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Explanation of Issue:
As a function of making blades (which I have mostly stopped doing, due to EJ-related issues associated with always having new things to test), I have had the opportunity to try out so many different blade styles and combinations. I bought quite a few rubber sheets for initial testing, so had lots of Vega Pro, Rakza 7, and others to peel off and keep sticking on new blade-builds - almost all rubber sheets are 2.0 thickness. I think I've finally found the blades that are most appealing to me, but the issue is I have 4 full setups that I love and cannot decide how to proceed. They're different enough that it seems like it would get in the way of me improving, since I'm not getting intimately familiar with one single setup if I'm constantly switching. At the present, I only have one person I can play with regularly that allows me to actually hit full-strokes at full-power - perhaps I'm holding onto so many options because I'm not constantly playing other high-level players and can't actually sort out which one is best all around for me. I may be moving to a bigger city with far more players in the next 6 months.
Question for Consideration:
How would you proceed with having too many good setups (certainly a problem of me having too much privilege)?
What I have:
1) 90 Gram OSP Virtuoso Plus, FH: Vega Pro, BH: Rakza 7.
Why I like it? Great control, great feeling.
What don't I like? Not sure - nothing? Perhaps a little slow?
2) 87 Gram Limba-Limba-Kiri, FH: Omega V Tour, BH: MX-P.
Why I like it? Harder FH rubber feels better for direct contact than above OSP, Spinnier BH than OSP.
What don't I like? I do not like MXP for passive blocks (seems to slip/go into net more often than any other rubber I use).
3) 90 Gram Walnut-European Larch-Kiri. FH/BH: Fastarc G-1.
Why I like it? Incredibly direct feel - very crisp, good control, and great speed.
What don't I like? More punishing if I'm sloppy (or am off in bat-angle) than other setups.
4) 93 Gram Limba-Limba-Western Red Cedar. FH: Vega Pro, BH: Rakza 7.
Why I like it? A little more power and tighter feel than OSP - was considering putting Fastarc G-1 on both sides to emulate what I like about OSP setup and G-1 on other blades (since it plays just like my OSP, and I seem to like slightly harder rubber for feel).
What don't I like? Nothing - it's just very similar to my OSP (except that I made it and have more pride in it), so it feels redundant with same exact rubber sheets (I initially put them on to make sure they WERE similar).
How Do I Play?
Approximately 1600 USATT player. Consistent but not extremely powerful FH Looper, powerful BH looper. Good pushes, but relatively weak FH serves and not the most tactical game sense.
As a function of making blades (which I have mostly stopped doing, due to EJ-related issues associated with always having new things to test), I have had the opportunity to try out so many different blade styles and combinations. I bought quite a few rubber sheets for initial testing, so had lots of Vega Pro, Rakza 7, and others to peel off and keep sticking on new blade-builds - almost all rubber sheets are 2.0 thickness. I think I've finally found the blades that are most appealing to me, but the issue is I have 4 full setups that I love and cannot decide how to proceed. They're different enough that it seems like it would get in the way of me improving, since I'm not getting intimately familiar with one single setup if I'm constantly switching. At the present, I only have one person I can play with regularly that allows me to actually hit full-strokes at full-power - perhaps I'm holding onto so many options because I'm not constantly playing other high-level players and can't actually sort out which one is best all around for me. I may be moving to a bigger city with far more players in the next 6 months.
Question for Consideration:
How would you proceed with having too many good setups (certainly a problem of me having too much privilege)?
What I have:
1) 90 Gram OSP Virtuoso Plus, FH: Vega Pro, BH: Rakza 7.
Why I like it? Great control, great feeling.
What don't I like? Not sure - nothing? Perhaps a little slow?
2) 87 Gram Limba-Limba-Kiri, FH: Omega V Tour, BH: MX-P.
Why I like it? Harder FH rubber feels better for direct contact than above OSP, Spinnier BH than OSP.
What don't I like? I do not like MXP for passive blocks (seems to slip/go into net more often than any other rubber I use).
3) 90 Gram Walnut-European Larch-Kiri. FH/BH: Fastarc G-1.
Why I like it? Incredibly direct feel - very crisp, good control, and great speed.
What don't I like? More punishing if I'm sloppy (or am off in bat-angle) than other setups.
4) 93 Gram Limba-Limba-Western Red Cedar. FH: Vega Pro, BH: Rakza 7.
Why I like it? A little more power and tighter feel than OSP - was considering putting Fastarc G-1 on both sides to emulate what I like about OSP setup and G-1 on other blades (since it plays just like my OSP, and I seem to like slightly harder rubber for feel).
What don't I like? Nothing - it's just very similar to my OSP (except that I made it and have more pride in it), so it feels redundant with same exact rubber sheets (I initially put them on to make sure they WERE similar).
How Do I Play?
Approximately 1600 USATT player. Consistent but not extremely powerful FH Looper, powerful BH looper. Good pushes, but relatively weak FH serves and not the most tactical game sense.
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