Help with a downgrade from Timo Boll ALC to an All wood blade

Muhammad Saim · Jan 26, 2020

A little background about myself, I've been playing for about 6 years. I transitioned from Yinhe T-11+ to Timo Boll ALC a year ago. My current setup is TB ALC with T05 FH and Mantra M BH.

After a year, sometimee I feel in pressure matches and in very crucial moments in matches, my underspin serves which are ghost serves in normal circumstances drift so long that opponents easily attack and put me on the defensive. Exactly the same goes for pushes and drop shots.

I feel that moving to an all wood blade would help alleviate this issue.

Due to lack of availability of extensive TT equipment where I live (Karachi, Pakistan), there are not too many options. Some of the options are:

Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive
Donic Ovtcharov Feat (other Donic blades)
Stiga infinity/Intensity nct (not preferred due to splintering issues)
Joola blades

My ultimate goal is to slow down the speed of my blade for the time it will take to develop the touch needed and learn to hold the racket a little softly so that these touch shots don't drift long, while the slow blade will give me safety I need in the tournaments that come during this time.

After the time needed, if I feel I have developed the touch, I'll switch back to the TB ALC, hopefully keeping the shots under control during pressure situations.

Please let me know if I should even switch or not OR if the switch will be beneficial?

Thank you.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Muhammad Saim · Jan 26, 2020

P.S I would like a blade that has the vibration/feedback/feeling in the handle that TB ALC has

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Kolev · Jan 26, 2020

My first thought is that you should first try slower and less thick rubbers on the same blade

Gekko · Jan 27, 2020

You're better off training short serves specifically, particularly under match situations and whatnot.

Your serves will likely still drift long with a slower blade if you're tense. If anything, it'd decrease your percentage on getting short serves across the net.

Der_Echte · Jan 27, 2020

Timo Boll Spirit = Middle OFF mostly.

Donic Persson Power Play mostly OFF MINUS with feel and spin. AND that blade is dirt cheep and available most everywhere.

One of a hundred good choices in your situation.

Today, I just changed from Nexy Batos ALC (Literally the same speed class as TBS) to Tibhar Akkad al wood blade. I will use that setup a few months to get a little more touch going in my game.

Caxoera · Jan 27, 2020

Btf Korbel could be a very good choice. I have one and I love it.

Lula · Jan 27, 2020

À friend have the extra offensive. Seems very good and affordable.

mart1nandersson · Jan 27, 2020

No all wood blade will have the same vibration or feeling as an outer ALC blade. The Korbel handle shape will be very similar to the TB ALC but it's a quite different blade.

Baal · Jan 27, 2020

Go with a slower rubber instead?

amoc · Jan 27, 2020

Baal said:
Go with a slower rubber instead?

If you want to downgrade, you always have to make compromises.
Slower rubbers are usually softer. So this will also affect your feeling.

I'm in the same situation actually and have ordered a Donic Waldner Off (coming from Viscaria-clone) blade. Will see how this works...

yogi_bear · Jan 27, 2020

Stiga Azalea Off or Xiom Offensive S

Muhammad Saim · Jan 27, 2020

yogi_bear said:
Stiga Azalea Off or Xiom Offensive S

Both are not available in Pakistan. I was waiting for your reply yogi. Should I even change my blade or work on my feel and touch. But that's difficult to do in match scenarios

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Muhammad Saim · Jan 27, 2020

Baal said:
Go with a slower rubber instead?

I'm really enjoying Tenergy 05

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Muhammad Saim · Jan 27, 2020

gekogark1212 said:
You're better off training short serves specifically, particularly under match situations and whatnot.

Your serves will likely still drift long with a slower blade if you're tense. If anything, it'd decrease your percentage on getting short serves across the net.

Services are all good in practice matches but in tournaments, which I might add are few and far between, serves go long and are easily attacked

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

NextLevel · Jan 27, 2020

Muhammad Saim said:
Services are all good in practice matches but in tournaments, which I might add are few and far between, serves go long and are easily attacked

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Jog for 15 minutes and maybe play a practice game where you bet $5 on who wins (handicap if the opponent is weaker). Then practice serves. Usually people practice serves when relaxed and this makes the practice imprecise.

Also add stakes. Par Gerell for example doesn't leave practice unless he can serve 10 short topspin serves in a row.

The problem with blades is that one always needs effort to compensate to get what you are looking for. I would say change the blade if you think that on the whole, you are missing more than you should or if pushing short is a problem while power is not. But just for service, you will find yourself overcompensating in other situations.

TTW · Jan 27, 2020

Caxoera said:
Btf Korbel could be a very good choice. I have one and I love it.

+1 for this recommendation. Korbel is awesome blade.

I also think TB ALC is awesome, though TB ALC is fast, it is one of the best blades I have played with. I will suggest practice a bit more with this equipment before changing

lVegita · Jan 27, 2020

Muhammad Saim said:
Should I even change my blade or work on my feel and touch. But that's difficult to do in match scenarios

Going slower is a valid option, I guess.

Here is a top 100 WR level guy who moved from a TB ALC to a slower blade as well:

View attachment 19312

thomas.pong · Jan 27, 2020

I also recommend you switch to the Korbel.

I might switch back to it myself or to the Primorac OFF- from my Harimoto ALC.

yogi_bear · Jan 27, 2020

Muhammad Saim said:
Both are not available in Pakistan. I was waiting for your reply yogi. Should I even change my blade or work on my feel and touch. But that's difficult to do in match scenarios

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

What brands are available in your area?

Muhammad Saim · Jan 27, 2020

yogi_bear said:
What brands are available in your area?

Butterfly, yasaka, joola, donic but limited products, not their entire catalog

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk

Help with a downgrade from Timo Boll ALC to an All wood blade

Member

Member

Active Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Active Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Similar threads