If you've spent any time on table tennis forums, you've probably seen heated debates about "pro personal" blades, "double-code" Butterfly editions, and "national team" DHS versions. Are they really worth the premium over commercial blades? Or is it all marketing hype?
As a specialized dealer with hands-on access to both commercial and professional-grade blades from DHS and Butterfly, we're going to break down exactly what separates these tiers — and help you decide if a pro-level blade is right for your game.
What Are "Pro Personal" and "Double-Code" Blades?
In the table tennis world, most blades you see in online shops are what manufacturers call commercial versions — mass-produced equipment designed for general retail. These are perfectly good blades. They carry official branding, meet quality standards, and millions of players around the world compete with them successfully.
But there's another tier of blades that most players never see: the professional versions. These are the blades that manufacturers build for their sponsored athletes — national team members, provincial team players, and top-level competitors. They go by different names depending on the brand:
- DHS uses a tiered system: Provincial Team (alphabet code), National Team Official (digital code), and Player Version (custom-made for individual athletes)
- Butterfly uses the "Double Code" system — blades stamped with two serial codes confirming professional-grade selection and manufacturing
These blades aren't just the same product with a different sticker. The differences are real, measurable, and — for the right player — transformative.
How DHS Separates Commercial from Pro Blades
DHS has the most structured hierarchy of any table tennis brand. Let's use their flagship blade, the W968 (Ma Long's personal model), as the reference:
The DHS Blade Hierarchy
1. Commercial Hurricane Long 5 (HL5) This is the mass-produced version sold worldwide in every table tennis shop. It carries the Hurricane Long 5 branding and standard DHS quality control. The code printed on the blade is a standard retail serial number.
2. Provincial Team Version (Alphabet Code — "HL5 + letters") Often called the "alphabet version," this blade is produced for provincial-level team players across China. The code starts with "HL5" followed by English letters and a serial number. The wood selection is more careful than the commercial version, and the handle is typically larger and more comfortable. These blades are noticeably softer and more controlled than the commercial HL5, with better flex and deeper ball hold.
3. National Team Official Version (Digital Code — "W968 + numbers") The official W968. The code starts with "W968" followed by a numeric date and serial number. This version features hand-selected wood plies, enhanced carbon fiber treatment, and tighter manufacturing tolerances. The difference from the commercial HL5 is significant: a larger, rounder handle for better comfort, softer feel with more "gears" of power (meaning the blade responds proportionally across a wider range of force), and superior vibration feedback that lets you feel the ball rather than just the impact.
4. Player Version (Custom Internal) These are custom blades built for specific national team athletes — adjusted to their exact preferences in terms of weight, thickness, flex, and balance. Examples include blades coded with specific structure numbers like "W968-18" (Sun Yingsha's version, with a thicker core for better overall support) or "W968 Structure 12" (an external carbon variant for aggressive forehand-dominant play). These are the rarest and most sought-after blades in the table tennis world.
What Actually Changes Between Tiers?
The differences aren't just about quality control — they're about materials and construction:
- Wood selection: Pro versions use hand-picked limba outer plies and ayous core layers, chosen for specific density, grain pattern, and resonance. Commercial versions use machine-sorted wood from the same species but without individual selection.
- Carbon fiber treatment: On the W968, the fiber is described by experienced players as feeling more "blended into" the wood, creating a linear, predictable response. On the commercial HL5, the carbon kicks in earlier and feels stiffer and more abrupt.
- Glue quality and application: The type and application of adhesive between layers affects flex, vibration transmission, and overall cohesion. Pro versions use adhesives applied with more precision, resulting in a more unified, responsive blade.
- Handle shape and size: Pro W968 handles are larger, thicker, and more rounded than the commercial HL5. This is one of the first things players notice — it fundamentally changes comfort and grip stability during long rallies.
- Overall feel: As one of our customers described it after two months of play: "The W968 has 30 gears where the HL5 has 20. Gears 1-5 make it feel slower, but gears 25-30 make it faster and more powerful. When you realize this, it makes sense why a blade can feel both slower AND faster at the same time."
How to Read DHS Codes
Understanding the coding system helps you verify exactly what you're buying:
| Version | Code Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial | Standard retail code | Standard serial |
| Provincial | HL5 + letters + serial | HL5AB-001 |
| National Official | W968 + date + serial | W968 20250101-1 |
| Player Custom | W968 + structure code | W968-18xx, W968-09xx |
Special structure codes explained:
- W968-18xx / W968-19xx: Based on the standard W968 but with a thicker core, improving overall support for both forehand and backhand play. Used by Wang Yidi, Liang Jingkun, and Sun Yingsha.
- W968-09xx (Structure C09): Increased carbon content in the mixed fiber layer. The fiber layer is thinner, the overall blade body is harder with a crisper feel, and greater elasticity.
- Structure 12: External carbon placement (unlike the traditional inner carbon W968), delivering firmer feel, faster rebound, and exceptional performance for aggressive forehand-dominant play.
All authentic DHS blades carry a serial code that can be verified on the official DHS website at dhs-sports.com/search.
How Butterfly's Double-Code System Works
Butterfly takes a different approach. Rather than a multi-tier hierarchy, they use a "Double Code" authentication system to identify professional-grade blades.
What Is a Double-Code Blade?
