Mizutani ZLC underrated Fantastic blade

[Stywok]

Do you guys think that Tibhar Hybrid MK would be a good rubber for MJ ZLC ?

 

[Master_of_loops]

Thanks for the input!
Have you tried Zyre 03 on it yet?

I have never tried Zyre 03.

 

[Master_of_loops]

Do you guys think that Tibhar Hybrid MK would be a good rubber for MJ ZLC ?

Because of lack of power Hybrid rubbers will stifle Mizutani ZLC.

 

[exotick]

Any updates?

 

[po-stit]

Do you guys think that Tibhar Hybrid MK would be a good rubber for MJ ZLC ?

Loved it on the Harimoto Super ALC but hated it on the Hugo Hal and the Revoldia. On the Hugo it felt slow, had a nice arc but when you accelerated the ball it felt like the ball got stuck/glued to the blade. The arc also got weird, it felt that the ball traveled in straight line.

 

[mvibritannia]

Any updates?

I have tested Dignics 80 on friday.

I will be testing Zyre 03 tonight.

The goal was to test them separately with a tenergy 05 on the other side of the blade, to have a baseline and be able to really tell the differences.

I will write a full review on both tomorrow

 

[jonyer80]

I recently trade this blade to another IF ZLC which I disliked quite much. So far, I've only tried D09C which feel as hard as a brick a pretty hard. Maybe I should try something softer and give G1&C1 a go...

 

[deepanmania]

I have never tried Mizutani ZLC, but I've tried my friend's MJ Super ZLC with T05H FH and D64BH.
Man, it was a gem of a setup. It's crazy fast, faster than my FZD Alc setup, but it offered a ton of confidence while playing and looping.
I never liked IF blades with limba outer ply, it holds the ball too much for my liking. However, this combo was extremely effective: Limba + Hard Super ZLC.
Yeah, as the title says, it's a super underrated blade.
Price is what's holding off my EJ brain from buying it 😅

 

[BobFL]

I tried it and played with it for several months (D05 x 2), but in the end I didn’t like it because of one obvious characteristic. With the MJZLC there is that point of diminishing returns: the harder I hit, the less it gives me. This is completely opposite to, for example, ALC, which has that well-known extra kick. ALC rewards more aggressive shots and adds to them, whereas ZLC takes away.

 

[Angerer]

Almost anyone who played with Dignics 80 says the same thing.
It's ordered can't wait to try it now, I will update my review after the test.

True, D80 is a monstrous BH rubber.

 

[mvibritannia]

Review: Jun Mizutani ZLC with Tenergy 05, Dignics 80, and Zyre 03​

Hi guys,

I am continuing my testing with the Jun Mizutani ZLC (JMZLC).

I tested two different setups:

1. FH: Tenergy 05 / BH: Dignics 80
2. FH: Zyre 03 / BH: Dignics 80

Please keep in mind that these are my subjective feelings based on brand-new rubbers on a specific day.

First, I played around 20 hours with the JMZLC using Tenergy 05 (T05) on both sides. I don't know if it’s me getting to know the blade better, or the wood and carbon fibers "opening up" after the break-in period, but I felt I could access more power than on the very first day.

Now, let’s deep dive into the rubbers.

Part 1: Dignics 80 vs. Tenergy 05​

A brand new Dignics 80 (D80) has noticeably more surface grip than a brand new Tenergy 05 (T05).

During warm-ups and basic drills, I honestly had trouble distinguishing between them. However, once I started playing matches, the differences became apparent. This serves as a good reminder: to truly understand a new rubber or blade, you have to test it under pressure—on bad days, against lower-level players, and against higher-level players.

Serves: The grip is better on the D80, but the sponge feels a bit harder than the T05. In terms of feeling, they are quite similar, though you can probably extract a bit more quality and spin from the D80.

Receives: The D80 is significantly less spin-sensitive. If you misread a serve with the T05, you are going to have a lot of trouble controlling the return. Because D80 has less of a catapult effect on passive shots, it is much easier to control in the short game.

