Stiga Rosewood XO

90g - Paired with T05H 1.9 (47g) on FH and R42 2.0 (42g) on BH. Total weight is about 180g. Glue (1.5g). FH is very fast, maybe a bit too fast since counters are a bit tricky. Flicks are excellent, short game as well, mid-distance OK. Spin is very good. Smash OK. On BH, the R42 is giving plenty of safety for heavy opening loops and blocks.

Overall: it is not my favorite blade actually, but the sound it emits is really special like a “pok”. I will just say that I have a better BH control in block using TB ALC and T05 2.1mm. Mounting 2.1mm on Rosewood XO was a bit too heavy and too fast. I moved to an outer carbon blade.

Tried this blade because I love the Rosewood NCT 5 & 7. I was really surprised by its performance. It’s not at all in the same range as those blades in terms of control, and the throw was weird — strange indeed! — with slight adjustments needed to adapt to it.

I adore the entire hardwood series, except for this one. My table tennis friends who play with Rosewood 5 or 7, Maplewood 5 or 7, or Ebenholz 5 and 7 also dislike it.

It is very stiff and has no control whatsoever. I have tried three different setups, but it has not helped. I am unable to provide a positive review for this blade.

Using Stiga Mantra M on both FH and BH, the blade exhibits exceptional balance, providing ample speed while maintaining excellent control.

Stiga Rosewood XO is the best blade I have tried thus far. It is fast, controllable, and provides exceptional feedback. With every stroke, I can precisely locate the point of contact on the blade, whether it be central, near the edge, or close to the handle. Despite the varying sensations in different areas, I maintain excellent control throughout. The blade produces a loud and resonant sound that commands attention from other players in my club.

One aspect that particularly impresses me is the Rosewood XO’s exceptional spin generation on serves. In comparison to other blades I have tested, including the Yasaka Goiabao 5, Tibhar Force Pro Black Edition, Butterfly Viscaria, and Butterfly Super Zhang Jike, all paired with the same Joola Maxxx 500 rubbers, the Rosewood XO stands out with its superior spin capabilities.

My fondness for the Rosewood XO-Joola Max 500 combination led me to purchase an additional Rosewood XO to add to my collection.

The blade is fast and very controllable. The angle throw is medium. It is suitable for a playing style that is close to mid distance. The weight is medium at 85g. The Legend One is the best.

This blade is remarkably fast, resulting in a reduced dwell time. Its speed necessitates precision in strokes to prevent the ball from going off the table.

For optimal performance, consider using medium and controlled rubbers. Uncontrolled rubbers can lead to excessive vibration upon ball impact. I initially used Xiom Omega V Asia, but it proved suboptimal. Upon switching to Yasaka Rakza X, the performance significantly improved.

Overall, this is a high-speed blade approaching OFF+ rating. It is not recommended for beginners.

Hi friends! Can you tell me what pads sit well on the base of the Rosewood XO? My weight is 83 grams, and the base is hard. I tried lining Stiga Tour M 1.9 mm and Tour H 1.9 mm, but the racket was too fast.

I completely agree with jrado. Originally, I put Tenergy 05 2.1 mm on both sides, and the blade was head-heavy. Its center of gravity was too far out. I played okay, but my arm was tired and sore after using it. I put on a 1.9 mm version, and the lighter head made all the difference. My arm no longer hurts, and it plays like a dream. I actually have more power and spin with 1.9 mm because I can accelerate the blade faster and more comfortably.

My game is so noticeably better with this blade, it’s a joke. I used the 2.1 mm 05 Tenergy rubber on a Butterfly ZLC, and the difference between these two paddles is enormous. ZLC has one gear and no margin for error. I had virtually no feel with the ZLC. I had zero control with the ZLC. It’s just amazing to me the difference a blade can make. Using the XO, I have both power and control. To be fair, maybe the ZLC smashes and blocks better (maybe), but I sold it because I found the XO.

I also have a Butterfly Primorac EX with Shriver rubber (all-around paddle). I have more control with the XO, and the power difference is that of a Ferrari (XO) and a Prius. I know it sounds like I work for Stiga, but I’m just a humble electrical engineer. I feel like the XO is the Holy Grail of paddles. The touch and feel you get with it, combined with the power, are unrivaled in my experience. I recommend this paddle to everyone but Timo Boll.

My blade weighs 76 grams. The handle fits my hand better than any other blade I have recently played with. The blade/neck transition as well as the thumb rest are perfectly crafted for my hand.

When equipped with Tenergy 2.1 mm rubbers on both sides, the blade becomes top-heavy. While the build quality is good, it is not quite on par with the standards set by Nittaku and/or Butterfly.

Despite this, the blade offers excellent speed and power from any range. When coupled with proper technique, it delivers exceptional shots. Lifting underspin becomes effortless, necessitating adjustments in one’s strokes.

Its light weight imparts superior head speed, resulting in more spin than any other blade. The control it provides is exceptional. From touch shots to blocks, lobs, and spin/speed/direction-altering loops, the blade performs beyond compare.

