Ask The Experts: Stefan Feth #285
Butterfly Table Tennis Question and AnswerQuestion:
Dear Coach Stefan Feth,
My name is Denethi Wijegunawardana and currently my rating is 2209. I have met you a couple of times when you were coaching Kanak during US Nationals/Open.
I play with a Gergely Alpha with short pips on both my forehand and backhand. (Andro Blowfish and Dawei rubbers)
Since the Gergely Alpha is discontinued, I wanted to ask you what the closest blade to it would be so that I could buy a new one…. I see that some of the available options are Garaydia T5000, Timo Boll T5000 and Zhang Jike T5000. I tried the Garaydia ZLC and didn’t really like it, Could you please advise me on what blade is the most similar to a Gergely Alpha?
Here’s the link to a small video if you wanted to see my style of play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBuOxWWeg4o
Thank you so much, Looking forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Denethi Wijegunawardana
Answer:
This Ask the Experts question was answered by Stefan Feth. He is one of the coaches at the World Champions Table Tennis Academy in Santa Clara, CA. Coach Feth’s response is as follows:
Hi Denethi,Thanks for your question and interest in Butterfly equipment.
I recommend for you the Primorac Carbon (Tamca 5000) blade. Similar to the BTY Gergely Alpha this blade has the Tamca 5000 carbon fiber combined with the cypress layers for power play.Both blades belong to the fastest in the Butterfly line and are lighter in weight.Hope you get a chance to try it out and will be satisfied.Best,Stefan Feth
US National Team Coach
Coach @ WCTTA
www.tt-champions.com
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Dignics 05 will provide a better sense of holding the ball and adding power if combined with Harimoto Tomokazu Innerforce ALC and Innerforce Layer ALC. The combination will enhance the accuracy of topspin against backspin and counter topspin play close to the table.
Innerforce Layer ZLC
Dignics 05
Powerful play close to the table and from mid-distance
The combination of Innerforce Layer ZLC and Apolonia ZLC is recommended for the player who seeks powerful play close to the table or at a mid-distance. It enables the player to return the opponent’s service using the banana-flick before executing powerful topspin strokes. Both blades possess the sense of holding the ball and releasing the power in a balanced manner.
Lin Gaoyuan ALC
Dignics 05
High-level all-round play
This is a combination with a comparably soft and easy-to-handle blade using Arylate-Carbon, like Lin Gaoyuan ALC, Timo Boll ALC or Viscaria. The blend is suited to players who aspire to use aggressive all-round play from all parts of the playing area.
Hadraw VR
Dignics 05
Powerful play with a feeling of all-wood
Combing Hadraw VR with Dignics 05 realizes both powerful offensive play and rich rotation of the ball generated from all-wood feeling.
Cypress G-MAX
Dignics 05
Powerful play generated by Japanese penhold
Combined with Dignics 05 and Cypress G-MAX, generates more power, the blend is recommended for Japanese penhold players who seek powerful forehand topspin. Dignics 80 for more balance and Dignics 64 for more speed are also recommended.
Zhang Jike Super ZLC
Dignics 80
Play in higher level without weak point
Combing a rubber well-balanced between speed and rotation, Dignics 80, and Super ZL Carbon-equipped racket Zhang Jike Super ZLC guides your play to not only a powerful but also a stable higher level.
Mizutani Jun ZLC
Dignics 80
Smart play at variable distance
Jun Mizutani chooses the combination of Dignics 80 and the desirable bounce blade Mizutani Jun ZLC. As Dignics 80 has an excellent balance between speed and spin, you can easily decide whether to block or counter depending on the speed of the opponent’s ball. This is the combination enabling an offensive counter topspin away from the table, recommended for the player who plays smart at variable distance.
Timo Boll ZLF
Dignics 80
Stable and powerful counter topspin play
The combination of Dignics 80 and Timo Boll ZLF has both good bounce and control and offers reliability thanks to the holding the ball well. This is recommended for an aggressive well-balanced playing style focused on stability.
Timo Boll CAF
Dignics 80
Develop the power
A wide range of players can benefit from Dignics series although its main intended use is for players at intermediate to a high level. The rubber will widen your options by making a powerful stroke possible even though the player is not confident in his/her power play if the stroke movement is short and slow. We recommend the combination with easy-to-use blade Timo Boll CAF to develop your play.
Zhang Jike ZLC
Dignics 64
Develop the power
Play in higher level without weak point
Combing a rubber well-balanced between speed and rotation, Dignics 80, and Super ZL Carbon-equipped racket Zhang Jike Super ZLC guides your play to not only a powerful but also a stable higher level.
Innerforce Layer ALC
Dignics 64
All-round play in a wider area
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SK7
Dignics 64
Stable topspin-against-topspin play
Dignics 64 which has good spin offers power and stability by combing with all-wood blade SK7 Classic.
