Weight
62g
Thickness
7.9mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
15.7x15.1
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Wizard
Der Materialspezialist Wizard is a unique 5-ply all-wood combi blade engineered for players who employ varied backhand strategies with anti-spin or long/short pips, while seeking offensive capabilities on the forehand. It offers exceptional control and a slower feel on the backhand, ideal for blocking and passive play close to the table. Conversely, the forehand side provides the speed and power necessary for effective attacks, including powerful topspins and smashes, with a preference for normal or short pips rubbers. Its extremely light weight contributes to excellent maneuverability and comfort during extended play.
A standard 5-ply all-wood construction, common in table tennis blades, designed to offer a balance of speed, control, and feel. The specific wood types are not disclosed by the manufacturer, but the construction is optimized to create a significant difference in speed and feel between the forehand and backhand sides.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Wizard exhibits a dual-speed characteristic, with a distinctly faster forehand designed for offensive play, enabling strong topspins and smashes. The backhand side is considerably slower, providing superior control for passive play, blocking, and utilizing anti-spin or long pimple rubbers effectively. This difference is a core feature of the blade.
Wizard excels in control, especially on the backhand side, where its slower speed and excellent feedback allow for precise placement and effective defensive maneuvers. The forehand also offers high control for its speed rating, allowing for controlled offensive shots. This makes it ideal for players who value placement and tactical play.
The feel has a significant difference between the two sides. The forehand side offers a firmer, more direct feel conducive to generating power. The backhand side provides a softer, more sensitive feel that enhances control and dwell time for defensive shots and disruptive rubbers.
The forehand side is designed for offensive play, suggesting a medium-high throw angle that helps in clearing the net with topspin. The backhand side, optimized for control and disruptive play with anti-spin and long pimples, likely has a lower throw angle, facilitating close-to-the-table blocking and chopping.
The slower backhand side likely offers a longer dwell time, which is beneficial for brushing the ball with spin-oriented rubbers, especially long pimples and anti-spin. The forehand side, while faster, still offers adequate dwell time for generating spin on powerful shots, contributing to its offensive capabilities.
Wizard's flexibility is in the medium range, allowing for both controlled blocking and effective looping. It's not overly stiff, which would hinder touch shots, nor is it excessively flexible, which would reduce its offensive power. The combi-nature suggests a balanced flexibility designed to cater to different playing styles on each side.
Wizard has a moderate vibration level. While the offensive forehand can produce powerful shots, the overall construction and the focus on control suggest that excessive or uncomfortable vibrations are minimized.
Der Materialspezialist is known for producing specialized and high-quality table tennis equipment. Wizard, being a product of this brand, offers good build quality and durability, consistent with its German manufacturing origin and the brand's reputation for detailed craftsmanship.
Technology
Der Materialspezialist Wizard is a combi blade built with a 5-ply all-wood construction. The key technology lies in its asymmetric design, creating a distinct performance difference between the forehand and backhand sides. The forehand is optimized for offensive power, featuring a faster response for generating heavy topspin and smashes. The backhand is engineered for maximum control and passive play, with a significantly reduced speed and a lower trajectory, making it ideal for players using anti-spin, long pimples, or short pimples rubbers for blocking and disruption. This blade aims to provide players with a specialized tool for varied backhand strategies combined with a potent forehand attack.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Horst Ifflan
Horst Ifflan uses Der Materialspezialist Wizard blade in combination with Kamikaze OX and Outkill 1.8 rubbers. This suggests his playing style involves a significant disruptive element on the backhand, likely utilizing the control and specific properties of the Wizard's backhand side in conjunction with specialized rubbers, while employing an offensive rubber on the forehand for attacking opportunities.
Similar Blades
Der Materialspezialist Wizard Fire
Wizard Fire is presented as a direct evolution or variation of the original Wizard blade. It is designed for combi-players who require more catapult effect and penetrating power on their forehand, aiming for quicker points through hard smashes and strong loops. The backhand side of the Wizard Fire is noted as being slightly faster than the original Wizard while still offering high control and a lower trajectory, making it a more offensively oriented option compared to the original Wizard's extremely controlled backhand.