Name Description Physical and mechanical properties

Rollover the properties for more info.

Abachi Binomial name: Triplochiton scleroxylon



Abachi, Ayous and Samba are all the same species, but are from different parts of Africa.

Soft, tends to tear easily in thinner plys; mainly an outermost ply wood, pairs up well with many woods; it is a lightweight, flexible wood that is excellent for close-to-the-table counterdrive play.

Aramid High strength, high stiffness fiber. Slightly softer than Arylate. Usually yellow.

Aramid-Carbon A composite material comprised of a soft Aramid fiber and hard Carbon fiber; Aramid fiber makes the blade fast but not quite so hard as pure Carbon.

Aratox Softer and more elastic (Donic & Andro) fibre than Aramid.

Arylate Also known as Vectran™. A spun resin-based liquid crystal polymer used in high strength applications, such as body armour. Typically harder and stiffer than Aramid and Kevlar™. Fibres are usually blue or pale yellow. It is a reinforcing fiber used to expand the sweet spot of the blade and also to provide unsurpassed vibration control.

Arylate-Carbon (ALC) A woven combination of Arylate and Carbon (ALC). Used in popular blades such as the Timo Boll Spirit. The speed and large sweet spot of Carbon combined with the great vibration control and soft feel of Arylate.

Basalt Very hard volcanic rock.



Carbon A layer of Carbon is often used in blades in order to increase the speed and the 'sweet' spot, i.e., to make more of the blade surface ideal for ball contact; Carbon also tends to stiffen the blade. While fast, the bigger sweet spot provides for a shocking level of control.

Carbon Glass fibre (G-Carbon) Glass fiber and Carbon combined into a resin base. Stiff and soft, lower speed than other Carbon composites. Shatters easily.

Carbotox Softer and more elastic (Donic & Andro) fibre than Carbon.

Emien Binomial name: Alstonia congensis



Common names: Kaiwi (Sierra Leone); Awun (Nigeria); Ahun (Nigeria); Sindru (Ghana); Emien (Côte d`Ivoire); stoolwood (United Kingdom); Patternwood (United Kingdom); Akuka (Zaire); Ekuk (Gabon); Ekouk (Gabon); Ekuk (Equatorial Guinea); Ekouk (Equatorial Guinea); Tsongati (Congo); Ekuk (Cameroon); Ekouk (Cameroon); Mujwa (Uganda); Alstonia (Uganda); Wokuka; Vhu; Uguwa; Tsongutti; Tsongoti; Sundra; Stoolwood; Sindru; Senedur; Patternwood; Onguie; Omujwe; Nyemidua; Nyamelebaka; Nsiwa; N`songuti; Musoga; Mukoge; Mujwa; Mujua; Mogvga; Mogoliga; Lomba; Kuge; Kolowuli; Kigima; Kauwi; Kanja; Kaiwi; Emien; Emenle; Emee; Ekouk; Ebwu; Ebo; Duku; Dsen-nuru; Dnyame-dua; Cheese wood; Bokuka; Bokuk; Binu; Bantang foro; Bakunin; Awun; Alstonia; Ahun; Adawura; Adawra.



Alstonia congensis is reported to be abundant in the humid forests of Cameroon.

Widely distributed throughout West and Central Africa.

Glass fibre Similar to Carbon in its purpose but resulting in less blade stiffness.

Hinoki Binomial name: Chamaecyparis obtusa



Also known as Port Orford Cedar, Oregon, Oregon Cedar, Lawson Cypress.

A prized Japanese wood that is soft and bouncy; 'Kiso' denotes the top Hinoki woods, available only from a single location in Japan; considered the 'golden' wood of blades, Hinoki is a form of Cypress, and much of the Hinoki used just as outer plies is really Cypress; Hinoki has the property of being very soft with a nice soft touch in the short game, but very fast when hitting; the biggest drawbacks are probably weight and cost.

Kiso Hinoki is used for blade manufacturing only when having 300 years or more in age. It can be found in all types of veneers in table tennis blades. - Density = 0.43 g/cm³

- Janka = 300 to 800 lbf (depending on the species of cypress)



Kevlar™ High stiffness, high strength fibre. Usually used in conjunction with Carbon. - Stiffness = between 70000 and 125000 MPa



Kukui Hawaiian wood.

Planchonello Planchonello outer layers produce great speed; this wood is most often found in blades designed for the power attacker.

RX-Carbon RX-Carbon consists of hard black and soft red fibers.

This mix speeds your game up, increases the energy efficiency and provides a natural touch.

Samba See Abachi and Ayous.

Tamca® 5000 A style of Carbon which is woven into a fabric or mesh. Typically stiff and fast, but not as hard as laminate type Carbon layers.

TAMCA 5000 (Carbon Fiber) is strong and light; six times stronger and one fifth in weight compared with iron and steel. Blades using TAMCA 5000 are light and strong with high elasticity and enable high performance.

Texalium™ An aluminium impregnated resin cloth layer that is formed into a solid ply. Hard, fast and quite stiff, but not as heavy as Carbon weaves.

Tung Binomial name: Vernicia fordii

Common name: Tung Tree



Used as inner plies.

The wood of the tree is lightweight and strong, and is sometimes used as a substitute for balsa, kiri or basswood.

Uniaxial Light Carbon (ULC) Uniaxial Light Carbon.

Carbon laid out with fibres aligned in a singular direction; typically north-south. Not as stiff, fast or hard as weave type Carbon layers. Considerably lighter (75-85%).

TAMCA ULC employs many carbon fibers but only lengthwise. Usually for carbon sheets, fibers are woven evenly in every direction. Therefore, TAMCA ULC is light but does not sacrifice speed.

Yellow Aningre Yellow Aningre is the ultimate control wood; providing a soft feel on contact, this wood is favored by many all-round styles of players; it is mid-hard, solid, and non-elastic; being waterproof, it is mostly used as surface veneer; Grubba Pro blades use Yellow Aningre wood for the outer and secondary plies. - Density = 0.54 to 0.57 g/cm³

- Monnin Hardness = 2.5



Zylon Also known as PB0 fibre. Used in high strength applications. Known issue where the fibres slowly degrade after contact with any form of water, but is not an issue in tabletennis applications. Slightly lighter than other similar polymer fibres (Arylate, Aramid, Kevlar™) but slightly faster and stiffer. Typically gold coloured fibres.