JOOLA has produced many successful series of table tennis rackets, and the Omega series definitely doesn’t fall short. The Omega series is a combination of affordable ping pong paddles that have all the necessary elements to take your game to a new level. We provide the complete JOOLA Omega Speed review.
Just like the other two paddles focus on spin (Omega Strata) and control (Omega Control), the Omega Speed has a desire for speed. This attribute is attractive for offensive-minded players who are looking to add some fizz to their stroke play. The is a great racket for a player looking to bring in a more offensive approach to their playstyle – this will require players to have a decent understanding of the mechanics and technique of offensive strokes.
Please note, if you’re struggling with offensive topspin strokes, we’ve provided a guide on putting all kinds of spin on the ball here.
| Performance | Speed: 93, Spin: 80, Control: 85 |
| Blade | 5 ply real wood |
| Rubber | Torrent 33 |
| Sponge | 2mm |
| Playstyle | Offensive |
| ITTF Approved? | Yes |
| Our rating | 8/10 |
Who is it for? | Who is it not for? |
We recommend the Omega Speed to offensive type players who are looking to add even more speed to their strokes. This paddle will have a rather large impact on your attacking play and will definitely intimidate your opponents on the other side of the table. The Omega Speed also keeps pretty decent numbers in spin and control, making it a solid all round paddle. | We don’t recommend the Omega Speed to defensive players or beginners, who aren’t quite able to control the rapid speed of the ball off the face of the racket. This paddle requires a decent amount of experience and technique – so it might be worth practicing with a paddle that has more control and less speed first. The Omega Control may be a better option. |
Once again, for this review, we’ll focus on the key components of any ping pong paddle, namely: the blade, the rubber, the handle as well as what the paddle specializes in.
If interested, we’ve written a complete ping pong paddle buying guide here – which may help you in determining which paddle suits you best.
The Blade
The Omega Speed has a 5 ply real wood blade, with a combination of three different kinds of wood used to achieve a high quality, fast blade. The woods used for the blade are:
- Limba (enhanced feel): This wood is used as the outer ply in ping pong blades as it provides flexible but firm feeling, benefiting a players topspin play.
- Abachi (precise control): This wood has a soft but unique feel which benefits a players ability to control a ball precisely and keep rallies going.
- Ayous (precise control): A more lightweight, firm and elastic wood which is why it’s often the heart of many all-round blades. This wood is great for players looking to keep the ball in play.
Woods such as Ayous are often used in JOOLA’s blade designs, as they produce consistent results in control and power. Limba is also popular wood and is used in the JOOLA Infinity Balance, this is usually the outer ply of wood and provides a flexible but firm feel.
These woods create a blade thickness of 5.7mm, which is a pretty standard width. This width gives the blade great ability to produce enough speed, without taking away too much from control. The racket weighs in at 175 grams – making it the heaviest in the Omega series. This benefits offensive players as there will be more pace on offer. However, this weight may be too heavy for some and may be uncomfortable.
Once again, this is a blade built with class with a focus on speed. If you’re on a budget and looking for a blade that will grow your speed – look no further than the Omega Speed.
The Rubber
The rubber used for the Omega Speed is JOOLA’s inverted Torrent 33 rubber. This pips-in rubber isn’t quite as tacky on the top sheet as the Omega Strata, however, this rubber is geared more towards achieving speed. The combination of the slightly heavier blade and the Torrent 33 rubber make it a paddle that has tremendous pace.
The slightly thicker 2.0mm sponge provides the rubber with noticeable spring, as well as decent spin. This makes the racket ideal for topspin forehand play, adding pace to the rally. The speed in this racket will require players to have a decent understanding of how to control their offensive strokes – as the speed may be a bit much at first.
The Torrent 33 rubber is a great fit for the Omega Speed, as it adds to the focus of speed and doesn’t take away too much in terms of control. This rubber was hand-selected by JOOLA to fit the velocity-filled blade of the Omega Speed.
The Handle
The handle used for the Omega Speed is the classic flared handle grip. This is the go-to handle type if you’re a player that uses the Shakehand grip – as it is the most comfortable and is also optimizes forehand play. JOOLA uses the flared handle for most of their paddles, making comfort and performance a priority.
In terms of the handle, the Omega Speed aims to provide comfort without taking away from performance. Using a paddle that is comfortable and suits your grip, will make a dramatic difference in improving your game.
The handle also comes in different color options, namely: green, red, light blue, and purple, which will definitely add a sense of flair to your play. It might even make your rival a bit jealous!
General Overview
We’ve put together a table highlighting both the pros and the cons of the JOOLA Omega Speed:
We’ve also put together some ratings out of 100, for the 3 key characteristics – speed, spin, and control.
| Speed | Spin | Control |
| 93 | 80 | 85 |
Conclusion
The JOOLA Omega Speed is another strong member of the Omega series and provides players with the ability to put immense speed on the ball – without taking away too much from control. If you’re a speed menace on a budget – look no further than the Omega Speed.
We’ve reviewed plenty of other paddles that suit all playstyles here – we’ve made sure there’s a paddle option for anyone involved in the game.
