Alright, I have changed my blade from Timo Boll ALC with Ten 05 on both sides to Petr Korbel with Rozena 2.1mm on both sides. Here is my story:
- I think I am about 1650 USATT (I am not in the US, I just compare them to myself by watching youtube)
- A month ago, I went to my club, play with another player. My loop and smash were amazing like usual, people sitting there clapped whenever I counter topspin several in a row. But I lost the match.
- I went home, did a reflection on the match, I found I made too many mistakes with pushing too far or too high, giving the opponent many "free" points. Even though my forehand loop and drive were still amazing like usual, but I lost more points than what my forehand attack gave me.
- I got online, read many threads on equipment, found this thread and others on Reddit. Then I learn that I might have a too fast combo. (Funny fact: when I talk about this with local players, they think ALC is slow and control, I shouldn't go for slower blade, haha). I also consult ChatGPT. It told me to go even slower (like Primorac), but I am too scared, so I go for Korbel + Rozena, which is a much cheaper combo (still happy about the cost).
- To this day, I have won many players that I struggled to win before. I make less error. You can attribute this to my extensive training too (I trained with my robot 1 hour a day, play at the club 2 hours a day - except for the weekend). This is so much progress in a month, probably from both my excessive training + more feeling on the blade.
- I still have my ALC in the box, hopefully one day I will come back to it when I reach to the level (ChatGPT told me that when I reach above 2000 USATT, I can try faster blade). But for now, I am happy with my Korbel.
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Anyhow, here is a video Olav (pro) talks about equipments. He also mentioned why amateur should use slower all-wood blades
I watched it today, then remember this thread and come back to comment on my experience. (Also I want this guy's channel got more popular so he is motivated to make more videos. I like pros' channel like his and Lind)