Slow Opening Loops: I feel like T05 is still the king in this domain. The sponge is so easy to activate that you can produce a very low, spinny topspin near the net without much effort. You can achieve this with D80 as well, but the harder sponge requires better timing and more physical input to activate.

2nd- 3rd Attacks: The D80 has a higher speed potential, but you need to put in more effort to reach it (though it is still far easier than the D09C). T05 is really easy to generate speed with, but it "bottoms out" (reaches its speed ceiling) much faster. Both offer excellent control.

Blocks: Similar to receives, the D80 has less catapult, so you get more control on blocks. However, if the incoming ball is slow or "dead," you have to be active to send it back with quality.

Counter-looping at the table: The D80 is much better here. With T05, you need the precise blade angle or you are in trouble. D80 feels a bit like D09C in this regard: if you are in the right position and commit to hitting through the ball, it lands, even against heavy spin.

Mid-distance: Both rubbers are excellent. T05 is easier to play because of the softer sponge, but it offers slightly less precision than the D80.

Comparison Conclusion: Both D80 and T05 pair exceptionally well with the JMZLC. It really comes down to preference and playing style. Personally, being FH dominant, I would likely use D80 on the BH for the control on receives and blocks, while keeping the T05 on the FH.

 

[mvibritannia]

Part 2: The Zyre 03 Experience​

Now let's talk about the Zyre 03 (Z03)—I have a lot to say about this one.

I’ve been interested in this rubber ever since Harimoto was spotted using it a while ago in Asia. When it was released, I read countless reviews and was skeptical that it would fit my style. I will repeat myself, but the only way to really know how a blade or rubber reacts is to test it yourself. Probably half of the reviews I read differed drastically from my actual experience (perhaps due to different blades, styles, or skill levels).

Here is my perspective on the Zyre 03 paired with the JMZLC. I tested it on my FH for about 6 hours, playing from 100% energy until I was completely exhausted.

First off, I did not need much adaptation time. Having played with both T05 and D09C, I feel like this rubber is their "love child."

• Grip: Really strong.
• Weight: Almost identical to T05.
• Hardness: Allegedly the same hardness as D09C, but it feels softer in play.

Serves: This is the area where I needed the most time to adapt. T05 and D80 are easier to serve with. Z03 feels like a D09C without the tackiness, but with a slightly softer sponge feel. It is very good for long serves, but I need time to adjust for short serves.

Receives: Better than T05, for sure. The harder sponge makes the ball easier to control and it is much less sensitive to incoming spin. At the same time, it feels less "dead" than a D09C, which I personally prefer. You can make more aggressive pushes than with D09C, though the margin for error is slightly smaller.

Slow Opening Loops: Way better than the Dignics series in my opinion, though not quite as automatic as the T05. You don't need to engage the sponge as much as you do with a Dignics (even D80) to get decent ball quality. You get high control and a high level of spin—not Hurricane 3 (H3) levels, but still high. This was a very pleasant surprise. Coming from T05, this shot felt very natural.

Hard Opening Attack: It was at this moment I realized Z03 was totally different from anything I've tried before.

When you hit hard and really drive through the ball, T05 starts to show its limits, while D09C typically excels. Well, Z03 feels like a D09C, but faster. I have never played such powerful 3rd ball attacks, and keep in mind I am using this on a JMZLC.

Everything I said earlier about this blade lacking power when hitting very hard just flew out the window.

With this type of shot, the ball almost never came back, yet I did not feel like I was sacrificing too much control. However, I suspect that on a faster blade (like a Boll ALC or Viscaria Super ALC), this rubber might be uncontrollable. But with the Jun Mizutani ZLC? It was honestly incredible.

Follow-up Attacks (2nd/3rd ball): You have the choice:

• If you don't hit too hard, it reacts almost like a T05 (decent speed, lots of control).
• If you hit hard, it becomes a D09C with way more speed.

Blocks: I only played Z03 on the FH, and I rarely block on that side during matches, so I cannot comment on this yet.

Counter-looping: Feels like a D09C with more speed and slightly less control.

