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Recommendation for a racket in the $30-40 range

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richrf View Drop Down
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    Posted: 10/04/2019 at 10:59pm
Hi all, 

A couple of players I met who I met at a local university asked me for a recommendation for some some equipment. They are just getting started  and are looking for something in the $30-40 range. The rubber should European-like, relatively light with blade with a shakehand grip. I've been away from equipment purchasing for a while so any recommendation would be appreciated. Thanks! 


Edited by richrf - 10/04/2019 at 11:00pm
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Charlie Brown View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Charlie Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/04/2019 at 11:01pm
getting started but want "Euro styled" LOL... just talk to the man already...

*sigh*
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richrf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/04/2019 at 11:20pm
Thanks. 

Colestt looks to be very low in inventory right now due to tariff complications. 

I used Euro-like to differentiate from hard Chinese rubber. I would never recommend the trampoline ESN rubbers to someone just starting out. Just looking for a decent rubber with decent characteristics. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Charlie Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/04/2019 at 11:27pm
if you have a SPIN nearby, you can maybe pick up a couple...i think they're priced the same from the Stiga store.



then there is Paddle palace and megaspin...but you should talk to Coles....


Edited by Charlie Brown - 10/04/2019 at 11:29pm
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richrf View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richrf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/04/2019 at 11:36pm
Ok, I'll give Coles a call and see what his situation looks like. Thanks.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ericd937 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/05/2019 at 4:46am
is 30 - 40 dollars just for the blade or is that total including rubbers? 
Current Setup: TBS FH T80/BH D80
Official USATT Rating 1815
Current estimated level: 1800-1900.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richrf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/05/2019 at 10:40am
Yes, blade and rubber.

There is no email address or phone on Colestt website. Anyone have contact info?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dream1700 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/05/2019 at 11:04am
try buying slightly used rubbers to keep the cost down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BRS Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/05/2019 at 11:41am
https://www.zeropong.com/gambler-combos-c-118/gambler-special-combo-instinct-2-all-wood-p-492?zenid=evupcv46gv88pienedce9jgm54

$36 assembled plus a bat cover and a free shirt.  five-ply wood ALL+ rated.  I tried the Mech-tek predator on another person's bat and thought it was a really good, playable intro rubber.  But you can choose any of their rubbers with this deal.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Charlie Brown Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/05/2019 at 12:34pm
Originally posted by richrf richrf wrote:

Yes, blade and rubber.

There is no email address or phone on Colestt website. Anyone have contact info?

he's a member in here...

PM:    cole_ely


that zeropong suggestion is also a good option.


Edited by Charlie Brown - 10/05/2019 at 12:35pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richrf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/05/2019 at 12:36pm
Thanks everyone! 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fmarek Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/06/2019 at 8:35am
Originally posted by richrf richrf wrote:

Thanks. 

Colestt looks to be very low in inventory right now due to tariff complications. 

I used Euro-like to differentiate from hard Chinese rubber. I would never recommend the trampoline ESN rubbers to someone just starting out. Just looking for a decent rubber with decent characteristics. 

+1
729 Green Goblin 5, FH: 729 Battle II National H39, BH: Palio HK1997 Gold.
DHS Long 5, FH: 729 Battle II Gold H40, BH: Nittaku C1
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Purett Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/06/2019 at 8:49am
TableTennisStore.US - Paddle

20 bucks with both sides friendship 729
rating solid 1000
moving up to 1001
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richrf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/06/2019 at 8:52am
Originally posted by Purett Purett wrote:

TableTennisStore.US - Paddle

20 bucks with both sides friendship 729

This or Gambler may work fine for them. Thanks!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Purett Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/06/2019 at 9:27am
Originally posted by richrf richrf wrote:

Originally posted by Purett Purett wrote:

TableTennisStore.US - Paddle

20 bucks with both sides friendship 729

This or Gambler may work fine for them. Thanks!
yup
rating solid 1000
moving up to 1001
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote fmarek Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/06/2019 at 9:32am
To spend $40 for 2x euro rubbers + blade sounds like mission impossible to me. But Chinese makers to the rescue!

