Any blades still in production similar to Xiom Hugo HAL or Butterfly Moonbeam?

says anybody seen my backhand?
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Is that 185g with D09c+Z52.5? How are those hard sponges so light?? My 85g JRE is somehow at 192g with G-1 and Vega Korea glued to it 😵‍💫
I was afraid the weight would be above 195 as I was reading the reviews, but it has a relatively small head (157x152) TMXi is a little bit bigger (159x152), and AZXi is even bigger (160x152) … 😁
 
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I thought that I will keep my new one untouched but was much more tempted to try with Dignics and glued today. Waiting for my evening training session to test it.

View attachment 37828
View attachment 37829
Damn, this sh*t is really good!! This was my 2nd attempt to HAL. (1st was not successful, not sure whether it was a blade - 1st version - sold already, the rubber (Nuzn50+C55), or both). This one is the new one 2nd rev. but with the rubbers I know (maybe except D80) but still in Dignics family where D05 I have been playing for a long time.
The setup is much lighter than my G.Vis one due to blade weight. As we know G.Vis tends to be 90+ and the 90 gram blade is something which hard to find more likely there are 93-95.
Comparing to my primary blade G.VIS - D05+D64 - total weight 189 grams (which is really low vs when I was playing with H3 and 192 grams), HAL with D05 + D80 is equal to 180 grams. The difference is noticeable but not that much as we should think because G.VIS has really good balance and even it's heavier, you don't feel it because it's not heady heavy.
Impression from yesterday training session was really good, can do everything what I do with G.VIS, but with much more control on every shot. If you want to play fast you can do this, away from the table, go ahead there isn't lack of power, if you want to slow down the pace, here we go... I was really impressed and how the Dignics fits this blade. What impressed me the most, how deadly was slow spinny loops both sides. This combo allows you to play in a such way, where with G.VIS tended to play, hard, fast.
For the 1st time when I came to training session with some new combo, I've never played full session. Always noticed some disadvantages and changed to my primary blade and finishing the training.
Yesterday I was playing full session with HAL (for me it was really challenge) and didn't think to change to G.VIS.
Half of the session was some drills, the 2nd part was matches. I won everything even with opponents which I have 50/50 win rate.
Damn... What I will do with my both G.VIS'es :LOL: :LOL:
 
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Is anybody has HAL for sale?
Spinfactory and TT11 still have them for sale.

Damn, this sh*t is really good!! This was my 2nd attempt to HAL. (1st was not successful, not sure whether it was a blade - 1st version - sold already, the rubber (Nuzn50+C55), or both). This one is the new one 2nd rev. but with the rubbers I know (maybe except D80) but still in Dignics family where D05 I have been playing for a long time.
The setup is much lighter than my G.Vis one due to blade weight. As we know G.Vis tends to be 90+ and the 90 gram blade is something which hard to find more likely there are 93-95.
Comparing to my primary blade G.VIS - D05+D64 - total weight 189 grams (which is really low vs when I was playing with H3 and 192 grams), HAL with D05 + D80 is equal to 180 grams. The difference is noticeable but not that much as we should think because G.VIS has really good balance and even it's heavier, you don't feel it because it's not heady heavy.
Impression from yesterday training session was really good, can do everything what I do with G.VIS, but with much more control on every shot. If you want to play fast you can do this, away from the table, go ahead there isn't lack of power, if you want to slow down the pace, here we go... I was really impressed and how the Dignics fits this blade. What impressed me the most, how deadly was slow spinny loops both sides. This combo allows you to play in a such way, where with G.VIS tended to play, hard, fast.
For the 1st time when I came to training session with some new combo, I've never played full session. Always noticed some disadvantages and changed to my primary blade and finishing the training.
Yesterday I was playing full session with HAL (for me it was really challenge) and didn't think to change to G.VIS.
Half of the session was some drills, the 2nd part was matches. I won everything even with opponents which I have 50/50 win rate.
Damn... What I will do with my both G.VIS'es :LOL: :LOL:

Hugo Hal and Dignics 05/80 are a match made in heaven. Its the right combination of hardness and dwell in my opinion. Funnily enough i didnt enjoy the D80 on the Harimoto Super ALC, but liked D05 more. On the HAL i've been enjoying the D80 much more. Even more than D05.
 
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Rant:
It’s been a while since I’ve felt any temptation to EJ, but the HAL composition is intriguing. I just wish Xiom didn’t make all of their commercial blades so light. Below 90g for this blade is just a no-go for me, but if it were available in 92+ grams I would definitely snap it up.

Maybe someone can explain why and how Xiom (and their Korean factory more generally) have trended to making such light blades (it’s not just HAL). I’m sure they can make heavier ones, because Hugo is certainly not playing with a mid-80s gram blade.

I get the lighter blades are probably more popular, but I don’t think I’m the only one with a preference for heavy blades. If someone who works for Xiom is reading this, please reconsider your strategy. Until then, I guess I’ll just be sticking with Butterfly, simply because Viscaria is one of the only blades of its type among major brands that is readily available in 90+ grams. It’s honestly a shame because Xiom has some fantastic and unique designs
 

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Rant:
It’s been a while since I’ve felt any temptation to EJ, but the HAL composition is intriguing. I just wish Xiom didn’t make all of their commercial blades so light. Below 90g for this blade is just a no-go for me, but if it were available in 92+ grams I would definitely snap it up.

Maybe someone can explain why and how Xiom (and their Korean factory more generally) have trended to making such light blades (it’s not just HAL). I’m sure they can make heavier ones, because Hugo is certainly not playing with a mid-80s gram blade.

