table tennis racket high spin

7 Best Ping Pong Paddles for Spin for Every Style and Skill Level

Get the Best Table Tennis Racket for Spin and Improve Your Game Today

Spin plays a critical role in modern table tennis, and finding the best ping pong paddle for spin can drastically improve your game. Whether you’re a beginner just learning the different types of spin or a more advanced player looking to upgrade your bat, we’ll help you find a quality table tennis racket designed for heavy spin ideal for your skill level and play style!


Before we get into the detailed reviews for these spinny paddles, check out the charts below for a quick overview and the bottom line on our top spin racket choices.

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Overview: The Best Paddles for Spin For Intermediate To Advanced Players

We find that most people looking to upgrade their bat for better spin are intermediate or more advanced players, so the choices below represent the 5 best mid range paddles for spin. All of these are quality, premade paddles from dependable table tennis brands. For beginners or the most advanced players, look at the two options in the next section.

Highlights
Overall Top Spin Choice
Best for Spin
Best for Spin & Speed
Best Advanced Paddle for Spin
Premium Choice
Highest Rated Racket for Spin & Speed
Paddle
Killerspin Jet 800 Speed N2 - A Professional Grade Ping Pong Paddle - ITTF Approved Table Tennis Paddle - Competition Grade, for Advanced Players, Red/Black
STIGA Pro Carbon Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket with Carbon Technology for Tournament Play - Red and Blue Colors
Killerspin KIDO 7P RTG Ping Pong Paddle with Straight Handle Black/Red
Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 Pro-Line Table Tennis Racket - The Softness Of Balsa And The Hardness Of Carbon - Recommended For Advanced Tournament Level Play - Pro-Line Series
Perfect for:
Intermediate aggressive players wanting a quality bat for spin (more spin than speed) at a great price
Aggressive, offensive intermediate players that want good spin but prioritize speed and power more highly
Advanced offensive players wanting more spin and speed than either the Jet800 or ProCarbon and don't mind a higher cost
Advanced offensive players wanting a premium racket for speed and spin (best bat in the table) with a larger budget
ITTF Approved (tournaments)
Overall Top Spin Choice
Highlights
Best for Spin
Paddle
Killerspin Jet 800 Speed N2 - A Professional Grade Ping Pong Paddle - ITTF Approved Table Tennis Paddle - Competition Grade, for Advanced Players, Red/Black
Perfect for:
Intermediate aggressive players wanting a quality bat for spin (more spin than speed) at a great price
ITTF Approved (tournaments)
Check Price on Amazon
Highlights
Best for Spin & Speed
Paddle
STIGA Pro Carbon Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket with Carbon Technology for Tournament Play - Red and Blue Colors
Perfect for:
Aggressive, offensive intermediate players that want good spin but prioritize speed and power more highly
ITTF Approved (tournaments)
Check Price on Amazon
Highlights
Best Advanced Paddle for Spin
Paddle
Killerspin KIDO 7P RTG Ping Pong Paddle with Straight Handle Black/Red
Perfect for:
Advanced offensive players wanting more spin and speed than either the Jet800 or ProCarbon and don't mind a higher cost
ITTF Approved (tournaments)
Check Price on Amazon
Premium Choice
Highlights
Highest Rated Racket for Spin & Speed
Paddle
Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 Pro-Line Table Tennis Racket - The Softness Of Balsa And The Hardness Of Carbon - Recommended For Advanced Tournament Level Play - Pro-Line Series
Perfect for:
Advanced offensive players wanting a premium racket for speed and spin (best bat in the table) with a larger budget
ITTF Approved (tournaments)
Check Price on Amazon

Overview: The Best Rackets for Spin for Beginners & Professionals

Beginner

Learning to execute the standard spin shots is a critical part of developing table tennis skills, so here’s our best entry level paddle with enough spin to develop and enough control to learn accurately.

Palio Expert 3.0 Table Tennis Racket & Case | ITTF Approved High-Performance Ping Pong Rackets for Beginners | Maximum Spin & Control (Single Racket)

Professional

For experienced player curious about rackets the pros use for spin, discover master spin levels with this professional blade and rubber combination, hand assembled and delivered to your door.

Butterfly Timo Boll ALC Blade & Tenergy 05 Rubber Shakehand Table Tennis Racket - Pro-Line Series - Comprised of Our Most Popular Blade and Rubbers - Recommended for Aspiring Professional Players
Table of Contents: Quick Navigation
In a Hurry? Quick Overview of Highest Rated Spin Paddle ChoicesWhat’s the Best Ping Pong Blade for Spin?
7 Best Ping Pong Paddles for Spin – ReviewsWhat’s the Best Ping Pong Rubber for Spin?
What Does Spin Mean in Table Tennis? & Different Types of SpinCan I Improve Spin on My Own Paddle?
Buying Guide: What to Look for When Buying a Racket for SpinWhat About Anti-Spin Rubbers?
Ping Pong Spin FAQsWhich Side of the Paddle is for Spin?
Which Table Tennis Racket Has the Most Spin?What Ping Pong Paddle Has the Most Spin & Speed?

7 Best Ping Pong Paddles For Spin Reviewed

1. Killerspin JET800

Killerspin Jet 800 Speed N2 - A Professional Grade Ping Pong Paddle - ITTF Approved Table Tennis Paddle - Competition Grade, for Advanced Players, Red/Black

Overall Best Racket for Spin (Intermediate)

Bottom Line: If you’re an intermediate offensive style player looking to upgrade to a quality racket with great spin in a reasonable budget, you’ll love the Killerspin Jet800.

