Is it time for a faster blade?

Do wish we could have seen you returning serves from someone who serves more than just simple, undisguised, topspin serves though. Seeing you respond to a variety of serves with backspin, sidespin etc, would be illuminating in helping to see whether you really would do fine upping the speed of your blade.

Originally Posted by Lula

I think that if you change to a blade that is much faster you proably will win more points but i believe your developement will be not as good as with a slower blade. I think you thinking correctly when you are thinking about trying a faster 5-ply. Extra offenisve like someone said is proably one of the more affordable blades and you can use it like forever.

Originally Posted by Lula

I have a hard time seeing that his current equipment is limiting his skills. Feel like the majority think that they can have faster equipment like you are saying and win more balls in the now but they have enough insigth or knowledge to see that it is limiting their potential for development. But, of course it can also be like you say that the the faster equipment is manageable for the player but i think this is not the case so often. The best would still be if he can try other friends rackets or blades.

Baal;344938
The only way to know is to try one. But the best way is to hit with a clubmate's racket before buying. Saves money.

These posts are worth reading and understanding. To me, these are the most important posts in this thread.

Originally Posted by Николай Петров

Can’t find penhold handle for xiom offensive s maybe something with similar characteristics would be good too maybe yasaka extra offensive?

Yes, that's the point, cpen versions of Xiom Offensive S are difficult to get, that's why I didn't suggest it. Xiom Offensive S is not like YEO, it has the same Limba-Ayous construction as your Allround Classic, Primorac Off-, Korbel and OSP Virtuoso (they differ in weight, headsize, thickness, speed). Yeo has walnut-spruce-ayous I think. It has a harder touch and is faster. I stick to my Rosewood recommendation. It's very good blade and when you decide to change your blade in the future it's something you can grow on and play with for a long time.

Originally Posted by Николай Петров

So on impact point I need more whipping power and going into the ball more is that what you are saying?

What I am saying is the timing to impact needs more consistency. You have enough power for now, your issue is you do not time the fast end of your whip at the point of impact at the right time. You also mis-judge the point of impact. You also mis-judge where the ball will go. (which is pretty much the same thing)

This is not an easy thing to get correct all the time if one starts as an adult player. it is a fine motor skill. It also involves a skill or reading what is on the ball and where it will go exactly when. These are not eask skills to develop quickly as an adult learner. Just about all adults struggle with this to a large degree.

Originally Posted by MK73

Yes, that's the point, cpen versions of Xiom Offensive S are difficult to get, that's why I didn't suggest it. Xiom Offensive S is not like YEO, it has the same Limba-Ayous construction as your Allround Classic, Primorac Off-, Korbel and OSP Virtuoso (they differ in weight, headsize, thickness, speed). Yeo has walnut-spruce-ayous I think. It has a harder touch and is faster. I stick to my Rosewood recommendation. It's very good blade and when you decide to change your blade in the future it's something you can grow on and play with for a long time.

Just a clarification:

Stiga Allround Classic: Limba-Ayous-Ayous-Ayous-Limba

Offensive S: Limba-Ayous-Ayous-Ayous-Limba

Primorac & Korbel: Limba-Limba-Ayous-Limba-Limba

Yes, they all have Limba and Ayous. But the Limba-Limba-Ayous construction is very different in playing characteristics than the Limba-Ayous-Ayous construction.

I personally like Limba-Limba. But it is worth noting the diffence.

For something more lively: Limba-Spruce-Ayous-Spruce-Limba will feel more alive and faster than either of the above, but it will hold the ball for less making it take more skill to spin. Limba-Limba holds the ball for longer than Limba-Ayous and feels more muted but allows you to generate more spin.

In the end, it is a choice. Lots of good options. But I did not realize that the Offensive S was hard to get in a penhold grip.

Yasaka Sweden Extra, it is different, it has a harder top ply than Limba. But it would also be a good choice that is not too big a speed jump. Where, I think, the Extra Offensive may be a bigger speed jump than would be productive based on what I saw in the video.

Rosewood and Infinity: because they top ply of those blades is HARDENED, and they are trying to fancy, fast, all wood, they cost way more than they should and they may not be the best choice for value or for speed. They are both probably a bit faster than you should use. Not much, but more than would be productive, in my opinion, based on what I saw.

However, I do still think the best option for your continued development is to continue using what you already have. Try the rackets of friends like Baal suggested, but continue using what you have at least for the next 6 months to a year.

Originally Posted by Николай Петров

I understand you now can you give me specific training drills to practice that or any hints for a faster way to fix that?

There isn't a "Fast" or "Faster" way. You might help yourself out during practice by trying to use a little less power, a little lighter grip, and focus on meeting the ball in the right part of the impact zone... get that right first... get that right consistently, then progressively use more speed/power on the swing with a firming right at impact.

