Top 30 Women's Player Equipment Setups (March 2026)
From a historical reference standpoint, this article should be useful. Updated monthly. In addition to the current top 30 in the world rankings, I’ll also include some notable players outside that range where appropriate. I’ve tried to include paddle photos for as many players as possible.
If there are any errors, they are purely unintentional.
The equipment choices of male and female top players have become increasingly similar — from blades to rubbers. That said, in terms of blades, some women’s players tend to lean toward ones that offer better leverage and assistance, since their individual shot quality generally doesn’t match men’s, and they place greater emphasis on swing speed.
Out of respect, even though Chen Meng has withdrawn from the world rankings, I’ll keep the two-time Olympic singles champion at the top of this list — until she announces her retirement.
Chen Meng: Fan Zhendong Super ALC, NEO Blue National Hurricane, Hurricane 8 (sponge #20)
The outer Super ALC has become popular because it offers higher shot quality than outer ALC. The Fan Zhendong Super ALC blade has become a flagship choice for several national team players including Chen Meng, Wang Xiaotong, Shi Xunyao, and Huang Youzheng.
1. Sun Yingsha: S968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, Hurricane 8 (sponge #20)
As mentioned, women’s players tend to prefer blades with better assist, so the S968 with its thicker core — along with custom 968-8/968-6 variants — has become a common women’s choice. These blades are stiffer and better suited for generating speed with compact strokes. Men, on the other hand, generally play with bigger swings and prioritize absolute shot quality, so the softer W968, which deforms more fully, has more male fans.
2. Wang Manyu: Fan Zhendong ALC, NEO Blue National Hurricane, Dignics 09c
The retail Fan Zhendong ALC is an easy-to-use option for both amateurs and professionals alike — I like to call it a “sweet blade.” The trend toward soft blade + hard rubber is now very pronounced, and outer blades are becoming increasingly “ball-holding.” Even in my own Heima Yazhi ALC/PLC design, my first emphasis wasn’t explosive speed but arc control and spin generation. Because in this era, what’s needed is a blade with “no weaknesses.” Only well-rounded performance gives you more tactical options.
3. Chen Xingtong: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, Dignics 09c
Looks like a W968 but is essentially an S968 variant with a thicker core. Blue National + D09c on forehand and backhand has practically become a standard formula within the national team.
4. Zhu Yuling: Inner ZLC custom, T05 Hard, D09c
Switched from Viscaria to the inner ZLC custom — could she have realized that variation in spin is her biggest weapon?
One thing worth noting dialectically: although outer carbon is more effortless for older pros and recreational players, inner carbon truly does provide richer spin variation, and after stepping back from the table it’s easier to produce absolutely lethal shots (thanks to the Ayous core’s assistance).
5. Hina Hayata: Harimoto Tomokazu SALC, D09c, D05
The Harimoto SALC structure — with its relentless attacking capability — is quite interesting. High margin for error, relies on the player to generate power, placement, and acceleration. For beginner-to-intermediate players, many have come to appreciate consistency, so in 2025 similar blades like the Donic Lindner and my “Miao” blade saw strong sales.
Hina Hayata once used D09c on the forehand and apparently found it wasn’t a fit at the time. But she’s come back to it. Perhaps at the highest level, equipment perceptions shift as tactics evolve. For me personally, I tried T05 well over a decade ago and felt the speed and margin were inferior to the Thibhar 1Q I was using. A few years later, after improving my own stroke mechanics, I found that at a higher level of looping combined with grinding, T05’s depth and spin far outclassed the 1Q.
6. Kuai Man: Gold-label Viscaria, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c
For many national team players, they genuinely love the softness and resilience of the gold-label Viscaria. The softness is a shared quality; the resilience often comes from picking a heavier one.
7. Chen Yi: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c
Poached by DHS; switched from Yinhe Blue-Gold Workshop Pro-05x Max to W968.