Designed for agressive players with an emphasis on spin, the Killerspin Jet800 made our top pick for overall best table tennis racket for spin because this premade bat delivers good speed and excellent spin without breaking the bank, making it an affordable, quality option for players looking to add more spin to their game through a better bat.


The 7 ply blade includes 5 wooden layers for flexibility and spin balanced with 2 carbon fiber layers that increase the overall power and speed capabilities, granting those spin shots more strength. The slightly larger than usual blade has a nice sweet spot and aids in defense, allowing you to more easily return fast shots smashed your direction.


The latest version of the Jet800 comes with high quality Nitrx 4z rubbers; these grippy rubbers may remind you a bit of the popular Chinese topsheets with firm sponges. You’ll need to activate that sponge to create the heavy spin, but you’ll be able to achieve fast topspin drives and fantastic, powerful spin serves that opponents will struggle to return.


The thick sponge helps spin but also lends speed and power to your shots, and while it doesn’t perform as well for brush-looping due to that firmness, the Killerspin Jet800 lives up to its name, giving you an offense oriented racket with lots of spin perfect for intermediate level players wanting to win more games!


The wooden edge tape protects the blade and improves durability, and the flared handle has a reinforced grip to give you stability. You get a lot of quality in this premade bat, and it’s fantastic for spin at a budget-friendly, mid-range price.


Though quality control issues are minimal with Killerspin, some users have had cracking or breakage issues at the handle when hitting the table; be careful with your new bat, and try to avoid strong contact with the table. However, if you do notice an issue with your racket, Killerspin has amazing customer service; give them a call!


If you like the sound of this bat but want a higher level paddle geared to more advanced instead of intermediate players, check out the Killerspin Kido 7P on this list instead.

ProsCons
✅ Good quality materials at a very reasonable price🅧 Not quite as good for for brush looping
✅ Overall best table tennis racket for spin in mid-range levels (intermediate possibly stretching to early advanced players)🅧 Rare quality control issues; uncommon, but contact Killerspin for fantastic customer service if needed.
✅ ITTF approved for tournament play🅧 Some players with very large hands notice the handle being just a touch shorter than is comfortable
✅ Large blade for improved defending but with 2 carbon layers for increased strength and speed for strong attacks
✅ Powerful spin serves and fast topspin driving capabilities

2. Stiga Pro Carbon

Sale STIGA Pro Carbon Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket with Carbon Technology for Tournament Play - Red and Blue Colors

Overall Best for Spin & Speed (Intermediate)

Bottom Line: If you want a quality intermediate racket with nice spin but greater emphasis on power and speed without breaking the bank, get the Stiga Pro Carbon.

Topping many Best Ping Pong Paddle lists for intermediate players, this premade bat packs quite a punch while still remaining in a reasonable price range (a great racket for spin and speed under $100). Don’t let the manufacturer’s ratings fool you (more on that in the buying guide section); it claims to have slightly greater spin than speed, but in actual playing, it’s the other way around.


The 7-ply blade has 5 wooden layers (including a balsa core ply for increased flexibility and thus improved spin) and 2 carbon layers that stiffen the blade while still keeping it lightweight. That extra rigidity gives the greater speed and power, and the carbon also means a larger sweet spot on the bat!


You’ll also experience lessened vibration in the handle due to Stiga’s shock dispersion tube, designed to transfer energy out of the handle upon contact with the ball.


The Stiga S5 rubbers aren’t designed for more advanced players or professionals; they aren’t as grippy or tacky as rubbers on the Killerspins or DHS Hurricane below, so you won’t experience as high spin levels (despite the ratings), and you’ll need keep them cleaned and maintained in order to still produce good spin over time.


The rubbers actually provide good control, though, making it a nice choice for a developing, mid-range player wanting improved spin and more speed but without the levels (and cost) of something like the Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 below.


You can actually block pretty well with this for an offense oriented blade, and you’ll get decent spin on your drives. The 2.0mm sponge underneath those rubbers adds some serious speed, and you’ll love smashing fast shots with this bat!


Best of all, the rubbers are replaceable, making the Stiga Pro Carbon a good investment as you’re learning and developing. Once you adjust to the speed and are ready for even more spin, you can trade one or both rubbers out for something that will give help you generate more backspin and topsin in your game.


If you’ve already mastered spin shots, have very solid technique, and think this sounds a little less spinny than you want, you can check out the new Stiga Pro Carbon + for a leveled up version of this bat, or you might be ready for the Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 a few titles below in this list; that bat gives you immense spin and speed on an entirely different level (but it costs way more and is a little more advanced as well).

ProsCons
✅ ITTF approved replaceable rubbers that offer nice control and good spin for a developing intermediate players🅧 Rubbers aren’t as spinny as Killerspin or Butterfly or DHS options, but they are replaceable and offer great control
✅ 2mm thick sponge for speed but still performs blocks pretty well for an offensive blade🅧 Advanced players will likely want something faster and with even more spin (check out the other options here)
✅ Great premade attacking bat for mid-range players wanting more speed and spin in their game.🅧 Heavier than many premade rackets, so may require an adjustement period (that weight does grant power though)
✅ 7 Ply blade with balsa core and 2 carbon layers for more speed and power

3. DHS Hurricane II

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Truly the Best Racket for Spin for All-Around or Defensive Players (Intermediate-Advanced)

Bottom Line: If you want insane amounts of spin with both offensive and defensive capabilities, and you can handle a more serious racket, you want the DHS Hurricane II; it will not disappoint.

