Top 30 in the World: Men's Players' Equipment Setups (2026-03)

Originally published 2026-03-03 · Translated & republished with permission

Updated monthly. Besides the current world top 30, I (Heima) will add some notable players where appropriate. I’ll try to include photos of more players’ blades. (For the dual-property frankenblades that appear in this article, I’ll lean toward not commenting.)

Any discrepancies are purely discrepancies.

The Singapore Grand Smash has wrapped up, and our men’s newcomers are developing somewhat disappointingly. But there are ups and downs now; perhaps the gold hasn’t been fully sifted out yet. The foreign-association F4 and F6 (the Lebrun brothers) are mostly improving, which makes Fan Zhendong’s return seem all the more urgent right now. We need a genius to hold down the fort.

Fan Zhendong: Fan Zhendong ALC custom, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c

Per Zhang Jike, his blade is the same as Little Fatty’s (Fan’s). You could roughly understand it as the two of them using the same custom recipe. Seen this way, the old silver-label custom actually still has some value for money. After all, the new 2024 custom is murderously expensive.

1. Wang Chuqin: Q968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, Hurricane 8-20 special

Generally speaking, an inner blade with an ayous core decays faster than an outer blade with a kiri (paulownia) core. The former emphasizes overall deformation, and once the elasticity drops, we feel it more and more acutely. The latter, on the other hand, isn’t known for overall deformation and absolute underlying power. I’m not saying Butterfly’s blades are better than DHS’s here, and even Butterfly’s inner custom blades (with ayous cores) don’t last as long as the outer ones (with kiri cores).

So from a personal-use standpoint, I’d more recommend buying a new blade.

2. Moregard: Cybershape Carbon CWT (gold label), Helix Platinum 55, Helix Platinum 55

The maverick Moregard and his blade, the Cybershape, keep breaking through to new heights. The Helix series’ astonishing surface friction, explosiveness, and spin level make it a worthy new German-rubber flagship. It now pairs with many blades, and whether you choose a grippy or tacky rubber actually doesn’t matter, as long as the grip is good enough. The Helix Platinum is clearly an easy-to-handle series.

3. Lin Shidong: outer ALC custom, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c

The setup is, you could say, identical to Fan Zhendong’s. I believe the recipe doesn’t need much changing either. As for the rubber, no matter how we look at it, there’s no possibility of a change. Just train your skills well.

4. Hugo Calderano: Juola Hugo inner green aramid-carbon, Juola Hugo on both sides

This Singapore Grand Smash, although Hugo’s result was mediocre, the blade looks like it gives more than the pure-wood XYLO 7, with better explosiveness. I don’t think his performance has much to do with the blade and rubber, since his form has been mediocre since August. He’s probably in a dormant or transitional phase.

5. Harimoto Tomokazu: Harimoto Tomokazu SALC, ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03

Having returned to Z03 on both sides in October last year, Harimoto Tomokazu has actually been much steadier in form, with decent results. There are some issues, but they’re at the technical level. I believe he won’t be adjusting his gear again anytime soon.

6. Felix Lebrun: Tibhar Felix, K3 Pro, K3 Pro

If time permits, I (Heima) will definitely buy a specially hardened K3 Pro to try, to understand the real K3 Pro. Because that retail-version support, on the forehand, feels bland.

7. Lin Yun-ju: Super Viscaria, Z03, D05

Inside word is that Lin Yun-ju’s current Super Vis is the retail version. You could roughly understand it as him just casually trying things, and being temporarily satisfied with this one. There’s no way Butterfly keeps all sorts of custom blades on standby at all times; whichever player wants one, they ship it whenever. But going forward, they may, following this recipe, redo a Super Vis player-custom for him.

8. Matsushima Sora: Fan Zhendong ALC custom, D09c, ZYRE-03

9. Xiang Peng: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange National Hurricane

In terms of equipment direction, he’s a mini Ma Long. Technically, he was once Wen Ruibo’s idol. But now Wen Ruibo will sub in for him at the Macau World Cup.

10. Jang Woo-jin: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, K3 Pro

Using a slightly tacky grippy rubber on the backhand, he looks like he’s improved. That is, he’s steadier, and his backhand can now generate power more freely.

11. Duda: Duda AFC, V>15 Sticky on both sides

V15s is a budget substitute for D09c, not domineering, but really steady.

12. Qiu Dang: Viscaria custom, D09c, D09c

He’s now using an unlabeled custom Vis. The ball-wrapping feel is better, and the feel and initial outgoing speed differ a bit from the retail version.

13. Liang Jingkun: Liang Jingkun ADC custom, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange National Hurricane

Hurricane on both sides offers quite strong stability, but to make play less laborious, you must boost it with oil.

14. Alexis Lebrun: Tibhar Alexis, K3 Pro, K3 Pro

Green aramid-carbon blades are very lively now. Just as I predicted years ago, the era of green aramid-carbon has arrived.

15. Lind: Donic Lind Carbon, Bluegrip C2 special, Bluegrip C2 special

The Harimoto SALC, Lind Carbon, and Miao are all this kind of structure, built for easy control, good arc-making, high forgiveness, and making any technique easy to use.

16. Darko Jorgic: Shang Kun AC dual-property special, K2, MX-P Infinity

Well, this blade is no longer being released. For one, Darko’s influence isn’t that big. For another, this kind of blade with one inner side and one outer side needs to solve problems including being prone to warping.

17. Franziska: Franziska ZLC, D05, T09c

The backhand is suspected to be Tenergy 09c, which is probably the biggest surprise of this tournament. With a slightly tacky surface Tenergy, would it play with more of a catapult feel, more power?

