Weight
87g
Thickness
6.2mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Adjustable
Black Whirlwind Transformer
Friendship Black Whirlwind Transformer is a uniquely adaptable table tennis blade designed for players who value customization. Its signature 'Sweet Spot Transformer' system allows you to adjust the internal weight within the handle, shifting the balance to suit your needs. Move the weight up for increased power and head-heavy feel, or down for enhanced control and a more handle-heavy balance. This 7-ply all-wood construction provides a medium feel with good dwell time, making it a versatile tool for all-round play, from spin-focused loops to controlled defensive shots. It's an ideal choice for intermediate players exploring different playing styles without needing multiple blades.
The blade uses a 7-ply all-wood construction. While the specific wood types for the Transformer model are not publicly detailed, this classic ply structure—typically combining harder outer plies with softer inner plies—is designed to provide a balanced blend of speed and control with good dwell time, working in harmony with the adjustable weight system.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Speed is the most dynamic characteristic of this blade, directly influenced by the adjustable weight. With the weight positioned lower in the handle, it operates in a DEF+ to ALL- range, favoring control. When the weight is shifted to the top of the handle, power increases, pushing the blade into an ALL+ or even OFF- speed category. This allows you to adapt your blade's aggression level based on your playing style or opponent.
Control is where this blade truly excels, consistently receiving high marks from players. This is attributed to its inherent 7-ply wood design and, most importantly, the ability to shift weight lower in the handle. This adjustment significantly enhances stability and precision during all strokes, giving you exceptional confidence in placement and touch shots.
The 7-ply wood construction provides a foundational medium feel that is clear and communicative. The adjustable weight system lets you fine-tune this sensation—shifting weight down creates a slightly softer, more controlled feel, while moving it up produces a firmer, more direct feedback. It offers good tactile response, which is essential for spin play.
With its all-wood construction and spin-oriented design, the blade typically produces a medium-high throw angle. This is advantageous for executing consistent looping and topspin shots over the net. The fundamental throwing characteristic is consistent, though the weight adjustment might have a minor influence on trajectory.
Inherently medium to long due to the 7-ply all-wood construction, the dwell time is excellent for spin generation. This allows the ball to sink into the blade surface, giving you more time to impart heavy topspin on loops or create deceptive spin on serves. The weight adjustment may subtly influence this, but the core characteristic remains strong.
It offers good, responsive flex that contributes to its dwell time and spin-friendly nature. It's not an overly stiff blade, which allows for a more engaging feel and better ball pocketing, especially beneficial for looping and controlled chopping. The weight adjustment might offer subtle changes to the perceived flex during play.
The blade provides a medium level of vibration feedback, which is neither overly dampened nor excessively jarring. This level of feedback is desirable for players who want to feel ball contact without distraction. The adjustable weight system can be used to modulate this sensation slightly to match personal preference.
While no official quality rating exists, player feedback consistently highlights great feel, control, and good build quality for its price point. The integrated 'Sweet Spot Transformer' mechanism is a unique and functional feature that adds considerable perceived value, making it feel like a premium, customizable tool rather than a standard production blade.
Technology
The core innovation is the 'Sweet Spot Transformer' (SST) system integrated into the handle. This mechanism allows you to manually adjust the blade's weight distribution by shifting an internal element up or down using a key or knob. Moving the weight toward the blade head increases power and creates a head-heavy balance for more aggressive play. Conversely, moving it toward the butt cap enhances control, stability, and maneuverability, making the blade feel lighter. This provides an unprecedented level of real-time customization, letting you fine-tune the blade's balance to perfectly match your rubbers, playing style, and even adapt to different opponents.
Similar Blades
Friendship/729 Black Whirlwind (non-Transformer)
This is the predecessor to the Transformer model. The original Black Whirlwind is generally known as a control-oriented defensive blade with excellent feel. The Transformer version builds on this by adding the adjustable weight feature, granting it far greater versatility to cover defensive, all-round, and even offensive play styles, making it a more adaptable evolution of the classic.
LKT Black Whirlwind
Player comparisons indicate that the LKT version of the Black Whirlwind offers a distinct playing character. It is often described as softer and speedier than the Friendship Transformer model. This highlights that different manufacturers' interpretations of the 'Black Whirlwind' concept can yield blades with noticeably different feel and performance profiles.