That isn't the only way, but going that way will help you out a year or two down the road, instead of staying one's entire life missing the ball or not being on time at point of impact.

if you want 7 ply, which will give you more support, consider Clipper (non cr)
if you want to stick with 5 ply, samsonov powerwood
but whichever blade you get, footwork always comes first, shoulder, arm, hand, and blade come second

Originally Posted by MK73

I still don't think that the Rosewood is too fast. It has the same speed level as the Korbel, different feel (its a tad harder because of the special nct treatment), but same speed.I have played with both blades, but let me also quote ttgearlab:

You might notice I did not recommend the Korbel either. The blades I recommended were faster than Allround Classic and slower than Korbel, or Rosewood, or Clipper...... Based on what I saw in the video, in my opinion, he might be able to get away with playing with those blades without realizing they are too fast for him. But they would still slow his development more than would be beneficial. Whereas, something a little slower, but still faster than the Allround Classic would be good.


Another idea would be the Stiga Allround Evolution.


But it sounds like OP is being mature and sticking with what he has.

Originally Posted by latej

Thanks for the clarifications about the composition. I learned though, that it is not a sufficient condition. For example, Viscaria has Koto outer. I like it, but like you, I prefer limba. So I bought Yinhe V16, identical, but with limba outer. Yet it can't be compared with Viscaria, it is faster, less hold, gives strange cracking sound, has also higher frequency. So I learned that unless you play it, you don't really know. I know this is basics for you, but I wanted to write anyway.

A blade made with very similar plies by two different companies with different techniques for treating the wood, gluing the plies.....etc it is unlikely you will get things that feel similar. You could try hundreds of "Viscaria Clones". None of them really feel like a Viscaria.


Anything I say about the feeling of a blade comes from having had many of that same blade in my hand. So what I said about Limba-Limba blades, I could say a lot more. OSP's Virtuoso and Virtuoso + have much more feeling than a Butterfly Korbel or Primorac. That has to do with how the two different blade makers make their blades. All 4 of those blades are awesome. I would be happy using any one of them. But the OSP blades will feel crisper and more alive. The Butterfly blades will feel solid and (duller is not quite the right word because it sounds like something that isn't good, but it is less vibrant in a sort of good way).


A Korbel or a Primorac does not feel anything like a faster version of an Allround Classic. But a Offensive S or an Allround Evolution, they do sort of feel like a faster version of the same blade. Evolution more so than the S. Offensive S is faster than the Allround Evolution. So, maybe the Allround Evolution would be an even better choice. Not sure if they make that with a penhold grip.


Again, I am not saying any of that from something I have read. I have played with enough different versions of any of those blades that it is something I experienced. However, everyone feels things differently. So, someone else could say something different and still have a valid point.

latej;344999
On the other hand, ttgearlab's measurement always so far precisely conincided with the blades and their feeling for me. So I value that site highly. Only once, they say HL5 is same as PG5, I tried PG5 and it was just somewhat fuzzy. It has hold, but the feedback is not very clear. But I think I simply just can't wish more from the blade which costs 25E.

Wood comes from something that was once alive. If you took 20 PG5s they would all feel different. Particularly something like a DHS blade that is not one of their premium blades and which costs a very low price, the quality control on those is not something they pay too much attention to. So, I have played a few PG5s. I did not like any of them. But some felt much nicer, crisper, clearer to me than others.

latej;344999
With Rosewood, I never tried it, however, since I by-experience believe ttgearlab, it looks for me very well in the range suitable for OP.

As I said above, I am of the belief that something the speed of a Rosewood V, Korbel, Tibhar Stratus Power Wood, Clipper.... and many other blades, are a little faster than would be beneficial, at this point in time, for the OP.


It is true he gets to decide. I think he is making an excellent decision to not get a new blade. In a year, Blades in the speed category of Korbel or Rosewood might be perfect. I just think those would slow his development at this point, based on the stuff I saw in his video. It is true, other people are entitled to have a different opinion. I am stating mine.

I can't see anybody mentioning Stiga Offensive Classic. One of my favorite blades ever. I don't currently own one, but I will get one eventually. One of my buddies has a real nice one. It is great for almost beginner and experienced players alike. Not slow and not too fast and good for Your wallet too. There is a reason they still make it... I think it deserves being mentioned in this context.

Cheers
L-zr

Originally Posted by Lazer

I can't see anybody mentioning Stiga Offensive Classic. One of my favorite blades ever. I don't currently own own one, but I will get one eventually. One of my buddies has a real nice one. It is great for almost beginner and experienced players alike. Not slow and not too fast and good for Your wallet too. There is a reason they still make it... I think it deserves being mentioned in this context.

Cheers
L-zr

I agree and think it would be a good blade for the OP.

Originally Posted by Lazer

I can't see anybody mentioning Stiga Offensive Classic. One of my favorite blades ever. I don't currently own own one, but I will get one eventually. One of my buddies has a real nice one. It is great for almost beginner and experienced players alike. Not slow and not too fast and good for Your wallet too. There is a reason they still make it... I think it deserves being mentioned in this context.

Cheers
L-zr

Agree also. This blade is just amazing. My only problem with is is transitioning out of it since it has this unique feel.