Fortune favors the prepared. And having the best equipment before diving into any
task is a sign of being prepared. Surely, you wouldn’t try to cross the pacific on a
canoe. That’s just asking for failure. So instead, you’ll be taking proper measures
and ready the most suitable equipment before you go on your journey.
The same thing applies to table tennis. You need to have the best ping pong paddle
before you get into any match. Likewise, having the top table tennis racket can
determine whether you win or lose. And whether you depend more on speed or
spin, there’s one aspect that no ping pong player can overlook, and that is control.
Unless your ping pong paddle can offer you adequate control over the ball, you
can’t get the better of your opponent. And to narrow down your choices, we have
presented our list of the best ping pong paddles for control.
We’ll also have a concise discussion about how you can choose the one best
suitable for you.
Best Ping Pong Paddle for Control
Here’s a quick overview of our selection of the best ping pong paddles for control.
- Stiga Supreme Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket (For Beginners)
- Stiga Evolution Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket (For Intermediate
- Players)
- Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 Pro-Line Table Tennis Racket (For Advance)
- Killerspin Jet800 Speed N1 Ping Pong Paddle (That Pro Players Use)
- Killerspin Jet200 Table Tennis Paddle (For Budget Approach)
Stiga Supreme Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket (For
Beginners)
Check Price
Features:
● Includes six layers of ply for an extra light blade
● It has a sponge thickness of two millimeters
● Features future inverted rubber
● Offers enhanced control and speed with the new Stiga ACS
Description
As a beginner, you should be focused on finding out what playing style suits you
best. And the Stiga Supreme is the best-suited table tennis racket for that purpose.
The Stiga Supreme has a control-based design that will allow the player to put the
ball on the table as long as they need to.
The bat mainly focuses on maintaining control over the ball. So, it doesn’t come
equipped with the best rubber. But don’t think that you’ll have a hard time
applying any top or backspin. In fact, the Stiga Supreme offers a decent amount of
spin with its future inverted rubber.
This paddle is mainly for beginners, so it doesn’t offer much speed. But it will help
you get the hang of your game and master the fundamentals without spending a
fortune on your equipment. It’s the best ping pong racket for control that a
beginner can ask for.
Design Quality
The main selling point of the Stiga Supreme is the paddle’s weight. Weighing at
only 0.3 pounds, this table tennis paddle features six layers of lightweight wood.
But that’s not the only thing that has helped Stiga deliver such a light paddle.
They’ve also included Tube-Tech and Crystal technology to offer this magnificent
product. It’s a blessing for those players who play closer to the table.
User Experience
The customers are delighted with the performance that this ping pong paddle offers
at such an affordable price. Although, some have pointed out that this racket needs
some extra care to deliver its best performance.
Stiga Evolution Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket (For Intermediate Players)
Check Price
Features:
● Includes six layers of lightweight ply for a light blade
● Features a sponge thickness of two millimeters
● Features the Shock Dispersion Technology (SDT)
● It weighs around 0.3 pounds
Description
Control is crucial in a table tennis match. Just because you’ve leveled up from your
beginner status doesn’t mean you can overwhelm your opponent with out-of-the-
world spins or speed without controlling where the ball goes.
You need to have a reasonable degree of control over the ball if you want to beat your opponent. And
that’s why the Stiga Evolution is a solid choice for any intermediate player.
The Stiga Evolution features a unique design that focuses on control. In fact, it has one of the best control speed ratios on the market, and it comes at a very reasonable price, adding to its list of benefits.
According to many experts, it’s one of the best paddles for defensive players who
prefer to play closer to the table. Thanks to its excellent control and lightweight,
the Stiga Evolution can help the player win a significant advantage when blocking
or pushing the ball over the net.
Since it’s a control-based paddle, it won’t offer you much support in terms of
power. But that doesn’t mean you’ll tire yourself out just sending the ball over the
net.
In fact, the speed may seem a bit much to you if you’d been using a cheap
paddle previously. But don’t worry, you’ll get used to the speed pretty soon thanks
to its enhanced control.
Design Quality
Stiga has used six plies of light wood and various cutting-edge technologies to
make Evolution a winner. It packs quite a punch, and with its larger sweet spot,
this paddle has increased accuracy.
