Weight
75g
Thickness
5.7mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
165x155
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Balsa 4.5 ALL Fitter
TSP Balsa 4.5 ALL Fitter is a classic allround blade celebrated for its superb control and lightweight, forgiving feel. Its unique hybrid construction combines a balsa wood core with fiberglass layers, creating an enlarged sweet spot and consistent bounce that rewards precise placement. The blade offers a sensitive touch and excellent ball feedback, making it ideal for players who rely on variation and tactical play. The ergonomic Fitter handle enhances comfort and stability, completing a package designed for developing players and control-oriented allrounders seeking a reliable and responsive tool.
The construction is a symmetrical 5-ply build with a thick balsa wood core at its heart. This core is sandwiched between two layers of fiberglass, which are then covered by outer wood plies. This sequence creates a blade that is lightweight and sensitive, with the fiberglass providing stabilizing structure and a consistent rebound.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
This blade offers a sensible, balanced speed perfect for an allround game. It generates enough pace for effective attacks and faster rallies, feeling quicker than many traditional all-round blades while maintaining a strong foundation of control. It provides a versatile speed range that supports both defensive stability and offensive initiative without becoming unpredictable.
Control is the defining feature of the Balsa 4.5 ALL Fitter. The balsa and fiberglass build creates outstanding ball feedback and a large sweet spot, making it incredibly forgiving and easy to direct. Players report a superb sensitivity of touch that allows for exact shot placement and reliable execution of both defensive and offensive maneuvers, with almost no disruptive vibration.
Players experience a distinctive, sensitive feel that leans toward medium-soft. The balsa core provides a soft, cushioned sensation on contact, while the fiberglass layers add a hint of firmness. This blend results in excellent ball feedback that is communicative without being harsh.
It produces a medium throw angle, particularly effective for topspin strokes. This characteristic helps in generating good arc and spin, making loops and drives land consistently on the table. For blocks and passive shots, the angle tends to be medium-low, aiding in control.
The construction promotes good dwell time, allowing players to brush the ball effectively for spin generation. While it may feel stiffer and have slightly less dwell than softer balsa blades, it still provides a very capable window for imparting topspin and controlling touch shots.
It possesses a medium level of flexibility, striking a balance between control and power potential. It isn't overly stiff like some offensive blades nor extremely flexible like defensive ones. This middle-ground flex supports both controlled strokes and the ability to generate pace when a fuller swing is used.
This blade is engineered to be nearly vibration-free. The combination of materials effectively dampens unwanted oscillations, resulting in a very clean, crisp impact feel that enhances control and comfort, especially during repetitive strokes.
Crafted with TSP's renowned attention to detail, this blade exhibits very good build quality. The materials are well-chosen and assembled to create a durable, consistent-performing product. It delivers reliable performance over time, living up to the brand's reputation for solid craftsmanship in its classic series.
Technology
The blade utilizes TSP's Balsa-Fiberglass System. This technology centers on a cross-cut balsa wood core, prized for its lightness and soft feel, which is laminated between layers of fiberglass. This design expands the sweet spot significantly, offering a more forgiving and consistent bounce even on off-center hits. The fiberglass layers add crucial stability and a uniform response across the entire blade face. An additional technological feature is the Fitter handle, which uses a special cork-like grip material to improve comfort and secure hand feel during play.
Similar Blades
Victas Balsa 4.5
The Victas Balsa 4.5 is the direct successor and spiritual continuation of the TSP model. It maintains the core balsa and fiberglass philosophy, offering a very similar allround playing experience focused on control, a lightweight feel, and a forgiving sweet spot for players who enjoyed the original.
TSP Balsa Fitter 4.0
As part of the same Fitter series family, this blade shares the balsa core and fiberglass construction. The '4.0' designation typically indicates a slightly different speed and control profile, often leaning a bit more towards the control end of the spectrum compared to the 4.5, while retaining the comfortable Fitter handle.