Calderano Signs with Joola (#139)

[zeio]

Not well received so far.

尤拉雨果首秀 (Joola Hugo's first show)
https://tieba.baidu.com/p/10378852058
BOBobo 廉价感好强，标不错但整体设计还不如相同颜色的前任产品Joola阿鲁纳
IP属地:四川来自Android客户端27楼2026-01-09 22:40收起回复
(Looks very cheap, the label is nice but the overall design is worse than the previous Joola Aruna in the same color)

 

[Tyce]

Hmm who would I trust between the publicly known person working for Joola or a random new account that's just stirring the pot?

Such hard decision. Much wow.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Not well received so far.

尤拉雨果首秀 (Joola Hugo's first show)
https://tieba.baidu.com/p/10378852058
BOBobo 廉价感好强，标不错但整体设计还不如相同颜色的前任产品Joola阿鲁纳
IP属地:四川来自Android客户端27楼2026-01-09 22:40收起回复
(Looks very cheap, the label is nice but the overall design is worse than the previous Joola Aruna in the same color)

There are only a couple of comments about it, I don't think 1 or 2 people's opinion indicates that it is not well received

 

[zeio]

Regarding Joola custom-made blades, below is a Tezzo Warrior up for sale 2 weeks ago. Note the alphanumeric characters "20240616pro026" on the handle.

There was another custom Joola Aruna up for sale from "105ttboy" in Taiwan sometime ago.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/586388418227415/posts/2903868779812689/
https://www.carousell.com.hk/p/joola-warrior-乒乓球拍特制內置-1412514308/
香港乒乓球板 二手/全新買賣區 器材討論區 ·
Ming Ming · December 30, 2025 at 3:37 PM ·
JOOLA Warrior 角鬥士乒乓球拍特制，送紅色的 S1 膠皮。球拍重量為 84.8 克。球拍背面有製造日期 20240616pro026球拍整體狀況良好。26号板，特製，內置有力好打，后面板邊有少拉絲不影響打球，已沙走原廠護木液，淘寶賣1100人仔

https://shopee.tw/Joola-阿魯納特制（非一般市場版）-i.13802709.7418927635
https://biggo.com.tw/s/#tw_bid_shopee:13802709?p=2
Joola 阿魯納特制（非一般市場版）
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阿魯納特制，已經絕版了。這只是限量發型的可以見圖片。類似w968的性能取向（不是說手感）。如果想要968的性能，又不用狂飆的可以試試這支。帶特殊黑盒。 拍肩有塗護木液， ...
NT$2,900.00

 

[piligrim]

There are only a couple of comments about it, I don't think 1 or 2 people's opinion indicates that it is not well received

1of this 2 must be zeio himself ))

 

[zeio]

There are only a couple of comments about it, I don't think 1 or 2 people's opinion indicates that it is not well received

Any comments on the "CODE whatever" on one side of the handle? Are those prototypes and should they be considered custom-made?

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

If tieba "users" are talking about it, JOOLA must be doing something right.

1of this 2 must be zeio himself ))

a conservative estimate to say the least

 

[zeio]

Suddenly the snide remarks and assurances that there are no differences, have gone quiet. Surely this is a commercial blade, and JOOLA just picked it from a batch and engraved it with a production date and the word "pro" for no real reason, but what is the deeper explanation behind it?

Matt's comments on Vitor Ishiy and Deni Kozul using Tezzo Warrior and those sold by Joola China.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/tezzo-blade-series.31814/post-421359
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/fo...r-support-joola-dynaryz-zgx.31656/post-424567

But putting Tezzo Warrior aside, the "CODE whatever" on Calderano's "personal" blades needs an explanation. And the handle pieces for the one with CODE VI on the side at WTT Finals Hong Kong 2025 were trying to hide the fact that it was a Joola blade? Could one consider that a prototype/custom?

 

[zeio]

Suppose that unauthorized practice (as Matt explained in that post) is what ended Joola Xiamen, what's the story behind the "CODE whatever" on Calderano's blades, which is handled by a Korean manufacturer?

 

[NextLevel]

@ThePongCommenter , @zeio

As far as I can see, there is no entitlement to any explanation for "CODE" whatever. What surprises me is that you find evidence that Matt's story on custom blades is consistent with completely independent posts he made over 2 years ago and now rather than grant a reasonable and consistent explanation likely exists for "CODE XX" (whether or not you deserve it or will get it), the absence of an extra answer in the face of this quality/tone of posting is being taken as evidence of I-know-not-what. It's common sense that Hugo and Joola would work together to design equipment he can play with given what we know about his equipment preferences.