User Experience
The users stated that the bat served them with high-quality performance. One
returning player stated that Stiga Evolution is a ‘solid rig.’ However, some didn’t find the rubber adequately tacky. But the majority think that it’s a cost-effective buy.
Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 Pro-Line Table Tennis Racket (For
Advance players)
Check Price
Features:
● Includes the Tenergy 80 FX 2.1mm rubber to offer an outstanding balance
between control and speed
● Features the Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 (Carbon) blade
● The blade weighs around 80 grams
● Assembled by hand
Description
If you’re looking for a ping pong paddle that has it all and is willing to pay any
price for it, the Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 is just what you’re looking for. No matter
what you want, whether be it speed, spin, or control, the Carbo X5 Pro-line has it
all.
If you’ve reached the advanced level and are looking for just the right push to go
over to the pro side, this paddle might just be what you need. And if you have an
aggressive playstyle, it’s the perfect paddle for you.
The Butterfly Proline has one of the highest spins and speeds in the market. So, even
if you’re an advanced player, it’ll take you some time to get used to these drastic
changes. But once you get accustomed to the increase in speed and spin, you’ll see
how much of a difference it’ll make in your games.
And it won’t be that hard to get the hang of the paddle, thanks to the incredible balance between speed and control it offers. It’s one of the best ping pong rackets for control.
Design Quality
The Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 is no premade table tennis racket. Assembled by
hand in the USA, the X5 unit features a Tenergy 80 FX as its rubber and the
Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 as its blade. These high-quality parts allow this great
blade to let its user indulge in any playstyle. Unfortunately, however, these parts
are costly, which in turn makes the racket expensive.
User Experience
The users were astonished at how drastically this paddle would change their game.
The rubber has an unrivaled grip with its astonishing display of power and control.
And the amount of spin this paddle offers is no joke either.
Killerspin Jet800 Speed N1 Ping Pong Paddle (That Pro Players Use)
Check Price
Features:
● Includes seven plies of composite wood and carbon fiber
● It consists of a personalized memory book for greater accessibility
● Ideal for an aggressive playstyle
● It weighs around 0.58 pounds
Description
As a pro player, you obviously know what you need. So, if your play style is based
on offense, this part of the article is for you. The Jet 800 is the best pre-assembled
paddle from Killerspin’s collection that offers a considerable amount of spin,
power, and control.
The Jet 800 features the Nitrix-4z rubber, which allows the user to lay down some
explosive shots without sacrificing a shred of accuracy.No matter how far you are
from the table, it’ll help you land the shots with an astounding amount of power
with utmost accuracy. In fact, if you like to hit the ball further away from the table,
you’ll fall in love with this paddle.
But it wouldn’t be a Killerspin racket if it didn’t have a ridiculous amount of spin
in it. Thanks to its tacky surface, your opponent will be having nightmares about
receiving your serves. The Jet 800 has got it all!
Design Quality
Killerspin has used seven layers of a mixture of carbon fiber and wood to build the
Jet 800. As a result, the paddle is rigid but much more lightweight than a typical
rigid blade. And thanks to its rigidity, it can dish out an insane amount of power.
User Experience
The users expressed their satisfaction with the Jet 800’s build and materials.
They’ve also expressed their satisfaction with the weight of the paddle, along with
its large sweet spot. But most of all, they’re all satisfied with the amount of control
the paddle has to offer.
Killerspin Jet200 Table Tennis Paddle (For Budget Approach)
Check Price
Features:
● The blades consist of five layers of wood and performance rubbers to hone
your skills.
● Features flexible PVC tape around the edges for protection
● Includes personalized memory books
Description
If you’re one of those people who want to enjoy a few rounds of ping pong with
their friends and family, this is the perfect choice for you. The Jet 200 allows you
to have a quality ping pong match without having to spend a fortune on it.
The Jet 200 is an entry-level racket. Killerspin has produced this unit with
beginners and recreational players in mind. While it’s a step up from those cheap,
basic paddles that come with the table, they’re not what you want for competition.
But if you’re a beginner who just wants to enjoy the game while mastering the
fundamentals, this racket is the perfect choice for you.
