Site Products
Coach Truong Tu – Ask The Experts

Ask The Experts: Truong Tu, No: 98

Posted on

Ask The Experts: Truong Tu, No: 98
Butterfly Table Tennis Question and Answer

Question: Hello,

I have been playing table tennis for about 4 years and I am looking to upgrade my racket. Currently, I play on the Stiga Evolution Premade racket and I am ready to take my skills further. I have been doing research with my coach’s recommendations and I have listed out blade and rubbers that I liked:
My style of play is primarily looping, counterattacking, and some close to the table attacking play, with some short chops over the table if the ball comes short. My skill rating is about 1200-1350. Could you please give me your recommendations?

Blade: Not exactly sure but my coach recommended a 5-ply wooden All+ or Off- blade; Could you please suggest something; I am thinking that carbon blades would be a little too fast but I am open to explanations and opinions.

Forehand Rubber:
1) DHS Gold Arc 3
2) DHS Hurricane 3
3) DHS Hurricane 8
Also, I am open to more suggestions and opinions. I am not exactly sure if Tenergy is the right rubber for my skill level though. My coach recommended a slightly more tacky rubber for my forehand for looping.

Backhand Rubber:
1) Yasaka Mark V
2) Tibhar Evolution FX-P
3) A Butterfly rubber that matches my style of play (I have heard mixed reviews about the Sriver Series so if you could possibly recomend something else.)
4) A Stiga rubber that matches my style of play
5) Donic Acuda Blue P2 or Donic Bluefire JP 02

Again, I am open to more suggestions and opinions. My coach recommends a more control, yet power rubber for backhand but still able to do backhand loops.

I have been hesitant with the Tenergy series because they seem to be very fast and spinny rubbers, which would not let me develop my skills properly. But I am still interested in when I could be possibly ready to manage playing with the Tenergy series.

I look forward to your response, wisdom, and insight.

Thank you very much,
Neel

Answer: Hi Neel,

Blade: Petr Korbel is perfect for you! If you want a little more speed you might also like the Innerforce Layer ALC. Arylate-Carbon is a soft carbon which give you a little more speed without losing control.

Forehand: Spin Art would be the best choice, tacky top-sheet and more control.

Backhand: Roundell Soft should be good, it will give you more dwell time for control. But if you use Korbel, then Roundell would be good since Korbel is a soft blade already.

Best of luck!

Truong Tu

Latest News

MLTT Week 2 Preview: Action heads to Willowbrook

September 20, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo MLTT) Major League Table Tennis moves to Compass Arena in Willowbrook, Illinois, this weekend,… Read More

WAB CLUB FEATURE: Boston Table Tennis Club

September 20, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The Boston Table Tennis Club is in Medford, just North of Cambridge and Somerville and only… Read More

USA Sweeps ITTF Americas U11 & U13 Championships

September 20, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo ITTF) The United States ran the table at home as the ITTF Americas U11… Read More

Dang Qiu Ascends in Astana

September 20, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo ITTFWorld) The top two seeds reached the Final at the WTT Star Contender series… Read More

Carlos Hernandez – Florida Open vs Daniel Gorak

September 20, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Bowmar Sports Tournament Highlights, Carlos Hernandez is in action again Daniel Gorak at… Read More

Anav Gupta – Serve Return & Flip

September 19, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Anav Gupta is focusing on his short serve return, followed… Read More

Beating Your Hidden Opponent: Choosing the Inner Coach Over the Inner Critic by Dr. Alan Chu

September 18, 2026
(by Dr. Alan Chu, PhD, CMPC) You may wonder: Who would be my hidden opponent? Upon reflection, every… Read More

Rachid El Bou Bou – Backhand Loop from the middle range

September 18, 2026
(by: Bowmar Sports) In this Butterfly Training Tips, Rachid El Bou Bou is executing the Backhand Loop from… Read More
View All News

Get the latest from Butterfly

Stay “In The Loop” with Butterfly professional table tennis equipment, table tennis news, table tennis technology, tournament results, and We Are Butterfly players, coaches, clubs and more.

/* Constant Contact Universal Code */