How would you compare the speed of your OSP to the Stiga Infinity? (just wondering)
Not too different. If the Infinity and the V+ are the same weight the Infinity will be a certain amount faster.
But I don't think that is the essential issue to focus on. The V+ is considerably softer and has a lot more grab and dwell time so it helps you generate more spin.
Infinity has a couple of processes done to it. "VPS" is a heat treatment done to the middle ply that makes the blade feel crisper because it dries out the wood but it also makes the rebound faster so it reduces dwell time. "Diamond Touch" is a substance applied to the surface of the top ply that makes it HARDER. This also reduces dwell time and makes it harder to spin the ball.
A good player will be able to spin the ball regardless of these things. Note top players who use a blade with a Koto top ply are using a blade with a harder surface and their technique is good enough to spin the heck out of the ball anyway. But for someone learning, these features make it harder to learn to hold the ball on the blade face and get more spin.
What they do is make the blade feel crisper and more alive. But they sacrifice dwell time. Stiga has been playing around with different methods for doing this same thing for years and years. CR is another hardening method. NCT is another coating that makes the surface harder.
These things are "good" for Stiga's marketing strategy because they get to say the treatments make the blade faster, and with something like VPS they could also say it makes the blade lighter. But it is worth looking at what you give up. I personally like Stiga's most basic blades better than the "new technology" ones that do nothing but harden the blade.
So:
1) Stiga Allround Evolution
2) Stiga Offensive Classic
3) Stiga Tube Allround
4) Stiga Energy Wood
5) Stiga Clipper Classic
Are really blades worth looking at for the simplicity of their design.
However, Stiga and most companies make the handles of their blades HOLLOW (yes, even the ones that don't look hollow) so that they can say the blades weigh less. That is also marketing.
Sent from The Subterranean Workshop by Telepathy