Weight
85g
Plies
3-ply
Handles
ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Ramin Cross
BBC Ramin Cross is an all-wood table tennis blade designed for players who value stability, control, and enhanced ball grab. It features a unique cross-grained Ramin wood layer behind Sapele outer skins and a substantial Cypress core. This construction delivers superior feel and responsiveness, echoing classic single-ply designs with modern refinements. The blade provides excellent tactile feedback, allowing players to intimately feel the ball's interaction, which is crucial for developing advanced strokes and maintaining consistent placement.
This 3-ply all-wood construction features Sapele outer plies for ball grab, a cross-grained Ramin wood layer for added stability and feel, and a substantial Cypress core known for its lightness and responsiveness. The combination balances control and dwell time with a touch of speed.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
With a speed rating of 8.5, Ramin Cross leans towards the faster end of the ALL to OFF- spectrum. It generates good pace for offensive shots while retaining enough control for defensive maneuvers, offering a balanced offensive capability.
Ramin Cross has excellent control, making it a solid choice if you prioritize placement and precision. You can execute a wide range of strokes with confidence and stay consistent throughout rallies.
Combining Sapele outer plies, a Cypress core, and a cross-grained Ramin layer, Ramin Cross offers a distinct feel. While Cypress is responsive, the Ramin layer and potentially thicker construction lend a firmer, more direct feel, providing good feedback without being overly stiff.
The combination of wood materials, particularly the Cypress core, contributes to a medium-high throw angle. This allows for easier lifting of the ball on loops, especially against backspin, and provides a good arc on drives.
The high dwell time rating of 9.0 indicates the blade keeps the ball on the stringbed for an extended period. This is beneficial for generating heavy spin and allows players more time to control the ball's trajectory and placement.
The all-wood construction with a Cypress core suggests a degree of flexibility, while the Ramin layer introduces some stiffness. TTSensei experts estimate it falls in the medium flexibility range, allowing for good bending on powerful strokes to aid spin generation without being overly whippy.
A vibration rating of 3.0 indicates a very low level of vibration. The blade offers a clean, direct feel with minimal unwanted buzzing, allowing players to feel the ball's impact clearly and focus on technique.
The 9.0 quality rating reflects excellent craftsmanship. BBC blades are known for their meticulous finish and high-quality materials, aligning with a reputation for superior build in custom table tennis equipment.
Technology
BBC Ramin Cross exemplifies custom blade craftsmanship, focusing on a unique wood layer combination to achieve specific playing characteristics. The substantial Cypress wood core is chosen for its responsiveness and traditional feel. It is augmented by a cross-grained Ramin wood layer, strategically placed to enhance stability and provide a more direct feel than a single-ply Cypress blade. The outer plies are Sapele, known for its excellent grip on the ball, contributing to superior spin generation and control. This construction emphasizes natural wood properties over artificial materials, aiming to deliver an authentic and sensitive playing experience.
Similar Blades
BBC Fiddler
Ramin Cross is described as following on the success of BBC Fiddler. While specific details are scarce, this implies a shared design philosophy or performance target between the two BBC blades, likely centering on control and feel.
BBC Single-ply Cypress
Ramin Cross is noted as an all-wood variant of the venerable single-ply Cypress design. This suggests it is an evolution, offering more stability or a slightly different feel due to the added Ramin layer compared to the traditional single-ply version.