Weight
86g
Thickness
7mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
15.5x15
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
B21
Palio B21 delivers a classic 5-ply all-wood offensive experience, perfect for players who crave a direct and dynamic feel. Its hard wood veneers create a stiff, responsive platform ideal for powerful topspins, smashes, and flips. Weighing under 90g, it offers excellent maneuverability for close-to-the-table attacks, balancing speed with reliable control for a versatile offensive game.
Palio B21 features a straightforward 5-ply all-wood construction. Hard wood veneers on the outer and inner plies, combined with a wood core, create its stiff feel, direct ball response, and good speed characteristics for an all-wood blade. This construction avoids composite materials entirely for a pure wood playing experience.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Palio B21 earns a high speed rating, living up to its offensive designation. The hard wood veneers and 5-ply construction create a stiff, direct feel that translates into powerful ball contact. This setup is excellent for players who rely on speed for decisive attacks like smashes and rapid topspins from close range.
Despite its high speed, Palio B21 maintains commendable control. Its pure wood construction provides clear feel and feedback, allowing players to manage the ball effectively during rallies and place precise shots. This balance makes it a versatile choice for offensive players who need both power and accuracy.
The hard wood veneers give Palio B21 a relatively stiff and direct feel. This provides clear, immediate feedback on ball contact, helping players sense the ball well for precise shot execution. It's a feel favored by offensive players who want a direct connection with their shots.
The blade's stiffness and material composition typically produce a medium-high throw angle. This facilitates effective looping and topspin shots, giving players good height and arc to clear the net and place shots strategically around the table.
With its hard, stiff construction, Palio B21 offers moderate dwell time. This provides enough time to impart solid spin during topspin strokes, though it's not as prolonged as softer blades. It supports good spin generation with appropriate rubbers while favoring a more direct hitting style.
Palio B21 is characterized by significant stiffness rather than flexibility. The hard wood veneers create a rigid platform that's crucial for its high speed and direct response. This stiffness benefits aggressive, close-to-the-table play where a solid foundation is needed for powerful shots.
The blade delivers a direct ball strike with moderate vibration feedback. This stiffness transmits noticeable vibration to the hand, enhancing the sensation of ball contact which many players find helpful for control and placement. It creates a confident, connected striking feel without being overly vibrant.
Palio B21 offers good quality for its price point, presenting an excellent value proposition. The 5-ply all-wood construction is solid and durable, with a notably strong handle. While not a premium blade, it delivers reliable performance that satisfies budget-conscious players looking for serious offensive capability.
Technology
Palio B21 exemplifies traditional blade craftsmanship with its pure 5-ply all-wood design. The technology focuses on carefully selected wood veneers, emphasizing hard outer and inner plies to achieve characteristic stiffness and direct ball response. Unlike composite blades with carbon or arylate, the B21 relies solely on wood properties to deliver performance. This makes it a classic example of an offensive wood blade, offering straightforward, effective play without modern composite complexities.
Similar Blades
Palio B11
Palio B11 presents a more controlled offensive alternative. Our testing shows it's less stiff, slightly softer, and a bit slower than the B21, positioning it more as an All+/Off- blade. It offers a less direct ball strike with potentially better feedback, making it suitable for players who find the B21 too stiff or fast but still want offensive capability.