Site Products
AJ Carney

Ask The Experts: AJ Carney, No. 402

Posted on

Butterfly Table Tennis Question and Answer

Question:

Hi Butterfly,

I am beginner-intermediate level table tennis player and would like to grow in this sport. I am writing to you to give me suggestion to grow fast on this sport. Currently i live in clifton park new york where we don’t have any professional table tennis club. As such i don’t have any mentor to help me improve my skills. In this circumstances – Can Butterfly help me/guide me to engage with very good coach nearby my area so that i can take lesson? – I am looking for a define coaching plan so that i can prepare myself, improve my weak point and able to participate big tournaments – Also i would like to know what level of game i need to play so that butterfly will sponsor me for the tournament in future – Currently i am using STIGA PRO CARBON as my blade and rubber. Could you please guide what type of blade and rubber should i use next? Some of my playing skill are given below: (If i can get control like stiga pro carbon then it works, Spin i need 100% and speed like stiga pro carbon also works) Forehand loop and forehand smash: comfortable would like to develop Ma Long forehand. Backhand : Backhand smash, Back hand topsin is good. Backhand not strong as forehand but developing. Service: Side spin pendulum serve + Hook topspin and backspin serve.

Please recommend me blade and rubber based on my information.

Answer: 

AJ Carney

Your Ask the Experts question was answered by AJ Carney. He is a Table Tennis Manager and Coach at Triangle Badminton & Table Tennis in Morrisville, NC. Coach Carney’s response is as follows:

Hi MD Masoom,  
The two nearest clubs are: Genesee Valley TTC – Rochester NY (3 and ½ hours from you) & Westchester TTC (2 and ½ hours). Both of these clubs would have coaching options/availability for you. You may be able to have a coach at one of the above clubs mentioned create a coaching plan for yourself but I am not sure what the fee would be for them to do that.
Obtaining a player sponsorship is difficult these days. I would focus on improving your game day by day. Typically only juniors that are exceptional and ranked Top 5 US in there age categories are the ones considered for potential sponsorship.
I would recommend Viscaria blade, Dignics 09C and Dignics 05. This setup would be a great balance between feeling/control, speed, and spin.    
Best of luck!  
Coach AJ
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.

Latest News

WAB CLUB FEATURE: RA Table Tennis Centre

March 1, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The RA Table Tennis Center is centrally located in Ottawa, just off of highway 19. … Read More

Top Ranked Players Win Singapore Smash

March 1, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins, photo WTT) The top players in the world converged this week in Singapore, and a… Read More

Final Four in Singapore: Chuqin, Lebrun, Yun-Ju, Moregard

February 28, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The top players in the world converged this week in Singapore, and on Sunday only… Read More

Maintain a Low Position

February 27, 2026
Robot plays long topspin balls to long Backhand, Logan plays Backhand chop block (Hack) off the bounce, robot… Read More

Calderano and Harimoto Among the Upsets in Singapore

February 27, 2026
(by Steve Hopkins) The top players in the world have converged this week in Singapore for the 2026… Read More

Showtime Table Tennis

February 25, 2026
(By Bowma Sport) Collegiate Partnership Expansion - McMaster University On January 24, SOn January 24, Showtime established a… Read More

Racket Under the Table?

February 23, 2026
Robot plays long topspin balls to long Backhand, Logan plays Backhand chop block (Hack) off the bounce, robot… Read More

Positioning Part 4 of 4: Recovery

February 23, 2026
(By Larry Hodges, Member of US Table Tennis Hall of Fame, www.tabletenniscoaching.com/blog) This could be the most important… 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.