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I recently received the 1st Dan from Red+Black to test and share my impressions. This blade was sent to me by the brand, but as always, I’m sharing my honest playing experience after spending time with it in real sessions.
What immediately makes this blade different is the asymmetric outer ply construction: Spruce on the forehand side and American Walnut on the backhand side. That alone already tells you this is not a conventional build.
Forehand – Spruce outer ply
The Spruce side offers:
• Longer dwell time
• Higher throw angle
• Easier opening against backspin
The feeling is elastic without being mushy. On slow and medium loops, the ball sinks in just enough to create a comfortable arc. Opening against heavy underspin feels very natural and safe. The trajectory is clearly higher compared to the backhand side.
If you’re a player who relies on spin-based forehand initiation, this side gives confidence.
Backhand – American Walnut outer ply
The Walnut side is noticeably harder and more direct.
• Lower throw angle
• More linear response
• Very stable in blocking
What I liked most here is how predictable it feels. There’s less catapult, more direct feedback, and the trajectory stays flatter. This makes it especially interesting for players using anti-spin or long pimples on the backhand, or for those who prefer compact, controlled backhand counters and blocks.
It’s rare to find a blade where one side clearly promotes a higher arc and the other a lower one. Usually, combo blades differ in speed — not in throw angle this distinctly.
Inner structure – UDC (Ultra Dense Carbon)
Inside, the blade uses Ultra Dense Carbon placed in an inner configuration.
Compared to something like ALC, it’s not as explosive. Instead, it provides:
• A larger sweet spot
• Reduced vibration
• Controlled power when accelerating
It doesn’t overpower the wood feeling. You still feel the character of each outer ply, but with added stability and consistency on stronger shots.
Overall Impression
This is honestly the first combi blade I’ve tried where:
• One side clearly produces a higher trajectory
• The other produces a lower one
• Without feeling like two completely disconnected blades
Most combo constructions I’ve played before were either high throw on both sides or low throw on both sides, just with different speed levels. This one actually changes the geometry of the ball flight depending on the side you use.
That makes it very interesting for tactical players who build points differently on forehand and backhand.
I’ll continue testing it and will share more detailed impressions soon. If anyone else has tried it, I’d be curious to compare notes.