While the previous two entries, the Killerspin Jet800 and Stiga Pro Carbon, land pretty firmly in the intermediate category, the DHS Hurricane II bridges nicely into more advanced play. It’s a durable, well-made, higher quality racket (as you’d expect from a quintessential brand like DHS) and requires a solid grasp of table tennis fundamentals (not ideal for beginners). If you prefer a balanced game and want tremendous amounts of spin from your paddle, you will love this bat.


Unlike many premade ping pong paddles, the DHS Hurricane II has two different rubbers, creating the versatility perfect for all-around play. Both rubbers have pips in, improving spin, but the G555 black rubbers slow down and offer more control and defensive capabilities while the Hurricane II red rubber offers high spin and greater speed for offensive shots.


The rubbers are extremely tacky, helping to produce such incredible spin, and balanced with the firm rubber and thinner sponge (1.5mm), you get to create high spin shots but with precision and control. Prepare to land those tricky looping shots, loading them up with spin without fear of overshooting the table. You’ll love your top spin and control both with this bat!


Of course, tacky rubbers require maintenance to retain their superb spin; check out the rubbers information in the parts of a paddle section of our Buying Guide for details.


The DHS Hurricane II is not a high speed racket, but if you want the best spin for a premade ping pong paddle with both offensive and defensive capabilities and excellent precision/control, this is it. Be prepared for a higher price and sometimes a slightly unpleasant smell until the rubbers air out, but the cost is worth all that spin!


If you have the capability to handle a racket like this but want a more attack-focused paddle with high spin and speed together, look at the Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 on this list instead.

ProsCons
✅ Best table tennis racket for spin with balanced/all-around or defensive style players in mind at the late intermediate to early advanced levels🅧 This racket does cost more because as quality increases, so does price.
✅ Tremendous amounts of spin with great control from tacky rubbers with a firm, thinner sponge🅧 Some users think the rubbers smell a bit unpleasant at first; they might take some time to air out.
✅ High quality, durable, ITTF approved rubbers (different rubber on each side for offense/defense)🅧 Not really a con, just an FYI – tacky (spinny!) rubbers take maintenance to keep in good condition.

4. Killerspin Kido 7P

Killerspin KIDO 7P RTG Ping Pong Paddle with Straight Handle Black/Red

Best Late Intermediate-Advanced Ping Pong Paddle for Spin (Attacking Players)

Bottom Line: If you’re a more advanced offensive player wanting tons of spin (an upgrade in spin and speed both over the Pro Carbon or Jet 800) but don’t want to throw down the cash for The Carbo X5 or pro gear, try this Killerspin Kido 7P.

While the cost goes up significantly from the Pro Carbon and Jet 800 range, you’ll see a serious increase in spin and a good speed boost with the Killerspin Kido 7p. Think of it as the next tier up from the Jet 800. The primary focus is still spin, but it’s a level up in speed as well from the intermediate bats.


The 7-ply wooden blade creates the flexibility for truly impressive levels of spin and quick returns with a nice sweet spot. If you want a paddle to improve your topspin as an offensive player, you’ll love the Kido 7P. If you’re still developing your understanding of the different types of spin in table tennis, the Jet800 is likely the better option, but if you have a good grasp of technique and want to see more results, the 7P is a great choice.


There are two options here; the standard Kido 7P and the Kido 7P Premium. The primary difference between these two lies in the rubbers. The Kido 7P uses Nitrix 4z rubbers (same as the Jet 800): decently grippy, good spin, and nice quality but not as advanced a rubber. The premium edition, however, upgrades to Killerspin’s Fortissimo rubbers.


The Fortissimo rubbers have a hybrid topsheet comprised of an elastic and soft compound that combines with natural and synthetic rubber to create fantastic rebounds, tons of spin, and a little extra spring. The cost jumps up again for the Premium, but the rubbers combined with the wooden blade make for an excellent table tennis racket for topspin.


You’ll see an increase in speed and power with the Premium over the regular version, and of course you’ll have greater spin. However, what might surprise you is the increase in control that these rubbers offer as well. Not only will you be able to create deadlier topspin, but you’ll likely notice more accuracy too.


Both rubbers are ITTF approved, so you’re tournament ready regardless of which option you choose. If you want the best spin in a premade paddle and a speed upgrade from the Jet800, the Kido 7P is an excellent choice. If you want an even more aggressive speed and spin racket, the Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 is even more powerful, but it costs more.

ProsCons
✅ More spin and speed than the intermediate Jet 800 paddle: significant increase if you choose the Premium version with Fortissimo rubbers🅧 Cost starts to increase as you get into more advanced paddles
✅ 7Ply wooden blade for spin with handle options of flared (shakehand grip – most common and very stable grip) or straight🅧 Higher quality, tackier rubbers will require maintenance (more FYI than con)
✅ Premium version offers even more spin and power and also has a higher control rating🅧 Some quality control issues in the past from Killerspin, but issues remain limited and customer service is great

5. Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5

Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 Pro-Line Table Tennis Racket - The Softness Of Balsa And The Hardness Of Carbon - Recommended For Advanced Tournament Level Play - Pro-Line Series

Premium Ping Pong Paddle with the Best Spin & Speed (Intermediate-Advanced)

Bottom Line: If you want the absolute best table tennis racket for spin and speed (and have the budget for it), this premium premade paddle is our top choice for pre-professional level gear.