18. Simon Gauzy: Andro Gauzy, NUZN 55, NUZN 55

The namesake new blade launches this summer.

19. An Jae-hyun: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c

When a sponsored star doesn’t use the blade of the brand he’s signed with, we know: the 968 really is amazing.

20. Togami Shunsuke: Fan Zhendong ALC custom, ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03

For years, Butterfly’s official site has always labeled Togami’s blade as outer ALC custom. But now, to boost sales, even if what he uses is a Fan ALC custom, they write it as Fan ALC.

21. Chen Yuanyu: gold-label Viscaria, NEO Blue National Hurricane, K3 Pro

Backhand Hurricane, or MX-D C55.0, or K3 Pro: I originally thought brands were fighting over the player, but it turns out it was just trying out rubbers?

22. Zhou Qihao: Double Fish PROJECT Z, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D05

Another green-aramid-carbon blade.

23. Pavlovich: Andro ZCO, NUZN 55, NUZN 55

24. Oh Jun-sung: Tibhar outer green aramid-carbon special, K3 Pro, K3 Pro

25. Cotton (Kanak’s teammate): Donic Nittaku-style, Bluestorm A1

Among Donic-sponsored players, the most-used in Asia is still probably the Bluegrip C2, while in Europe it’s the Bluestorm A1.

26. Ovtcharov: inner SZLC custom, D09c, ZYRE-03

In terms of the retail equivalent, this blade is fairly similar to the Harimoto Tomokazu SZLC.

27. Wen Ruibo: Luma mixed carbon, NEO Blue National Hurricane, DNA Hybrid 55 degrees

Everyone’s doubts about Stiga boil down to four words: when does it launch? The Luma is another green-aramid-carbon blade.

28. Kanak Jha: Boll ALC, ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03

Jha dropped the Super Vis and switched to the Boll ALC, saying: the Boll ALC’s contact feel is a bit softer compared to the Super Vis.

29. Uda Yukiya: Innerforce ZLC custom (G-FLESS handle), D09c, ZYRE-03

30. Puka (Pucar): Tibhar Alexis, K3 Pro on both sides

The above is the world top 30. Below are some notable players, in no particular order.

Karlsson (Kallberg): Boll ALC, D09c, D09c

Quite a few players this issue are using the Boll ALC.

Shinozuka Hiroto: Boll ALC custom, D09c, Z03

The official site says Boll ALC, but it obviously can’t be the retail version, because he uses an unlabeled custom Boll ALC. Anyway, sponsored players mostly use custom; however Butterfly writes it doesn’t matter, especially since the site’s updates are generally slower than mine.

Groth: Boll ALC, D09c, D09c

A fairly skillful style of play, with a strong sense of placement. This setup also caters to that smoothly controlled style and rhythm.

Aruna: GEWO Aruna Hinoki Carbon OFF, Venom 53, Venom 53 Green

Venom 53 has a lot of power, but Venom 48 is still more like T05.

Omar: Butterfly Omar, D09c, D05

The forehand rubber switched from D05 to D09c. This Omar is also custom, with the same structure as the Omar limited edition.

Kao Cheng-jui: Taiwan Joola, T05 Hard, Dignics 09c

Due to injury, he’s withdrawn from recent tournaments. This current setup is still from October.

Lin Gaoyuan: Yuanjian, NEO Blue National Hurricane, Zhantian

Zhao Dacheng: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange National Hurricane

Robles: Tibhar Fortino inner, K3 Pro, K3

Tanaka Yuta: Ovtcharov ALC, D09c, D09c

Oikawa Mizuki: Linghan mixed carbon, DNA Gold Dragon 57.5 degrees, DNA Platinum XH

Chuang Chih-yuan: outer ALC custom, D05, D05

Still hasn’t retired.

Lam Siu-hang: Butterfly Lam Siu-hang custom, D09c, D09c

Sun Yu-cheng (Hsien-yu Cheng): Galaxy 520L, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange National Hurricane

Galaxy now, whether outer or inner, has earned the recognition of national-team-level players. My Heima Yazhi’s repurchase rate is also very high.

Wong Chun-ting: Zhang Jike ALC custom, D09c, D09c

For players with balanced forehand and backhand, having the same rubber on both sides is no problem.

Pitchford: Zhou Qihao S-ALC 90, Dynasty ZGR, Dynasty ZGR

Yoshimura Maharu: outer SALC custom, ZYRE-03 on both sides

Karlsson (Mattias): Korbel SK7, D09c, T05H

Put on a soft blade, even a hard rubber comes across as not so hard to press through.

Niwa Koki: Niwa Koki ZC, V>22, V>15 Sticky

That’s right, V15s really is steady on the backhand.

Falck: Falck Carbon, Rakza PO short pips, Rakza X

Oshima Yuya: SYNTELIAC VCI OFF, NUZN 55, Rasanter C53

The inner-green-aramid-carbon VCI has also become, after the Loki, the blade most used by Andro-sponsored players. Of course, my own Moyu is no slouch either.

Matsudaira Kenta: MK Carbon, MK Pro, K3 Pro

He’s just accustomed to having the backhand rubber harder than the forehand.

Freitas: Freitas ALC, D09c, ZYRE-03

Alamiyan (Alamian): Viscaria, D05, D05

The Alamian brothers use the same setup. Butterfly’s official site is a year behind me on the update.

Eduard Ionescu: Tibhar outer green aramid-carbon special, K3, K3

Reportedly this one will launch this year. But what Tibhar says seems hard to deliver on. Although very few people are looking forward to it.