Weight
82.5g
Thickness
5.35mm
Plies
5-ply
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Stiga Allround Classic
Stiga Allround Classic is a legendary 5-ply all-wood table tennis blade that has defined the all-round category since its introduction in 1967. With over one million sold worldwide, it's celebrated for its perfect balance of speed, control, and feel. The combination of Limba and Ayous woods creates a soft yet solid touch that helps players develop precise strokes and excellent ball understanding. Its forgiving nature and consistent performance make it an ideal first blade for beginners learning fundamentals, while its inherent control and feedback continue to appeal to intermediate and advanced players seeking a reliable all-round tool. This blade represents timeless Swedish craftsmanship.
This traditional 5-ply all-wood construction uses Limba outer plies and Ayous inner plies. The Limba provides a soft feel and good dwell time on the striking surface, while the Ayous core creates stability and consistent response. This symmetrical layering results in balanced performance characteristics ideal for an all-round game.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Stiga Allround Classic delivers moderate speed characteristic of classic all-wood blades. It's not designed for explosive power shots but provides enough pace for controlled offensive plays. Players often note that pairing it with faster rubbers can generate additional speed. Our testing shows its speed rating sits on the lower end of all-round blades, deliberately prioritizing control and feel over raw power.
Control is the standout feature of this blade. Its soft feel and good dwell time allow players to place the ball with exceptional accuracy, making it ideal for developing technique, blocking, and spin-oriented play. TTSensei experts consistently highlight how this high level of control helps players build confidence in their strokes and execute precise shots consistently.
The blade offers a soft yet solid feel that provides excellent feedback on ball contact. This characteristic allows players to truly feel the ball on the paddle, which is crucial for developing technique and spin sensitivity. Many players find this legendary Stiga feel helps them understand their strokes better.
The combination of flexibility and dwell time creates a medium-high throw angle that's particularly beneficial for generating spin and lifting the ball over the net with topspin strokes. This characteristic helps players develop good looping technique and adds safety to offensive shots.
The Allround Classic's construction promotes excellent dwell time, allowing the ball to sink into the blade's surface. This extended contact enhances spin generation for serves and topspin shots while giving players more time to feel the ball, which significantly improves overall control and touch play.
The Allround Classic exhibits a good degree of flexibility for an all-wood blade. This flexibility aids in spin production and allows players to feel the ball deeply during contact. Some users note it feels stiffer than other flexible blades like the Offensive Classic, but it maintains that characteristic elastic feeling that helps with shot shaping.
This blade provides a noticeable amount of vibration that contributes to its feedback and feel. The vibration is generally considered moderate and informative, helping players understand their contact with the ball without being overwhelming or distracting during play.
Built with traditional Swedish craftsmanship using quality wood plies, the Allround Classic is known for its durability and solid construction. Players report long-term satisfaction with its build quality. While some mention minor finishing touches like sharp edges that might need light sanding, the overall quality is considered very good for its price point and has stood the test of time.
Technology
Stiga Allround Classic represents traditional blade-making at its finest with a 5-ply construction of pure wood. Its design emphasizes a balanced fusion of speed, control, and exceptional feel through careful wood selection and Swedish craftsmanship. While not incorporating modern fibers or specialized veneers, its enduring popularity stems from consistent performance and tactile feedback. The core model relies on the inherent qualities of Limba and Ayous woods—Limba providing touch and feel on the outer layers, while Ayous creates a stable, responsive core. Some versions feature WRB technology with a hollow handle system to alter weight distribution, but the classic model's simplicity is its strength, delivering timeless playing characteristics through material quality alone.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Jörgen Persson
Jörgen Persson, one of Sweden's most decorated players, used the Stiga Allround Classic during the 1990s. His versatile, adaptable playing style perfectly complemented the blade's balanced performance. Persson's success in high-level competition demonstrated that control and consistency could triumph even as the sport evolved toward faster equipment, showcasing the blade's capability at the professional level.
Peter Karlsson
Peter Karlsson, another prominent Swedish player and contemporary of Persson, also utilized the Stiga Allround Classic throughout his successful career. Known for multiple national and international titles, Karlsson's choice underscores the blade's suitability for players with well-rounded games. The control and feel would have supported his technical prowess and ability to adapt to various opponents and situations.
Desmond Douglas
Desmond Douglas, a highly successful English player, reportedly won numerous national titles using the Stiga Allround Classic. Despite being known as an offensive player, his success demonstrates the blade's versatility and how skilled players could maximize its offensive potential through technique. This shows that with proper skill, players can achieve high-level results with a blade primarily known for its control.
Similar Blades
Yasaka All-round
Yasaka All-round is frequently mentioned as being virtually identical to the Stiga Allround Classic. Both are 5-ply all-wood constructions offering a similar balance of speed, control, and feel. Players who enjoy the Stiga's characteristics often find the Yasaka to be a comparable alternative, suggesting they share similar construction philosophies and playing attributes that appeal to the same type of player.
Stiga Offensive Classic
While the Allround Classic prioritizes control, the Stiga Offensive Classic is designed for a more attacking game. Both share the classic Stiga all-wood construction and are popular among players seeking excellent feel. The Offensive Classic offers slightly more speed while maintaining similar tactile feedback, making it a natural step up for players who want to maintain that classic feel but need more offensive capability.