For players settling into an aggressive offensive play style that want a high quality ping pong paddle designed for speed and spin combined while still keeping decent control, the Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 is our top choice. Though the cost does jump up, it really delivers. If you’ve got good technique and want to see your game improve with better gear, grab this paddle.


Like professional paddles, this is actually a combination of a specific blade and rubbers: the Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 Blade and Tenergy 80 FX 2.1 mm rubbers, which ships preassembled straight to your door, so you don’t have to glue the rubbers on yourself (and can change or replace them later as desired).


The Balsa Carbo X5 blade combines 3 wooden plies–including a center Balsa ply (a top wood choice among higher end and pro blades) with 2 carbon plies for a lightweight but powerful blade with great touch. This OFF (offense) class blade is perfect for close to the table attacks while still having plenty of power for strong mid-distance shots. The soft feel contributes to easy and effective blocking as well.


You’ll gain more speed from the rubbers with their extra thick 2.1mm sponge, making your spin shots powerful and fast. The Tenergy 80 FX rubbers are a high tension pips-in rubber that combine spin and speed with a softer sponge for fantastic touch in the short game, excellent all-around attacking, and great mid-distance looping while still retaining critical control. You’ll love the spin on attack and defense both!


For players finding their stride in an attack focused game that want something better than the Killerspin and Stiga option but don’t want to spring for all-out professional level equipment, the Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 is an excellent choice. For truly advanced or aspiring pros that have fantastic technique and are ready to sacrifice control in their racket for the most intense spin and speed available, check out the professional listing up next!

ProsCons
✅ High quality ITTF tournament approved Butterfly blade and rubbers pre-assembled with Butterfly Free Chack Glue and shipped to your door, ready to play🅧 Not for beginners or early intermediate players that haven’t developed control in their technique (won’t be able to handle this one)
✅ 5 Ply blade with balsa core and 2 carbon layers for lightweight but strong racket🅧 Cost definitely increases with this paddle
✅ Tenergy 80 FX 2.1mm rubbers ideal for all-around attacking players but that still retains nice control and great touch with a slightly softer sponge 🅧 This is a higher-end paddle, and it must be treated with care! It doesn’t come with a case, but it’s worth investing in one
✅ Premium premade ping pong paddle for speed and spin for very experienced intermediate and more advanced players wanting to improve their offensive play with better equipment

6. Butterfly Timo Boll ALC & Tenergy 05

Butterfly Timo Boll ALC Blade & Tenergy 05 Rubber Shakehand Table Tennis Racket - Pro-Line Series - Comprised of Our Most Popular Blade and Rubbers - Recommended for Aspiring Professional Players

Best Paddle for Top Spin and Speed (Professional)

Bottom Line: If you want to play with one of the absolute best ever table tennis rackets for spin, this combination is our best choice: a professional racket for insane spin with tons of speed from its pro blade and rubber combo that ships to you preassembled.

If you want to experience professional level equipment, this combination is one of the best on the market for spin and speed (get excited for insane topspin), but be prepared: it will cost you.


Remember, finding your best table tennis racket depends on your skill level, and this is not for beginner or intermediate players. You must have developed sufficient control and technical capabilities in order to handle this racket, as the paddle itself sacrifices control in favor of tremendous spin and high speed. If you’ve got the chops (and budget), though; this blade and rubber combination is fantastic for very advanced or professional players.


Named for the world-renowned European table tennis champion Timo Boll (learn more about him at AllAboutTableTennis), who uses and helped design this signature blade, the Timo Boll ALC is a professional blade optimized for heavy spin (Boll is known for his topspin game) and intense speed. It’s a fantastic offensive (attack) blade with 5 wooden plies and two plies of Arylate Carbon, which offer even more speed than Boll’s previous blades with Butterfly while still maintaining the high spin of his rackets.


Tenergy 05 rubbers, adhered carefully to each side with Free Chack glue, provide tremendous spin through the combination of Butterfly’s extra thick (2.1mm) Spring Sponge with a high tension, tacky topsheet. These rubbers are designed with fast, intensely powerful topspin play in mind. With their inverted surface, pips-in high tension rubber, you get phenomenal drive, amazing looping capabilities, and easy blocking. The Tenergy 05 rubbers fall in Butterfly’s “Super Speed” class; rest assured these offer both amazing spin and speed.


While the performance is stellar, these rubbers do require care and maintenance in order to retain their performance. Protect the tacky rubber surface with a protective film when not in use, and treat this expensive equipment with great care. If you don’t already have a case, it’s worth the investment. PaddlePalace has some great recommendations on how to choose a good case.


While this equipment is neither cheap nor intended for developing players, the combination of the Timo Boll ALC blade and Tenergy 05 rubbers creates one of the best professional table tennis racket for spin and speed. Advanced players wanting a pro paddle designed for heavy topspin coupled with fast power will love this bat.

