![[Table Tennis] Wood vs. Synthetic Rackets: Which is Better? A Comprehensive Guide to Performance and Selection](https://tabletennis-lab.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/e3415ed453513fdb460cc90626ed033b.jpg)
1. Introduction
Is your table tennis racket made entirely of wood, or is it a “composite racket” with special fibers sandwiched between the wood layers?
Beginners might not be aware of it, but there is a clear performance difference between the two. In this article, we will explore those differences.
【Quiz】 Among the rackets in the eye-catching image, only one is a “composite racket.” Can you guess which one it is?
（It’s a tougher challenge than the one I posted three years ago on this site! The answer is at the end of the article.）
2. What is a “Composite Racket”?
First, let’s confirm the official regulations regarding “materials” in table tennis.
1.4.2 At least 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural wood. An adhesive layer within the blade may be reinforced with fibrous material such as carbon fibre, glass fibre or compressed paper. The thickness of any such adhesive layer shall not be more than 7.5% of the total thickness or 0.35mm, whichever is the smaller.
Source: Japan Table Tennis Association Rules (Revised June 1, 2025)
From these rules, we can understand that up to 15% of the total racket thickness can be reinforced with “fibrous materials.”
Rackets made by sandwiching these “fibrous materials” between wooden layers in accordance with these rules are generally called “composite rackets.” These are mainly classified into the following three types depending on the fiber used:
- Rackets using only carbon materials.
- Rackets using only other fibrous materials.
- Rackets using a weave of carbon and other fibrous materials.
While the characteristics vary by material, we will refer to these collectively as “composite rackets” in this article.
[Reference photo: Author’s collection] “Innerforce Layer ZLC” (Butterfly)
![[Reference photo: Author's collection] "Innerforce Layer ZLC" (Butterfly)](https://tabletennis-lab.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/d01f9b392e990ca23485b129e79913f0.jpg)
3. Composite Rackets are Mainstream
Currently, composite rackets are mainstream in top-level table tennis.
For example, all 16 players who reached the Round of 16 in the 2026 All Japan Table Tennis Championships (Men’s) used composite rackets.
The primary reason for this is that the material properties enhance repulsion (bounce). A similar trend is observed among female players; however, some defensive players, such as choppers who prefer less bounce, still opt for all-wood rackets.
However, composite rackets are not the only correct answer. “Wood rackets” also have their own unique advantages.
In the following sections, we will explain these differences in detail.
4. Differences Between Wood and Composite Rackets
(1) Uniformity of the Hit
In the special issue of Table Tennis Kingdom, “Table Tennis Goods 2016,” the characteristics of both are compared to baseball bats:
A composite racket that bounces to some extent no matter where you hit, and a wood racket that produces an incredible ball when hit on the sweet spot, are like the relationship between a “metal bat” and a “wooden bat” in baseball.
Reference: Table Tennis Kingdom Special Issue “Table Tennis Goods 2016”
- Wood Racket (Wooden Bat): The feeling and power when striking the sweet spot are exceptional.
- Composite Racket (Metal Bat): You can hit a high-quality ball regardless of where you strike the ball on the racket.
The need for the technique to hit the sweet spot is the decisive difference between the two. When I used to play with a 100% wood Hinoki single-ply racket, the exhilarating sensation of connecting with the sweet spot was truly exceptional.
(2) Ball Trajectory
- Wood Racket: The ball trajectory easily draws an “arc.”
- Composite Racket: The ball trajectory tends to be more linear/straight.
Anyone with experience in table tennis understands that a drive with an ‘arcing’ trajectory helps reduce mistakes. While shots with a flatter, more linear trajectory increase the risk of overshooting or hitting the net, they are much more aggressive.
(3) Ball Speed
- Wood Racket: Without special materials, repulsion is modest, but it allows for deep ball contact, making it easier to generate spin.
- Composite Racket: Due to the effect of special materials, repulsion is high, making it easier to produce ball speed.
(4) Consistency of Performance
- Wood Racket: Bounce and hit feel are prone to subtle variations.
- Composite Racket: Due to the properties of special materials, performance variation is lower compared to wood.
Wood rackets tend to exhibit more significant individual variations the fewer plies they have. Single-ply rackets, in particular, make it extremely challenging to find two blades with identical performance characteristics.
On the other hand, the special materials used in composite rackets possess uniform properties, which minimizes quality variations between individual products. If you are looking to prepare a spare racket that offers an almost identical hitting feel, composite rackets are highly recommended.
(5) Price
- Wood Racket: Relatively affordable.
- Composite Racket: Many products are expensive due to the use of special materials.
The manufacturing costs of these special materials tend to be reflected in the price. As a result, all-wood rackets remain highly popular for their excellent cost-performance, offering high repulsion at an affordable price point.
5. Popularity of ALC (Arylate Carbon)
ALC (Arylate Carbon) is a special material woven from carbon fiber, which has high repulsion, and Arylate fiber, which excels in vibration absorption.
It is no exaggeration to say it is the most supported material at the world-top level today. In the 2026 All Japan Table Tennis Championships (Men’s Singles), 3 out of the top 4 finishers used ALC-equipped rackets.
This material is highly trusted by elite players. For instance, the long-time world number one Fan Zhendong (China) and the legendary Timo Boll (Germany) have been dedicated users of ALC rackets for years.
Furthermore, Qiu Dang (Germany), widely recognized as the textbook example of the Penhold Backhand, also relies on this material. It is a material that boasts enduring popularity, consistently chosen by top-tier athletes across different eras and playstyles.
*Below, we introduce an ALC racket used by Tomokazu Harimoto. Please check the links for price and details.
Please note that the following page is in Japanese. We apologize for the inconvenience.
6. Conclusion
To summarize the differences:
*Please note that we have performed a general comparison; there are also “bouncy wood rackets” that use high-repulsion wood and “composite rackets with suppressed bounce.”
How was it? While “composite rackets” are mainstream, I hope you have also understood the good points of “wood rackets.”
Also, the disadvantages of both can be covered by the rubber. To find equipment that suits you, you need to consider the combination of racket and rubber.
We discuss racket and rubber combinations in a separate article. If you’re interested, please check it out!
That concludes today’s guide. I hope this information is helpful for your equipment selection!
Quiz Answer: Ignito (XIOM) (far left)
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