Problems with defensive blade designs & definitions
Posted: March 29th, 2024, 1:42 am
First of all defensive players need to understand that there are no known mass produced oversize blades in table tennis.
If you want one you need to have it custom made.
Second issue > The very definition of an an oversized blade. A 165 mm x 160 mm blade is NOT an oversized blade. It is a semi-large blade.
For a blade to be remotely useful for a defender in the 40+ plastic ball ONLY era (if that is possible) , you need a large blade. A large blade is like at least 170 mm height x 170 mm in width. And no, it cannot be 170 mm in height but only 165 mm in width. I don't know where this nonsense about width being lss than height came about especially for a defensive blade, You need maximum possible dwell time and you need maximum width.
If you are a classic defender who mostly chops from both sides . you may be able to use a symmetric blade.
But if you are modern defender , (whether it is with short pips or spinny inverted on forehand) , you need an asymmetric blade with possibly a slower dofter and very spinny backhand (for so called long pips on ITTF LARC, which are actually medium pips) and a faster forehand side.
The forehand should be ike ZLC if you are using short pips for flat hitting or ALC if you are using spinny inverted for looping.
If you want one you need to have it custom made.
Second issue > The very definition of an an oversized blade. A 165 mm x 160 mm blade is NOT an oversized blade. It is a semi-large blade.
For a blade to be remotely useful for a defender in the 40+ plastic ball ONLY era (if that is possible) , you need a large blade. A large blade is like at least 170 mm height x 170 mm in width. And no, it cannot be 170 mm in height but only 165 mm in width. I don't know where this nonsense about width being lss than height came about especially for a defensive blade, You need maximum possible dwell time and you need maximum width.
If you are a classic defender who mostly chops from both sides . you may be able to use a symmetric blade.
But if you are modern defender , (whether it is with short pips or spinny inverted on forehand) , you need an asymmetric blade with possibly a slower dofter and very spinny backhand (for so called long pips on ITTF LARC, which are actually medium pips) and a faster forehand side.
The forehand should be ike ZLC if you are using short pips for flat hitting or ALC if you are using spinny inverted for looping.