ProsCons
✅ 7 Ply (5 wood + 2 ALC – arylate carbon) blade designed for heavy topspin and speed ideal for advanced and professional offensive/attack players🅧 Cost; this is expensive, pro gear
✅ Tenergy 05 Rubbers with 2.1 mm Spring Sponge and high tension, tacky topsheets to create tons of spin with high speed and power 🅧 Maintenance is key to keep the rubbers tacky and the paddle in good condition; you can’t just toss it around carelessly
✅ Carefully assembled and delivered to your door (no glueing the rubbers yourself)🅧 Intermediate, developing players will not have sufficient technique and control to handle this bat
✅ Incredibly high quality equipment designed by pros for experienced players and used by professionals that favor high spin and speed in their tt rackets

7. Palio Expert 3

Palio Expert 3.0 Table Tennis Racket & Case | ITTF Approved High-Performance Ping Pong Rackets for Beginners | Maximum Spin & Control (Single Racket)

Best table tennis racket for spin for beginners

Bottom Line: Spin is crucial in table tennis, and learning the fundamentals early is key. Choose this paddle for beginners wanting to develop spin techniques properly with dependable, quality equipment in a very reasonable budget.

With each iteration in the Palio Expert series, this beginner bat continues to improve. New to the 3.0 version is the wider edge tape, which provides even better protection of the blade, helpful as new players often end up hitting the table accidentally. The tape also helps keep the rubbers intact, minimizing the fraying that can occur at the edges.


Palio has continued to perfect the blade as well, improving the control of the paddle, which is crucial for beginners. By far the most relevant rating for a beginner is control, and the Palio Expert 3.0 combines fantastic control with good spin, allowing for the development of solid fundamentals.


Least important to new players is speed, which should be added only as technique develops, so don’t expect tons of fast shots from this paddle. It’s about accuracy, consistency, and controlled spin.


The Palio CJ800 rubbers contribute to the spin with their tacky topsheet and softer sponge. Though this paddle is designed for new players, the replaceable rubbers are ITTF approved, so you can play tournaments for new challenges and experiences even as you grow and learn.


The Palio Expert 3.0 beginner paddle for spin is an excellent value, giving you quality equipment at a great price; it even includes a case! If you want other beginner options or even some purely recreational racket ideas, you can check out our best ping pong paddles article for more overall great ideas (less spin-specific in focus).

ProsCons
✅ Best beginner ping pong paddle for spin: lots of control and good spin for developing fundamental table tennis techniques🅧 Players with large hands may feel the handle is a bit too short to get a good, comfortable grip
✅ Excellent value for money: inexpensive but good quality, durable, and comes with a case🅧 Is a touch heavier than some beginning paddles
✅ ITTF approved replaceable rubbers are tacky with a softer sponge for more spin
✅ 3.0 version includes improved blade for more control as well as wider edge tape

What Is Spin in Table Tennis?

Understanding and utilizing spin has become a critical part of table tennis, especially at competitive levels. However, even beginners need to incorporate spin — focusing on the fundamentals of each type of spin shot — in order to progress and build the skills critical for successful intermediate and advanced play.

What Does Spin Mean in Ping Pong?

Spin refers to the motion of the ball through the air created by specifically angled contact from the paddle combined with the controlled turn of the wrist. The ping pong ball will turn in the air, spinning as it moves along its path.


As it encounters differences in air pressure at different places on the ball (top, side, back), the ball can curve and dip as well. When a ball with spin applied hits an opponent’s paddle or the table, the combined rotation and air pressure differences cause changes in speed and direction, frustrating opposing players.


Defending against spinning balls can prove extremely difficult, making them vital for long term success in table tennis. When using spin shots, you can also hit the ball with more force closer to the table. Combining spin and speed can be especially powerful and is seen it aggressive, offensive style playing, but spin remains critical in all-around and defensive styles as well.

Different Types of Spin in Ping Pong:

  • Topspin: when the racket grazes the top of the table tennis ball from a high position while applying a forward spin (starting below/behind the ball and moving upward/forward). With top spin, the ball curves downward and gathers speed as it turns in the air.

  • Side Spin: Utilized both offensively and defensively, a skill in which you cause the ball to spin from either the right or left side, creating varying amounts of arcing in the air dependent upon the speed and angle of your stroke. Side spin in ping pong is created with a pushing or pulling motion.

  • Backspin: Also know as a slice, this defensive technique returns fast attacks while giving you some extra time to prepare for your next return. Create backspin by moving from high to low and grazing the ping pong ball on the underside with a forward motion. Practice this technique to create lots of spin, which causes the ball to bounce up or back when it hits the table, making backspin shots extremely challenging to return.

Buying Guide: What To Look for When Buying a Table Tennis Racket for Spin

When shopping for your personal best ping pong paddle for spin, its critical to understand your own playing in order to choose the right racket for you. You’ll also want to understand the parts of a racket and how each component impacts spin as well as familiarize yourself with reputable brands. These ideas apply whether you’re searching specifically for a spin heavy paddle, like the choices here, or if you’re simply looking for a overall better table tennis racket.

pro ping pong paddle spin

What’s Your Skill Level?

First and foremost, be honest about your experience level! If you purchase a racket below or above your own skill level, you can expect frustration to follow (and limited progress at best). Each level requires something different.

  • Beginner: Focus on learning the skills and techniques of table tennis and choose a racket with an emphasis on control; you need to develop precision and consistency in the fundamentals as you learn to execute spin shots.


    Since you’re here looking specifically for a paddle with improved spin, it’s likely you’re more of an advanced beginner, in which case the Palio Expert 3.0 would be an excellent choice. If you’re completely new to the game, check out the beginner section of our top ping pong paddles for more choices.

  • Intermediate: At this stage, you have a better handle on the fundamentals; you already know how to create different types of spin, and you’re looking to increase how much spin you can get on the ping pong ball and make those spin shots faster and more difficult to return. You may also start settling into a play style (offensive, defensive, all-around), which will dictate the ideal construction of your paddle.

