JOOLA JOOLA Rossi (Rosskopf) Emotion

Some people might disagree with my hardness rating, but I compare most blades to my first (Butterfly VSG21-4000) and that thing was essentially a paddle-shaped plate of ceramic. In comparison, the Joola Rossi Emotion (JRE) is firm but still has dwell. The hinoki outer veneers give it wonderful soft touch in over-the-table play.

Loop: 8/10
Drive/Flat Hits: 9/10
Counterloop: 10/10
Block: 8/10
Push: 10/10
Chop: ??? (I'm not really a chopper so I haven't tested it.)
Serve: 8.5/10

Overall I'd give the JRE an 8/10. It's a great intermediate blade; fast but not too fast, responsive, and controllable. It's solid in most areas and excels at counterlooping and touch play, almost regardless of the rubber attached. Blocking and serves are the two areas that are more affected by rubber choice. Loops also have a rather low trajectory, so it can benefit from a higher-throw rubber. It marries well with Euro/Japanese rubbers, as well as hybrids. I have not tested hard, tacky Chinese rubbers on it.

If it could be said to have any downsides, it does lose a little speed farther from the table—though not enough to keep the ball from going over the net—and the FL handle, while comfortable to hold, does not make for an easy transition between FH and BH shots. (I haven't quite figured out why; maybe wing height?)