStated as not approvedApproval not stated

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Pro setups: a named blade and rubbers, assembled (39)

Tournament equipment, sold ready to play: each of these is a Butterfly blade with Butterfly rubbers that are also sold separately. What matters is the parts, so each card names them. To compare the parts themselves, or to build your own, see the blade selection guide and the rubber selection guide.

In stock only

TB5 Alpha FL Pro-Line with Sriver ELOffensive styleBlade: TB5 Alpha Offensive · 5-plyForehand: Sriver EL Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mmBackhand: Sriver EL Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mm$187.29Not available

Petr Korbel FL Pro-Line with SriverOffensive styleBlade: Petr Korbel Offensive · 5-plyForehand: Sriver Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mmBackhand: Sriver Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mm$193.01In stock

SK7 Classic-CS Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: SK7 Classic Offensive · 7-plyRubber (one side): Rozena Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mm$194.44Special order

TB5 Alpha Pro-Line with Rozena & CaseOffensive styleBlade: TB5 Alpha Offensive · 5-plyForehand: Rozena Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mmBackhand: Rozena Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mm$207.31In stock

Timo Boll TJ Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: Timo Boll TJ Offensive · 3-ply + 2 T5000Forehand: Sriver Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mmBackhand: Sriver Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mm$244.49Not available

Petr Korbel Pro-Line + Tenergy 05 + Feint Long IIOffensive styleBlade: Petr Korbel Offensive · 5-plyForehand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mmBackhand: Feint Long II Long pips · Medium · 1.1 mm$257.36Ships in 1-3 weeks

Petr Korbel Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: Petr Korbel Offensive · 5-plyForehand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mmBackhand: Challenger Attack Short pips · Medium soft · 2.1 mm$267.37Not available

Outerforce CAF Pro-Line with RozenaOffensive styleBlade: Outerforce CAF Offensive · 5-ply + 2 CAFForehand: Rozena Inverted · Medium soft · 1.9 mmBackhand: Rozena Inverted · Medium soft · 1.9 mm$276.67Ships in 1-3 weeks

Outerforce CAF + Glayzer + Glayzer Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: Outerforce CAF Offensive · 5-ply + 2 CAFForehand: Glayzer Inverted · Medium · 1.9 mmBackhand: Glayzer Inverted · Medium · 1.9 mm$315.28Special order

Outerforce ALC Pro-Line with RozenaOffensive styleBlade: Outerforce ALC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ALCForehand: Rozena Inverted · Medium soft · 1.9 mmBackhand: Rozena Inverted · Medium soft · 1.9 mm$315.28Ships in 1-3 weeks

Outerforce CAF + Glayzer 09C + Glayzer 09C Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: Outerforce CAF Offensive · 5-ply + 2 CAFForehand: Glayzer 09C Inverted · Medium hard · 1.9 mmBackhand: Glayzer 09C Inverted · Medium hard · 1.9 mm$315.28Not available

Balsa Carbo X5 (AN) + Tenergy 80 FX + Tenergy 80 FX Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: BalsaCarbo X5 Offensive · 3-ply + 2 CarbonForehand: Tenergy 80 FX Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mmBackhand: Tenergy 80 FX Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mm$338.87Special order

Balsa Carbo X5 (FL) + Tenergy 80 FX + Tenergy 80 FX Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: BalsaCarbo X5 Offensive · 3-ply + 2 CarbonForehand: Tenergy 80 FX Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mmBackhand: Tenergy 80 FX Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mm$338.87Special order

Balsa Carbo X5 (ST) + Tenergy 80 FX + Tenergy 80 FX Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: BalsaCarbo X5 Offensive · 3-ply + 2 CarbonForehand: Tenergy 80 FX Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mmBackhand: Tenergy 80 FX Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mm$338.87Special order

BalsaCarbo X7 + Tenergy 05 Hard + Tenergy 05 Hard Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: BalsaCarbo X7 Offensive · 5-ply + 2 CarbonForehand: Tenergy 05 Hard Inverted · Medium hard · 1.9 mmBackhand: Tenergy 05 Hard Inverted · Medium hard · 1.9 mm$347.45Not available

BalsaCarbo X7 + Tenergy 80 FX + Tenergy 80 FX Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: BalsaCarbo X7 Offensive · 5-ply + 2 CarbonForehand: Tenergy 80 FX Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mmBackhand: Tenergy 80 FX Inverted · Medium soft · 2.1 mm$347.45Special order

Outerforce ALC + Glayzer + GlayzerOffensive styleBlade: Outerforce ALC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ALCForehand: Glayzer Inverted · Medium · 1.9 mmBackhand: Glayzer Inverted · Medium · 1.9 mm$353.89Special order

Outerforce ALC + Glayzer 09C + Glayzer 09COffensive styleBlade: Outerforce ALC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ALCForehand: Glayzer 09C Inverted · Medium hard · 1.9 mmBackhand: Glayzer 09C Inverted · Medium hard · 1.9 mm$353.89Not available

Sardius Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: Sardius Offensive · 3-ply + 2 T5000Forehand: Impartial XS Short pips · Soft · 2.1 mmBackhand: Impartial XB Short pips · Soft · 2.1 mm$367.47Not available

Primorac Carbon FL Pro-Line with Tenergy 05Offensive styleBlade: Primorac Carbon Offensive · 3-ply + 2 T5000Forehand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mmBackhand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mm$394.64Ships in 1-3 weeks

Outerforce ZLC + Rozena + Rozena Pro-LineOffensive styleBlade: Outerforce ZLC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ZLCForehand: Rozena Inverted · Medium soft · 1.9 mmBackhand: Rozena Inverted · Medium soft · 1.9 mm$418.24Ships in 1-3 weeks

