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"The STIGA Pro Carbon delivers power through spin and speed thanks to its carbon technology."
STIGA has always been known to push the envelope with its engineering and design. They certainly pushed the envelope with their new paddle, the STIGA Pro Carbon. How, you may ask? STIGA embedded carbon into the balsa wood blade of the paddle. The result is a paddle more capable of striking the ball with the highest degree of precision and power.
Is It Worth Your Money?
STIGA Pro Carbon
There are a few very strict user dependent parameters with which to qualify this purchase as being worth your money. The first parameter is that you be a competitive recreational or tournament level player – emphasis on competitive.
The second requirement is that you be an offensive focused player as opposed to defensive. This paddle does not feature the level of control a defensive player would be looking for.
Lastly, you need to be willing to spend some time with this paddle before allowing yourself to become frustrated by it. The STIGA Pro Carbon is finicky. But, once you’ve mastered its fickle temperament, this paddle will do wonders to improve your game.
The Nuts & Bolts of the STIGA Pro Carbon
The Pro Carbon is about as intricately designed as a premade class ping pong paddle can get.
STIGA has not missed one detail to optimize player performance beyond what the player’s own skills bring to the table.
- Features
- Specs
- Ease Of Use & Reliability
- Cost
Features
One of the most striking features of the STIGA Pro Carbon is its extra light blade made of two plies of carbon and five plies of balsa wood. The carbon material actually gives the paddle more power behind every hit, while still maintaining the overall lightweight functionality that increases recovery time for the player in between shots.
The Pro Carbon also features some pretty amazing rubber. STIGA has spent a fair amount of time designing the best rubber for speed, power, and spin on the Pro Carbon blade. The rubber features Nano Composite Technology which creates tighter, higher strength bonds within the rubber, and ACS technology which fills the rubber with microscopic air pockets.
What’s also nice about the STIGA Pro Carbon is the partially hollowed-out handle. This hollowness gives the player extra sensitivity to the point of contact the ball makes on the paddle with every hit. Knowing more quickly when and where the ball has made contact allows the player to recover more quickly and set up for the next play.
Our Verdict
STIGA Pro Carbon
This paddle is not for everyone. But, the STIGA Pro Carbon is a great buy, nonetheless.
If you are a competitive player specializing in an offensive game, you would be challenged to find a better premade paddle without moving up to the custom paddle category.
STIGA has spent a lot of time in the design and function of this paddle, and we’re happy they did.
Not everyone wants to mess with the constant gluing required of custom paddles, but still want a premade with the same performance. They can find it in the Pro Carbon.
Yes, the price is high, but once you purchase this paddle, you’ll immediately see where STIGA has put your money.
Each bit of detail is designed for optimum assistance in the offensive game.
Other Options Worth Looking At
If you’re not a crazy competitive player looking to step up your offensive game, then you may not want to spend the money and the frustration on this paddle. Neither would we!
Instead, you may want to look for something a little easier to handle, and a bit more reliable, especially if you are a purely recreational player. Whether beginner or intermediate, we suggest the STIGA Pure Color Advance paddle.
It’s got lower performance ratings, which isn’t a bad thing. In fact, lower ratings directly translate to easier usability.
STIGA Evolution
Now, if defense is the name of your game, then you’ll want more control in a paddle than the Pro Carbon can provide.
Take a good look at the STIGA Evolution. It is an amazingly designed paddle specifically built with the defensive player in mind.
Yet, it still has high speed and spin ratings. Like the Pro Carbon, the Evolution is priced at the top of the premade paddle range.
But, if you’re a competitive defensive player looking to step up your game, you won’t be disappointed.
We also have an in-depth review of this model.