  • Advanced: Advanced players have tremendous experience playing table tennis and have gained great comfort in their particular play style; players at this stage are likely either looking for the best premade paddles for spin on the market or are already looking into completely customized builds (see the pro category below).

    We recommend the Kido 7P by Killerspin or Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 for more advanced players looking at quality premade bats, and if you want to try a customized build, check out the professional section below.

  • Professional: Pros obviously are in a tier of their own and will exclusively build their own set up (choosing blade and rubbers separately). If you’re an extremely advanced player or an aspiring professional and want to see a potential set up for a pro paddle with loads of spin, check out the Butterfly Timo Boll ALC Blade and Tenergy 05 Rubber combination.

What’s Your Play Style?

As we’ve mentioned previously, creating spin in your ping pong game is important at all skill levels and play style, but how you incorporate different spin shots (and which ping pong paddle for spin you should choose) differs with each style.


Offensive, or attacking, players like to create fast forehand loops, whereas defensive players tend towards more backspin in their game. At a paddle level, play style matters significantly; for example, attacking players tend to want more speed and a thicker sponge, whereas defensive players tend towards thinner sponges.


Remember, if you’re a beginner, you don’t need to worry about developing a specific style yet; focus on technique and consistency with an entry level paddle that produces good spin but that has the greatest emphasis on control.

What’s Your Budget?

As you might expect, prices of quality ping pong paddles vary dramatically depending on level, construction, and quality of materials. In general, the better the paddle, the more expensive it tends to be. You can expect quality premade intermediate paddles for spin, like a couple on our list, to cost in the mid range; often (but not always) under $100. These paddles are a great value for the price, combining quality materials with durability; however, they may not compete with something for more advanced players that costs 2-3 times as much.


As you move into more advanced paddles, the cost increases. The best table tennis rackets with heavy spin for pros will come at the highest cost, with blades alone often costing more than any intermediate premade bat. You’ll pay a premium for a customized ping pong paddle set-up with spin and speed in mind, but if you’re an aspiring professional or very advanced player, it’s worth the investment.


If you’re looking for an intermediate paddle for spin on a tight budget and can’t quite swing the choices on our list, you can check out the Killerspin Jet600. It won’t live up to the Jet800, but if you want spin with less cost, it’s great budget option.


Entry level ping pong paddles for spin, even for an advanced beginner, usually tend to fall under the $50 price point, making these affordable premade bats, like the Palio Expert 3.0, a great value.

How Does a Paddle Affect Spin?

Once you’ve determined your play style, skill level, and budget, it’s time to shop for a better paddle for spin! Yay! However, you have to know what you’re looking for, so we’ve put together a quick overview of how the construction of the paddle itself affects the spin you’ll be able to get out of it. For more depth on each of these elements overall (not just in regards to spin), visit our Best Ping Pong Paddles article.

  • Blade: This is the core of the paddle, comprised mostly or entirely of wood, constructed in layers. As a basic rule of thumb, fewer (5) layers allows for greater flexibility in the blade, improves the spin capabilities of the paddle. Also, because wood is pliable and flexible, entirely wooden blades can produce more spin than blades with carbon fiber layers, though this depends on type of composite and wood as well.


    Carbon is harder–more rigid and less flexible–than wood, and is included to improve speed, though it can reduce the spin capabilities slightly. Of course, there are varying types of composite layers as well as different types and hardness of wood, all of which can impact exactly how the blade affects the power and spin capabilities of the paddle.


    Less experienced players may not actually feel the difference in things like thickness, as we’re talking about differences of a couple millimeters. Blades can also be treated with sealants and other surface treatments that impact speed, spin, and durability.


  • Rubbers: Rubbers are the outermost layer of the paddle, traditionally black and/or red, and they come in a truly dizzying array of styles. Rubbers have different textures created by the dimples, called pips or pimples, on their surfaces.


    Pips in (smooth) rubbers produce the most spin, while pips out rubbers (where the dimples are on the outside, coming into contact with the ball) produce less spin. Pips can differ in length, too, and shallower (shorter) pips will still produce more spin than longer ones, which are better for defending against spin than producing it.


    Soft rubbers/sponges create more spin through greater dwell time (time the surface of the paddle connects with the ball, as the ball sinks slightly into the softer rubber). Sticky rubbers also improve spin, as the ball sticks longer to the surface of the rubber itself.


    Maintenance of tacky rubbers is key, though, as dirt and dust can build up on the sticky surface, minimizing their impact. Keep your rubbers clean with this guide from PingPongRuler and consider a specialized cleaner, like the Butterfly Spin Refresh. You can also use protective films to help maintain tacky rubbers when not in use.


  • Sponge: The sponge, often considered part of the rubber, goes underneath the rubber topsheet and attaches to the blade. Thinner rubbers allow for more control, whereas thicker rubbers offer more spin and speed.


    Players looking for more speed and spin will often use rubbers around 2mm thick, whereas true beginners and defensive players lean towards the thinnest sponges, under 1.3mm. Balanced players that want more control but a speed boost may opt for sponges around 1.5-1.7mm.


  • The Bottom Line: In the end, it’s the combination of these elements that works to create a truly high quality ping pong paddle for spin, and you have to look at all the components as a unit to see how they interact. For example, several of the best rackets for spin ever have carbon layers in the blade because advanced players want that extra speed and strength to make their spin shots even more powerful. Think about the trade offs and your skill and style as you consider your ideal paddle.