I get the lighter blades are probably more popular, but I don’t think I’m the only one with a preference for heavy blades. If someone who works for Xiom is reading this, please reconsider your strategy. Until then, I guess I’ll just be sticking with Butterfly, simply because Viscaria is one of the only blades of its type among major brands that is readily available in 90+ grams. It’s honestly a shame because Xiom has some fantastic and unique designs
i don’t known where you coming from… you can find any xiom blade +-7 g from the designated weight on the website and this is pretty normal for every factory including butterfly. my teammate plays a viscaria with 78g and he ordered from the website without any wishes. the first HAL I tried in a shop when they released it after the SAL was 91g and that was the normal weight back then so you will definitely be able to find a heavier version
 
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Rant:
It’s been a while since I’ve felt any temptation to EJ, but the HAL composition is intriguing. I just wish Xiom didn’t make all of their commercial blades so light. Below 90g for this blade is just a no-go for me, but if it were available in 92+ grams I would definitely snap it up.

Maybe someone can explain why and how Xiom (and their Korean factory more generally) have trended to making such light blades (it’s not just HAL). I’m sure they can make heavier ones, because Hugo is certainly not playing with a mid-80s gram blade.

I get the lighter blades are probably more popular, but I don’t think I’m the only one with a preference for heavy blades. If someone who works for Xiom is reading this, please reconsider your strategy. Until then, I guess I’ll just be sticking with Butterfly, simply because Viscaria is one of the only blades of its type among major brands that is readily available in 90+ grams. It’s honestly a shame because Xiom has some fantastic and unique designs
Ask Spinfactory or TT11. When i orderer mine i asked for a blade between 87-88gr and they shipped one with 87.8gr. I bet they have heavier samples.
 
says anybody seen my backhand?
says anybody seen my backhand?
Member
Oct 2023
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250
917
Read 2 reviews
Rant:
It’s been a while since I’ve felt any temptation to EJ, but the HAL composition is intriguing. I just wish Xiom didn’t make all of their commercial blades so light. Below 90g for this blade is just a no-go for me, but if it were available in 92+ grams I would definitely snap it up.

Maybe someone can explain why and how Xiom (and their Korean factory more generally) have trended to making such light blades (it’s not just HAL). I’m sure they can make heavier ones, because Hugo is certainly not playing with a mid-80s gram blade.

I get the lighter blades are probably more popular, but I don’t think I’m the only one with a preference for heavy blades. If someone who works for Xiom is reading this, please reconsider your strategy. Until then, I guess I’ll just be sticking with Butterfly, simply because Viscaria is one of the only blades of its type among major brands that is readily available in 90+ grams. It’s honestly a shame because Xiom has some fantastic and unique designs
I totally feel you! I used to be - the blade has to be 90g or more ... but then hybrids came and rubber weight went up. the whole combo ended in 200g range, sometimes even over. lastly I played AZXi, blade 91g and whole combo was 200g. and then same rubbers on HAL, 84g, 185 total weight - and I play much better, somehow. so I think this "blade must be heavy" theory doesn't work with some of the blades. because I had Hugo ALX blade with 85g, and it was borderline unplayable ... at least for me.
 
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I totally feel you! I used to be - the blade has to be 90g or more ... but then hybrids came and rubber weight went up. the whole combo ended in 200g range, sometimes even over. lastly I played AZXi, blade 91g and whole combo was 200g. and then same rubbers on HAL, 84g, 185 total weight - and I play much better, somehow. so I think this "blade must be heavy" theory doesn't work with some of the blades. because I had Hugo ALX blade with 85g, and it was borderline unplayable ... at least for me.
I’ve played lighter blades briefly when I was dealing with a shoulder injury (ironically the injury was originally caused by playing around with a too-light blade but I digress) so I’m confident of my preference for heavy blades. But everyone has different personal preferences and I accept that lighter blades are probably more popular. For me, a heavier blade, especially with a composition like the HAL, is an absolute must.

I asked TT11 and the heaviest they had at the time was 86g. Spinfactory may be a better bet.
I asked Spinfactory and the heaviest FL handle they had in stock was 83.5g.

If you look at all the recent Xiom blades the weights have been way down. Maybe it’s just the Xiom factory’s latest batch of wood is really light, maybe it’s hollowing the handles or making the handles smaller, maybe something else. Whatever the cause, I’m sure the Xiom people know what it is and I’m asking them — in the slim chance they’re reading this — to stop and make some heavier blades because I would like to try them. But hey, if they don’t, I’m already happy with my own equipment from other brands that I trust, and my TT life will go on.
 
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I’ve played lighter blades briefly when I was dealing with a shoulder injury (ironically the injury was originally caused by playing around with a too-light blade but I digress) so I’m confident of my preference for heavy blades. But everyone has different personal preferences and I accept that lighter blades are probably more popular. For me, a heavier blade, especially with a composition like the HAL, is an absolute must.


I asked Spinfactory and the heaviest FL handle they had in stock was 83.5g.

If you look at all the recent Xiom blades the weights have been way down. Maybe it’s just the Xiom factory’s latest batch of wood is really light, maybe it’s hollowing the handles or making the handles smaller, maybe something else. Whatever the cause, I’m sure the Xiom people know what it is and I’m asking them — in the slim chance they’re reading this — to stop and make some heavier blades because I would like to try them. But hey, if they don’t, I’m already happy with my own equipment from other brands that I trust, and my TT life will go on.

Glad i ordered mine early.
 
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