Tibhar Bernadette Szocs Signature 1

This is a classic Clipper-like, 7-ply all-wood blade on the thin side. It’s a good example of a blade that will grow with you, as it can be used by a beginner as well as an advanced player because it’s very versatile. Add a slow rubber, and you get a control monster. Add a fast rubber, and you can compete with high-level players without issues. My favorite pairing is with Vega Europe 1.8 when I play ALL (training). It’s consistent with a large window; all my shots magically finish on the table. However, any faster Vega or Omega will push you to the OFF side.

I mention Xiom especially because the blade looks totally gorgeous with a black sponge (and no band). The striped pattern matches the handle and looks cool (for those who value the look beside performance, it’s a winner). Another good (and beautiful) combo is with Victas Triple Extra. That way, you have a Chinese, HL3+H3 feeling but a bit slower and more controllable. A fast option I enjoyed is Hammond Z2. However, I didn’t like it with MX-P (too fast and heavy to my taste). Construction is excellent considering the price point.

The handle (I use AN) is on the large side, which is perfect for my large hands, but my 11-year-old son likes it too. Actually, he likes it so much he even stole that blade from me.

This is my go-to blade for training sessions and longer rally play. I paired it with MXP max on both sides. It’s very precise compared to my other six blades, which is why I love to use it. Returning shots and hitting winners feels almost like magic, even when you think you’re going to miss. It’s just such a good all-arounder and so consistent, it’s baffling. More than enough speed can be generated as well to apply pressure to the opponent.

This blade is great for anyone, which makes it unique to most other blades that are specifically tailored towards various levels of play. Basically, buy this blade and you’re good to go from amateur to pro. No wonder Bernie plays it and just beat Cheng Meng with it. It seemed like she just couldn’t miss and stayed with ease in the backhand-to-backhand Chinese women trademark rallies. ;).

It’s a thin but solid 7 ply blade. Think Tibhar Samsonov Force Pro Black Edition (TSFPBE), but slower, and with better control.

For local league players or development players who find TSFPBE, Clipper CR, or carbon blades too quick/too hard.

The ST handle is squared and very filling. People with big hands should like this.

Blade Review

I’m 15 years old and I play with a short pimple backhand and an MX-P 50 forehand. Unfortunately, this blade does not produce enough spin, speed, or consistency for my forehand strokes.

Excellent blade! It offers great speed, lightness, and control. It is also very comfortable to use.

Light 7-ply blade with good control and medium speed. Good for looping and flat hits. Paired with Andro R47 2.0 and R45 2.0.

This is a very good all-wood blade. I like it very much, and the weight is also very suitable.

Excellent control, but the speed is low.

A great step up from 5-ply blades for players wanting more power but who are not yet ready for carbon. I will be using this for a long time!

This is one of the best wooden blades I’ve tried. I switched from an ALC blade, and this one offers a good feeling and control, and it feels just right for me.

The handle might not be suitable for those with large hands. However, it suits me perfectly. It’s so good that I made another purchase.

Good spin, good speed, and a nice price.

Very good pure wood blade. You can’t go wrong with this one.

This blade is a perfect fit for me, and I’ve been playing with it for 2-3 years already.

For an intermediate player, I think it’s ideal. It offers a lot of control, enough speed, and a comfortable handle. As a Romanian, I also appreciate that Bernadette Szocs uses this blade. I felt proud to use a blade specially designed for a player from my nation. It felt like a tribute, and playing with that feeling makes it even better.

This is more than just a subjective review, but it reflects how I feel and why I’m so satisfied with the blade overall.

(And now for a more lighthearted take):

I gave up on fast carbon/composite blades and returned to this one. The ST grip feels very nice and comfortable for me, and the sweet spot is medium. The price is decent and won’t require taking on a second job, unlike some of the new “super-duper” blades that cost 300 euros or more. Table tennis is all about touch and consistency, and this blade delivers in a big way. Everyone should get this blade, become famous, and make their girlfriend think they’re headed to the Olympics. Donate all your super-fast carbon blades to people in prison with a table, or to poor kids around the world. This is the quintessential “Every Player’s” blade that a ton of players will love.

Nice, lightweight blade with good control and spin.

This Tibhar blade is very balanced. I glued an Andro Rasanter R42 on the backhand and a Xiom Zeta Asian on the forehand.

I mostly spin and smash on my forehand, which feels fast and controlled. My backhand flick is controlled and spinny with the R42 + Szocs 1 combination. I usually block and punch block with my backhand.

Looping is great for both forehand and backhand with good technique.

This blade cured my blade equipment junkyism (EJ)!

Good 7-ply blade for the price.

Personally, I found it too soft.

May be OK with harder rubbers. I would rate the speed as ALL+.

This all-wood blade is the best solution if you want to put down any of your carbon blades!

I’ve had enough of my ALC blade, which was hard to control.

The Tibhar Szocs Signature 1 blade has a very similar feeling to the Nittaku Acoustic, but you can feel the evolution. It is modern and dynamic, and has more life in it.

Its handle is amazing, and the head size is perfect.

It’s very good for flat hitting, and blocking is my favorite; finally, the ball stays on the table! It works very well with Andro Rasanter R47 (forehand) and R42 (backhand).

The quality of the blade is very good, especially for this price! I’ve already bought two pieces.

Good blade for looping. It has a mild flex with every hit, stiffening up only on very hard shots, which can cause overshooting.

The gear range is 5-20 and it’s less forgiving in terms of speed. It will definitely slow your game down if you aren’t actively making shots, even when your opponent is attacking hard.

It’s a solid OFF- to OFF blade that feels muted, but more solid than an Infinity VPS or Acoustic. It feels like a version between a Hurricane Long 3 and PG-7. It’s stiffer than both, and has better control, but is definitely slower. It didn’t work well with MX-S 2.0.

It worked well in tandem with DHS H3 NEO, Rasanter 50, R42, and Skyline 2 Provincial. It didn’t seem to work well with soft top-sheet rubbers that click a lot.

Serves, receives, and openings are good, producing a long, medium-high arc with most shots, whether passive or active. Counter looping was average, not as good as a Clipper due to the extra flex, but it is very easy to continue looping through opponents.

Very nice control, but when you hit harder, there is power.

I recommend it.

Excellent blade speed and feel. It’s very well suited for my ability.

It’s an excellent blade, lightweight and with enough power for mid-distance rallies.

It loops really well, and flat hits are also possible. I’m currently using this blade and have kept my XIOM AZXi in the box, as it complements my playing style effectively.

To me, it feels like a more powerful and nicely designed Yasaka Sweden Extra, a blade I’ve played with before.

Bernadette Szocs is one of my favorite players, and it’s amazing to own one of her products.

The blade has a nice flex to it, making it easy to use for close-to-the-table shots and from farther away.

I highly recommend it for players working towards using rubber with more speed. Because the blade is all wood, it has a nice feel.

This is a very good blade. It has lots of flex for a 7-ply Clipper-like construction.

You can really feel the ball, and therefore have excellent control.

I use Fastarc G1 on my forehand and H3 37 on my backhand.

It’s a solid 9/10.

I found this to be an extremely good all-wood blade. I have other all-wood blades like the Balsa 8.5 and Clippers, as well as carbon blades.

Initially, I wanted this as a spare all-wood blade for training purposes, and I wanted to change to an ST handle. It looks good and the price is affordable, so I got it. Now I like it very much.

The feel is firm and stable, very fast in its own way, and also very good in control. I matched it with Fastarc G1 for FH and Victas 07 Sticky Extra for BH. Both are very responsive rubbers with lots of spin and speed. Playing with this blade now is so wonderful.