Chulong Nie’s blade setup – clearing up the confusion

[spinreversal]

Hi Pimplers,

Many people have reached out asking about the setup used by Chulong Nie, since the shape and structure of his blade seem to be what allows him to perform that sideswipe with pips in such a unique way.

After seeing some misinformation online — with people claiming his blade was the Cybershape Carbon — I decided to dig a bit deeper and put together a short presentation to answer this question:

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I hope you find it informative and share it with others so we can all bring some clarity to these kinds of details.

If anyone wants to discuss the composition of his blade or the alternative setup I suggest, that would also make for an interesting discussion.

Best regards,
Diego Sánchez
@spinreversal

 

[Liopic]

I ordered his blade (ST) through his website. I'm waiting to receive it so I can test a GDT 0x and D09C max rubber on it. The website is rather basic, and the information about the blade's composition seems confusing, which is a shame...
To be continued...

Chulong Nie Blade | Official Long Pips Blade

Chulong Nie blade: a lightweight, nine-sided, asymmetrically layered racket engineered for modern long-pips players, combining deceptive backhand control with powerful, precise forehand attacks.

chulongnietabletennis.com

 

[piligrim]

Too pricy

 

[Liopic]

Okay, a few official competitions with this Chulong blade and my usual Long Pimple GDT 0x rubber (but in acid green instead of the usual red...) and my D09C max on my forehand.
No complaints about the blade's suitability with the GDT 0x; the ball is well controlled, neither too slow nor too fast. Drop shots are good, as is reversal. And the feedback is excellent. The ball doesn't come off the racket too quickly; the double-ply LP face, with a "composite" outer layer for dampening, is well-designed. And the spruce outer ply is really compatible with the LP 0x, a nice discovery for me, more used to outer veneers of limba, koto, walnut, or other woods...
Still on the LP face, I suspect you can hit the ball much harder than I do; I need to practice that, to put pressure on my opponent and prevent them from playing their strong shot on a slightly sluggish LP ball. When I see Nie Chulong play with his BH GDT, it's amazing how confidently he attacks the ball, but of course, his skill level and training are miles ahead. But you have to try, you have to be bold...
On the inverted side, it's a great match with the D09c; the ball doesn't come off the racket too quickly and it's powerful. The inner "AC" ply is there to provide control, a large sweet spot, and the "composite" ply on the outer side must slightly increase the ball's delay in the racket, which seems to give the D09C a softer feel.
Because of the weight of my racket (178g) and the shape of the head (155x164mm), playing hard with the inverted rubber is easier, and our Romanian coach, a former defender, showed me that with a large head, it's easy to generate power with a minimal stroke. It's definitely a shot to work on, as the ball really flies off the racket when playing with the topspin.
I was worried about the maneuverability, but I'm pleasantly surprised. I can still turn the racket just as easily, and even above the table, it's easy to string together a variety of shots. And this racket weight of 178g, with a 107g blade, remains very reasonable and even ideal for generating "easy" power. Too often, a blade of standard weight (around 85g) paired with a very light 0x blade results in a rather light racket, even one that's too light. You need perfect technique to hit hard, or a very wide or aggressive stroke, which isn't always effective.
With this Chulong blade, I don't feel the weight in the head, at least not in an exaggerated or unpleasant way. I think the "damping" plies provide good feedback and also contribute to the racket's balance, eliminating unwanted vibrations.
In short, whether close to the table or at mid-distance, this racket is an excellent compromise for my hand, where my backhand and GDT strokes are well utilized. After testing dozens of blades with my LP 0x, I think this is the one that suits me best!

 

[Liopic]

Too pricy

A well-made blade, crafted with carefully selected materials, always comes at a significant price, I think. And if it's produced in small batches, there's bound to be added value. This particular blade is almost entirely handcrafted, and of high quality in my hand, and above all, it's designed for use with long pips, which is rare. Its price of €176 is therefore understandable; admittedly, it's a high price, but not excessive in my opinion. A top-of-the-range blade from a major brand (Butterfly, Nittaku, Victas, etc.), especially if marketed with the name of a famous player, typically costs between €150 and €300, so this Nie Chulong blade at €176 doesn't seem excessive to me. The price of high-end rubbers like Dignics, however, seems excessive to me because they're consumables, and if you train and play a lot, you have to replace them often, which quickly becomes prohibitively expensive. If you're sponsored, it's not a problem, but it's rare. The blade itself will improve in your hand over hours of play and years; it's an investment that pays for itself in a way. And when you find the perfect blade for your long pimples game, among others, it's fantastic—no more need to test everything...
Nie Chulong was kind enough to give me some information about its manufacture; his comment is below:

I have worked with my blade manufacturer for over 5 years now. They have been making rackets for me since I was 14 years old. I can assure you that the level of quality is very consistent, and the woods and carbon are also high-end. Every blade they make for me is meticulously handcrafted, and they are only allowed to make 5 blades every two weeks. This assures that they spend a rigorous amount of time on every single blade that they make.