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Top 10 Best Penhold Table Tennis Blades
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | A premium 5+2 carbon blade built for powerful offensive play, offering a solid, crisp feel with strong spin potential and excellent stability for aggressive looping. | Check Price | |
 | A classic all-wood offensive blade known for its excellent feel, strong control, and high spin potential, ideal for loop-driven attacking play. | Check Price | |
 | Designed specifically for penhold attackers, this fast, firm-feeling blade provides excellent stability and power for heavy topspin and aggressive mid-distance play. | Check Price | |
 | A fast Arylate-Carbon penhold blade offering a crisp feel, strong rebound, and excellent stability for aggressive topspin and quick attacking play. | Check Price | |
 | High-performance inner-fiber blade featuring ZL Carbon for exceptional rebound, stability, and touch, designed for advanced players seeking power with enhanced control. | Check Price | |
 | 7-ply all-wood offensive blade designed for players seeking a harmonious blend of speed, control, and exceptional feel. | Check Price | |
 | Classic offensive blade combining Arylate-Carbon with wood layers for excellent balance of speed, control, and feel, ideal for spin-based attacking players. | Check Price | |
 | Top-tier offensive blade featuring Super ZL Carbon for unmatched speed, control, and stability, designed with Zhang Jike for explosive topspins and high-level attacking play. | Check Price | |
 | A classic 7-ply all-wood offensive blade with CR surface treatment, delivering a harder top feel, faster rebound, and strong direct power for close-to-table attacking play. | Check Price | |
 | A high‑performance offensive blade developed with Felix Lebrun, featuring Hyper Carbon layers around the core for explosive speed, sensitive ball contact, and balanced control tailored to fast‑attacking play. | Check Price | |
 | Offensive Arylate‑Carbon blade with a 5+2 ply structure inspired by Viscaria, combining crisp wood and ALC layers for balanced speed, strong control, and reliable loop‑based attacking performance. | Check Price | |
 | A great offensive blade with a firm, fast feel, providing strong stability, control, and power for aggressive topspin and mid-distance attacking play. | Check Price |
In our previous blog posts, we introduced the different table tennis grip styles, namely the shakehand grip and the penhold grip. Today, the vast majority of players choose the shakehand grip, as it feels more comfortable for most people and allows easier power generation. It is especially effective for modern two-winged looping styles, offering quicker transitions between forehand and backhand and more aggressive attacking options.
By comparison, the penhold grip often feels more traditional and niche. Among younger players, penhold users are becoming increasingly rare. However, we frequently receive inquiries from shakehand players who are interested in switching to penhold. Some want to explore a different playing style, while others feel that their shakehand backhand has reached a bottleneck and are curious about the penhold blocking and forehand-dominant approach.
Regardless of the reason, transitioning to penhold requires a suitable blade that matches the unique characteristics of this grip. For this reason, we have carefully selected and summarized 10 classic penhold table tennis blades to help players make an informed choice and find the option that best fits their playing style.
Stiga Dynasty Carbon Xu Xin Edition
Xu Xin is widely regarded as one of the most entertaining and technically gifted modern penhold players. His mid- to far-distance looping ability is so exceptional that it often rivals, and even surpasses, that of many shakehand players. The Stiga Dynasty Carbon Xu Xin Edition fully embodies this playing style and has earned its reputation as a true penhold weapon. The blade offers a high, spin-friendly arc combined with a powerful and penetrating rebound, making it especially effective in long rallies and heavy topspin exchanges.
True to Stiga’s design philosophy, the Dynasty Carbon focuses on overall flex and a wide, forgiving sweet spot. The koto outer plies paired with outer TeXtreme carbon layers provide excellent responsiveness near the table, enhancing speed in penhold blocking, punch shots, and controlled counter-attacks while also improving passive stability through effective energy borrowing. At the same time, the ayous core adds elasticity and depth, allowing the blade to unleash explosive power when fully engaged. The result is a well-balanced yet highly aggressive penhold blade that excels both close to the table and from mid to long distance.
Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive
If Xu Xin represents the modern evolution of penhold table tennis, then Ma Lin is undoubtedly the legend of the traditional penhold style. Renowned for his extraordinary touch and finesse, Ma Lin possessed world-class control in the short game. His understanding of placement, spin variation, and timing was on a level that very few players have ever reached, allowing him to dominate opponents through precision rather than sheer power.
The Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive was designed to reflect this philosophy. As a classic all-wood penhold blade, it emphasizes feel, control, and clarity of feedback, making it exceptionally strong in serve, receive, pushing, and quick forehand attacks close to the table. The blade delivers crisp responsiveness without feeling harsh, giving players excellent confidence when controlling spin and directing the ball to precise locations. While it may not match modern carbon blades in raw mid-distance power, its linear response and superb touch make it a timeless choice for players who appreciate traditional penhold technique, refined control, and intelligent point construction.
DHS Hurricane Hao II
Wang Hao is one of the most iconic representatives of penhold table tennis, known for his aggressive style, high-speed attacks, and powerful strokes that are extremely difficult to defend against. The DHS Hurricane Hao series was developed to reflect his playing style, and it includes three versions: DHS Hurricane Hao, DHS Hurricane Hao II, and DHS Hurricane Hao III. Among them, the Hurricane Hao II is widely regarded as the classic version and remains the top choice for most amateur penhold players.
The Hurricane Hao II is designed for agile and sharp offensive play. Its thick core provides solid power without losing touch and transparency, enhancing the blade’s natural ability to generate force. Close-to-table shots are rich in variation, while mid- to long-distance strokes remain stable yet surprisingly dynamic, giving players excellent control over placement and spin. The 5-ply all-wood construction also offers good dwell time, supporting heavy-spin loops, smooth transitions between offense and defense, and reliable performance in RPB rallies. Overall, the Hurricane Hao II is a perfect combination of speed, precision, and controllable power, making it both a reliable choice for beginners and a favorite among intermediate penhold players.
Butterfly Taksim
The Butterfly Taksim is widely regarded as a timeless classic for penhold players. While both the Taksim and the Viscaria are legendary blades, careful comparison shows that the Taksim is particularly well-suited for penhold play. The Viscaria is excellent in its own right, but under moderate or lower power strokes, its advantages are less pronounced, and it tends to favor shakehand players. In contrast, the Taksim’s thicker construction, strong support, and high-speed capability make it ideal for penhold techniques, including left-push/right-attack or loop-dominated play.
The blade delivers a perfect balance of power and flexibility, offering a lively rebound while maintaining control. This makes it suitable for both inverted rubber attacks and short/long pips play, and it is especially popular among players who like to combine penhold looping with push variations or pips blocking. Many players even attach long pips or short pips to the Taksim to exploit its versatile trajectory and stable rebound. Its combination of stiffness and elasticity ensures that the blade performs consistently in fast, high-intensity exchanges while still allowing subtle control in close-to-table situations.
Butterfly Innerforce Layer ZLC
The Butterfly Innerforce Layer ZLC is a true classic and highly versatile blade, renowned for its exceptional balance of speed, feel, and control. It has been used by Félix Lebrun in his early Butterfly sponsorship, and its early representative player was the all-around Grand Slam champion Zhang Yining, whose style perfectly reflects the blade’s ability to excel in both offense and defense.
Thanks to its Innerfiber ZL‑Carbon construction, with carbon layers positioned closer to the core, the blade delivers a softer, more responsive touch without sacrificing the quick rebound and power that ZL‑Carbon is known for. This allows players to perform looping, punching, and transitional shots with confidence, while enjoying excellent feedback and control for spin variation, precise placement, and mid-distance rallies.
What makes the Innerforce Layer ZLC truly special is its well-rounded performance — there are no weak points. Whether you play penhold or shakehand, this blade remains an excellent choice, offering a perfect combination of speed, control, and stability.
Victas Swat
The Victas Swat is a 7-ply all-wood blade that has remained one of Japan’s top-selling offensive blades for nearly a decade, famously used by coach Ni Xialian. Unlike many high-speed carbon blades, the Swat is moderately soft and approachable, offering a warm and forgiving feel. Its greatest strength lies in its versatility: it works well with nearly any playing style, rubber choice, or grip — whether you use penhold or shakehand, inverted rubber or pips, forehand loops or short pushes.
The Swat’s construction utilizes SW wood curing technology, which retains a certain level of moisture in the wood. This enhances the natural wood feel while still providing adequate offensive power, making it both sensitive for control and lively for attack. Much like the Butterfly Innerforce Layer ZLC, the Victas Swat is a balanced, all-around blade, allowing players to execute a wide variety of shots with confidence. Its combination of touch, stability, and adaptable performance has earned it a long-standing reputation as a reliable and versatile weapon for players of all levels and styles.
Butterfly Timo Boll ALC
The Butterfly Timo Boll ALC is a legendary blade, traditionally associated with shakehand players, but it has also been embraced by top penhold players such as Qiu Dang, who has reached the top 10 in the world rankings. His use of this blade has made it a highly watched model among penhold enthusiasts: the Timo Boll ALC special version. The blade features a unique “crispy outside, soft inside” Arylate-Carbon construction, which provides both explosive power and excellent ball control. Once fully engaged, it responds very efficiently to strokes, allowing players to generate strong loops and fast attacks while maintaining a controlled feel.
