DHS Ping Pong Paddle 4006, Table Tennis Racket - Penhold with LANDSON Rubber Protection

This is a great paddle for those players who have moved beyond basic ping pong and require a paddle that can offer more control, spin, and speed. It is a short handle paddle, so if you aren't used to playing with the feel of a penhold paddle, you might opt to take the shakehand or long handle version of this. I got my paddle here for about 20 dollars, and compared to 20-30 dollar paddles my friends have bought from supermarkets like walmart, this one is superior in every way. You really get a more advanced paddle for less money. It is a 7 ply blade, so you will notice the increased thickness over basic paddles and perhaps a slightly heavier weight. Also, both the red and black rubbers are very grippy. If you are moving up from a basic paddle you will certainly notice how much more spin and action you can generate. The red side and black side are actually different types of rubber, suited for different styles, so give each side its due and decide how you want to use them. I prefer using the red side for forehand and black side for backhand. It took me a few matches to get the feel of it, but once I got it, I haven't wanted to use any other paddle. There is very little in the way of downside. After unpacking, I noticed a sort of weird smell from the paddle, kind of a fishy smell. And indeed even after months of use and frequent scrubbing, I can still smell it on my hands if I play for a while. However, it isn't much to complain about. I just wash my hands after I'm done playing, no big deal, since usually they get pretty sweaty after a few games. Bottom line, if you are looking to upgrade from a beginner paddle to something more advanced, give this paddle a try, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

I'm not going to compare this with a $100 racket, partly because I don't own one. I'm just a casual weekend player. I did notice that my game has improved noticeably after using this - compared to an entry level Butterfly penhold racket. The Butterfly is designed for Japanese penhold, only has rubber on the front (back is wood) and is significantly lighter - probably about half the weight. This one has rubber on both sides, and is designed for Chinese penhold (fingers behind are curled up). I am OK with ending up with a mediocre racket for this price, but I was pleasantly surprised. I'd like to see a A5006 or A6006 (about double the price of this) in person before deciding to buy one though.Racket came with a sheet of plastic over both rubber surface. There's a smell, but it was not too strong and dissipated within a few days. No cover is included.

Other reviewers have mentioned that the handle is short. It's supposed to be short. If you are a shakehold player, do not get this paddle. This is only for penhold players who want a short handle.It is true that the paddle has a strong smell. For those with a sensitive nose, it can be quite strong. But, it's tolerable and decreases with time. And from the other rubbers I've bought from China, I think this is the norm.When I got the paddle, the first thing I did was sand and round the blade where it contacts your fingers. Otherwise it's not going to be comfortable holding this penhold.Before, I had used a single sided penhold paddle. But, after learning how to use both sides with penhold, I wanted to find one that is two-sided designed for penhold. This paddle fit the bill perfectly. Control and stickiness is also good. Since it is very sticky, it does collect dust fast. I use a damp sponge to clean the paddle every time I play.For this price, it is well worth it for beginner/intermediate level penhold players that want to use both sides of the paddle. Really no negatives I can tell of the paddle except for the initial odor.

Good racket, affordable price for the quality of the racket. There is just on issue about it which you need to be aware of - The handle of the racket is very short for an average hand. So you might not feel really comfortable.

Purchased this with butterfly paddle at the same time. Very disappointed that received the detected one. I thought this was damaged during shipping when found out. That's not the case, you can clearly see the rubber was cut accordingly to fit the base. This is not acceptable. I guess they don't have quality control. On the other hand , the butterfly quality is much better . Stay away from DHS.

I've played table tennis for four years. These four years, I've been playing at home with my siblings, not knowing the proper methods and techniques. For example, I was taught using the penhold, but I've been using a shakehand paddle all these years. It doesn't really matter, but when I joined the ping pong club, I learned a lot about the basics, which will manifest your skill many folds. The paddle is great. According to my peers, Hurricane III is a great rubber for forehand. It has great spin and a pretty strong weight to reinforce the power and spin. There is a disadvantage for penhold. In my opinion, it is hard to use the backhand the new way while your fingers will cover 1/4 of the paddle, but the penhold has great maneuvering ability for table control. I am a beginner, and DHS and Butterfly are two great brands! Rest assure Penhold players!Oh yes, it is true there is a weird smell. It is the paint on the wood or something. After a month, it'll be gone.

"I received my package a day early (+1 extra star)! The only difference from the description and the actual item is the color of the paddle rubbers; black for DHS H3 and red for DHS G888, I actually prefer this color set-up.Things to note: like other reviews the paddle does have a smell to it but its not terrible, the edge tape is not like other paddles, it is more like a ribbon, and the paddle rubber colors(if you care about which one is red/black)This is a great first paddle it has defiantly help me improve and it is much better then other paddles in this price range. Great penhold paddle & service."