8. Wang Yidi: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c
This 968 also has a thicker core. For amateur players, the choice is simple: if you want to go the women’s team route, just pick the S968.
Backhand switched back from K3 Pro to D09c.
9. Saki Shibata: Shibata H2 custom, NEO Blue National Hurricane, ZYRE-03
The retail H2 is easy and stable, but the baseline depth is ordinary — it’s just too thin at around 5.6mm. I played the custom version; it is indeed thicker and more substantial.
10. Mima Ito: Mima Ito carbon, G-1, Moristo SP pimples
G-1 is the budget alternative to T05 — both have a very good ball-wrapping feel.
11. Miyu Kihara: Harimoto Tomokazu SZLC, ZYRE-03, D09c
Switched the forehand from D09c to ZYRE-03, enabling better acceleration — she went on to beat Wang Manyu and Chen Yi.
12. Sabine Winter: Yasaka New Core OFF/S, NUZN 55, Donic ABS 3 Pro
13. Honoka Hashimoto: Ganriki, Nittaku Blue Hurricane, DO Knuckle
14. Shin Yubin: S968 (Shin Yubin custom), NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange Hurricane
Shin Yubin’s rose-handle 968 is closer in character to the S968. She uses the custom version herself, but the Shin Yubin edition sold in Korea is roughly equivalent to the retail Hurricane Sa.
15. Shi Xunyao: Fan Zhendong Super ALC, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c
Replacing the gold-label Viscaria with the Fan Super ALC brought improved speed and power output.
16. Miyu Nagasaki: Harimoto Tomokazu SALC, T05 Hard, D05
The blade is stable and ball-holding; pair it with sufficiently powerful rubbers and you’re set. She switched from the Innerforce Layer ALC to the Harimoto SALC. Nagasaki has always leaned on her backhand for scoring, but she prefers the ball-holding feel of inner-carbon blades.
17. Zhu Qianxi: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange Hurricane
18. Diaz: Outer SALC custom, D05, D05
Butterfly also gave her a G-FLESS anti-slip handle.
19. Cheng I-Ching: Super Viscaria, ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03
Lin Yun-Ju’s successful blade switch probably influenced her — she switched from inner to outer carbon, opting for an SALC that holds the ball better.
20. Han Ying: Victas Matsushita Koji (brown pine), Orange-sponge Hurricane 3, Spectol S1
21. Takahashi Bruna: Yasaka Synteliac VCI Off, two sides NUZN 55
She used to play for Victas with the plain, affordable all-wood seven-ply Dyna Seven. After joining Yasaka, she’s using the same VCI as Simon Gauzy and Yuhei Oshima — an inner aramid carbon structure. Switching from an all-wood blade to inner aramid carbon made perfect sense.
22. Sato Hitomi: Diode V (Butterfly’s attack-style chopper blade), D09c, Curl P1V
No longer using the Ganriki series.
23. Miyuu Kihara: Tibhar Miyuu Kihara BINGO, K3 Pro, Speedy Soft D.TecS (2.0mm)
Inner aramid carbon structure. On that note, I also have a “Fishing” blade with green fiber — also Japan-imported.
24. Yuan Jianan: Gold-label Viscaria, VO greater than 103 pimples, D09c
Viscaria remains a legendary blade for pimple players. Yuan Jianan has ditched the discontinued Spectol and switched to VO-103 on the forehand.
25. Szocs: Tibhar Szocs, K3, Quantum X PRO Pink
From setup to playing style, Szocs is worth studying for recreational players. Winning doesn’t require brute force.
26. Hanna Gouda: Cyber 6, DNA Platinum, DNA Platinum
27. Kim Na-young: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange Hurricane
28. Yoko Yokoi: Fan Zhendong ALC, D09c, D09c
29. Pavade: Unknown
A GEWO-sponsored star; the handle logo has been removed.
