Men's Top 30 World Rankings: Equipment Setups (May 2025)

Originally published 2026-05-14 · Translated and republished by UltraSpin with permission

Close-up of a table tennis blade edge showing layered inner carbon construction with Stiga branding

Updated monthly. In addition to the current world top 30, I also include a few notable players outside that range. I try to attach paddle photos where possible. (For any penhold setups that appear, I’ll generally refrain from commenting.)

All information is best-effort — errors are possible.

The London World Championships has wrapped up. There’s actually a lot to think about from it — for instance, the respective strengths and weaknesses of inner carbon versus outer carbon blades in major competitions. But I haven’t fully digested all the matches and impressions yet. I’ll weave those thoughts into future pieces. These past two weeks have been busy. Starting at the end of the month I’ll be rolling out a series of interesting reviews — JOOLA Hugo’s newest rubber, the special edition D09c, the special edition K3 Pro, Infinity, and more.

Fan Zhendong: Fan Zhendong ALC (special), NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c

That’s Xiao Pang’s standard setup. But when competing in the Bundesliga and Champions League, he sometimes switches to D09c on both sides depending on the table and match ball. I really need to review the China SP special edition D09c soon — it’ll help me better understand the technical choices these players are making.

While I’m at it: I’m looking to buy a Fan Zhendong ALC special. If you have one to sell, feel free to message me.

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

Inner carbon blades tend to give better control at medium force or below compared to outer carbon. Pair that with tacky rubber on both sides and you’ve essentially committed fully to control. It’s tiring to play with, but that’s to be expected.

  1. Truls Moregard: Cyber 6 CWT (gold label), HELIX Platinum XH, HELIX Platinum XH

At the same stated hardness, the HELIX Platinum feels harder than the DNA Platinum. DNA feels more transparent and generates speed more easily. HELIX has better friction and spin.

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

This setup just lets you forget about margin for error — you can go full throttle on speed and placement variation at will.

My own “Miao” blade has the same structure as the Harimoto SALC. It also has moments of lacking depth at mid-distance. But honestly, most of us are fighting close-to-mid table anyway, and for that it’s plenty.

Close-up of Harimoto SALC blade face showing wood grain and carbon structure

  1. Felix Lebrun: Tibhar Felix, K3 Pro (special), K3 Pro (special)

The special version is firmer and more resilient. The retail K3 Pro has decent speed off the bat and is forgiving, but the depth falls short.

  1. Lin Shidong: Outer ALC (special), NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c

Pick a classic, easy-to-play outer ALC or inner KLC, then go NEO Blue Hurricane on the forehand and D09c on the backhand — it’s hard to make that combo difficult to play with.

  1. Hugo Calderano: JOOLA Hugo ARY-C, Trinity Charged (both sides)

Hugo Calderano's Joola ARY-C inner carbon blade with Trinity Charged rubber

Hugo’s blade has an inner carbon structure and is reportedly going on sale July 21. I’ve got the 57.5-degree rubber sample — review coming at end of month.

  1. Lin Yun-Ju: Super Viscaria, Z03, D05

Z03 still performs best on outer carbon blades like these. Speaking of which — the “Don’t Mention It” blade that everyone was anticipating, which shares the same structure as Super Vis, is just about ready to ship.

  1. Matsushima Sora: Fan Zhendong ALC (special), D09c, ZYRE-03

The retail Fan ALC is generally considered a candy-soft blade — easy to play, good for getting the ball on the table, forgiving. But the depth isn’t great. That’s exactly why I want to get my hands on the special edition to feel the difference.

  1. Jang Woojin: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, K3 Pro

  2. Qiu Dang: Viscaria (special), D09c, D09c

In retail form, D09c pairs nicely with outer fiber blades like the Vis — it compensates a bit for lower support.

  1. Simon Gauzy: Luma mixed carbon, NEO Blue National Hurricane, DNA Hybrid XH

Simon Gauzy's Stiga Luma mixed carbon blade with NEO Blue National Hurricane rubber

The Luma is one of the more solid options among outer GreenFiber carbon blades.

  1. Alexis Lebrun: Tibhar Alexis, K3 Pro (special), K3 Pro (special)

  2. Duda: Duda AFC, V greater than 15 Sticky (both sides)

Duda's Duda AFC quad-fiber blade with V15 Sticky rubber on both sides

Duda’s blade has a quadruple fiber construction, but the feel is still closer to inner carbon. Very mellow.

  1. Darko Jorgic: Tibhar Darko Infinity Carbon (heterogeneous structure), K2, MX-P Infinity

Tibhar Darko Infinity Carbon heterogeneous blade with K2 and MX-P Infinity rubber

I already have rubber samples. Still waiting to try the blade itself.

  1. Togami Shunsuke: Fan Zhendong ALC (special), ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03

Togami Shunsuke's Fan Zhendong ALC special blade with ZYRE-03 on both sides

Togami mentioned this blade is very stable during topspin exchanges.

  1. Liang Jingkun: Liang Jingkun ADC (special), NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange National Hurricane

  2. Linde: Donic Linde Carbon, Bluefire C2 (special), Bluefire C2 (special)

Harimoto SALC, Linde Carbon, and Miao all share a similar structure — easy control, easy arc generation, high margin for error, works well for any technique.

