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Reviewed by
Last updated: July 07, 2023

In It to Win It: The Ultimate Stiga Pro Carbon Review

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By
Reviewed by
Reviewed by
Last updated: July 07, 2023
PingPongAcademy is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here
Ideal for:
  • Intermediate & professional players
  • Offensive players
  • Ping pong players who like a lightweight paddle
Main features:
  • 7 ply including balsa wood and carbon fiber
  • 2.0mm sponge
  • S5 rubber with ACS technology
Editor's Rating
9.7
out of 10
  • Speed 9.8
  • Spin 9.9
  • Control 9.5
  • Value 9.6
  • Overall 9.7
Users’ Rating
4.2
out of 5
  • 146 Users’ Ratings rating rating rating rating rating
    rating
    rating rating rating rating rating
    4.2
    out of
    5
    146 Users’ Ratings
    • 5 stars
      29%
    • 4 stars
      61%
    • 3 stars
      8%
    • 2 stars
      1%
    • 1 stars
      0%
  • Add your rating:
PingPongAcademy is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here

Stiga Sports is a Swedish company that has been making table tennis products since 1938, and around six years later, it started to make hockey products. They have multiple paddles and table tennis products that they sell, but the Stiga Pro Carbon has a reputation for being one of the best.

Below is our Stiga Pro Carbon review, and we’re going to have a closer look at the product to figure out exactly why it has such high ratings amongst consumers. Most importantly, our detailed overview can also help you decide if it is the right paddle for you so that you’re buying right for your skillset and getting the right kit to perform at your very best in your sport or hobby.

Specifications

Level
Perfomance
Style
Off+
ITTF Approved
Yes
Blade
7 Ply – 5 Real Wood, 2 Carbon
Rubber
Premium S5
Handle
Concave Pro
Sponge
0.08 in. (2mm)
Technologies
Crystal Technology, WRB, ACS, Touch Carbon
Weight
7.2 oz.
Dimensions
2 x 6.25 x 21.5 in.

Stiga Pro Carbon Review

Stiga Pro Carbon paddles are designed to be extremely light for agile gameplay, suitable for intermediate and professional ping pong players.

With a 7 ply blade, 5 layers of wood, two carbon layers, STIGA S5 rubber, and a flared grip handle, the product is exceptionally well designed for powerful and skilled moves you can be proud of.

If you’re not sure if this product is the right one for you, our Stiga Pro Carbon table tennis paddle review is designed to give you better insight before you make a concrete choice.

Let’s take a closer look at the various features of this popular paddle:

Construction

In It to Win It: The Ultimate Stiga Pro Carbon Review

Stiga Pro Carbon paddle construction is a world-class product; the carbon fiber blade weighs less than the aluminum paddle used in the past by Stiga.

The paddle is a 7 ply paddle with five layers of wood and two lightweight carbon layers that put a stop to the paddle being too bulky.

On top of this super-innovative base is a 2.0mm extremely bouncy sponge on both sides and the STIGA S5 tacky rubber, which uses a special technology design to strengthen the composition of the fiber and allow air to flow through it, resulting in a highly elastic surface.

You hold the paddle with a concave flared grip handle which helps reduce the chance of dropping the paddle during gameplay. It features something called WRB technology, which means there is a small hollow metal tunnel running through it to boost balance, grip and to allow the ball strike shock to avoid being concentrated on one spot.

This does, however, make the handle heavier, which helps contribute to better balance overall, as well as providing you with more overall power to hit the ball with. The only downside to this is that you have to get used to the extra weight, which takes time.

Materials and Design

There is so much technology in the Stiga Pro Carbon it’s hard to imagine all these innovations can be squeezed into one paddle.

It’s got two carbon layers, S5 rubber technology, and it’s made with balsa wood, a high-quality lightweight wood that comes from the mallow family. This kind of wood is known to be eco-friendly as it can be grown easily in plantations as a renewable source of hardwood. It’s so sustainable; in fact, it has been used for eco improvement projects like foam buoy replacement.

Blade Quality

The blade is 7 ply which means it is extremely powerful. As it is 5 layers of balsa and two layers of carbon, it is also extremely lightweight, which is great for nippy play.

Rubber Surface

In It to Win It: The Ultimate Stiga Pro Carbon Review

The Stiga Pro Carbon paddle has a rubber surface to improve the player’s grip and increase shot accuracy.

The rubber used is STIGA S5 which uses crystal technology, Nano Composite, and ACS Technology. It essentially means that it has boosted fiber bond strength and tiny air pockets for better control. The rubber is also moderately sticky, allowing for plenty of spins.

Level

The paddle is suitable for intermediate and expert players. Professional players can even use the paddles in ITTF (International Table Tennis Foundation) tournaments as they are approved for that level of use.

Beginners, however, should probably steer clear of these particular paddles. They are designed for an experienced hand, and you’ll likely struggle with both the sponge depth and overall control if you are new to the game. They aren’t designed to be easily controlled by beginners to table tennis, and you’d be better off buying something more suitable as you learn how to play the game well.

Speed, Spin & Control

The paddles are extremely quick, which is perfect for a strongly offensive person in the play who wants that power without having to be clumsy with control. If you are the kind of person who likes to play quite far from the table, you’ll also find the paddles suit you better than other models.

It is also important to note that despite the ability to get good control, the paddles aren’t designed to be beginners paddles, so control comes with skill. It isn’t easy to get the ball to do what you want, but it can easily be done with the right techniques, allowing you to enjoy all the benefits of this professional paddle.

When it comes to spin, the STIGA has tacky rubber that delivers well on this front, although it is only moderate, requiring some skill to get the loops in.

As the rubber is not super sticky, it doesn’t degrade as quickly as some others, but it will still require special care like cleaning. Even with cleaning, rubber on paddles does degrade, but the great news with this model is that you can replace the rubber on them, which is a great feature, boosting the longevity and eco-friendly aspects of the product.

Pros & Cons of Stiga Pro Carbon

For a quick overview of the Stiga Pro Carbon positives and negatives, we’ve summarised the pros and cons of this great piece of kit below:

Pros Cons
  • Carbon layers make it extremely lightweight
  • Eco-friendly wood in the 7 ply layers
  • High-quality S5 rubber for good spin & control
  • 2.0mm sponge creates plenty of speed
  • Flared grip handle avoids paddle slip
  • WRB handle for better balance and power
  • Unsuitable for beginners
  • Weighty handle takes some getting used to
  • More suited to offensive players
  • Tacky rubber is moderate, so if you want more spin it may not be suitable for you

 

Conclusion

Our Stiga Pro Carbon review has hopefully given you the information you need to make an informed purchase decision. Even as one of the most popular paddles used by some of the 16.4 million US table tennis players Trusted Source Table tennis: number of participants U.S. 2017 | Statista This statistic shows the number of participants in table tennis in the United States from 2006 to 2017. In 2017, the number of participants (aged six years and older) in table tennis amounted to approximately 16.04 million. www.statista.com worldwide, it isn’t right for everyone and it makes sense to buy the right product for your needs and your gameplay style.

The Stiga Pro Carbon paddles are incredibly quick, strong, powerful and ITTF approved – perfect for players looking to upgrade their kit fully. With the right paddle, you’ll soon be winning game after game and enhancing your skills in this popular sport.

References

1.
Table tennis: number of participants U.S. 2017 | Statista
This statistic shows the number of participants in table tennis in the United States from 2006 to 2017. In 2017, the number of participants (aged six years and older) in table tennis amounted to approximately 16.04 million.
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