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

[Jikester]

This change in weight is strange, I bought my HALs in 2021 and 2022, I always looked for used blades and I would say that 90% were between 85 and 92g. My blades are 88 to 90g, average weight 3-4 years ago. It would be interesting to know what's the reason for this change in blade weight.

I also read 2 or 3 times, I think in german TT News forum that Hugo plays the HAL with 94/95g.

 

[Table10Ice]

Just received my HAL 2nd gen. Didn't ask for a specific weight, but with J&H X47,5 MAX and Vega Korea also MAX it ends up at 186 g. How much would you guess the blade itself weighs in this case?

 

[doppelmoral]

Just received my HAL 2nd gen. Didn't ask for a specific weight, but with J&H X47,5 MAX and Vega Korea also MAX it ends up at 186 g. How much would you guess the blade itself weighs in this case?

Probably around 84g

 

[Table10Ice]

Probably around 84g

Thank you!

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

My HAL is 85.8g. I have JOOLA lacquer to seal blade surface and I just bought some Danish Oil for the handle (I'm going to test this on other blades first - but seems to be popular for this purpose). I will have a pair of old D09c to put on it for trying it out. The time is near!

 

[po-stit]

My HAL is 85.8g. I have JOOLA lacquer to seal blade surface and I just bought some Danish Oil for the handle (I'm going to test this on other blades first - but seems to be popular for this purpose). I will have a pair of old D09c to put on it for trying it out. The time is near!

Can't wait for your opinion.

 

[golden_son]

My HAL is 85.8g. I have JOOLA lacquer to seal blade surface and I just bought some Danish Oil for the handle (I'm going to test this on other blades first - but seems to be popular for this purpose). I will have a pair of old D09c to put on it for trying it out. The time is near!

I'm curious about the Danish Oil experiment. I noticed the handle of my HAL feels a little less...finished—a bit of a disappointment considering the price tag—but I don't want to add a grip to it, so if there's a way to smooth it out without making it slippery I'd be highly interested. DO is a stain, though, so I wonder how it would affect the handle's colors.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

I'm curious about the Danish Oil experiment. I noticed the handle of my HAL feels a little less...finished—a bit of a disappointment considering the price tag—but I don't want to add a grip to it, so if there's a way to smooth it out without making it slippery I'd be highly interested. DO is a stain, though, so I wonder how it would affect the handle's colors.

Ya, I'm not sure but I saw people recommending it. And it is supposed to be absorbed into the wood rather than on top, as i understand it. im testing it on a cheap blade first.

Update: I tested Danish oil on a piece of wood and it is... oily. I won't be trying it on a blade handle at this time. I sealed my HAL blade face but not handle.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

in summary: we like the HAL!

put old but not dead 09c on both sides. had my harimoto super alc and can use it for comparison purposes. keeping in mind this is the first time with the HAL and i am very comfortable with the harimoto (which is why i waited this long to try HAL)

ball does not sit in racket quite as much with the HAL vs an inner carbon harimoto. i like the speed and feeling of the blade. Harimoto I need to play a little more closed as it bites the ball more and has more arc, HAL is slightly lower trajectory and played with little more open face.

the htsalc has a softer feel on low energy shots and touches, but more of a catapult/spring on my biggest hits. the HAL is more predictable and I felt confident when hitting hard that the arc was bringing the ball on the table.

HAL shines in nice big forehand counters through the ball, big spin and good speed. only struggled a little with blocks because with a little less bite into the blade I sometimes was too closed or too open. i attributed this mostly to just needing more time with the blade, in comparison i love my harimoto for block and feel great with it, so it was always going to be tough to measure up to.

feel like i get a little more spin generation on my harimoto but the ball is slower off my racket. i liked the HAL in fast-paced counters back and forth close to table or half step, releases ball quicker like a viscaria but nice and controllable.

i will put some fresh old 09c's on a viscaria to help with the comparisons. in my mind, the HAL sits in between them in a few different ways but its been a year+ since i played with my viscaria so its not fresh in my mind

in conclusion: we like the HAL!

updated: played with it a 2nd day. its really nice overall. when blocking against heavy spin, it was a little easier to control because it is slightly less sensitive. similarly, generating spin is a little more difficult compared to harimoto. great touch on serve return, good feeling when driving through the ball, amazing for big forehands a few steps back. enjoying it.

