Ayous vs Kiri in blade core

yoass said:

Here are my €.02.

Ayous is relatively stiff, and harder and a bit heavier than Kiri. Suited for close-to-the table play, counterdrives and such. SG is 0.32, Janka 430lbf.

Kiri is also stiff, but softer. SG is 0.26, Janka 250lbf. I like the way Kiri vibrates more (I think the customary spelling on this forum is "moar", but somehow can't get that in my system).

Many Stiga blades have an Ayous core. I've played with an Offensive Wood (way back when) that I really loved, that had a Walnut/Limba/Ayous/Limba/Walnut composition. I did play quite close (and over) the table then.

Returning to the game, I tried the Offensive Classic (Limba/Spruce/Ayous/Spruce/Limba) and didn't like it for direct play, although it spinned quite well. Others play fine with it, I'm sure it's a good blade for them. At least it's not too fast, which I think is the most commonly made equipment mistake people make.

I then tried the Offensive Classic Carbon (Limba/Spruce/Carbon/Ayous/Carbon/Spruce/Limba, I think), and that felt better (to me) in close-to-the-table play, direct play, and provided a bit more comfort in power away from the table. It didn't spin as deeply as the OC, and it didn't entirely convince me.

After tinkering with a few borrowed blades of the Viscaria family I settled upon the Treiber K (Koto/ALC/Limba/Kiri/Limba/ALC/Koto). That blade helped me restore my game, and after a while I felt free and safe using it. As my level rose, I did notice I was suffering avoidable defeats due to a slightly too high unforced error rate. For every four majestic, smile-provoking winners, there'd be three near-winners also. And a few clumsy service receives. And too many service errors. So I take a step back, suspected I'd fallen pray to the forementioned pitfall of too fast stuff, and commissioned a custom blade quite close to the Treiber K (Viscaria, TB ALC, ZJK ALC, …) but with the fiber moved towards the core (and one outer of Anegre instead of Koto).

Long story. For me, Kiri blades have offered a better balance. For others, that balance lies different and Ayous seems fit better.

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yoass said:

Ah yes… I felt enormous control when playing with the Treiber K, but I think I've realised since then that feeling control doesn't actually equal having it.

A custom blade builder may get you there. May people like Limba as an outer ply, but the Limba blades I used didn't work that well for me. I do like both Anegre and Koto, and I think moving the ALC layer towards the core works very well for me.

I do use an asymmetric blade, but when considering that dismissed the designs that would create a huge gap between FH and BH. If you move the ALC to third layer on BH and keep it on the second on BH, ánd use different outer plies, ánd possibly other rubbers, that might make the blade like two different worlds. That may suit you, but somehow I felt things should remain connected, relatable, to my poor limbic system that has to deal with these things.

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yoass said:

Hm, so you want to have something that's like the Freitas ALC on FH, and like the Innerforce ALC on BH. Sounds doable.

I think Yogi is right about his observation — given that to get the same weight a Kiri core would be slightly thicker.

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