Mid-distance: Same as attacking close to the table. If you don't hit too hard, the catapult effect gives you decent speed and tons of control. If you engage fully, it is very, very fast.

Final Conclusion​

If you imagine a spectrum of rubbers with Dignics 09C on one side and Tenergy 05 on the other, Dignics 80 and Zyre 03 sit in the middle, but in two totally different ways.

I am going to keep this setup: Zyre 03 (FH), Dignics 80 (BH), on the JMZLC.

I still want to see if I like it as much in different scenarios (bad form, bad conditions, stronger players), and maybe I will try the Z03 on my backhand at some point.

Technical Note:

• Blade Weight: 85g
• Zyre 03: 2.5mm
• Dignics 80: 1.9mm
• (Previous T05 was 1.9mm)
• Total Racket Weight: ~173g (Very light setup!)

Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!

 

[ThePongCommenter]

I tried it and played with it for several months (D05 x 2), but in the end I didn’t like it because of one obvious characteristic. With the MJZLC there is that point of diminishing returns: the harder I hit, the less it gives me. This is completely opposite to, for example, ALC, which has that well-known extra kick. ALC rewards more aggressive shots and adds to them, whereas ZLC takes away.

A 2550 player I know just tested it for a period of time and ended up deciding against using it for this exact reason.

 

[mvibritannia]

A 2550 player I know just tested it for a period of time and ended up deciding against using it for this exact reason.

I had the same feeling with T05, as you can read on my first review of the blade.
However with Z03 this issue totally went away.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

I had the same feeling with T05, as you can read on my first review of the blade.
However with Z03 this issue totally went away.

This person would probably never consider Zyre and is likely to stay with their standard ALC blade, but good to know

 

[po-stit]

Part 2: The Zyre 03 Experience​

Now let's talk about the Zyre 03 (Z03)—I have a lot to say about this one.

I’ve been interested in this rubber ever since Harimoto was spotted using it a while ago in Asia. When it was released, I read countless reviews and was skeptical that it would fit my style. I will repeat myself, but the only way to really know how a blade or rubber reacts is to test it yourself. Probably half of the reviews I read differed drastically from my actual experience (perhaps due to different blades, styles, or skill levels).

Here is my perspective on the Zyre 03 paired with the JMZLC. I tested it on my FH for about 6 hours, playing from 100% energy until I was completely exhausted.

First off, I did not need much adaptation time. Having played with both T05 and D09C, I feel like this rubber is their "love child."

• Grip: Really strong.
• Weight: Almost identical to T05.
• Hardness: Allegedly the same hardness as D09C, but it feels softer in play.

Serves: This is the area where I needed the most time to adapt. T05 and D80 are easier to serve with. Z03 feels like a D09C without the tackiness, but with a slightly softer sponge feel. It is very good for long serves, but I need time to adjust for short serves.

Receives: Better than T05, for sure. The harder sponge makes the ball easier to control and it is much less sensitive to incoming spin. At the same time, it feels less "dead" than a D09C, which I personally prefer. You can make more aggressive pushes than with D09C, though the margin for error is slightly smaller.

Slow Opening Loops: Way better than the Dignics series in my opinion, though not quite as automatic as the T05. You don't need to engage the sponge as much as you do with a Dignics (even D80) to get decent ball quality. You get high control and a high level of spin—not Hurricane 3 (H3) levels, but still high. This was a very pleasant surprise. Coming from T05, this shot felt very natural.

Hard Opening Attack: It was at this moment I realized Z03 was totally different from anything I've tried before.

When you hit hard and really drive through the ball, T05 starts to show its limits, while D09C typically excels. Well, Z03 feels like a D09C, but faster. I have never played such powerful 3rd ball attacks, and keep in mind I am using this on a JMZLC.

Everything I said earlier about this blade lacking power when hitting very hard just flew out the window.

With this type of shot, the ball almost never came back, yet I did not feel like I was sacrificing too much control. However, I suspect that on a faster blade (like a Boll ALC or Viscaria Super ALC), this rubber might be uncontrollable. But with the Jun Mizutani ZLC? It was honestly incredible.