 

[kapahoo]

HAL handles...
According to this: https://blog.tabletennis11.com/xiom-hugo-calderano-hal-blade
the FL handle is longer than usual. Is this the ttd-forums experience as well? I found a few online measurements but only thickness and width.
According to this:

the ST-handle versions are often slightly heavier. That would suggest a beefy handle and more handle heaviness. Any experience regarding this?

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

I'm curious about the Danish Oil experiment. I noticed the handle of my HAL feels a little less...finished—a bit of a disappointment considering the price tag—but I don't want to add a grip to it, so if there's a way to smooth it out without making it slippery I'd be highly interested. DO is a stain, though, so I wonder how it would affect the handle's colors.

I tested the oil on a piece of plywood and it is not how I would want my handle to feel. I am sure it would be less oily after enough time (saw that somewhere) but I won't use this on handles. I just sealed the blade face with JOOLA varnish.

 

[golden_son]

HAL handles...
According to this: https://blog.tabletennis11.com/xiom-hugo-calderano-hal-blade
the FL handle is longer than usual. Is this the ttd-forums experience as well? I found a few online measurements but only thickness and width.
According to this:

the ST-handle versions are often slightly heavier. That would suggest a beefy handle and more handle heaviness. Any experience regarding this?

My HAL FL handle is 101mm, the same as my Joola Rossi Emotion FL and Stuor Professional Long 5 in ST. If anything I remember my Viscaria feeling shorter, but I sold it so I can't confirm.

The HAL FL handle is still on the narrow side (in my opinion). I wish manufacturers would offer blades in different handle width.

 

[BobFL]

Received my HAL and XO8P combo a few days ago. It is unlike anything I tried and I tried A LOT.
The weight is 86grams blade and total 183grams (edge tape included) and that is exactly my preference. Very unusual fell and dynamics. One you get used to it, it gets addictive. Never experienced such a blade - the range from lowest to highest speed is incredible. The power reserve is unreal yet it can play super-dead balls around net. Amazing stuff from Xiom.

 

[golden_son]

Received my HAL and XO8P combo a few days ago. It is unlike anything I tried and I tried A LOT.
The weight is 86grams blade and total 183grams (edge tape included) and that is exactly my preference. Very unusual fell and dynamics. One you get used to it, it gets addictive. Never experienced such a blade - the range from lowest to highest speed is incredible. The power reserve is unreal yet it can play super-dead balls around net. Amazing stuff from Xiom.

That's  really light! Xiom worked some magic with the O8 sponges. How is the O8P? I'm using the old OVT at the moment. I like the combination of speed, spin, and throw so I may just buy another one but at some point I won't be able to get it anymore so I'm wondering if it's worth trying a newer rubber. In theory O8 should be better but hilariously by Xiom's own metrics the OVT is rated higher (in user scores, though they downgraded the speed/spin ratings when O7 came out).

 

[BobFL]

Well the weight is exactly the same as my FZD ALC(86g) + D05 2.1...

I cannot compare O7 amd O8 since I never played with O7. However, I would recommend a bit harder rubber. O8P feels soft on HAL. 47.5° is not really soft but this combo does feel soft for my taste.

 

[po-stit]

in summary: we like the HAL!

put old but not dead 09c on both sides. had my harimoto super alc and can use it for comparison purposes. keeping in mind this is the first time with the HAL and i am very comfortable with the harimoto (which is why i waited this long to try HAL)

ball does not sit in racket quite as much with the HAL vs an inner carbon harimoto. i like the speed and feeling of the blade. Harimoto I need to play a little more closed as it bites the ball more and has more arc, HAL is slightly lower trajectory and played with little more open face.

the htsalc has a softer feel on low energy shots and touches, but more of a catapult/spring on my biggest hits. the HAL is more predictable and I felt confident when hitting hard that the arc was bringing the ball on the table.

