How much does a blade handle affect gameplay?

[TenPercentWinRate]

For some context, I am a penholder (no coaching, low intermediate) that is using a Yinhe Uranus 3 CS blade with Mercury II medium rubbers on both sides.

I find myself unable to close the racket due to the wideness of the blade handle, and probably also due to my flawed technique (ie insufficient backswing). This results in some of my balls, usually the ones that dip a bit below net height when I contact, to fly long as it lacks topspin arc.

Is this more of a technique or a blade’s problem? Sorry for not having a video of me playing.

(Edit: I did sand the wings of the blade.)

 

[Scarfed Garchomp]

You might have to adjust your grip. Is the racket aligned parallel or perpendicular to your palm? Playing forehand with penhold is a lot more natural and functional if the blade face is oriented parallel to the palm, if it is not then you kind of have to contort your arm and wrist to facilitate closing the racket angle.

 

[JHB]

If you're not comfortable with your grip you'll never play your best ! I, for some reason, can't play with a straight handle although either flared or anatomic are fine. I'm also not fond of very thin handles, so some Butterfly blades are not for me however good they may be.

 

[MORTtheORT]

The blade has got to feel good in your hand. Table tennis is such a mental game where you need to be playing with intent. If you have any doubt your performance will drop dramatically. The smallest doubt in your gear like you have is what can cause errors through hesitation/fear resulting in a deceleration instead of accelerating through your technique.

Technique issues will always be there and need to be worked on, but if you are not feeling it with your setup, it can spiral. Particularly without coaching help.

In a match, nothing better then seeing your opponent looking at their gear in frustration.

If you can get access to another blade just for a hit, do it and see if you feel more confident. Coaching would be ideal but I am assuming you don't have access.

 

[TenPercentWinRate]

You might have to adjust your grip. Is the racket aligned parallel or perpendicular to your palm? Playing forehand with penhold is a lot more natural and functional if the blade face is oriented parallel to the palm, if it is not then you kind of have to contort your arm and wrist to facilitate closing the racket angle.

I hold more of a TPB grip.

For other blades I have less of an issue having the blade parallel when I want power on my shots.

In retrospect, I think it’s more of a blade problem since I had to excessively contort my arms to compensate my inability to thumb press on the racket (which caused excessive rubbing on my ligaments). That probably magnified my technique problem as well.

Time to change the rubbers for my heavy plank of basswood.