Feature films about table tennis are rare and it is perhaps even rarer for an international men’s luxury lifestyle magazine to take an interest in the inner world of table tennis equipment.
In connection with the upcoming film Marty Supreme, SHARP Magazine published an article exploring the world of handcrafted, bespoke table tennis blades.
What made this invitation especially meaningful to me was the way the author, Jonathan Wells, approached the subject. He came to it as a complete outsider, as do most of the magazine’s readers. Before writing the article, he reached out to several blade makers in order to understand, from different perspectives, what truly happens inside a blade.
And what struck me most was this: his questions were not superficial, they went straight to the essence.
Why Is the blade so important?
One of the most fundamental questions I was asked was this:
Why is the blade so decisive for a player?
My answer always leads back to the same point.
The blade defines the playing style, and the playing style, in turn, demands the right blade.
This relationship is not theoretical. A player’s movement, decisions, timing, and sense of security are all closely connected to what they hold in their hand. The blade is not merely a tool, it is the connection between the player and the ball.
There is no ‘best’ blade. The best blade is the one that fits you.
Material selection
For me, material selection is not simply a technical decision — it is a matter of mindset.
Through its density, hardness, elasticity and many other physical properties, wood carries a certain behaviour — a character. It determines how the blade responds, how it absorbs or transmits energy, and how it interacts with the ball.
By varying the number of layers, their thickness, and the orientation of the wood grain, we can tune a blade to suit a specific playing style.
Cabinetmaking or Instrument making?
Another question invited comparison:
Is blade making closer to cabinetmaking or to the craft of making musical instruments?
My answer was clear.
Two blades may look very similar on the outside, yet their inner properties can differ just as distinctly as the voices of two musical instruments. That is why blade making feels far closer to instrument making than to furniture making.
This difference cannot always be described with numbers or frequencies. It is something you feel in the feedback, in the vibration, in the way the blade “speaks” in the player’s hand.
Because there is no textbook for blade making, the craft relies on experimentation and on feedback from elite players. This constant process of searching and refining is what keeps the work alive and endlessly inspiring for me.
Why does aesthetics matter in a functional object?
One of the final questions focused on appearance:
Why invest so much effort in making blades that are not only functional, but genuinely beautiful?
The answer is simple.
I devote most of my energy to developing the inner qualities of a blade. At the same time, I believe its outward appearance should also be honestly attractive. A player should feel confidence when they first look at the blade — and again when they take it into their hand.
For me, appearance is not decoration, it's part of trust.
The full article can be read here:
A rare moment: Table tennis and craftsmanship in a magazine