  1. Xiang Peng: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, Skyline C55.0

At last month’s Chongqing Championships, Xiang Peng switched his backhand back to Skyline C55.0 from Hurricane. He didn’t appear at the World Championships.

  1. Franziska: Franziska ZLC, D05/Z03, D09c

  2. Coton: Donic Nery Wen, Blue Star A1, Blue Star A1

A signature blade is on the way.

  1. Simon Gautz: Andro Gautz, NUZN 55, NUZN 55

At its core, it’s still a VCI — outer GreenFiber carbon.

Andro Gauzy VCI inner GreenFiber carbon blade product photo

Simon Gauzy paddle with Andro Gauzy blade and NUZN 55 rubber on both sides

  1. An Jaehyun: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c

The 968 is still quite solid, especially good for forehand Hurricane users.

  1. Zhou Qihao: Double Fish PROJECT Z, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c

Korean-made outer GreenFiber carbon.

  1. Ovtcharov: Ovtcharov ALC (though the structure seems to be Viscaria), D09c, ZYRE-03

  2. Chen Yuanyu: Gold Label Viscaria, NEO Blue National Hurricane, K3 Pro

  3. Poireault: Andro ZCO, NUZN 55, NUZN 55

Outer ZLC structures are now quite rare. His game is mostly big-ball, straightforward style.

  1. Kanak Jha: Super Vis, ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03

He dropped Super Vis for the Boll ALC, then came back to Super Vis. Must feel the Super Vis gives heavier ball quality.

  1. Pucar: Tibhar Alexis, K3 Pro (both sides)

And honestly, this outer GreenFiber Alexis blade is quite popular among Tibhar-contracted players.

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

The Japanese team as a whole seems to believe Z03 helps them perform well.

  1. Oh Joonsung: Tibhar outer GreenFiber special, K3 Pro, K3 Pro

That covers the top 30. Below are some notable players outside that range, in no particular order.

Shinozuka Hiroto: Boll ALC (special), D09c, Z03

The Japanese men’s team has basically gone all-in on Z03 for the backhand. Their playing philosophy is clearly different from ours.

Karlberg: Boll ALC, D09c, D09c

Is the Boll ALC really that easy to play?

Grothe: Boll ALC, D09c, D09c

Quite technical style, very placement-aware. This setup fits that kind of controlled, deliberate rhythm perfectly.

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

Venom 53 hits hard, though Venom 48 is closer to T05 in feel.

Omar Assar: Butterfly Omar, D09c, D05

Changed forehand rubber from D05 to D09c. The Omar blade is also a special edition — same structure as the Omar Limited.

Cho Daeseong: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange National Hurricane

Robles: Tibhar Alexis, K3 Pro (special), K3 (special)

Tanaka Yuta: Ovtcharov ALC, ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03

Switching from D09c on both sides to Z03 on both sides — that trend is honestly a little scary.

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

Lim Jonghoon: Butterfly Lim Jonghoon (special), D09c, D09c

Lim Jonghoon's Butterfly Lim Jonghoon special blade with Dignics 09C rubber

Lee Sangsu: Galaxy 520X, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange National Hurricane

Galaxy blades — both outer and inner carbon — are now being used by national-team-level players. The Hei Ma custom KLC is also seeing very high repurchase rates.

Yinhe Galaxy 520X blade used by Lee Sangsu with NEO National rubber setup

Wong Chun Ting: Zhang Jike ALC (special), D09c, D09c

For players with balanced forehand and backhand, using the same rubber on both sides is fine.

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

Currently dealing with injury.

Yoshimura Maharu: Outer SALC (special), ZYRE-03 (both sides)

Karlsson: Korbel SK7, D09c, Z03

Another backhand Z03 convert.

Niwa Koki: Niwa Koki ZC, V greater than 22, V greater than 15 Sticky

Yeah, V15 Sticky really is stable for the backhand.

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

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

The inner GreenFiber VCI has become the second-most-used blade among Andro-contracted players, right after the Raquette. Of course, the Hei Ma “Moyu” is also a solid option.

Matsudaira Kenta: MK Carbon, MK Pro, K3 Pro

He just prefers having a harder rubber on the backhand than the forehand.

Freitas: Freitas ALC, D09c, ZYRE-03

Alamiyan: Viscaria, D05, D05

The Alamiyan brothers are using identical setups.

Eduard Ionescu: Tibhar outer GreenFiber special, K3 (special), K3 Pro

Muramatsu Yuto: Gorikimale, MK Pro, Speedy Soft

Huang Youzheng: Fan Zhendong SALC, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange National Hurricane

Yuan Licen: LOKI Yuan Licen special, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange National Hurricane

Xu Yingbin: Carbon 190, NEO Blue National Hurricane, DNA Hybrid 55

Switched backhand from DNA Gold Dragon 57.5 to DNA Hybrid 55.

Geraldo: Harimoto Tomokazu SALC, D05, D09c

This guy is a real gear-switcher — not long ago he was on Super Vis with Z03 on both sides. At the Tunisia Challenge, he switched to Harimoto SALC with D09c on the backhand.

Jarvis: Cyber 6 CWT, DNA Hybrid XH (both sides)

Gear from this article we've reviewed

In-depth, independent reviews of equipment mentioned above:

Original work © Heima Liao Pingpang (WeChat). English translation © UltraSpin, republished with permission. Original article.