W968 curious

[guni4you]

Hi,
How much different is commercial dhs long 5 from w968? Are they about 70-80 percent similar? And will an intermediate player even feel the difference between them?

National version has larger head size (161mm) while provincial version has smaller headsize (158mm).
The national is a bit heavier and stronger FH if you have enough power and footwork (because of the enlarged headsize).
But Provincial version has stiffer backhand so blocking is faster.
National's BH is a bit soft, thus you need to put your own power to the ball in each rally instead of just simple blocking, just like those national players.

 

[G_ZHANG]

The feel is quite obvious. Long 5 is stiffer thus more speed, less spin, less dwell time, less control than W968. Long 5 you will feel a bit non-linear, while 968 is very linear, the carbon don't just suddenly kick in to give to inconsistancy.

You can say they are 70-80% similar.

To answer your second question, we need to define what is intermediate player.
Let's take this video as reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p54npDhdlc0

I think USATT 1600 player can well feel the difference of the control, spin, dwell time etc.
USATT 1800~2000 player can feel the difference in linearity between Long 5 and 968.

Hi,
How much different is commercial dhs long 5 from w968? Are they about 70-80 percent similar? And will an intermediate player even feel the difference between them?

 

[yanb]

good post, very helpful.

 

[Konrad Bak]

deleted

 

[SFF_lib]

w968 Ebony it is normal?

Ebony is stiffer than the standard W968

 

[Konrad Bak]

deleted