A Butterfly double-code blade carries two serial codes — both a serial number and a production batch code. This dual marking confirms that the blade was produced in Butterfly's professional workshop with:
- Hand-selected wood plies: Each layer is individually chosen for optimal weight, density, and grain consistency
- Tighter manufacturing tolerances: Stricter quality control at every step of production
- Gold tag authentication: Many double-code blades feature a distinctive gold tag confirming professional-grade status
Double-code blades are produced for Butterfly's sponsored athletes and their teams. They represent the exact same model as the commercial version — same carbon technology (ALC, ZLC, Super ALC), same ply structure — but with premium material selection and precision manufacturing.
Double-Code vs Commercial: Real Differences
Here's what players consistently report when comparing double-code blades to their commercial counterparts:
Fan Zhendong ALC (Double Code vs Commercial): One of our customers tested both versions over two months and described the difference as immediately clear: the double-code version offers a unique blend of soft rebound, crisp stiffness, and precise feedback that makes it feel more alive in hand. The most striking quality is how naturally it transitions between explosive attacking strokes and controlled short game. The commercial version is a great blade — but the double-code feels like a professional tool rather than a mass-produced product.
Viscaria (Double Code vs Commercial): The double-code Viscaria maintains the legendary Viscaria character — pronounced sweet spot, excellent power play — but with noticeably better consistency. The feel is more refined, the vibration feedback cleaner, and the overall response more predictable under pressure.
Liu Shiwen Inner Carbon Viscaria (Double Code): This is a blade that doesn't even exist in commercial form. Unlike the classic Viscaria's outer ALC structure, Liu Shiwen's personal version features inner ALC construction — carbon layers placed closer to the core. This gives a softer touch, deeper dwell time, and superior control, tailored specifically to her world-class close-to-the-table game. Only available as a double-code professional edition.
Models Available as Double-Code
Butterfly produces double-code versions of their most popular professional blades, including:
- Fan Zhendong ALC and Fan Zhendong Golden ALC
- Fan Zhendong Super ALC (used by Chen Meng)
- Viscaria (including the Dimitrij Ovtcharov ST handle variant)
- Timo Boll ALC
- Lin Yun-Ju Super ZLC
- Lin Gaoyuan ALC
- Harimoto Tomokazu Super ALC
- Liu Shiwen Inner Carbon Viscaria (exclusive pro edition)
- Butterfly 70th Anniversary Special Edition
Should You Buy a Pro Personal Blade?
This is the question everyone wants answered. Here's our honest take:
A Pro Blade IS Right for You If:
- You have solid fundamental technique. Pro blades reward good form. The expanded "gear range" of a W968 or the refined feedback of a double-code ALC only matters if your stroke mechanics are consistent enough to take advantage of them.
- You're an intermediate-to-advanced player competing regularly in tournaments or high-level club play. If you're USATT 1800+ or equivalent, you'll notice and benefit from the differences.
- You value feel and control over raw speed. Pro blades aren't necessarily "faster" than commercial versions — they're more nuanced. The W968 can actually feel slower than the HL5 at low power because it has more gears at the bottom end. But it has more top-end power when you need it.
- You're tired of searching for the perfect blade. Many players cycle through blade after blade looking for "the one." Pro-level blades, particularly the W968 and double-code Butterfly models, consistently end that search. As one experienced player put it: "After I hit the first few balls with the W968, I knew my search for the Holy Grail was over."
A Pro Blade Is NOT Right for You If:
- You're a beginner or early intermediate. Focus on developing your technique with a quality commercial blade first. A Butterfly Timo Boll ALC or DHS Hurricane Long 5 commercial will serve you well for years.
- You expect magic. No blade will add 200 rating points. A pro blade amplifies good technique — it doesn't replace it.
- Budget is a primary concern. Pro personal blades command a significant premium. If that investment would be better spent on coaching or training time, spend it there first.
How to Avoid Counterfeits
The premium market for pro blades unfortunately attracts counterfeits. Here are key precautions:
- Buy from specialized, reputable dealers who can provide provenance and authentication for every blade
- Verify serial codes on the official manufacturer websites (DHS: dhs-sports.com/search, Butterfly: check hologram and gold tag)
- Be skeptical of prices that seem too low — if a "W968 national version" costs the same as a commercial HL5, it's almost certainly not genuine
- Check the handle — pro DHS blades have noticeably larger, rounder handles than commercial versions. This is one of the easiest physical tells.
- Ask for detailed photos showing the code, handle, edge, and any authentication stickers before purchasing
The Bottom Line
The difference between commercial and pro personal blades is real. It's not subtle marketing — it's hand-selected materials, premium manufacturing processes, and attention to detail that mass production simply cannot match.
For DHS, the hierarchy is clear: Commercial HL5 → Provincial (alphabet code) → National Official (digital code W968) → Player Version (custom structure). Each step up brings better wood selection, more refined carbon integration, and a more linear, controllable response.
For Butterfly, the double-code system identifies blades built to the same professional standard as what their sponsored athletes use — same model, same technology, but with premium material selection and tighter quality control.
Whether the premium is worth it depends on your level, your goals, and your relationship with your equipment. But for serious players who have tried both? The answer is almost always: once you play with a pro blade, you don't go back.
At Ping Pong 3T, we specialize in authentic professional-grade table tennis equipment. Every blade we sell is verified for authenticity and sourced through trusted channels. Browse our Pro Personal Version blades, Official National Grade blades, or contact us for personalized advice on finding the right blade for your game.