How fast things change ! My son is now training at another camp for two days... coach there says he should use slower rubber... just goes to show how opinions differ.
Anyway... he recommended Xiom Vega Pro - any thoughts ? Any different to Tenergy 05 FX ?
Vega Pro is more linear and easier to control. You may also want to look at Nexy Karis-M. That is amazing for control and linearity. Or you could look at Vega Intro.
At his stage, anything that makes him work a little harder to generate pace and spin but still allows him to develop high level technique is worth it.
But there are lots of times when a kid that age who is developing that Fast just keeps playing with top of the line gear and grows into it.
Still, I remember when Abe Gold was about 12 and using a Viscaria and H3 + T05 and Der_Echte gave him a more basic setup with much more control and within weeks his level jumped 300+ points (USATT rating). He said he just felt like he couldn’t miss and everything went in and where he was aiming.
Der_ is good like that.
I know you don’t want him to shelve the TB ALC. However, if you gave him a Primorac Off- with Nexy Karis-M, Vega Intro, Vega Pro or Vega Europe, it would actually make sense for his development.
Going from Appelgren Allplay with Vario to TB ALC with T05fx is kind of like going from 1970s VW Bug where the engine has been modified so it cannot go over 40 mph to an Indy Car. Something in between the two would be a worthwhile step.
Another way of telling is, if he has been playing the TB setup for a more than a few training sessions and he still is missing shots long that he would have made with the old setup, or he is cutting down his stroke to get the ball in, then you should get an Off- blade with control rubbers ASAP. [emoji2]
Sorry if that is not the news you wanted. But....the TB blade won’t get old. It is just worth having him develop further with something that gives him better control and allows him to use his own strength to develop the good stroke technique for a while longer. The jump from All setup to Off++ setup is a big one.
Sent from The Subterranean Workshop by Telepathy