It is the most satisfying blade I have ever played with, surpassing all others. Slight adjustments to the phrasing have been made for clarity.

Coming from SOC, Innerforce T500, and Yasaka Balsa Plus, all with the same rubbers (Adidas P7 FH/Calibra LT Sound BH), the Rosewood XO has a better feel than all but SOC and a higher speed than all, though it is lighter than all but Yasaka.

Due to its lightness, the recovery time after each shot is shorter, which is advantageous. The speed is optimal—not so fast as to be uncontrolled, nor slow like SOC, which wastes your strong shots.

Smashing, topspin, pushing, and flicking are all easily executed with the Rosewood XO. Thank you, Stiga, for such a masterpiece.

The Innerforce is great, but it is too heavy for me. The SOC is light and has a superb feel (the best), but it is slow and has more than average flex, which wastes the power of shots. The Yasaka is very light and has great speed, but the feel is lacking.

I put DHS Skyline TG3 on the forehand and Stiga Calibra LT Spin on the backhand for this blade. For me, this blade is light as I mostly play around 90+g. The craftsmanship is excellent and the texture feels great. STIGA says this blade is stiff, but I think it is not very stiff. I think it is around the same as Ebenholz V.

It is good for both looping and fast attack near the table. It has a middle throw and definitely a long trajectory. When I loop from middle/far from the table, it reaches the opposite table with speed and power. Dwell time is okay, not too long nor too short. One thing I like about Rosewood XO is that it is more crisp than my previous blade (Stiga CC5). This is better for me as it is better for short games and flicks, which are essential for a penholder like me.

Okay, let me introduce my playing style: I am a right-hand Penholder, with more of fast attacking near the table and looping style. I rarely use the reverse backhand unless the angle of the ball to my backhand is very wide. My serves are usually side spin with a combination of backspin, abit like Wang Hao’s serve, and it usually goes to the middle/far table. As for service return, as a penholder, it is normally a push or flick. Forehand wise, I attack the wings of the table. I will use a fast attack when near the table while looping more when I get further away from the table.

Fast Attacking near the table is one of Rosewood XO’s strengths. As the blade is lighter than the one I normally use, I can recover fast enough to constantly fast attack, which gives problems to my opponent. Blocking near the table is also easy. For an all-wood 5ply blade, it has excellent power, although when compared to the Carbon blades, it may seem that it lacks a bit of power. The control that Rosewood XO gives is much better than normal all-wood 5 ply blades.

While attacking from mid-table is still good. Ball placement is easy and still full of power. Some say that it lacks power at mid-table, but I disagree. Forehand Topspin from mid-table is easy, same as fast attack. But sometimes, fast attack from the mid-table goes into the net as the throw angle is mid-low.

Far from the table, which is where the problem starts to arise. When I am far from the table, it is mostly when I am defending and waiting for chances to counterattack. But when I counterattack, mostly the ball seems to be not so powerful, and mostly touches the net or goes into the net.

Backhand wise, as a penholder, it is normally our weakness. But using it is controllable. My backhand pushes, tradition backhand attack, and reverse backhand work fine. I rarely use the reverse backhand, but mostly the ball will still go over the net with ease.

I use Stiga Calibra LT Spin on the backhand. I would not say that it is a substitute for Butterfly Tenergy as it stands out in its own ways. This rubber is spinny, fast but not deadly fast. But you could kill your opponent with devastating spin shots. I think that Aggressive and fast attack players may want to give this rubber a try. The throw angle is medium, and the sponge is soft, which gives you good control, but not losing any speed. But the con for this rubber is that you have to take very good care of it, or it will break easily. Clean it with either water or cleaning foam.

I played a competition with local Chinese in Tian Jin today. I won the match (4-3). My opponent said that my balls are spinny and especially when I use the reverse backhand. Most of my points come from my services and 3rd ball attack. I lost more points on looping near the table, while fast attacking near the table is very accurate to the place that I want it to go. Points gained by service-wise, almost 50%, while the 3rd ball attack was around 20%. The locals tried my bat and said it is quite heavy. What I feel good about this bat is that the counterlooping from mid-table is the highlight for this blade.

Nevertheless, I give this blade a rating of 9 out of 10, and rank it an OFF blade. It is good for penholders, short game players, and also fast attackers.

This blade is fantastic; it’s fast, controllable, and excels in all aspects of the game. I estimate it has a medium-low throw angle, allowing you to easily hit the ball past your opponent. The blade has a medium dwell time, making it suitable for both smashing and looping. Despite claims that this blade lacks power in long rallies, I strongly disagree; it possesses excellent power.

While the blade is expensive, it is well worth the investment.

Tough to beat this one, making it nearly perfect for all-around play.

Blade Name: CCCC

Review: I have seen people who wrote negative reviews about this blade. I believe that their techniques may have been the issue. If you adjust your technique slightly, you may find that this blade is actually quite good.

This blade is very hard. It might be suitable for players who use short pips.