Selecting a Custom Made Racket

BUTTERFLY is the leading choice of Champions the world over. Our own professional staff has prepared this guide to assist you in this selection process. Please take the time to read the steps below, and you will be able to select a professional quality racket that will help you get the most out of your game. Above all, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us for assistance.
I. SELECT YOUR STYLE
 

Different player styles require very different blade and rubber surfaces to maximize effectiveness. First, look through the seven descriptions below and select the one that best represents your individual style.

II.
SELECT YOUR BLADE & RUBBER
 

After many years of helping players at all levels select the proper equipment for their game, we have developed a chart to match styles with the recommended blade/rubber combinations. After you have selected your player style, click on its name and a chart for that particular style will display. The combinations recommended on the chart will be indicated by the blade class across the top and the suggested rubber type down the side.
III.
SELECT YOUR HANDLE STYLE
 

Which handle style you choose is a personal choice. Some blades only come in one handle design, while others may come in four. You must select a grip that feels comfortable to you.
IV.
RACKET ASSEMBLY
 

Finally, once you have made your selection, we will be happy to assemble the racket for you. If you desire to assemble your own, see assembly instructions in the Racket Care section.
PLAYER STYLES:

  1. PIPS-OUT ATTACKER - Pips-out Attackers generally stand within three feet of the table. The contact point on all strokes is as early as possible, top of the bounce, or on the rise. This is a forehand-dominated style with the player exhibiting a strong quick pivot move to use the forehand from the backhand side. The success of this style is based on speed, not spin, thus pips-out rubber is ideal. Example: David Zhuang

  2. POWER LOOPER - This is a forehand-dominated style featuring a strong point winning forehand loop stroke. Players of this style end each point as quickly as possible. They will use a backhand loop to open a point, but then step-a-round and use their forehand loop to end the point. Example: Brian Pace

  3. ALL-ROUND ATTACKER This athlete typically exhibits a wide variety of attacking strokes executed with almost equal strength from both sides, and the ability to adapt his game to attack the opponent's weaknesses. Players of this style can produce topspin attacking shots from any position or distance from the table. Example: Cheng Yinghua

  4. COUNTER DRIVER - Often referred to as "walls", this style plays close to the table. Using forehand and backhand counter-drives and blocks, this style seeks to force their opponents into making errors. Example: Geng Lijuan

  5. MID-DISTANCE AGGRESSIVE LOOPER - This style prefers to stay within six to eight feet from the table. Their longer topspin strokes carry considerable power and spin, from either the forehand or backhand. Example: Zoran Primorac

  6. ATTACKING CHOPPER - This style can best be thought of as an attacker who uses underspin to set up their attacking shots. Players of this style most often use two different racket surfaces and will flip the racket to produce great variation in their defense and their attack. Example: Derek May

  7. CLOSE-TO-THE-TABLE DEFENDER This style is built around a chop/blocking game executed from close to the table. Players of this style use underspin blocks to force weak topspin shots from their opponents. They will then attack the weak topspin with a well placed drive or loop. Example: Gao Jun

  8. DEVELOPING PLAYER - This person has not yet played long enough to develop a set style. However, he/she wishes to purchase a Professional Quality Racket to give him/her the best opportunity to advance. We recommend starting out with a medium speed blade and a mid-level rubber. This combination will allow you to learn any style. The rubber can be upgraded in the future as necessary.