Reputable Ping Pong Paddle Brands (and Speed Ratings)

Not surprisingly, reputable ping pong brands will generally deliver higher quality materials in both their premade rackets and their blades and rubbers for customization. Some of the best known brands include the established powerhouses of Butterfly and DHS, but brands like Stiga and Killerspin also offer high quality paddles.


Palio may not be as well known (and they have a much more limited selection focused on beginner and intermediate players), but they use excellent materials, even on their beginner bats, without charging a fortune, making them an ideal choice for entry level paddles on a budget.


When you get into customized builds, with separate blades and rubbers, you’ll start to see other brands more frequently too (you’ll see some in the lists in the FAQs below), but we’re focused primarily on premade ping pong paddles for spin right now.



Spin Ratings: Any time you’re looking to buy a ping pong paddle for spin, you’ll almost assuredly be looking at the spin rating; however, that may not be as useful as you think. Unfortunately, there is no unified rating system; every manufacturer is completely different and arbitrary, making it impossible to use the listed spin ratings to compare the actual spin capabilities of rackets from different brands.


Even within the same brand, it’s still a good idea to take ratings with a hefty grain of salt. Sometimes beginner or intermediate paddles have ratings just barely below those of their absolute top of the line advanced paddles (or blades), which just isn’t realistically accurate. Instead, look at the construction, the details on the blades and rubbers, and make a decision based on that knowledge and reputable reviews.

Ping Pong Paddle Spin FAQs

As you make your decision about your spin focused table tennis racket, we’ll quickly answer some of the most common questions to help you decide!

Which Table Tennis Racket Has the Most Spin?

Well, it depends on your skill level and playstyle, but here are our top spin choices for paddles in a quick summary:

What’s the Best Ping Pong Blade for Spin?

Since we’ve been focusing on the best premade paddles for spin, we’re not going to do a deep dive into the table tennis blades made for spin; however, if you’re interested in a custom set up, the list below is a place to start your search. (or try the Butterfly Timo Boll ALC Blade and Tenergy 05 Rubber combo we recommend for advanced players)

Keep in mind, as you start creating custom set-ups and getting into more advanced blades and rubbers, the cost will start increasing too.


Table Tennis Blades for Spin:

  • Stiga All Around Classic: a good choice for beginners to early intermediate players – balanced overall but still very spinny

  • Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit: an excellent blade for more serious intermediate players that want marked improvement in their game but also a little more control

  • Darker Speed 90: a very different style blade made of a single ply of Kiso Hinoki wood great for topspin attacks with very little vibration

  • DHS Hurricane Long 5: great spin designed for looping with a larger size and increased dwell time for serious intermediate to advanced players

  • Butterfly Viscaria or Butterly Timo Boll ALC: a step up from the Spirit and with less control and more speed, for more advanced players

  • Butterfly Timo Boll ZLC or Butterfly Zhang Jike ZLC: another step up from the ALC giving you power and feel of carbon but greater flexibility with the ZL fiber for even more spin. Advanced-pro level only.

What’s the Best Ping Pong Rubber for Spin?

I feel like the rabbit hole for spinny rubbers goes even deeper than the one for blades, but I’ll just list a few choices to get you started in your search for table tennis rubbers with lots of spin. (or again, try the Butterfly Timo Boll ALC Blade and Tenergy 05 Rubber combo).



Ping Pong Rubbers for Spin:

  • Andro Rasanter R42: a good choice for advanced beginner to intermediate players looking for a solid, all around attack rubber with control for you spins and a little speed boost

  • Butterfly Tenergy 05: Offensive all-round play with great control and topsin; very popular

  • Butterfly Diginics 09c: The best spin rating of all Butterfly rubbers; pricey, but extremely spinny

  • DHS Hurricane 3 National: a pips-in (smooth) and tacky rubber fantastic for looping with good control; very strong rotation (spin!)

  • Yasaka Rakza 7: lots of grip on hard hits and powerful spin (or Rakza 7 Soft – same topsheet, softer sponge)

Can I Get Better Spin on My Current Paddle?

Quite possibly! If you’re looking to improve the spin on the ping pong paddle you play with right now, you have (potentially) a couple options:

  1. Practice to improve your spin shot techniques. Playing with quality equipment, even at the beginning stages, is important for quicker, easier (and more enjoyable) learning and progression; however, understanding the techniques and lots of practice to create them consistently is crucial.


    If you don’t feel like you’ve got the best handle on what the different types of spin in table tennis are (or how exactly to execute them and how your opponent might respond), you can start with a nice overview at AllAboutTableTennis. You can find lots of information and videos online, join a club, or hire a trainer, but learning proper technique is the best place to start for more spin with your current racket.


  2. If you can, replace one (or both!) rubbers to create more spin on your paddle without buying a new blade. If you have a blade you love but want more spin, try a new rubber (check out our list for some of the best rubbers for spin above).


    Many, but not all, premade bats actually have replaceable rubbers. Check the manufacturer’s website (or sometimes even on Amazon) to see if you can replace yours. Learn how to change your rubber for one with better spin over at PaddlePalace, and make sure you have all the necessary equipment, like Butterfly Free Chack II Glue (perfect for the Spring Sponge Rubbers like Tenergy and Diginics), before you begin!

What is Anti-Spin Rubber, and How Can I Play Against It?

