JOOLA’s Omega series focuses on more affordable ping pong paddles that have all the necessary components to improve one’s game. The series is designed for more recreational players looking to master the basic strokes to take their game to the next level. In this article, we will provide the complete JOOLA Omega Strata review.
This is probably seen as the most all-round racket in JOOLA’s Omega series. The Omega Strata performs in all aspects and provides players with a high-quality ping pong paddle at a very reasonable price. Unlike the Omega Control, which specializes in control, the Omega Strata rather specializes in spin – but has decent numbers for speed and control as well. This table tennis racket is geared towards recreational to intermediate players that have a decent understanding of technique and basics.
| Performance | Speed: 90, Spin: 93, Control: 91 |
| Blade | 5 ply real wood |
| Rubber | Riff 34 |
| Sponge | 2mm |
| Playstyle | All-round |
| ITTF Approved? | Yes |
| Our rating | 8.2/10 |
Who is it for? | Who is it not for? |
The Omega Strata is more of an all round paddle, with significantly more speed than that of the Omega Control. For that reason, we recommend the Omega Strata to players who at an intermediate level, who have mastered the basics and are learning to play more offensive strokes. | We don’t recommend this paddle to beginners who haven’t quite got the technique to control the ball effectively and apply spin on the ball. We suggest rather looking at the Omega Control. |
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 Strata has a 5 ply real wood blade, with a combination of three different kinds of wood used to achieve a high-quality blade. The woods used for the blade are:
- Koto (quick counterattacks): This wood is more nimble and stiff, making it better for faster blocks and quick counterattacks.
- Ayous (precise control): This is a lightweight and elastic wood which is why it forms the heart of many all-round blades. This wood is great for players looking to keep the ball in play and outlast their opponents.
- Kiri (reduced vibration): This wood is lightweight, but hard enough to reduce vibrations when contact is made with the ball.
The combination of these woods is ideal for players who have employed a more offensive style of play, looking to put a lot of topspin on the ball and apply quick counters. The Kiri wood also plays a vital role in reducing vibrations when contact is made with the ball, which benefits precise control.
The blade is built for all-round performance in the paddle, as all woods fulfill their purpose. The paddle weighs in at 163 grams, which is relatively heavy, but comfortable.
Overall, this is a high-quality blade, and JOOLA have chosen their go-to woods for the build. These woods have provided players with consistent performance and durability, which is the main reason why JOOLA often use them in their builds. These woods have a noticeable effect on all the desired attributes in ping pong paddles.
The Rubber
The rubber used for the JOOLA Omega Strata is JOOLA’s inverted Riff 34 rubber. The pips-in rubber is known for its insane tackiness and gives players the ability to put impressive spin on the ball. Out of the three in the Omega series, the Omega Strata is the best known for its spin, which is great for offensive topspin or sneaky sidespin.
The sponge thickness in the rubber is 2.0mm, making it slightly thicker than that of the Omega Control. The thicker a sponge is, the more spring will be applied at strike, meaning more speed. A thick sponge also gives players a greater ability to put spin on the ball. The only slight defect of having a thicker sponge is that it might be a bit difficult to control the ball at first – due to the increased speed. The rubbers are also black on both sides, giving the paddle a classy look.
Overall, we feel that the Riff 34 rubber is the perfect fit for the Omega Strata blade. It is an all-round rubber with a focus on spin, and will definitely have a noticeable impact on your strokes.
The Handle
The Omega Strata uses the classic flared handle, making it the perfect match for someone who uses the Shakehand grip. This handle is ergonomic, meaning it is designed for both efficiency and comfort.
The flared handle is used often in JOOLA’s paddle builds, and they are well known for their comfort. JOOLA makes it a priority to have comfort as well as performance.
The Omega Strata handle also comes in three different color options, namely: light blue, orange, or purple. Each color has a unique design and style which makes the paddle have a noticeable flare about it.
General Overview
We’ve put together a table highlighting both the pros and the cons of the JOOLA Omega Strata:
We’ve also put together some ratings out of 100, for the 3 key characteristics – speed, spin, and control.
| Speed | Spin | Control |
| 90 | 93 | 91 |
Conclusion
The Omega Strata is another one of our favorite JOOLA builds. It performs in all aspects and provides players with a nasty ability to spin the ball. We can’t see many other all-round paddles in this price range out-performing the Omega Strata.
If you’re looking for a paddle that has different attributes, we’ve reviewed many paddles here – which may suit your playstyle.
