World Men's Top 30 Equipment Setups — April 2026
Updated monthly. In addition to the current top 30, I occasionally add a few well-known players worth tracking. I try to include actual hand-shot photos of their paddles wherever possible.
The London World Team Championships open on the 28th of this month. The Chinese Table Tennis Association just released the men’s team roster: Wang Chuqin, Lin Shidong, Zhou Qihao, Xiang Peng, and Liang Jingkun. Fan Zhendong is not competing in this team event — honestly, once he withdrew from the world rankings, something like this felt inevitable. But we can still enjoy watching him in the Bundesliga and Champions League. A different version of our little chubby guy, which is also fine. Of course fans would prefer the best players competing for the national team at world events, but things rarely work out exactly as we’d hope. Let’s just enjoy table tennis purely.
Fan Zhendong: Fan Zhendong ALC special, NEO Blue National rubber, Dignics 09C
I’m using this spot to put out a call: looking to buy a 2024 Butterfly special order, preferably Fan Zhendong ALC structure. I’ve tested a lot of Viscaria specials and want to compare how far a Fan ALC special is from the retail version. That would help me better understand the games — and the setups — of Fan Zhendong, Matsushima Sora, and Togami Shunsuke.
1. Wang Chuqin: Q968, NEO Blue National rubber, Hurricane 8-20 special
The market price of Q968 is now noticeably lower than W968 — a huge reversal from the first six months after launch. My take: just buy whichever is cheaper; they’re essentially the same. Maybe the formula is identical and the only difference is hardness sorting.
2. Truls Moregard: Cybershape 6 CWT (gold label), HELIX Platinum XH, HELIX Platinum XH
At this World Cup, Moregard used HELIX Platinum in XH hardness on both sides. Compared to DNA Platinum, HELIX has stronger friction and spin values.
3. Hugo Calderano: Joola Hugo ARY-C, both sides Trinity Charged
Hugo’s blade is inner carbon construction, scheduled for release on July 21st.
4. Harimoto Tomokazu: Harimoto Tomokazu SALC, ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03
Last October Harimoto switched back to ZYRE-03 on both sides. Matsushima Sora switched to ZYRE-03 on the backhand around the same time. And Togami Shunsuke has used ZYRE-03 on both sides for the past year, with steady improvement overall. Looking at this, the Japanese men’s main lineup has all adopted ZYRE-03 support — that seems to be a key factor in their rapid progress.
5. Lin Shidong: outer ALC special order, NEO Blue National rubber, Dignics 09C
6. Felix Lebrun: Tibhar Felix gold label, K3 Pro, K3 Pro
The K3 Pro sheets that Tibhar provides to their contracted players have enhanced hardness and stiffness — the retail version’s support is too mediocre.
7. Matsushima Sora: Fan Zhendong ALC special, Dignics 09C, ZYRE-03
People are now wondering how long Matsushima can sustain this dominant run.
8. Lin Yun-ju: Super Viscaria, ZYRE-03, Dignics 05
Some fans are already dreaming of a Lin Yun-ju Super ALC — that’s way too premature. First, he’s only been on the Super Viscaria for a few months and hasn’t won any top-tier title with it. Second, if Butterfly released a Lin Yun-ju SALC right now it would undercut sales of the Super Viscaria itself (plenty of people still don’t know he’s on Super Vis). And third, they already have the Super Vis to sell — why go to the trouble of a Lin SALC that would cannibalize it? Not a good business case.
9. Jang Woojin: W968, NEO Blue National rubber, K3 Pro
I’ve heard that the W968 Jang uses is only at the level of the official digital version. The problem is, many players have been reporting that the official digital versions have also declined in quality recently — not as good to play with as they used to be.
10. Qiu Dang: Viscaria special order, Dignics 09C, Dignics 09C
Currently using a no-brand special Viscaria. Better ball-gripping feel, higher quality in build-up rallies.
11. Alexis Lebrun: Tibhar Alexis gold label, K3 Pro, K3 Pro
You can see that green-fiber carbon is now a major focus for Tibhar — both outer and inner constructions.
12. Duda: Duda AFC, both sides V greater than 15 Sticky
V15 Sticky is an affordable substitute for Dignics 09C — not as dominant, but genuinely stable. He’s also dropped V22.
13. Darko Jorgic: Tibhar Darko carbon (Infinity Carbon in English — heterogeneous construction), K2, MX-P Infinity
Shipping expected in early May. But my guess is Japan gets it first; if it reaches our domestic market, expect a few more months’ wait.
14. Sabine Winter: Stiga Luma hybrid carbon, NEO Blue National rubber, DNA Hybrid M 55 degrees
Also Korean-made outer green-fiber carbon. If you just want a stable, mildly sticky backhand rubber at the amateur level, I think V greater than 15 Sticky or DNA Hybrid in M hardness would be plenty.
15. Liang Jingkun: Liang Jingkun ADC special, NEO Blue National rubber, NEO Orange National rubber
Double National rubbers offer strong consistency. To keep them from getting too laborious to play with, you have to boost them.
16. Lindh: Donic Lindh carbon, Vario C2 special, Vario C2 special
Harimoto SALC, Lindh carbon, and others in that category all share a similar design philosophy: easy control, arc-generation friendly, high margin for error, accessible across all techniques.
17. Xiang Peng: W968, NEO Blue National rubber, Horror C55.0
At last month’s Chongqing Champions event, Xiang Peng switched his backhand from National rubber back to Horror C55.0.
18. Togami Shunsuke: Fan Zhendong ALC special, ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03
Togami says the blade is very stable in topspin-to-topspin exchanges.
