Blade manufacturer quality

I’ve been away from the sport for a while but returning soon. I’ve enjoyed inventorying all my old gear.  I have a general question, though, so please point me to the thread if it has already been asked recently.  My inquiry, though, is if Butterfly has been regarded as having the most popularity among experienced players (probably more than all other manufacturers combined), which brand would be considered as being in second place from a quality of manufacture perspective, and would it be a close second or distant second place.  Please limit it to all-wood offensive style (OFF, OFF-, or OFF+).  I happen to use shake hand FL style.  Sometimes the EJ in me wants to re-evaluate my existing inventory since the ball changed to the poly ball since I was last playing. Thanks!

Edited by seasterl - 09/02/2023 at 10:52am

Thanks!  I do have a Primorac all-wood, among other blades, so wondering between Yasaka, Stiga, Nitakku, Tibhar, Donic, et al would have a well-made all-wood offensive blade that is not head-heavy (or have a hollow handle) and comes with a FL grip at least as big as (or larger) than they typical BTY FL grip.  (For me, the ideal grip is like the one used on the BTY PC or old SC.). Point taken regarding inconsistent Stiga QC. 

In my eyes the actual Stiga blades are far away from the 2nd place. Nittaku, Darker, Tibhar, ... there are several brands with better quality blades. For example Nittaku has really good blades like Acoustic, Violin, Tenor, Goriki, Ludeack and Barwell, which are at least as good as Butterfly blades, for me they are better. Butterfly may still have the first place if we talk about composite blades.

8.92 PKj:/ 双鱼体育，国内领先的乒乓球拍生产线。# 体育 # 乒乓球 # 双鱼体育 https://v.douyin.com/ieFuRogG/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

8.23 lcn:/ 全自动乒乓球拍机# 自动化设备 # 工厂实拍 # 自动化生产线 https://v.douyin.com/ieFuF2y3/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

0.79 YMW:/ 乒乓球拍生产线，广东佛山乒乓球拍厂家带你参观山东曹县乒乓球拍生产线加工过程 # 乒乓球拍 https://v.douyin.com/ieFujp8h/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

1.51 daA:/ 乒乓球拍包�£�线体工程项目，双鱼球拍自动包�£�线怎么做？ # 自动化生产线 # 工厂实拍 # 智能制造   https://v.douyin.com/ieFmKcB8/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

7.61 anD:/ 乒乓球拍全自动化设备，成型、斜切、抛光、�£槽# 体育器材 # 体育用品 @DOU+小助手   https://v.douyin.com/ieFujp1e/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

8.74 hOK:/ # 乒乓球拍 # 仿型�£ # 热门 # 热点 # 木工机械 # 木制品 # 匠人精神 # 热门热门 乒乓球拍板高速生产 https://v.douyin.com/ieFuALf4/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

7.69 mQX:/ 厉害了我的哥国球拍既然可以这样简单点生产，老张来就是要介绍乒乓球拍的数控成形生产# 竹之匠 # 木制品 # 木工 # 仿形�£ # 匠心制作   https://v.douyin.com/ieFmKKAh/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

6.12 oDU:/ 乒乓球拍，广东佛山乒乓球拍厂家展示河北沧州乒乓球拍设备机械加工生产线车间过程 # 乒乓球拍 https://v.douyin.com/ieFuAneb/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

2.53 SyG:/ # 揭秘# 乒乓球拍# 实拍# 奥运会 # 东京奥运会 # 抖音热门 # 实木开料机# 夹板# 夺冠 @DOU+小助手 https://v.douyin.com/ieFuhVup/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

This one claims to be where Butterfly sources their center ply (kiri and ayous).
2.02 TLw:/ # 专业生产厂家 # 工厂实拍视频 常年合作日本蝴蝶 球拍大芯·桐木·阿尤斯 大量生产中   https://v.douyin.com/ieFuuybp/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！
9.92 OKJ:/ 桐木.阿尤斯# 专业生产厂家 # 工厂实拍视频 # 质量第一诚信为本 专业生产乒乓球拍大芯，常年合作日本蝴蝶 https://v.douyin.com/ieFuTw6p/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

4.84 rEh:/ # 专业生产 # 车间实拍 # 生产厂家 # 乒乓球拍生产定做 https://v.douyin.com/ieFuQTV2/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