With some luck you may get decent used ALL/ALL+ blade and put new Palio CJ8000 rubbers (go for hardest version, which will still end up being very soft) Palio rubbers are cheap Chinese clones of Euro rubbers. Here, by "cheap" I only mean price, the quality is pretty good for $10 product.

Examples: 

Blade: You cannot go wrong if you find blade with this structure: limba+limba+ayous+limba+limba. I started with that structure purely by luck. I had no clue what I was getting. It was pre-made Donic racket (more than for $40). Only later I learned that this magic wood combination is used by all big brands - Stiga, Bty and etc. Funny thing that these blades use simple, easily available wood but priced like a gold. So price is set for brand not for super secret wood! Meaning you can find it for your budget. Chinese make perfect clones using same material for the fraction of the cost. For example: Yinhe (Galaxy) brand.

Based on my personal experience, I would not recommend putting "fancy" wood as top ply, for example - wenge, rosewood, ayous, koto, ebony, anegre. Most of them play perfectly but could be tricky for beginner. RE: ayous, it is soft wood, pairing it with soft rubbers will be crazy choice. Limba is optimal - not too stiff, not too soft.

For example: 

Most important factor for racket which will have great effect on the game is WEIGHT. Do not underestimate weight :)

In general, anything outside this range is not usable: 180g - 196g. 

So 185-188g for beginner is good.





729 Green Goblin 5, FH: 729 Battle II National H39, BH: Palio HK1997 Gold.
DHS Long 5, FH: 729 Battle II Gold H40, BH: Nittaku C1
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote richrf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/06/2019 at 4:19pm
Originally posted by fmarek fmarek wrote:

To spend $40 for 2x euro rubbers + blade sounds like mission impossible to me. But Chinese makers to the rescue!

With some luck you may get decent used ALL/ALL+ blade and put new Palio CJ8000 rubbers (go for hardest version, which will still end up being very soft) Palio rubbers are cheap Chinese clones of Euro rubbers. Here, by "cheap" I only mean price, the quality is pretty good for $10 product.

Examples: 

Blade: You cannot go wrong if you find blade with this structure: limba+limba+ayous+limba+limba. I started with that structure purely by luck. I had no clue what I was getting. It was pre-made Donic racket (more than for $40). Only later I learned that this magic wood combination is used by all big brands - Stiga, Bty and etc. Funny thing that these blades use simple, easily available wood but priced like a gold. So price is set for brand not for super secret wood! Meaning you can find it for your budget. Chinese make perfect clones using same material for the fraction of the cost. For example: Yinhe (Galaxy) brand.

Based on my personal experience, I would not recommend putting "fancy" wood as top ply, for example - wenge, rosewood, ayous, koto, ebony, anegre. Most of them play perfectly but could be tricky for beginner. RE: ayous, it is soft wood, pairing it with soft rubbers will be crazy choice. Limba is optimal - not too stiff, not too soft.

For example: 

Most important factor for racket which will have great effect on the game is WEIGHT. Do not underestimate weight :)

In general, anything outside this range is not usable: 180g - 196g. 

So 185-188g for beginner is good.






Thanks much for your advice. Very much appreciated!
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote yuri.saldon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/08/2019 at 12:37pm
I think the best budget blade and rubbers combo is the yinhe 896 with yinhe Mars II at 24 USD at Aliexpress, link below

https://pt.aliexpress.com/item/2026655330.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.11e75b45q8VlZM&algo_pvid=e2c3b950-031a-43e5-97ba-4e4a104d19a3&algo_expid=e2c3b950-031a-43e5-97ba-4e4a104d19a3-0&btsid=06432b8f-f07e-4efa-a717-ca0105123d75&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_52

The blade have decent speed/control and the rubber is at grip side (not tacky) with good spin/speed ratio.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cole_ely Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/08/2019 at 7:27pm
the only issue I have with some of the recommendations is, if you want a light blade for beginners, Mars is pretty heavy and only available in 2.2. Price-wise though you can't argue with that price
Wavestone St with Illumina 1.9r, defender1.7b

Please let me know if I can be of assistance.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote achoomai Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10/09/2019 at 9:54am
My feedback : http://www.mytabletennis.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=58844&PN=1#726094
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