Cheap Chinese Gear

[J-fed]

I'm wondering if anyone has gone down this rabbit hole and stayed there? Or didn't like them and went back to regular brands like Donic and Butterfly etc?
I'm gonna try to go through a few different Ali express bargains. Anyone used Mercury or Rxton rubbers etc?
So far the Friendship focus 3 snipe has impressed me no end. Supreme control on the short game and great flat hitting. I see no reason to pay more for Euro or J rubbers when this quality is available so cheap. Wanna try Rxton 1 next so I got a sheet of that. Saving AK47 for a non experimental set up coz I get the feeling that will be a keeper.
As for blades, there are just so many. Will try the Fextra 5 I think, to compare it to this Sanwei Echo, which is beautifully made, so well balanced and handle is really smooth. It's a bit stiff though, so not great for chopping. More for blocking and flat hit. I think Parla would be even better for most people because the Echo is slow unless you really hit hard, then the core engages well.
Interested to hear everyone's view on the cheapo stuff they've tried.

 

[Tyce]

Have you read anything on this forum?

 

[J-fed]

Have you read anything on this forum?

A bit. Seems some similar topics but more nuanced. Thank you for your warm welcome.

 

[Tyce]

There are literally topics on every single specific piece of gear that you have mentioned, and several large ones discussing budget options in general. I'm sure you will find exactly what you are looking for in them. Enjoy your stay

 

[Table10Ice]

I'm wondering if anyone has gone down this rabbit hole and stayed there? Or didn't like them and went back to regular brands like Donic and Butterfly etc?
I'm gonna try to go through a few different Ali express bargains. Anyone used Mercury or Rxton rubbers etc?
So far the Friendship focus 3 snipe has impressed me no end. Supreme control on the short game and great flat hitting. I see no reason to pay more for Euro or J rubbers when this quality is available so cheap. Wanna try Rxton 1 next so I got a sheet of that. Saving AK47 for a non experimental set up coz I get the feeling that will be a keeper.
As for blades, there are just so many. Will try the Fextra 5 I think, to compare it to this Sanwei Echo, which is beautifully made, so well balanced and handle is really smooth. It's a bit stiff though, so not great for chopping. More for blocking and flat hit. I think Parla would be even better for most people because the Echo is slow unless you really hit hard, then the core engages well.
Interested to hear everyone's view on the cheapo stuff they've tried.

Sanwei just released a really nice all-wood blade, looks interesting. I already have quite a few Sanwei blades, among them the premium outer carbon Froster Pro. Outside China, their top brands, except DHS, are extremely underestimated and /or mostly ignored or unknown. Highly recommend Loki Arthur China also, like a Rakza Z at less than half price.

My club mates call me cheap and make fun of me for using "Aliexpress junk". Then, suddenly, they stop laughing when I win against them. 🙂

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/reson-the-last-blade-in-the-sanwei-tiro-series-has-been-released.39582/

 

[J-fed]

There are literally topics on every single specific piece of gear that you have mentioned, and several large ones discussing budget options in general. I'm sure you will find exactly what you are looking for in them. Enjoy your stay

That's fun to know. The topic I posted is about whether people stick with the cheap stuff or not. Not just the specific gear, so I thought that worth a thread.

 

[J-fed]

Sanwei just released a really nice all-wood blade, looks interesting. I already have quite a few Sanwei blades, among them the premium outer carbon Froster Pro. Outside China, their top brands, except DHS, are extremely underestimated and /or mostly ignored or unknown. Highly recommend Loki Arthur China also, like a Rakza Z at less than half price.

My club mates call me cheap and make fun of me for using "Aliexpress junk". Then, suddenly, they stop laughing when I win against them. 🙂

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/reson-the-last-blade-in-the-sanwei-tiro-series-has-been-released.39582/

Agreed. I'm into it just lately but have always been curious since when I was a kid Chinese rubbers were quite popular amongst good players at my hometown club. I remember one rubber called Yung that people liked. Very slow but even attackers swore by it.
Intersting about the Loki Arthur. That's the kind of thing I'm looking for. Stuff that isn't super heavy. I dislike heavy so that's what keeps me away from DHS etc.
What's the Sanwei blade called? I am using 5 ply only.

 

[Table10Ice]

Agreed. I'm into it just lately but have always been curious since when I was a kid Chinese rubbers were quite popular amongst good players at my hometown club. I remember one rubber called Yung that people liked. Very slow but even attackers swore by it.
Intersting about the Loki Arthur. That's the kind of thing I'm looking for. Stuff that isn't super heavy. I dislike heavy so that's what keeps me away from DHS etc.
What's the Sanwei blade called? I am using 5 ply only.

https://sanweisport.com/en/product/blade/trio-series/reson/ It's a 7-ply but it will be an easy transition from 5 ply. For rubbers Loki Rxton 3 Pro is incredible value for what it cost, around 10 euros from Aliexpress. Read up on it here on the forum.

 

[J-fed]

https://sanweisport.com/en/product/blade/trio-series/reson/ It's a 7-ply but it will be an easy transition from 5 ply. For rubbers Loki Rxton 3 Pro is incredible value for what it cost, around 10 euros from Aliexpress. Read up on it here on the forum.