30. Lee Eun-hye: CL CR, T05 Hard, T05
I recall that when Hirano Miu won the Women’s Singles World Cup, she was using a CL with T05 and T64. I actually tried that combo at the time — it works really well, you know? The two non-tacky rubbers boost the speed sensation, but the combined ball-gripping feel was also quite decent.
The above covers the top thirty. Below are some additional notable players.
Samara: Super Mizutani Jun, D05, D05
Polcanova: Innerforce Layer ZLC, D05, D05
He Zhuojia: Ebony 7, DNA Dragon, Feint Soft
Switched from Rose CL to Ebony 7. In terms of face material hardness, ebony is harder than rosewood. Sun Mingyang, who also uses forehand pimples, plays with Ebony 7 as well. All-wood blades still have unique value for pimple playing styles — control is indeed much better.
Qian Tianyi: Gold-label Viscaria, MK Pro, Dignics 09c
Already left the national team; likely to disappear from this list soon.
Hirano Miu: Viscaria, D09c, D05
Hirano previously tried D80 on the backhand. Compared to D05, D80 actually has even greater explosive power. But D05’s ball-holding feel is stronger and its spin potential is higher — though for recreational players, it also demands more from the fingers and wrist. On the forehand, she also tried T05 Hard. Eventually she probably decided that her backhand was her primary scoring weapon, so the forehand just needs to be stable rather than overly destructive — hence choosing the more manageable D09c over T05 Hard.
Zhang An: Joola Nobilis, Dynasty AGR, D05
Batra: Viscaria, V greater than 15 Extra, Yinhe Huang Jianjiang long pips VVIP
That backhand long pip is quite interesting.
Ackula: Inspiration Carbon King, DNA, Horizontal long pips
Huang Yihua: Fan Zhendong ALC, D09c, ZYRE-03
Zhu Chengzhu: Viscaria, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D05
Switched from Lin ALC to Viscaria. Maybe it just means: the Lin ALC supply ran out, not enough left, so just go with the Viscaria. Players go through blades faster than we think. And the gap between Viscaria and Lin ALC isn’t huge — find one with a similar hardness profile and you’re basically there. A lighter, more transparent Viscaria would be closest to the Lin ALC.
Chen Siyu: Inner SZLC custom, ZYRE-03, ZYRE-03
Switched from two sides T05 Hard to two sides ZYRE-03.
Ni Xialian: Victas Ni Xialian, VO-102 short pips rubber, Curl P1V long pips
The difference between the Victas Ni Xialian and the also-all-wood-seven-ply Swat is mainly in the placement of the carbonized zones.
Mukherjee: Donic World Champion Carbon, Impartial XS, Donic Gorilla anti-spin
Based on feedback from a local long pips expert, this anti-spin sheet has more unpredictable behavior — but it’s also harder to control. He prefers a more obedient anti-spin type, like Yasaka’s Anti Power.
Shan Xiaona: Competitor Power Pro, Moristo SP AX, Rakza PO
Yang Xiaoxin: GEWO Aruna Hinoki Carbon, Jiejie 53, Yinhe Sunny long pips
Suthasini: Fan Zhendong Super ALC, D05, T05
Kaufmann: Nittaku ZC, MK Pro, MK
Similar structure to Mizutani Jun ZLC and Heima PLC.
Yang Yiyun: Yinhe 980 ULTRA, NEO Blue National Hurricane, Curl P4V
Yang Yiyun’s P4V is 1.0mm thickness.
Kim Geum-young: 70th Anniversary blade, T05/T64, Curl P1V
P1V has become the most-used long pip among professional players.
Byun Song-kyung: Yinhe Byun Song-kyung royal custom, NEO Orange Hurricane, D05
Zeng Jian: Hurricane Wang AcB, NEO Blue National Hurricane, K3 Pro
Georgina Pota: W968, NEO Blue National Hurricane, NEO Orange Hurricane
Fan Siqi: Gold-label Viscaria, NEO Blue National Hurricane, D09c