Butterfly Diode Pro

My setup:
Diode Pro ST
Loki Arthur China 2.1mm + 2 layers Haifu yellow
Dawei 388D-1 1.0mm sponge

My background: usually I play penhold with 2x inverted DHS rubber on hardwood blade such as YEO. Typically defensive style with counter-loops, lobs, and snakes from behind the table. I've chopped with Xiom Allround S, Diode Pro, and Koji Matsushita Offensive. I've played penhold with both short pips and long pips on forehand.

Diode Pro is very slow on most strokes, but with the potential for a very fast attack if you add enough power. The change between slow balls and fast balls is also very sudden -- below the power threshold is still quite slow, but once you hit hard enough to flex the blade then the ball goes very fast. Not much in the middle gears.

I don't know if this speed profile is standard for defensive blades, but I found it very hard to get used to -- particularly with the inverted rubber side. If I tried to gently scoop the ball onto the table (as I often do in my normal playing style), it would often go into the net, and if I tried to power-loop the ball it would often go long. Comparing to my Koji Matsushita Off, I think the power-loop is actually faster with the Diode Pro. Disclaimer: I think part of my trouble with this blade is that I am not used to playing with softwood blades.

I'm sure this construction is really good for players who like to play a modern defense style -- but I found it difficult to control. While Koji Matsushita Off was faster on most strokes, I found it easier to control than Diode Pro because the speed was more predictable.

Wood is very soft, giving good dwell times for chopping on both sides. The stability of chopping is really nice.

Adding sidespin is very easy and very potent. Sidespin is normally a big part of my game, but my practice partners were whiffing my sidespin balls much more than usual when I played with this blade. The sidespin scoop creates a really spinny ball (though it's not so fast). Strawberry chops with pips on backhand were also quite spinny -- more so than the straight backspin chop.

Generally a good defensive blade, but I think I still prefer a hardwood blade like Koji Matsushita Offensive. A defender who likes softwood will probably appreciate the Diode Pro a lot.

Hey guys, in this video I'm joined by the World’s Best Defender Ruwen Filus! Ruwen has a highest world ranking of 18 and has won multiple medals with Team Germany including a silver medal at the World Championships!

In the video, I do some training with Ruwen, he teaches me how to defend and we take a look at the rubber he chops with… The Butterfly Feint Long 3. We also surprise him with the new Diode Pro blade to see how he gets on with it.