 

[NextLevel]

So Joola China decided to start laser printing on blades for fun? Right...

Well, when you look at all the evidence, what is your best hypothesis?

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Any comments on the "CODE whatever" on one side of the handle? Are those prototypes and should they be considered custom-made?

Most commonly used for samples to identify what they actually are. In mass production they have their respective handles so don’t need identifying.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Suddenly the snide remarks and assurances that there are no differences, have gone quiet. Surely this is a commercial blade, and JOOLA just picked it from a batch and engraved it with a production date and the word "pro" for no real reason, but what is the deeper explanation behind it?

Snide? 🧐 you know I can’t sit on a forum all day I have things to do. Tezzo Warrior pro was Joola Xiamen yes and that particular activity with that blade was not authorized by us.

 

[zeio]

Most commonly used for samples to identify what they actually are. In mass production they have their respective handles so don’t need identifying.

Thank you for answering. And are those samples considered prototypes and custom-made?

Because that's what DHS does and the mass-produced model is based on the prototype(s) identified by the code name (and with tighter tolerance as explained by a DHS official on another separate occasion), according to an article from Volume 6, 2019 of 乒乓世界/Table Tennis World, which is managed by the General Administration of Sport of China, and run by the CTTA.

“中国队长”的神兵利器！——红双喜“狂飚龙”系列球板综述
https://www.sohu.com/a/416510576_580074
https://www.163.com/dy/article/FLNUKLSO05299A2L.html

 

[NextLevel]

I don't pretend to know what goes on with JOOLA as much as I do with other brands, I just thought all the people who had so much to say earlier would be able to easily explain this.

My point though was that the posts made over two years ago were explanatory. And consistent with what was being said today. You could have gotten the same answers you got today from those posts. I was curious what you expected the different answer to be.

 

[NextLevel]

Different manufacturer (Korean, probably ADK) could have different levels of customization in their prototype/testing batches.

Ah okay. At least you were earnestly consistent.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Not you, others. And the others who had so much to say a few days ago were definitely online and posting and ignoring that one, hence my snide remark lol.

oh hahaha

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Thank you for answering. And are those samples considered prototypes and custom-made?

Because that's what DHS does and the mass-produced model is based on the prototype(s) identified by the code name (and with tighter tolerance as explained by a DHS official on another separate occasion), according to an article from Volume 6, 2019 of 乒乓世界/Table Tennis World, which is managed by the General Administration of Sport of China, and run by the CTTA.

“中国队长”的神兵利器！——红双喜“狂飚龙”系列球板综述
https://www.sohu.com/a/416510576_580074
https://www.163.com/dy/article/FLNUKLSO05299A2L.html

They are prototypes yes, they are custom made in the sense that the blades don't exist in the market yet and aren't being mass produced.

 

[piligrim]

Would be safe to assume all pro using special blades?

 

[zeio]

Below is a post from a Hong Kong Facebook group. A 90g custom-made Tezzo Warrior from former HKG player 蘇致/SU Zhi up for sale asking for HK$1100 (US$141).

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1597140810601338/posts/3871502403165156/
乒乓球拍買賣區 (香港) ·
HoYin Wong ·
Very responsive
· March 6, 2025 ·
來自蘇致手中 見圖 太多板所以放出
非市場版 蘇簽約Joola後共同改良既版本
都係佢既特製但唔肯定1.5定2.0版本 冇多問
已經磨走原廠護木液更食球
只打左兩次 唔識打內置
詳情請自行bilibili搵肥老虎x蘇致合作
佢地自己打既磨得仲誇張😂
(From Su Zhi's hand. See pictures. Too many blades so up for sale
Non-market version. The version after Su signed with Joola and they improved it together
Also his custom-made but not sure if version 1.5 or 2.0. Didn't ask
Has grinded off the original wood protection lacquer, eats the ball more
Only played twice. Don't know how to play innerfiber
For details, please look up Bilibili Fat Tiger x Su Zhi co-op
They polish their own ones even more 😂)

蘇致/SU Zhi
https://www.hktta.org.hk/hkteam/player/Web/Men/SUZhi.html

p.s.
And the comments under that post:
王鑫
假貨
36w
(Fake stuff)
HoYin Wong
王鑫 是的 賣假貨死全家 我家人走職業的 別過來混 去驗智商吧
36w
(Yes, sell fake stuff my whole family die, my family run pro, don't come mess, go check IQ)