DHS PF4 032
Blade description:
This classic all-wood blade is primarily recognized for its suitability as a hitting-oriented tool, specifically favored by players utilizing pips-out rubber. Historically noted for its significant weight—often exceeding 100g—the blade offers a dense, solid feel. It features a rigid, stiff construction that minimizes vibration, which facilitates high-precision blocking and powerful smashes.
Playing Characteristics
- Tactile Feedback: The blade is characterized by low vibration and high stiffness, providing a direct, uncompromising feel that favors flat hits and decisive, aggressive strokes over modern topspin looping.
- Strategic Application: While highly effective for short-to-mid-distance hitting and controlled defensive play, its stiff nature generally makes it less conducive to modern spin-dominant loop-to-loop rallies unless paired with specifically softer sponge setups.
- Versatility: Beyond its reputation as a “hitter’s blade,” users report consistent performance in blocks and drives. In earlier iterations of the sport, it demonstrated a degree of multi-purpose capability, functioning reliably for both attacking drives and controlled defensive chops.
Construction and Physical Build
- Material: All-wood construction.
- Mass: Known for being exceptionally heavy by contemporary standards, which provides substantial momentum behind every strike but requires physical conditioning for the user.
- Design: Often associated with classic handle shapes, including oval-style grips, and traditionally marked with “032” engraving.
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Recent Reviews
#1 — May 2016
I tried this blade 18 years ago with a 38mm ball. It was an old version with an oval-shaped handle and had the number “032” engraved at the handle’s bottom. It weighed more than 120g (based on details from a factory-remade version that I also have).
This blade worked well with Chinese inverted rubber with a mid-hard sponge. It could produce good spin, speed, and control when looping and driving at any distance. It performed well when chopping with a soft 1.8mm inverted rubber while maintaining good speed when attacking.
Pros: outstanding control, good speed, versatile (one-can-do-all blade), cheap Cons: very heavy by today’s standards
#2 — October 2014
Recently lovingly restored a shakehand PF4 032 blade (circa 1970). What a beauty! It will be my only shakehand blade. I am a traditional c-pen player. Great hitting blade with pips-out rubber.
#3 — March 2012
My brother bought me a 032 when he toured China in 2009. When I started playing TT some 20 years ago, PF4s were pretty much common in my place because of their affordability. Back then, I did not give them much thought as I was into Butterfly and Stiga blades. It is only now that I get to appreciate the 032.
It has good control, not much vibration for a wood blade, and is capable of strong smashes. However, looping is a different story. The blade is really stiff. I’m using RITC inverted rubber; perhaps if I get one with a softer sponge, I’ll be able to coax looping consistency on this one.
Overall, it’s a good blade for block, smash, and controlled play. However, look elsewhere if you are a looper.
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