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Hi everyone. I am writing this review for a Viscaria. It was originally in a private message, but it was suggested to me that I make a thread out of it. have made some changes to the review since it has been over a month and a half now (not counting my month and a half break from tt which is done now (leg and vacation)). Comment questions or disagreements and agreements.
Ok so I switched from an allwood 7-ply just so you know my comparisons.
With H3 neo (com) on FH and T80 on BH
It has a much softer feel than most carbon blades, and it has a lot of flex. The handle needed a lot of sanding because it made me blister the second day. Mine was 83 grams, and most of the weight went to the head of the bat but it felt very light compared to other blades. A lot of people have said that the handle is very wide for them, but it didn't bother me. I have small hands so I hold the bat high up on the handle so maybe it is shorter there and so maybe I'm not the right person to talk to about that. The handle does seem very flared.
BH blocks have so much more power. On my flexible allwood, the blocks would go back at a decent speed with a 25 USD blocking rubber. With this, the blocks go back at about the same speed, but they are so much more controlled. Thus, it's 300 times easier to punch block the ball, and the ball goes very fast with a little flick in the wrist or a loop. It is much easier to be aggressive. The blocks on forehand don't seem the same, but that's probably because of my tacky Chinese rubber.
The short game takes some time to get used to. The ball goes farther and more powerfully making touches harder. The way to do it is to add more backspin than on my allwood. This is good, because it makes you spin more. Flicks need adjusting. I feel like I have to open my bat a lot more on the more passive flicks. But when I want to make it fast it'll help me more. When I push I have a ton of control. Although my setup is sensitive to spin, I still feel like on a push I have forever to figure out where to place it.
Serves are much better. The technique in a serve is to put as much of the power as possible into the spin. Viscaria paired with a tacky rubber like H3 has great serves. The fact that the blade is light with the Arylate allows my serves to be very short and very spinny. This might make up for the bad flicks, because I can get some nice third ball opportunities. My serves have been pretty darn short with Viscaria. I actually feel more control with service.
When I looped. I had to adjust a lot. My bat angle was very different. In the end though, I can loop very consistently and quickly. Counter looping short and mid distance is incredible. You will have high throw rallies and then BAM a low winner down the line. At the only tournament I played in with this setup so far I played someone very aggressive and I counterlooped more than I would have before and it was just easier. I think the lighter Viscaria allowed me to finish a loop and get back into position again. Looping long underspin is SOO much easier than the allwood. I have a much higher margin of error.
I know this is a weird one but when you lob and someone hits a short ball, there is more control on the sidespin chop.
Overall incredible control for a carbon while gaining power. With just a punch you can get a ton of power. Requires more spin and effort on flicks and slightly different technique on close to table loops but counter looping is incredible. Great for service. Has a ton of feel and a lot of control so that I can place the ball anywhere.
I am going to stay with this setup on forehand, although I am considering a provincial and t05 for FH and BH. I have to save up though
. My t80 is dead now, so I need something new. Well that's it.
Anything I missed? Hope I helped.
- Abe
Ok so I switched from an allwood 7-ply just so you know my comparisons.
With H3 neo (com) on FH and T80 on BH
It has a much softer feel than most carbon blades, and it has a lot of flex. The handle needed a lot of sanding because it made me blister the second day. Mine was 83 grams, and most of the weight went to the head of the bat but it felt very light compared to other blades. A lot of people have said that the handle is very wide for them, but it didn't bother me. I have small hands so I hold the bat high up on the handle so maybe it is shorter there and so maybe I'm not the right person to talk to about that. The handle does seem very flared.
BH blocks have so much more power. On my flexible allwood, the blocks would go back at a decent speed with a 25 USD blocking rubber. With this, the blocks go back at about the same speed, but they are so much more controlled. Thus, it's 300 times easier to punch block the ball, and the ball goes very fast with a little flick in the wrist or a loop. It is much easier to be aggressive. The blocks on forehand don't seem the same, but that's probably because of my tacky Chinese rubber.
The short game takes some time to get used to. The ball goes farther and more powerfully making touches harder. The way to do it is to add more backspin than on my allwood. This is good, because it makes you spin more. Flicks need adjusting. I feel like I have to open my bat a lot more on the more passive flicks. But when I want to make it fast it'll help me more. When I push I have a ton of control. Although my setup is sensitive to spin, I still feel like on a push I have forever to figure out where to place it.
Serves are much better. The technique in a serve is to put as much of the power as possible into the spin. Viscaria paired with a tacky rubber like H3 has great serves. The fact that the blade is light with the Arylate allows my serves to be very short and very spinny. This might make up for the bad flicks, because I can get some nice third ball opportunities. My serves have been pretty darn short with Viscaria. I actually feel more control with service.
When I looped. I had to adjust a lot. My bat angle was very different. In the end though, I can loop very consistently and quickly. Counter looping short and mid distance is incredible. You will have high throw rallies and then BAM a low winner down the line. At the only tournament I played in with this setup so far I played someone very aggressive and I counterlooped more than I would have before and it was just easier. I think the lighter Viscaria allowed me to finish a loop and get back into position again. Looping long underspin is SOO much easier than the allwood. I have a much higher margin of error.
I know this is a weird one but when you lob and someone hits a short ball, there is more control on the sidespin chop.
Overall incredible control for a carbon while gaining power. With just a punch you can get a ton of power. Requires more spin and effort on flicks and slightly different technique on close to table loops but counter looping is incredible. Great for service. Has a ton of feel and a lot of control so that I can place the ball anywhere.
I am going to stay with this setup on forehand, although I am considering a provincial and t05 for FH and BH. I have to save up though
. My t80 is dead now, so I need something new. Well that's it.Anything I missed? Hope I helped.
- Abe
