All Around Blade

Quick, fit, pretty good reach/reflexes. I've been playing for a month and a half or so (casually off and on as a teen hitter and slicer before that) now, and am at about a 1000 rating or just under.

I'm using a Gambler Arylate/Carbon w/ Four Kings 2.0 both sides, but am worrying thats a tad too fast for me, and that my development might benefit more from an all-wood blade too. That or I'm just telling that to myself to give myself an excuse to buy something new. Either way..


I've read all the topics and am worried some of the most recommended blades like the Petr Kobrel might still be too fast (in addition to the made in Chinese/Japanese verisons etc confusion). My game is very all around right now -  close and mid semi-looping (more slow spinny), driving, and slicing, far chopping and lobbing, up close blocking left to right and hitting, pushing. Little bit of everything, probably closest to modern defender - I'll go for a winner against a softy, but mostly I don't take too many risks, focusing on control and getting a good shot back on the table whatever it may be (and adding a little speed or various spins to it if I can within control). Wish to continue all around to develop all strokes/strategies and give myself best chance of figuring out my style.


Whats going to be the best all around blade? Price doesn't matter ~ just want the right match for me though quality is always good. No brand preference. Will get straight handle this time. I'm going to go inverted, inverted,    or   inverted, short pips,   but will settle on that later.


Some I've been considering:

Stiga All Around Evolution
Nittaku Violin (spendy but doesn't really bother me, esp. if worth it)
Stiga All Around Classic (too defensive?)
Butterfly Petr Korbel (too fast?, version uncertainty)
various Hinokis?

open to anything



Gracias

Keep in mind I haven't played with these blades, just read what others say about them. Typically Korbel is recommended as a beginner blade to someone who wants to be offensive and grow into looping and what not, and from the sound of that (not experience), that would paint me into a corner I don't know that I want to be in yet.

All around player and you're thinking about short pips?? maybe not a good idea. Wouldn't recommend violin or acoustic either. Get a butterfly or stiga wood blade. put some srivers on it. works every time.

Yasaka Extra, Stiga Allround Classic, Donic Persson allround (best in my opinion), Juic Kalinic (second best in my opinion)

BTY A. Grubba ALL+, Sriver EL both sides...I love mine.

The best allround blade in my opinion is Donic Allplay (Waldner/Applegreen).  Put Sriver (EL), Mark V or Coppa (Tagora is good too) on it, 1,8 mm.

Each brand has a good 5 ply, allwood allround blade.
Banda Pegasus, Stiga Allround Oversize (Classic is a little bit slow), Yasaka Allround 40, Andrezj Grubba ... There's a lot !

Whatever you get, stick with it for at least few months before deciding it is not good for you. This is an important factor since many players dump their eqipment too fast in search for Holy Grail, not even knowing that they have found it already. Just give it time.

Your Gambler Arylate Carbon is a lightweight all round blade, with a big sweetspot. It's a blade you can play and learn all your strokes with. If you are finding the handle on the thin side as I did, then get some tennis grip, to solve that one.

Speedwise it's similar to other allround blades mentioned above and with 2mm four kings, you already have an ideal bat to learn and develop your strokes with; for a close to the table game.

Last year, I sold a Gambler Arylate Carbon, fitted with 2mm Aces; I had as a spare in my TT bag, specifically for players like you;  to a teenager who'd come down the club, tried it and liked the way it played. 

Four kings is not too dissimilar to Aces, but I prefer Aces.

If you do want to switch to another allround blade then I suggest you try the Donic Applegren Allplay v2 or V1, which are both about the same weight and better blades.

Other good suggestions have been made on this thread by other posters as well.

As others have suggested, get yourself some coaching or go to a club, where they can help you with technique.

When your technique and overall game has improved, then is the time to think of changing to other equipment.

Don't run before you learn to walk.

patlu08 wrote: jt99sf wrote: Don't run before you learn to walk.   JL i agree... any ALL -> OFF- blade should suit you well... I recommend the stiga all around classic CR, sriver or sriver EL 1.9 both sides

don't fall into that trap.  focus on getting the basics down, your personal style will come through eventually, then you can begin getting creative with rubber and blade choices. 

for now - a simple all or all+ with sriver 1.9 will be sufficient.