Weight
85g
Thickness
5.8mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Louis 13 Special
The Stiga Allround Classic is a foundational blade in the table tennis world, renowned for its balanced performance and accessibility. It serves as a benchmark for all-around play, offering a harmonious blend of control and moderate speed that suits developing players and those seeking a reliable, neutral platform. Its classic all-wood construction provides a familiar, comfortable feel that has made it a staple for decades.
The 5-ply construction features a Limba outer ply for good feel and spin, with a thick core of Ayous wood. This classic sandwich provides a balanced flex profile, combining the crispness of Limba with the stable, lightweight properties of Ayous.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Speed is moderate, squarely in the all-around category. It provides enough pace for offensive shots but lacks the explosive power of carbon or offensive wood blades. This makes it excellent for controlled rallies and developing full-stroke technique without being overwhelmed.
Control is exceptional and is this blade's defining characteristic. The feel is direct and linear, providing outstanding feedback and precision for placement, blocking, and touch shots. It forgives slight timing errors and instills confidence in short-game exchanges.
The feel is a classic, solid wood sensation—neither overly soft nor hard. It offers a crisp, clean feedback on ball contact that is informative without being harsh or muted, providing a true connection to the game.
The throw angle is medium, producing a natural, controllable arc on loops and drives. It's neither too flat nor too loopy, making it versatile for various spin-oriented shots.
Dwell time is medium to medium-long. The all-wood construction allows the ball to sink into the blade slightly, aiding spin generation and providing a forgiving window for brushing loops and serves.
Flexibility is medium. The blade has a slight give that contributes to its dwell time and control, but it is not a flexy looping blade. It provides a stable, consistent platform.
Vibration is medium. You get a clear, traditional wood feedback that communicates contact quality effectively. It's not a dead feel, nor is it excessively vibratory, striking a balance that many players find informative and comfortable.
Build quality is very good for its category. Stiga's craftsmanship ensures consistent construction, good finish, and reliable durability. While not featuring exotic materials, it is well-made and represents solid value, standing up well to regular play.
Technology
The Allround Classic utilizes Stiga's classic wood selection and lamination technology. It focuses on achieving a perfect harmonic balance between the plies for consistent, predictable performance. The technology is in the precision of construction and the quality of the natural materials, creating a timeless feel that emphasizes control and touch over artificial enhancement.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Primorac
The Butterfly Primorac is another legendary all-wood, all-around control blade. Players report it has a slightly crisper, harder feel than the Allround Classic, with a touch more speed and direct feedback, while still offering supreme control.
Donic Waldner Classic
The Donic Waldner Classic is a revered all-wood blade designed with the legendary Jan-Ove Waldner. Our testing shows it offers a unique, slightly softer and more dwell-oriented feel than the Allround Classic, with exceptional touch and spin sensitivity for an artistic, control-based game.
Yasaka Sweden Classic
The Yasaka Sweden Classic is a direct competitor and often compared. Many players find it has a very similar balanced profile but with a marginally softer outer ply, which can translate to a slightly higher throw angle and enhanced feeling for spin-oriented play.