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Stiga Allround Classic
Blade description:
The Stiga Allround Classic is a renowned table tennis blade that has garnered a loyal following among players seeking a balance between control and speed. With a classic five-ply wooden construction, this blade is designed for the versatile all-round player, allowing for a variety of playing styles. The composition features a limba outer layer that provides excellent feedback and spin, making it an ideal choice for developing techniques and developing strong strokes.
Weighing approximately 85 grams and measuring 5.2mm in thickness, the Allround Classic sits comfortably in the medium weight category. Players appreciate its relatively light frame which aids in maneuverability and reduces fatigue during extended play. Although the blade exhibits a medium level of stiffness (3.2) and a firmness rating of 4.5, it retains enough flexibility to generate spin and speed when executed correctly with appropriate technique.
The Stiga Allround Classic is particularly praised for its control rating of 8.2, making it suitable for beginners and intermediate players looking to refine their skills. While it may not be the fastest blade on the market, users note that with the right rubber pairing—such as classic, medium-hard, or tacky Chinese rubbers—players can enjoy a broad range of offensive and defensive capabilities. Alternatives to consider include blades like the Tibhar Drinkhall All-round Classic and Donic’s Allround series, which offer similar performance features but with slightly different feels.
In summary, the Stiga Allround Classic remains a timeless choice for players prioritizing feel and control over sheer power. It’s an excellent investment for players at any skill level looking to improve their game while enjoying the classic experience of a wood-based blade.
Recent Reviews
#1 — January 2023
This blade is interchangeable with the Sanwei M-8. A friend lent it to me to play with, and it feels very similar to the M-8 or Donic All series blades.
It is good for learning strokes or playing an all-around mixed style. It is not easy to attack with Chinese tacky rubbers, as you will need to use body power. It is easier to attack with European/Japanese rubbers, but for newcomers, there is less control.
#2 — December 2022
This blade is exceptionally slow, making it unsuitable for pairing with harder rubbers on the forehand. The ball tends to decelerate and drop into the net, even when using tacky, hybrid rubbers like Rakza Z. With Chinese rubbers, the forehand becomes virtually dead.
On the backhand, the blade does not work well with tensor rubbers at all. My experience with Xiom Vega Europe on this blade was disastrous. Due to the blade’s slow speed, additional force was required for shots, resulting in the ball flying out of the table. In contrast, Xiom Vega Europe performed exceptionally well on a different blade. This suggests that the blade is only suitable for linear, non-tensor rubbers. After switching to Rakza X-soft on the backhand, I noticed an immediate improvement.
Despite its shortcomings, the blade has a very comfortable handle (Legend), is thin, and weighs only 85g, which is not excessive. The ball feel is one of the best attributes of this blade, providing some control. Blocking shots is particularly effective with it.
Although some consider it a great beginner blade, my experience with my brother’s Hurricane Hao 3, which is not marketed as a beginner blade, suggests that there are better options. I have used various blades ranging from cheap to expensive, beginner to advanced, and with different compositions of wood, carbon, and all-wood. Based on my experience, this blade is overpriced and lacks the speed required for modern table tennis.
While my review may seem overly negative, I want to emphasize that the blade has several positive qualities. It has a classic design, provides good vibration feedback, allows for excellent topspin, and is suitable for blocking. However, its slow speed is a significant drawback for me. I will continue to use it to improve my technique as a beginner, but there are certainly better and more affordable options available for beginners.
#3 — August 2022
I cannot recommend another blade more than this for maximum feel and learning looping and pushing, or just learning to spin the ball in general. This blade offers such a high level of control that it promotes the development of full and good technique. The flex and feedback are very clear, making it difficult to make good shots without good contact and acceleration. Otherwise, the ball drops dead.
The only downside to this blade is its limited speed. After playing with it for three years, I reached a point where I felt the need to upgrade to a faster blade. This was because I had developed my feel and technique enough to where I no longer needed to rely on the All-round’s inherent abilities.