ON a separate note that will apply to equipment selection even for a super modern OFF wanna bee...
It is not classified data that I use the Nexy designed Tibhar Kim Jung Hoon for my main blade. I chose it, because it was the best balance of feel, spin, control and TROUBLE to opponent, I kept ball on the table longer and it troubled opponents moar... even if it isn't OFF or OFF+ missile launcher, Der_Echte has gunz of hiz own for that. (Hint, I only show the bicep gunz after a good FH, the REAL guns are my legs and hip)
Problem is Nexy does not make the KJH any more. KJH retired, opened up a club, and got it sponsored by Andro. So, when I run through my last blade (blades NEVER last me more than a year - I sweat too much) So... that put me on the lookout for a replacement.
Fortunately, Nexy kicked out the Arche, same construction as KJH, but ONE side has a slightly dark outer layer, core, mid layer and ONE outer layer the same. End result is a blade that feels right at home with very similar playing properties to the blade I love.
Last night, I glued some used rubbers on it and went to battle vs a 2000+ Cali player (think - on east coast he is 2100 easy)... fought, stayed in points, and won 2 matches vs him. When my back isn't injured (I got back and hip issues the last few months from reduced TT activity and reduced everything else) I can play competitive, but don't quite win vs him. Yesterday, won.
Why? Not the obvious answer. It was because I could keep it on the table, not piss away points, and change spin and placement controllably. Anyone with a live mike could tell I was frequently noting that the Karis M (think of the slower version of Karis, not as fast as Karis PLUS) was slower than the Karis + I use on the KJH... well, Karis M is a beast at handling topspin and returning just enough, but never overwhelming power. That is why players who buy it complain about it (like me !!)... but they NEVER complain about returning heavy incoming topspin shots and making their own spin and placing it to trouble opponent and not piss away point on random mystery misses.
So the lesson is, even though our primal urges are for max power and to select equipment geared that way, there is no replacement for control and controlling the point.
That is kinda like controlling the world wanting to be the powerful gangster, but control it through unimpressive non-violent kindness. Result is same - won points that contribute to a better performance, even if you do not directly feel powerful doing it.
I think that is a very under-utilized criteria for equipment selection.