The Jet 200 offers a good amount of control. This feature helps beginners hone
their skills and nail the basics of the game. Another helpful thing for beginners
who don’t know what they want, this paddle features a flared handle. So, it can
accommodate a wide range of playing styles, allowing beginner players to find
their own.
Design Quality
The Killerspin Jet 200 features five layers of premium wood. And combined with
performance rubbers, it allows the player to have greater control over the ball,
allowing them to furnish their skills.
User Experience
Users loved the amount of spin and control that these paddles offered. They’ve
also found them extremely helpful to step up their game.
Buying Guide
Many hold the misconception that the more expensive the racket, the better you’ll
play. While it’s true that you get what you pay for, the price isn’t the only factor
you need to consider. And it’s wrong to assume that just because you buy an
expensive racket, you’ll become a better player overnight.
You need to pick a paddle that matches your playing style and put the time and
effort into it. Next, you’ll need to decide your level and style and choose the racket
most suitable for the job. And next up is the material and the build of the said
paddle. All these may sound a bit complicated but don’t worry. We’ll be holding
your hand through each of the concepts.
Playing Style
You’ll first need to determine your playing style. Your level of experience will
play a vital role here. Depending on that, you can choose the best paddle that will
help you improve your game in the fastest way possible.
If you’re a beginner, you’ll have to consider a paddle that lets you follow up on your
hits. Don’t worry about any specific style at the moment. For now, you’ll want to
focus more on the fundamentals. Choose a paddle that doesn’t have any particular
style and will allow you to know your preference. You can choose your playing
style while going through the basics.
Now, if you’re an intermediate or advanced player, you should be aware of your
preference. And you should also have the necessary skillset to back that style. So
in this stage, you should focus on paddles that offer you what you want. For
example, if your games are based on aggression, and you like to overwhelm your
opponents, you should use a heavier and faster racket. But if you enjoy defense-
based plays and outwitting your opponents with your witty plays, you should opt
for a lighter and slower racket.
Grip
The way you hold your ping pong paddle determines what type of blade handle
you should use. For example, players usually hold their bat in two ways.
The first one is the Penhold grip. The reason behind its names is the way players
hold their paddles like a pen. It was popular amongst players from Hong Kong and
China. This style was so popular amongst the Chinese players that a derived style
is called the Chinese Penhold grip.
But with the Penhold grip, it’s challenging to use backhand spin. To allow even
power distribution for both types of shots, European professionals use the
Shakehand grip. It looks as if you’re shaking someone’s hand. As a general rule of
thumb, the Penhold grip needs a short handle, whereas the Shakehand grip needs a
more extended handle.
Here is a complete guide to all the grips.
Sponge and Rubber
The rubber and sponge of your table tennis racket play a vital role in your games.
These two things decide the amount of spin and speed that your bat has to offer.
The softer and tackier the rubber, the longer it can hold onto the ball. And as a
result, softer and tackier rubbers provide more spin.
If you’re wondering about power, that depends on the thickness of the bat’s
sponge. The thicker the sponge, the more weight the bat has and can offer more
speed. That’s because the ball can bounce off of denser sponges quicker. And you
can always add more power with power tape, adding more weight to the bat.
If you’re a beginner, you should opt for a bat with more control. So, it would be
best if you went with a thinner rubber. And as you level up and gain control over
your play, you can progress towards thicker rubber.
Check out these suitable rubbers if you are an Intermediate level player.
Pick Your Blade
The blade primarily consists of five to nine layers of wood. However, it can also
have other types of materials like titanium carbon or carbon. The number of layers
of wood determines if the blade is stiffer or not. The higher the number of layers,
the more rigid the blade.
If you’re a defensive player, you should choose a comparatively thin layered blade
as the layers will dampen and slow the ball down. But if you want to overwhelm
your opponent with sheer power, a rigid blade is more suitable for you.
Read our overall guide to the best ping pong paddles.
Final Words
You need to dress for the job you want, not for the job you have. And in table
tennis, that means using the best equipment. Having the best paddle might just
make the difference between the winner and the loser.
And now that you’ve reached the end of our article about the best ping pong
paddles for control, you only have one thing left to do. You simply have to get to
the market and use your research to get the best paddle for you. We wish you good
luck!
1 thought on “Best Ping Pong Paddles for Control to level up your game”