Looks beautiful. And you got it so cheap. I searched on Ali here in Japan but not available. Would try though.
Right now I'm looking for 5 ply because I really value control for blocks and sweeps with the BH pips and have plenty of power on FH flat hits. I don't loop much in matches although would like to incorporate more.

 

[J-fed]

https://sanweisport.com/en/product/blade/trio-series/reson/ It's a 7-ply but it will be an easy transition from 5 ply. For rubbers Loki Rxton 3 Pro is incredible value for what it cost, around 10 euros from Aliexpress. Read up on it here on the forum.

Ahh, reading further, this blade is part of the trio series alongside the echo and parla blades. I use the echo and absolutely love it. Although I found it quite dead at the start I have learned it is quite nuanced and can be very powerful when you unleash. Sanwei have some serious tech. I'd like to try this Reson when I have some good excuse to buy a new set up. I've no doubt it will be a stunner.
Def gonna try the Rxton 3 pro too. Just got the Rxton 1 for my daughter. That's going on a classic butterfly blade I have lying around.

 

[kindof99]

Loki Arthur Asia for forehand, rxton 1 for backhand. $20 in total.

 

[J-fed]

Loki Arthur Asia for forehand, rxton 1 for backhand. $20 in total.

Nice. How's the weight? I use pips on BH (LP for the past 5 years, prev. SP) but sounds good. As a youth I used to like a chinese sponge on BH for that nasty slap. So good for finishing a point.

 

[Topspinslinger]

My honest opinion after spending too much money on aliexpress blades and rubbers is that I regret 90% of everything I bought on cheap blades and rubbers.
So about €150 well spend and too much money gone to Consumerism. Lesson learned as I'm now an adult.

 

[kindof99]

Nice. How's the weight? I use pips on BH (LP for the past 5 years, prev. SP) but sounds good. As a youth I used to like a chinese sponge on BH for that nasty slap. So good for finishing a point.

Both rubbers are quite light. less than 50g. Rxton 1 probably about 45g.

 

[J-fed]

My honest opinion after spending too much money on aliexpress blades and rubbers is that I regret 90% of everything I bought on cheap blades and rubbers.
So about €150 well spend and too much money gone to Consumerism. Lesson learned as I'm now an adult.

What products didn’t work out?
I wonder if there’s a pattern?
Maybe I lucked out but I’ve had mainly good experiences in my rare forays.
Current bat is so damn good I never want to pay for mainstream stuff again.
I do think that’s because I need extreme control though for my blocking and return game, and that doesn’t seem to be available in modern equipment.

 

[DBsystem78]

Nice. How's the weight? I use pips on BH (LP for the past 5 years, prev. SP) but sounds good. As a youth I used to like a chinese sponge on BH for that nasty slap. So good for finishing a point.

You should try Loki Arthur China or Rxton 9 nat for forehand amazing and doesn't need boost

 

[lodro]

Sanwei T5000 for about US$ 10 is excellent
blade for the money. No need to spend more unless you are into serious competition.
Buy it from a good shop at Aliex

 

[Topspinslinger]

What products didn’t work out?
I wonder if there’s a pattern?
Maybe I lucked out but I’ve had mainly good experiences in my rare forays.
Current bat is so damn good I never want to pay for mainstream stuff again.
I do think that’s because I need extreme control though for my blocking and return game, and that doesn’t seem to be available in modern equipment.

I made a big text to explain in detail but I removed it all because it was hard to follow even for me after I read it back.

Basicly they all lack spin, speed, a nice hand feeling or all if these combined to gain high end quality sadly. I'd gladly play with a Loki or any other brand if it had the same performance as high end material. Same with most non sponserd top amateur players IF ONLY it had the same performance man....

 

[lodro]

I made a big text to explain in detail but I removed it all because it was hard to follow even for me after I read it back.

Basicly they all lack spin, speed, a nice hand feeling or all if these combined to gain high end quality sadly. I'd gladly play with a Loki or any other brand if it had the same performance as high end material. Same with most non sponserd top amateur players IF ONLY it had the same performance man....

performance of course depends mainly on the person who holds the blade in hand. I also once , as "a treat", bought myself a Innerforce layer ALC from Butterfly. Indeed a most excellent blade but in the hand of a mediocre club hack like myself it did nothing more than a good Chinese blade at a quarter of the price can do.

 

[J-fed]

I made a big text to explain in detail but I removed it all because it was hard to follow even for me after I read it back.

Basicly they all lack spin, speed, a nice hand feeling or all if these combined to gain high end quality sadly. I'd gladly play with a Loki or any other brand if it had the same performance as high end material. Same with most non sponserd top amateur players IF ONLY it had the same performance man....

Haven’t used Loki yet but interested to try.
The thing that attracts me to these cheaper rubbers is there seems to be more control based rubbers.
Regarding hand feel, the Sanwei blades are just sublime.
I can’t see any rubbers on the modern market for a blocker/touch player who likes to chop and flat hit a bit like me. It’s all 100 mph loop rubbers.
This Friendhip focus 3 snipe I have is a marvel in that area and great spin potential too. I’d never have searched it out if I could find something similar in the regular market. Any rubbers you think would fit my style in the major brands? I might try next time round