tabletennisJunkie.com - table tennis and ping pong forum for equipment junkies!

[ejunkie]

I love the material of my new Donic Persson Dotec OFF; it's made of cork material. I am fairly sure that it's just the outer covering of the handle that has a layer of cork. Because the cork is lightweight, soft, and dry to the touch, it's the best material for the handle. I wonder why no one ever think of using nothing but cork for the handle. It's like a blade that comes with its own grip protection. It's the best! The worst are the DHS blades I used to buy. They are sealed at the handle and very slippery. It's very dangerous to have ST or CO handles for everyone!

[varghese]

Interesting.

I have seen those DONIC blades - they are cute. I think they also come in special handle shapes - like curvy. A friend of mine has one. The one he has is all round blade, not the OFF one.

You may have heard of American Hinoki. They are custom made blades. I have tested two or three of their custom blades. There was one blade with cork. I thought the cork handles are better for me as I get blisters and sometimes my hands are slippery too, so the cork handle helps. They are the plus points of cork. After testing that blade for a while, I did not like the cork feel. I think the cork can get harder when the time passes and that can reduce the feel of the blade.

Dr.Neubauer has used cork for some of its blades. I think the barricade blade has cork.

It's time to research on cork.

Note: To protect my hand from blisters and to make my hand not slipper, I use cotton grip. I use this Tourna Grip. Last week, at the club someone saw me putting a grip, they started doing it. It is use and throw grip. A roll will last for 2 to 3 months.

[rokphish]

my thoughts on cork handle:
+ lightweight
+ unusual look
- not very durable
- absorbs moisture much compare to regular wood

i just acquired one blade with cork handle.

[ejunkie]

I think the cork material on the Donic can be replace since it's just the outer layer of the handle. I think I can just peal it off if it get tooo old and replace it with a new one. The nice paint job would be gone of course. However the feel of the blade would not be reduced and would remain the same.
rokphish, why is the ability to absord sweat a minus?

[rokphish]

rokphish, why is the ability to absord sweat a minus?

i don't want anything to be deposited into the blade... sweat and what not makes the handle blackish, dirty, and doesn't smell good. also sweat is not good for the wood...

another reason when i seal my blades i seal the handles as well... keep them clean from water, sweat, dirt...

[729 fx]

If you seal the handle, I believe it will make the handle somewhat slippery.

All cork handle can be replaced. I remember my Butterfly JPen cork handle (made in Japan) was adamage after a long period of time and I replaced it with a Champion one (made in Korea).

[rokphish]

If you seal the handle, I believe it will make the handle somewhat slippery.

not mine they aren't... slippery to touch or if your hand is wet... but when playing i get a very good grip of the handle...