Innershield Layer ZLF Pro-LineBlade: Innershield Layer ZLF Defensive · 5-ply + 2 ZLFForehand: Tenergy 64 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mmBackhand: Feint Long II Long pips · Medium · 1.3 mm$430.39Ships in 1-3 weeks

Cypress V-Max Pro-LineBlade: Cypress V-Max Topspin-minded · 1-ply Kiso HinokiRubber (one side): Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mm$450.42Special order

Outerforce ZLC + Glayzer + GlayzerOffensive styleBlade: Outerforce ZLC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ZLCForehand: Glayzer Inverted · Medium · 1.9 mmBackhand: Glayzer Inverted · Medium · 1.9 mm$456.85Special order

Outerforce ZLC Pro-Line + Glayzer 09C + Glayzer 09COffensive styleBlade: Outerforce ZLC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ZLCForehand: Glayzer 09C Inverted · Medium hard · 1.9 mmBackhand: Glayzer 09C Inverted · Medium hard · 1.9 mm$456.85Not available

Timo Boll ALC AN Pro-Line with Tenergy 05Offensive styleBlade: Timo Boll ALC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ALCForehand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mmBackhand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mm$493.31Not available

Timo Boll ALC FL Pro-Line with Tenergy 05Offensive styleBlade: Timo Boll ALC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ALCForehand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mmBackhand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mm$493.31Ships in 1-3 weeks

Timo Boll ALC ST Pro-Line with Tenergy 05Offensive styleBlade: Timo Boll ALC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ALCForehand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mmBackhand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mm$493.31Not available

Viscaria FL Pro-Line with Tenergy 05Offensive styleBlade: Viscaria Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ALCForehand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mmBackhand: Tenergy 05 Inverted · Medium · 2.1 mm$493.31In stock

Ovtcharov Innerforce ALC FL + Dignics 09C + Dignics 05Offensive styleBlade: Ovtcharov Innerforce ALC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ALCForehand: Dignics 09C Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mmBackhand: Dignics 05 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mm$533.35Ships in 1-3 weeks

Timo Boll ALC FL Pro-Line + Dignics 09C + Dignics 09COffensive styleBlade: Timo Boll ALC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ALCForehand: Dignics 09C Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mmBackhand: Dignics 09C Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mm$533.35Ships in 1-3 weeks

Viscaria FL Pro-Line + Dignics 05 + Dignics 05Offensive styleBlade: Viscaria Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ALCForehand: Dignics 05 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mmBackhand: Dignics 05 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mm$533.35Ships in 1-3 weeks

Timo Boll ALC Pro-Line + Zyre 03 + Zyre 03Offensive styleBlade: Timo Boll ALC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ALCForehand: Zyre 03 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.7 mmBackhand: Zyre 03 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.7 mm$607.71Ships in 1-3 weeks

Cypress G-Max Pro-LineBlade: Cypress G-Max Topspin-minded · 1-ply Kiso HinokiRubber (one side): Dignics 05 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mm$649.19Ships in 1-3 weeks

Jun Mizutani ZLC + Dignics 80 + Dignics 80Offensive styleBlade: Mizutani Jun ZLC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 ZLCForehand: Dignics 80 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mmBackhand: Dignics 80 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mm$654.90Ships in 1-3 weeks

Viscaria Super ALC + Dignics 05 + Dignics 05Offensive styleBlade: Viscaria Super ALC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 Super ALCForehand: Dignics 05 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mmBackhand: Dignics 05 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mm$654.90Ships in 1-3 weeks

Apolonia ZLC Pro-Line + Zyre 03 + Dignics 09COffensive styleBlade: Apolonia ZLC Offensive · 5-ply + 2 Super ALCForehand: Zyre 03 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.7 mmBackhand: Dignics 09C Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mm$692.08Ships in 1-3 weeks

Harimoto Innerforce Super ZLC CS Pro-LineBlade: Harimoto Innerforce Super ZLC CS Quick attack · 5-ply + 2 Super ZLCRubber (one side): Dignics 05 Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mm$714.96Special order

Revoldia CNF + Impartial XS + Dignics 09COffensive styleBlade: Revoldia CNF Offensive · 5-ply + 2 CNFForehand: Impartial XS Short pips · Soft · 2.1 mmBackhand: Dignics 09C Inverted · Medium hard · 2.1 mm$742.13Special order

Speed and control, on each brand’s own scale

Each manufacturer rates its rackets its own way, so an 8 from one brand is not an 8 from another and no two brands share a chart. Speed against control is the trade-off a ready-made racket is sold on.

Cornilleau: speed and control (16 rackets)

Cornilleau’s own scale. Not comparable with another brand’s numbers.

Donic-Schildkröt: speed and control (12 rackets)

Donic-Schildkröt’s own scale. Not comparable with another brand’s numbers.

How to choose a table tennis racket

Start with who is playing. For a family table, a basement or a park, a beginner racket is the right racket: it is slower, it forgives a mistimed stroke and it costs less. A set gives the same racket to two or four players, usually with balls.

Learning properly? Choose a beginner racket with ITTF-approved rubbers. A slower bat with a thinner sponge keeps the ball on the table while a stroke forms; a fast bat teaches bad habits. Approval only matters once you play in a league.

Stars and numbers are each brand’s own ladder. A five-star racket from one maker is not comparable with a three-star racket from another, and the same goes for speed, spin and control figures. Compare them inside one brand only.

When a ready-made racket stops being enough. Competition players choose a blade and two rubbers separately. A pro setup is that choice already made; the blade guide and rubber guide are for making it yourself. This is coaching advice mapped onto what each maker states, not a manufacturer’s claim about a racket.

Every racket and set, by level

Beginner (62)

Intermediate (5)

Advanced (14)

Competition (8)

Level not stated (50)