Anti-spin rubber combines a “dead” feeling sponge with a very slick, smooth top sheet with extremely minimal grip. These rubbers are designed for blocking and returning difficult serves; as it reacts differently to spin and changes the pace, it can cause opponents to commit mistakes.


You can use anti-spin (on one side only!) as a means of slowing down the game and thus allowing you to prepare better for attacks with the more offensive rubber on the other side. If desired, speed can be increased by combining an anti-spin topsheet and a harder/thicker rubber.


To combat anti-spin rubbers, the most important thing you can do is pay close attention to your techniques and how much/what kind of spin you put on your strokes because that will dictate limited possibilities for how it will be returned to you with anti-spin.


If you want more information about playing with anti-spin rubbers, check out this article at Megaspin (or see the conclusion on Megaspin here for a quick synopsis of playing against anti-spin).

Which Side of the Paddle is for Spin?

This gets a bit murky, as many rubbers come in red and black, so you can choose to have your spinniest rubber in either color. However, due to the differences in the manufacturing process itself, even “identical” rubbers tend to differ red vs. black.


Traditionally black rubbers are tackier (and stay that way longer) while reds are often harder and slightly less tacky. Because of these differences, usually the black side of the paddle is for spin, while the red side of the racket is for speed.


However, some manufacturers do work extremely hard to minimize or eliminate the differences between red and black runs of the same rubbers. For example, as noted in this more in-depth article from PingSunday, the differences are more pronounced in Chinese tacky rubbers (think DHS), whereas others, Japanese rubbers (Butterfly) for example, are virtually identical.


In the end, either side may be for spin, depending upon the specific rubber on that side and the manufacturer. Consider the rubber itself (see information above) and look into what you can about its manufacturing if you’re ordering your own rubbers.

What Ping Pong Paddle Has the Most Spin and Speed?

Depending on your level, these are the three ping pong paddles we recommend for the most spin and speed, a rather potent combination perfect for a highly aggressive, offense-oriented players.

Final Verdict on Best TT Rackets for Spin

Hopefully now you have a better understanding of the importance of spin in table tennis as well as how to buy a ping pong paddle for spin. We’ve also discussed the importance of knowing your skill level and, if applicable, your preferred play style when determining which is the best racket for spin to purchase to improve your personal game.

At the extreme ends of skill levels, we have two recommended paddles for spin:

Most players, though, will be looking for their ideal spin paddle in the mid-range, somewhere in the intermediate to advanced levels. Here are our recommendations for quality, premade paddles for spin ideal for players at these levels, depending on play style (and budget).

Highlights
Overall Top Spin Choice
Best for Spin
Best for Spin & Speed
Best Advanced Paddle for Spin
Premium Choice
Highest Rated Racket for Spin & Speed
Paddle
Killerspin Jet 800 Speed N2 - A Professional Grade Ping Pong Paddle - ITTF Approved Table Tennis Paddle - Competition Grade, for Advanced Players, Red/Black
STIGA Pro Carbon Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket with Carbon Technology for Tournament Play - Red and Blue Colors
Killerspin KIDO 7P RTG Ping Pong Paddle with Straight Handle Black/Red
Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 Pro-Line Table Tennis Racket - The Softness Of Balsa And The Hardness Of Carbon - Recommended For Advanced Tournament Level Play - Pro-Line Series
Perfect for:
Intermediate aggressive players wanting a quality bat for spin (more spin than speed) at a great price
Aggressive, offensive intermediate players that want good spin but prioritize speed and power more highly
Advanced offensive players wanting more spin and speed than either the Jet800 or ProCarbon and don't mind a higher cost
Advanced offensive players wanting a premium racket for speed and spin (best bat in the table) with a larger budget
ITTF Approved (tournaments)
Overall Top Spin Choice
Highlights
Best for Spin
Paddle
Killerspin Jet 800 Speed N2 - A Professional Grade Ping Pong Paddle - ITTF Approved Table Tennis Paddle - Competition Grade, for Advanced Players, Red/Black
Perfect for:
Intermediate aggressive players wanting a quality bat for spin (more spin than speed) at a great price
ITTF Approved (tournaments)
Check Price on Amazon
Highlights
Best for Spin & Speed
Paddle
STIGA Pro Carbon Performance-Level Table Tennis Racket with Carbon Technology for Tournament Play - Red and Blue Colors
Perfect for:
Aggressive, offensive intermediate players that want good spin but prioritize speed and power more highly
ITTF Approved (tournaments)
Check Price on Amazon
Highlights
Best Advanced Paddle for Spin
Paddle
Killerspin KIDO 7P RTG Ping Pong Paddle with Straight Handle Black/Red
Perfect for:
Advanced offensive players wanting more spin and speed than either the Jet800 or ProCarbon and don't mind a higher cost
ITTF Approved (tournaments)
Check Price on Amazon
Premium Choice
Highlights
Highest Rated Racket for Spin & Speed
Paddle
Butterfly Balsa Carbo X5 Pro-Line Table Tennis Racket - The Softness Of Balsa And The Hardness Of Carbon - Recommended For Advanced Tournament Level Play - Pro-Line Series
Perfect for:
Advanced offensive players wanting a premium racket for speed and spin (best bat in the table) with a larger budget
ITTF Approved (tournaments)
Check Price on Amazon

Did you learn anything new today about ping pong paddles and spin, or do you have a favorite racket (or blade or rubber) designed for spin that you think we should add to the list? Let us know in the comments below!

More Ping Pong Articles:

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