Stiga Maplewood NCT V
Blade description:
This offensive 5-ply all-wood blade is characterized by a soft, flexible feel that prioritizes dwell time and ball feedback. Designed for the power-looping game, it excels at generating significant spin and produces a long, controlled trajectory. While it provides a soft touch similar to defensive blades, it maintains sufficient speed for mid-distance play and aggressive counter-looping.
Performance Characteristics
- Flexibility and Feel: The blade is known for its high degree of flexibility, which creates a noticeable catapult effect when power is applied, particularly during deep loops. The dwell time is long, allowing for high control over heavy underspin.
- Rubber Pairing: The blade performs optimally with hard, tacky rubbers, which balance its soft, flexible nature. This combination is favored by advanced players for executing Chinese-style power loops and precise loop-drives.
- Versatility: Beyond looping, the blade is effective for blocking and offers a wide range of gears, making it useful for players who rely on changing the pace of the rally.
Construction and Handling
- Design: As a pure wood construction, it avoids the artificial sensation of carbon blades while still delivering performance capable of keeping up with modern composite equipment.
- Handling: The blade is available in various handle shapes, including conical and anatomic, which offer distinct grip profiles for the palm. Its weight distribution is generally manageable, though it requires advanced technique and footwork to fully leverage its potential in offensive exchanges.
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Recent Reviews
#1 — February 2023
It is a dream for counter looping. It has an insane amount of gears, which makes you unpredictable on the one hand but makes it hard for you to pick the right strike on the other. Very flexible and soft, so you have a great feeling of the ball. Speed and spin are nothing too special, but the feeling is what it excels at.
#2 — October 2019
I have been playing with this blade for two years now. The conical handle fills my palm better compared to the slightly thinner anatomic handle, but both feel great. I have used Hurricane 3 Neo 41 degrees and Yinhe Mercury 2 medium hard on my FH, Stiga Genesis M in my BH, and they all suit this blade perfectly. Now I understand why the Chinese prefer hard, tacky rubbers on flexible blades. Hard rubber means high control. The flexibility of the blade compensates for the lack of speed of the hard rubber, increases the dwell time, and helps generate tremendous spin.
#3 — June 2019
Top 5 All-Time Table Tennis Blades
The Butterfly Timo Boll ALC is a classic blade that has been used by top players for years. It’s a well-balanced blade that provides excellent control and power. The ALC carbon fiber layers give it a crisp feel and a bit more power than the standard Timo Boll blade.
2. Mizuno Forza Carbon Pro
The Mizuno Forza Carbon Pro is a relatively new blade, but it has quickly become a favorite among top players. It’s a lightweight blade with a large sweet spot that makes it easy to control. The carbon fiber layers give it a bit more power than the standard Forza Pro blade, making it a good choice for aggressive players.
3. Tibhar Samsonov Force Pro Black
The Tibhar Samsonov Force Pro Black is a blade that is designed for power hitters. It has a thick core and a stiff outer layer that gives it a very hard feel. This blade is not for everyone, but it can be deadly in the hands of a powerful player.
The Zhang Jike ALC is a blade that is used by the Chinese superstar Zhang Jike. It’s a fast and powerful blade that is perfect for aggressive players. The ALC carbon fiber layers give it a crisp feel and a bit more power than the standard Zhang Jike blade.
The Yasaka Ma Lin Soft Carbon is a blade that is designed for control players. It has a soft feel and a large sweet spot that makes it easy to place the ball where you want it. This blade is not as powerful as some of the others on this list, but it’s a great choice for players who value control over power.
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