HAL shines in nice big forehand counters through the ball, big spin and good speed. only struggled a little with blocks because with a little less bite into the blade I sometimes was too closed or too open. i attributed this mostly to just needing more time with the blade, in comparison i love my harimoto for block and feel great with it, so it was always going to be tough to measure up to.

feel like i get a little more spin generation on my harimoto but the ball is slower off my racket. i liked the HAL in fast-paced counters back and forth close to table or half step, releases ball quicker like a viscaria but nice and controllable.

i will put some fresh old 09c's on a viscaria to help with the comparisons. in my mind, the HAL sits in between them in a few different ways but its been a year+ since i played with my viscaria so its not fresh in my mind

in conclusion: we like the HAL!

updated: played with it a 2nd day. its really nice overall. when blocking against heavy spin, it was a little easier to control because it is slightly less sensitive. similarly, generating spin is a little more difficult compared to harimoto. great touch on serve return, good feeling when driving through the ball, amazing for big forehands a few steps back. enjoying it.

Somehow I completely missed this post. Was expecting your impressions on the HAL considering you have been playing with the SALC for a long time.
I do agree with you in almost everything. I do indeed agree that the SALC is faster on harder hits, and definitely bouncier on slow shots despite being softer feeling. The HAL has a lower arc which is deadly sometimes but at the same time it's harder to give arc/spin to the ball compared to the SALC.

The SALC is the blade I like the feeling the most of all I have tried, however I can't seem to tame the power it has. With the HAL I feel I can give it all and it goes to the table (generally). I've sold the SALC but im temped to get one again in a lower weight to see if it's a little bit slower.

 

[golden_son]

Somehow I completely missed this post. Was expecting your impressions on the HAL considering you have been playing with the SALC for a long time.
I do agree with you in almost everything. I do indeed agree that the SALC is faster on harder hits, and definitely bouncier on slow shots despite being softer feeling. The HAL has a lower arc which is deadly sometimes but at the same time it's harder to give arc/spin to the ball compared to the SALC.

The SALC is the blade I like the feeling the most of all I have tried, however I can't seem to tame the power it has. With the HAL I feel I can give it all and it goes to the table (generally). I've sold the SALC but im temped to get one again in a lower weight to see if it's a little bit slower.

Not to derail the HAL lovefest we've got going in here, but if you had a hard time "taming" the Harimoto SALC why not try the regular ALC version?

 

[po-stit]

T

Not to derail the HAL lovefest we've got going in here, but if you had a hard time "taming" the Harimoto SALC why not try the regular ALC version?

I had it and just can’t go back to it. In fact I went innerforce alc - HTSALC - HTALC - HAL. The ALC is not as fast as the Super ALC but in my opinion doesn’t have the stability of the salc neither the feeling. After going HAL it felt that the HALC is really springy. It’s like touching the ball with a trampoline.

 

[Yurifi]

T

I had it and just can’t go back to it. In fact I went innerforce alc - HTSALC - HTALC - HAL. The ALC is not as fast as the Super ALC but in my opinion doesn’t have the stability of the salc neither the feeling. After going HAL it felt that the HALC is really springy. It’s like touching the ball with a trampoline.

thanks for this, was thinking of pulling the trigger and trying Harimoto ALC, but now I will rather either invest in new pair of D09c or try the infamous Zyre 03.

also, I played with HAL yesterday after not playing for month and a half - this is really a blade that helps you, that makes it easier to come back after absence of play, which I find really interesting (and great )

 

[po-stit]

thanks for this, was thinking of pulling the trigger and trying Harimoto ALC, but now I will rather either invest in new pair of D09c or try the infamous Zyre 03.

also, I played with HAL yesterday after not playing for month and a half - this is really a blade that helps you, that makes it easier to come back after absence of play, which I find really interesting (and great )

Also you shouldn’t trust what I say.
Did another “stupid” thing. I missed this feeling, the HSALC is my all time favourite blade despite playing much better with the HAL.
Also, it’s amazing how low of a throw the HAL has. It’s deadly but at the same time is hard to manage sometimes. Just noticed going back and trying other blades again. I guess no blade is perfect.