19. Francesca: Francesca ZLC, Dignics 05, Dignics 09C
Changes rubbers as casually as drinking water.
20. Ahn Jaehyun: W968, NEO Blue National rubber, Dignics 09C
968 really still holds up.
21. Simon Gauzy: andro Gauzy, NUZN 55, NUZN 55
His signature blade launches this summer.
22. Coton: Donic Coton, Bluestar A1, Bluestar A1
He was previously on the Donic Nyrwolt, but his recent results have been solid. He won over Duda and Zhou Qihao at the Singapore Grand Smash. Donic jumped on the moment and released a signature blade.
23. Zhou Qihao: Double Fish Project Z, NEO Blue National rubber, Dignics 09C
Another outer green-fiber carbon.
24. Chen Yuanyu: gold label Viscaria, NEO Blue National rubber, K3 Pro
25. Ovtcharov: Ovtcharov ALC (though the construction should be Viscaria-like), Dignics 09C, ZYRE-03
26. Pourrette: andro Gauzy ZCO, NUZN 55, NUZN 55
Outer ZLC constructions are a rare sight now. His style is pretty much straightforward textbook table tennis.
27. Kanak Jha: Boll ALC, ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03
Jha dropped the Super Viscaria for Boll ALC, saying Boll ALC gives a softer contact feel compared to the Super Vis.
28. Yuta Uda: inner ZLC special order (G-FLESS grip), Dignics 09C, ZYRE-03
29. Pucar: Tibhar Alexis, both sides K3 Pro
30. Shinozuka Hiroto: Boll ALC special, Dignics 09C, ZYRE-03
The Japanese men’s team — nearly all of them on ZYRE-03 on the backhand now. Their playing philosophy is clearly very different from ours.
The following are selected notable players outside the top 30, in no particular order.
Oh Junsung: Tibhar Oh Junsung, K3 Pro, K3 Pro
Karlberg: Boll ALC, Dignics 09C, Dignics 09C — Is Boll ALC really that good to play with?
Groht: Boll ALC, Dignics 09C, Dignics 09C — A technically creative player with strong court sense. This setup suits his control-oriented, rhythmic style.
Aruna: GEWO Aruna hinoki carbon OFF, Venom 53, Venom 53 Green — Venom 53 packs more power, but Venom 48 is closer to Tenergy 05 in feel.
Omar Assar: Butterfly Omar, Dignics 09C, Dignics 05
Changed forehand rubber from Dignics 05 to Dignics 09C. The Omar blade is also a special order — same construction as the Omar Limited edition.
Lin Gaoyuan: Yuan Jian blade, NEO Blue National rubber, Zhan Tian (slayer rubber)
Cho Daesong: W968, NEO Blue National rubber, NEO Orange National rubber
Robles: Tibhar Alexis, K3 Pro special, K3 Pro special
Tanaka Yuta: Ovtcharov ALC, ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03
Switched from Dignics 09C on both sides to ZYRE-03 on both sides — this trend is a bit alarming.
Oikawa Mizuki: Inspiration hybrid carbon, DNA Gold Dragon 57.5 degrees, DNA Platinum XH
Lim Jonghoon: Butterfly Lim Jonghoon special, Dignics 09C, Dignics 09C
Seo Hyowon: Yinhe 520L, NEO Blue National rubber, NEO Orange National rubber
Yinhe gear — both outer and inner constructions — is now getting endorsement from national-level players. My Heima Yazhi KLC reorder rate has also been very high.
Wong Chun Ting: Zhang Jike ALC special, Dignics 09C, Dignics 09C
For a player with balanced forehand and backhand, using the same rubber on both sides makes sense.
Pitchford: Zhou Qihao S-ALC 90, Dynasty ZGR, Dynasty ZGR — Dealing with injuries.
Yoshimura Maharu: outer SALC special, both sides ZYRE-03
Carlsson: Korbel SK7, Dignics 09C, ZYRE-03 — Another backhand ZYRE-03 convert.
Koki Niwa: Koki Niwa ZC, V greater than 22, V greater than 15 Sticky
V15 Sticky really is solid for backhand play.
Falck: Falck carbon, Rakza PO short pimples, Rakza X
Oshima Yuya: SYNTELIAC VCI OFF, NUZN 55, Rasanter C53
The inner KLC VCI has become, after Laku, the most widely used blade among andro-contracted players. My Catfish blade is also performing quite well.
Matsudaira Kenta: MK carbon, MK Pro, K3 Pro — He simply prefers a harder rubber on the backhand than the forehand.
Freitas: Freitas ALC, Dignics 09C, ZYRE-03
Alamiyan: Viscaria, Dignics 05, Dignics 05 — Both Alamiyan brothers use identical setups. Butterfly’s official website updated this info about a year after I reported it.
Eduard Ionescu: Tibhar outer green-fiber carbon special, K3, K3
Muramasa Yuto: Goriki Men’s blade, MK Pro, Speedy Soft
Wong Yau-wang: Fan Zhendong SALC, NEO Blue National rubber, NEO Orange National rubber
Yuan Licen: LOKI Yuan Licen special, NEO Blue National rubber, NEO Orange National rubber
Xu Yingbin: Carbon 190, NEO Blue National rubber, DNA Hybrid 55 degrees
Backhand changed from Gold Dragon 57.5 to Hybrid 55.
Geraldo: Harimoto Tomokazu SALC, Dignics 05, Dignics 09C
This kid is a real equipment junkie — not long ago he was on Super Viscaria with ZYRE-03 on both sides. A few days ago at the Tunisia Contender he switched to the Harimoto SA and Dignics 09C on the backhand.
Jarvis: Cybershape 6 CWT, both sides DNA Hybrid XH