Weight
73g
Thickness
8.2mm
Plies
5-ply
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Balsa Allround 50
Tibhar Balsa Allround 50 is a 5-ply all-wood blade built for players who value control and ball sensation above all. Its defining feature is a 5.0mm thick Balsa wood core, celebrated for being exceptionally lightweight and for its superb vibration dampening. This construction delivers a pleasant, natural feel perfect for controlled topspin, close-table blocking, and counter-attacking. The blade strikes an excellent balance between speed and control, enabling versatile play. It emphasizes safety and precision in every stroke, making it a reliable and confidence-inspiring choice for allround players. Its low weight also helps reduce arm fatigue, allowing for longer, more comfortable playing sessions.
The blade uses a symmetrical 5-ply construction with a central 5.0mm Balsa wood core. This core is sandwiched between two layers of Koto wood, which are then covered by outer layers of Fineline (or Spruce/Pine). This design is key to the blade's lightweight nature, soft feel, and excellent vibration dampening, while the outer wood layers provide necessary stiffness and direct ball feedback.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
This blade operates at an allround to off- speed level. The Balsa core provides a moderate pace, offering enough power for controlled offensive shots without being its primary trait. Our testing shows it delivers sufficient speed for dynamic play while maintaining its core strength: a beautifully balanced and predictable response.
Control is where the Balsa Allround 50 truly shines. Its soft Balsa core and thoughtful construction provide exceptional feel and precision, making it easy to execute controlled shots, blocks, and pushes with great confidence. Players report a high level of safety and accuracy, which is the blade's standout feature.
The Balsa core imparts a distinctive soft and sensitive feel, allowing players to clearly sense ball contact and trajectory. While the outer plies add some firmness, the overall sensation leans towards a soft, connected touch thanks to the Balsa's excellent dampening properties.
The blade typically produces a medium throw angle, suitable for consistent topspin play. Its stiffness and shorter dwell time can result in flatter trajectories on very powerful shots, but with the right rubber combination, a controlled, arcing ball is easily achievable.
Dwell time is considered average. The soft Balsa core allows for good initial ball contact, but the blade's inherent stiffness can lead to a quicker release on powerful strokes. This characteristic makes pairing with grippy rubbers beneficial for players focused on generating heavy spin.
Despite the soft Balsa core, the blade's overall construction is quite stiff. This stiffness provides a direct and linear response, contributing to its speed potential on hard hits, but it offers less flex for generating spin through blade bending compared to more flexible allwood blades.
The Balsa core is highly effective at absorbing vibrations, resulting in a muted and comfortable feel. This significantly reduces harsh feedback and arm fatigue, which is a key contributor to the blade's overall control and ease of play over long sessions.
The blade is consistently praised for its excellent build quality and craftsmanship. The materials are well-integrated, and the overall finish is durable and reliable. Many players find the workmanship to be of a high standard, contributing to a product that feels solid and well-made.
Technology
Tibhar Balsa Allround 50 is built around a core technology featuring a 5.0mm thick veneer of Balsa wood. Sourced from tropical regions, Balsa is renowned for its exceptionally low density and softness. This makes the blade remarkably lightweight, reducing arm fatigue during extended play. The natural properties of Balsa also provide significant vibration dampening and a pleasant, soft touch on the ball, which greatly enhances control and ball sensation. This unique core is encased by layers of Koto and Fineline/Spruce/Pine woods, which add structural integrity and a balanced response, successfully uniting controllable speed, precision, and a distinct feel.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Vladimir Samsonov
While Vladimir Samsonov is famously associated with his 'Pure Wood' blade, the Tibhar Balsa Allround 50 is part of the same brand's Balsa series, which embodies the blend of control and unique feel characteristic of an allround maestro's game. The blade's philosophy aligns with the controlled, tactical style Samsonov is known for, though it is not his specific signature model.
Similar Blades
Tibhar Balsa Fibretec 60 / 75
These blades belong to the same Tibhar Balsa family and share the lightweight feel and good vibration dampening from the Balsa core. The key difference is the 'Fibretec' designation, which indicates the inclusion of fiber materials. This typically makes them faster and stiffer than the all-wood Balsa Allround 50, positioning them as more offensive-oriented alternatives within the series.
Tibhar Allround Classic
This is another allwood, 5-ply blade from Tibhar offering a classic allround experience. It would likely provide a more traditional wood feel with potentially greater dwell time and flexibility compared to the Balsa Allround 50, which leans towards stiffness due to its thick Balsa core construction.