Weight
90g
Thickness
6.7mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Challenge Speed
ITC Challenge Speed is a 7-ply all-wood blade built for aggressive, modern offensive play. It delivers a compelling mix of power and precision, making it ideal for players who rely on heavy topspin and decisive smashes. With a slightly thinner profile than many traditional 7-ply blades, it offers a softer, more balanced feel that enhances stability during rallies and blocks. This construction is finely tuned for the poly ball, providing excellent feedback that is neither too hard nor too soft. As the direct successor to the acclaimed Adidas Challenge Speed, it carries forward a proven design philosophy for today's attacking game.
This is a traditional 7-ply all-wood construction featuring Limba outer plies and Ayous for the inner plies and core. The central Ayous core ply is notably thicker, which contributes significantly to the blade's power and stability. This layered design is engineered to provide an ideal balance of speed, control, and natural feel for modern offensive play.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
ITC Challenge Speed is a fast offensive blade, rated for OFF+ play. Its 7-ply wood construction, despite a slightly thinner profile, maintains high-speed capabilities perfect for fast attacks and powerful shots. Our testing shows it can generate pace comparable to some faster composite blades, making it a potent weapon for players with an attacking mindset.
For an offensive blade, the Challenge Speed offers a surprisingly high level of control. This is attributed to its thinner construction, which provides a softer feel and enhanced stability for blocking and precise placement. This balance allows offensive players to maintain accuracy and touch even when executing full-power strokes, making it a very manageable fast blade.
ITC Challenge Speed provides an optimal feel for the poly ball—firm yet not overly hard. It offers the natural, solid feedback of wood, leaning towards the harder side to deliver a crisp response on powerful shots while still retaining enough sensitivity for touch and control on softer plays.
The combination of good speed and dwell time creates a medium to medium-high throw angle. This is beneficial for producing aggressive topspin shots that clear the net with a strong, penetrating arc and land deep on the opponent's side of the table.
The 7-ply wood construction, with its slightly reduced thickness, allows for a good amount of dwell time. This enables players to grip the ball effectively to generate heavy topspin. While not excessively long, the dwell is sufficient for producing powerful, spin-oriented loop drives.
The blade has a relatively hard and direct feel, indicating it is not very flexible. This characteristic contributes to its speed and immediacy on impact, making it ideally suited for direct attacks, fast loop drives, and smashes rather than strokes that rely on extreme flex.
Players report minimal vibration, which contributes significantly to the blade's overall stability and control, especially during blocks and powerful shots. This low-vibration characteristic provides a clean, direct feel and can help reduce hand fatigue during long sessions.
The blade is regarded as having very good to excellent build quality. The use of premium Limba and Ayous woods, combined with precise 7-ply construction, results in a durable, well-crafted product. Its finish and consistency are noted to be on par with other high-tier wood blades, ensuring reliable performance.
Technology
ITC Challenge Speed builds on the legacy of the Adidas Challenge Speed, developed with a focus on modern table tennis demands. Its key innovation is the optimization of a classic 7-ply all-wood construction through a reduced overall thickness. This design refines the balance between raw power and nuanced control, offering a more responsive feel compared to bulkier wood blades. The classic combination of Limba outer plies and Ayous inner plies delivers a consistent, lively playing surface that performs exceptionally well with the modern poly ball.
Similar Blades
Adidas Challenge Speed
The ITC Challenge Speed is the direct successor and continuation of the Adidas Challenge Speed. Developed by the same team, it shares identical construction, performance characteristics, and playing feel, making it the most direct and equivalent alternative.
Stiga Clipper Wood/CR
Many players find the ITC Challenge Speed draws natural comparisons to the Stiga Clipper series. The Challenge Speed is often noted as being slightly faster and offering a more solid feel on impact compared to the Clipper CR, while maintaining a similar level of control. It's a relevant alternative for players seeking a classic 7-ply all-wood offensive blade.