DHS PF4 032

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

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.

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.

This blade is a true classic. I’m one of the lucky ones to have ever gotten a PF4 032, the very earliest model…before DHS was copyrighted (the little R with a circle around it)… I have it in penhold; it weighs 109g. It’s heavy, but if you only play one side with penhold, then this blade is holy. Yeah, it’s great for hitters, but not for loopers because it’s too hard.

The perfect blade for pips out hitters. There is no other blade like this one.