5.84 WzT:/ 专业生产乒乓球拍手柄机器-数控乒乓球拍手柄仿形机# 数控仿形机# 机械设备 # 工厂实拍视频 # 乒乓球拍搭配 https://v.douyin.com/ieFufMCL/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

Composite fibers
5.82 tre:/ 要做好底板，人脉，资源，必要的投资少一样都不行 # 乒乓球 # 工厂实拍视频 # 车间实拍 # 源头实力厂家 https://v.douyin.com/ieFH8m5K/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

7.99 YMW:/ # 工厂实拍视频 帅锋乒乓球拍工厂打�£�机，浙江领先技术，欢迎来合作 https://v.douyin.com/ieFuE5EE/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

9.94 mQX:/ 乒乓球胶皮是怎么包�£�的# 车间实拍 # 向往的冬天在吉林 # 乒乓球视频 https://v.douyin.com/ieFHhHBW/ 复制此链接，打开Dou音搜索，直接观看视频！

I can't find the point of this topic. It looks like a spam. Many people are so much focused on the equipment, that they forgot to go in the hall and to have pleasure from the game. Or they spent so much time on testing. There is always one great option - visit the nearest mixed brands tt shop around you and make comparison personal. Blade must be comfy in the hand and equipped with the correct rubbers for your needs. This is much more important - the combination with rubbers. Otherwise I can bet with you I can make even your favorite blade so much bad for you with the wrong type of rubbers, even if they are BTY/STIGA/DONIC/TIBHAR/VICTAS/XIOM/JOOLA/ANDRO or something else. For a pity, new rubbers are pretty expensive, but you can order from some sites like tt11 or dandoy several rubbers so you can use discount. I have many old and good blades and I have spent lot of time in testing, do not repeat that waste of time, but enjoy the game. I have both old and new BTY Primo blades they are completely different blades as feeling. Some of the elder metal tag Primo Off- blades with metal logo on the handle and handles made by genuine wood in the end of 1980's/early 1990's are very fast blades with big catapult effect, if you are looking for some of these I will tell you GOOD LUCK only, none of the current manufacturers are even close to such a blade. That's why elder primo off- are expensive blades today, but you can't be sure even if you spent 250-300 eur you will get absolutely the same like yours. If I was at you - I am going in the store and buy 4-5 blades from the last batch from the model I like mostly and then - two pairs of rubbers according my needs. And problem is 100000% solved. Good luck!

seasterl wrote: Kolevtt- Thanks for your comments. I think you likely missed the point of the thread as you mentioned.  It was not about rubbers or enjoyment of the game, but rather an objective look at current quality of manufacturing with an emphasis on all-wood flared grip blades.  Since I’m returning to the sport, my inquiry was to gauge changes in the manufacturing industry over the last decade or so, and some members chimed in with very insightful comments.  This is doubly helpful for me because there are no stores in my area where a person can walk in and check out, but is all mail order, so after ordering a blade, I’m stuck with it as soon as I glue up.  So I’m picking up where I left off (pre-40+), but should the desire arise to update, I was asking,.. (well, now you get the idea).  I think I’m good now.  Thanks, guys, for the comments.  EDIT:  PS… not sure about the earlier post from someone that was in a different language.

Thanks, Stiltt!  It’s good to be back. I’m good friends with Kevin of American Hinoki and he made some custom blades for me which I still have.  For a while I enjoyed carbons with soft rubbers but gravitated to single-ply with hard Chinese tacky and stayed there for a long time for power-loops in 6-8 foot range.   I was hoping to return sooner, but a medical issue set me back an entire year.  I’m hoping next week will be my first time hitting again and we’ll see what this new ball brings.  I remember I was consumed with the sport six days a week for years and then laying it aside to raise a family. That’s life, but no regrets.  Family first.  

I have a could of yasaka W7 blades. They are not the best in terms of finish and appearance, but they play very well and nearly identical in weight, characteristics, ie the things that really count!

Thanks for the comments!  It sounds as if the Japanese- and Korean-made blades like BTY and Xiom, on average may be the current leaders in quality of blade production in terms of fit, finish, and consistency of quality.  Not to take anything away from the Swedish or Chinese based brands because, and from what I’m reading here, they’re capable of improved refinement and consistency, but find their target consumer prioritizes value over perfection and maybe they keep manufacturing steps (costs) down, sell for less, and still make a profit.  

JoeB & Slowhand - Thanks!  I just checked out the OSP site. Impressive looking!

Edited by seasterl - 09/04/2023 at 6:27pm