Which players use HL5?

[Michael Zhuang]

HL5(and its equivalents) is so popular among fans, but is it popular among top pro players? Other than Ma Long, who else uses HL5?

 

[SFF_lib]

Wang Chuqin recently switched to W968. I think Sun Yusha is also using W968.

 

[Attitude]

Wang Chuqin recently switched to W968. I think Sun Yusha is also using W968.

Some additions: Sun Wen, Jang Woojin, Wang Yidi, Shin Yubin and some more not so "famous" players.

 

[Michael Zhuang]

Does anybody use the thicker/faster X version?

I find it a bit curious that HL5 is so insanely popular among fans but actually not used by so many top players, not nearly as much as Viscaria-variants, for example.

 

[SFF_lib]

Does anybody use the thicker/faster X version?

I find it a bit curious that HL5 is so insanely popular among fans but actually not used by so many top players, not nearly as much as Viscaria-variants, for example.

Among club players, Viscaria and Viscaria-like blade outnumber HL5-like blades by many folds.

 

[Wrighty67]

Does anybody use the thicker/faster X version?

I find it a bit curious that HL5 is so insanely popular among fans but actually not used by so many top players, not nearly as much as Viscaria-variants, for example.

I think its largely attributable to marketing and Butterfly do that far more effectively than DHS. Personally I’m drawn to DHS and play with a HL5x and Hurricane.

 

[Colin Ksh]

Liang Jinkun is also using DHS w968 now at wtt muscat 2022 according to 247 table tennis but not sure whether its the usual HL5 or his new exclusive blade.

 

[DukeGaGa]

Liang Jinkun is also using DHS w968 now at wtt muscat 2022 according to 247 table tennis but not sure whether its the usual HL5 or his new exclusive blade.

Think you meant wtt "macao" there.

 

[Michael Zhuang]

That's cool that Liang Jinkun and Wang Chuqin switched over to DHS w968.

I think sometime I will need to get me a HL5 or BO2.

 

[dajdosta]

HL5 is not "insanely popular among fans", hardly anyone uses it.
It's unpopular blade. One of the reason is certainly unpopular price.

 

[Michael Zhuang]

Well, just in the club I play it, a lot of guys have it. So it seems popular to me, and I see a lot of talk about it on online forums.

 

[jdurling4]

Think you meant wtt "macao" there.

No, he's right, it's in muscat, oman.

 

[DukeGaGa]

No, he's right, it's in muscat, oman.

I'm saying he's already using w968 when he was playing in macao, at least that's what I remember seeing.

 

[Michael Zhuang]

Why are they making the switch now? The blade has been out since a long time ago.

 

[DukeGaGa]

Why are they making the switch now? The blade has been out since a long time ago.

I would say it's personal preference mostly, and maybe recommendation by the coach.

 

[Attitude]

I would say it's personal preference mostly, and maybe recommendation by the coach.

And he most likely signed a contract by DHS.
Though the switch definitly worked out for Wang, i am not so sure about LJK. He kinda struggles or is not in form.

 

[SFF_lib]

Why are they making the switch now? The blade has been out since a long time ago.

That’s a good question.

For Wang Chuqin I feel this is just a natural progress as he is a FH dominant/balanced player.

Liang is a BH dominant player whereas W968 is designed for FH dominant style. I guess Liang’s Bh has reached a new height in terms of impact. So maybe he is able to harness the monstrous power of W968 in a way that Ma Long does on FH.