Compared with the Butterfly Viscaria, which can feel somewhat forgiving on short, controlled shots, the Timo Boll ALC delivers greater precision, clarity, and ease in close-to-table play. Its combination of speed, stability, and responsive feel makes it a versatile choice for advanced penhold players who want to execute crisp pushes, fast loops, and mid-distance attacks with confidence. In Europe, this blade has also consistently ranked among the best-selling offensive blades, reflecting its broad appeal and high performance.
Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC
Although Zhang Jike himself is not a penhold player, the Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC remains a truly classic blade, which is why it earns a place on this list. Developed in collaboration with Zhang Jike, this high-end offensive blade incorporates Super ZL‑Carbon fibers, offering an enlarged sweet spot, enhanced stability, and superior energy return. Players can generate exceptional speed and spin while retaining precise control, even during fast exchanges and high-intensity rallies.
The Super ZLC delivers a smooth yet powerful feel, providing lively rebound without losing feedback, making it reliable for looping, counter-attacks, and mid-distance transitions. While it was originally designed for shakehand attackers, penhold players who favor powerful forehand loops, aggressive attacks, and dynamic mid-distance play will also find it extremely effective. Its high speed, stability, and balanced performance make it one of the top offensive blades available, ideal for advanced players seeking a versatile, high-performance weapon.
Stiga Clipper CR
The Stiga Clipper CR is one of the most classic and timeless all‑wood offensive blades in table tennis history, carrying on the legacy of the original Clipper series that has been popular with power-oriented players for decades. Compared with the Victas Swat’s softer and more forgiving feel, the Clipper CR is slightly more aggressive, offering higher speed, lively rebound, and stronger penetration, which has made it a favorite among penhold players who enjoy powerful loops, fast mid-distance attacks, and decisive counterplays.
This 7‑ply all-wood construction delivers a fast and direct response, ideal for aggressive topspin drives, sharp counterattacks, and consistent mid-distance play. The Clipper CR’s crisp rebound and solid control make it a versatile choice for players who want an all-wood blade that combines raw offensive power with reliable precision. Although originally favored by shakehand attackers, it also appeals to penhold players who appreciate fast, penetrating hits and strong looping ability.
Tibhar Felix Lebrun Hyper Carbon
Félix Lebrun is one of the most exciting young talents in modern table tennis, currently ranked among the world’s top players. Known for his dynamic penhold style, aggressive loops, and quick mid-distance play, he has already made a name for himself on the international stage with consistent performances against top-ranked opponents. Lebrun’s fast, versatile, and precise style makes him a perfect representative for cutting-edge penhold equipment.
The Tibhar Felix Lebrun Hyper Carbon is a modern high-performance offensive blade co-designed with Lebrun. This blade uses a 5 + 2 inner Hyper Carbon construction, where layers of carbon-synthetic fiber are placed directly around the core veneer to provide the high stiffness and catapult effect demanded by fast, attacking play while still offering longer, more sensitive ball contact.
The result is a blade with fast acceleration and excellent offensive potential, allowing players to execute spin-loaded topspins, powerful counterloops, and precise mid-distance drives with confidence. Reviews highlight its strong spin generation, reliable control, and ability to maintain stability under pressure, especially compared to traditional carbon blades. Although it leans toward a high-speed offensive character, the inner carbon design gives it a touch and feel that supports delicate play as well, making it suitable for players who want both aggressive power and nuanced control.
Additional Penhold Blade Recommendations
There are a few classic penhold blades that we didn’t make it into the top 10 list, so we’re including them here as additional recommendations for players looking for the some cheaper penhold options.
When it comes to affordable and highly playable penhold blades, both the Yinhe Pro 01 and the DHS 301 series stand out. These blades aren’t just inexpensive — they have been trusted by many players, including competitive and professional penhold players, for their reliable performance.
The Yinhe Pro 01 is often regarded as one of the best value penhold blades available. It offers a fast yet controllable offensive feel, excellent stability, and surprisingly good spin potential for its price. This makes it ideal for penhold players looking to combine powerful attacking strokes with consistent control, allowing them to develop offensive skills without compromising touch and placement.
The DHS 301 series is another long-time favorite among penhold players. Known for its balanced performance, smooth feel, and reliable response, the 301 series handles both looping and fast attacking shots well. Its versatility makes it suitable for beginners and intermediate players alike who want a classic, all-round penhold blade that delivers solid performance without a high price tag.