Follow-up Attacks (2nd/3rd ball): You have the choice:

• If you don't hit too hard, it reacts almost like a T05 (decent speed, lots of control).
• If you hit hard, it becomes a D09C with way more speed.

Blocks: I only played Z03 on the FH, and I rarely block on that side during matches, so I cannot comment on this yet.

Counter-looping: Feels like a D09C with more speed and slightly less control.

Mid-distance: Same as attacking close to the table. If you don't hit too hard, the catapult effect gives you decent speed and tons of control. If you engage fully, it is very, very fast.

Final Conclusion​

If you imagine a spectrum of rubbers with Dignics 09C on one side and Tenergy 05 on the other, Dignics 80 and Zyre 03 sit in the middle, but in two totally different ways.

I am going to keep this setup: Zyre 03 (FH), Dignics 80 (BH), on the JMZLC.

I still want to see if I like it as much in different scenarios (bad form, bad conditions, stronger players), and maybe I will try the Z03 on my backhand at some point.

Technical Note:

• Blade Weight: 85g
• Zyre 03: 2.5mm
• Dignics 80: 1.9mm
• (Previous T05 was 1.9mm)
• Total Racket Weight: ~173g (Very light setup!)

Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!

Thank you for the review. Although i don't have a Mizutani ZLC im interested on the Zyre 03. One question, how did you find the arc of all the rubbers? D09c is admitedly really high, D80 low and T05 in between. Once i tested the 2.7mm version and on low speed shots it felt that the arc was "normal" but once i accelerated the ball the arc was really high and pronounced. That threw me off a little bit and was struggling to adjust the angle of the blade.

 

[exotick]

Man.. this blade looks very interesting... especially because of the limba outer ply, something tells me it makes perfect harmony with the zyre.. I bet it will feel better than on viscaria ( outer koto ) ? Such an expensive experiment this is though..

 

[mvibritannia]

Thank you for the review. Although i don't have a Mizutani ZLC im interested on the Zyre 03. One question, how did you find the arc of all the rubbers? D09c is admitedly really high, D80 low and T05 in between. Once i tested the 2.7mm version and on low speed shots it felt that the arc was "normal" but once i accelerated the ball the arc was really high and pronounced. That threw me off a little bit and was struggling to adjust the angle of the blade.

Yes D09C throw angle is very high and I think this is what always bugged me on slow openings and pushes.

I did not feel like D80 was very low honestly, lower than D09C for sure, but in general not really low.

Indeed I have the same feeling about the arc of the Zyre03.

On slow speed the arc is not too high, which is something I've always like about Tenergy 05.

On higher speed Zyre03 behave like a D09C with an added catapult effect.

I understand it can be surprising if you never played much with D09C, personally I like it because I know the only thing I need to focus on is to "trust the set up and go for it" like Ovtcharov would say.

Z03 is combining the two things I like the most about T05 and D09C, and the JMZLC probably tames the wild side of Z03 that can be uncontrollable.

My only concern is to see how I perform on a "bad day", if I'm still able to serve with the hand shaking because of stress, still maintain precision...etc

 

[mvibritannia]

Man.. this blade looks very interesting... especially because of the limba outer ply, something tells me it makes perfect harmony with the zyre.. I bet it will feel better than on viscaria ( outer koto ) ? Such an expensive experiment this is though..

Yes... Now that I tried Zyre03, I want to test it on other blades to see how it reacts.

Equipment is really about finding the combination that works for you, and more specifically that you "trust".

If the first time I tried the JMZLC it was with D09C, I'm not sure I would have continue with it.

 

[Angerer]

I think it really helped your experience with Zyre 03 that you have the 2.5mm version coupled with a lighter sample of Mizutani ZLC.
Let's say you have 2.7mm Zyre 03 and ~90g Mizutani ZLC, that thing would definitely be harder to control.
Either way, glad that the setup works for you

Yes... Now that I tried Zyre03, I want to test it on other blades to see how it reacts.

Equipment is really about finding the combination that works for you, and more specifically that you "trust".

If the first time I tried the JMZLC it was with D09C, I'm not sure I would have continue with it.