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Thanks for the review. They represent two different play styles. In the club level it seems more people are using Viscaria variants.
In the professional leagues, it seems more are using the HL5 variants.
In the professional leagues, it seems more are using the HL5 variants.
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HL five players be like: BH? Who needs BH? Hurrah!
Viscaria players be like: Hold on to my beer.
Viscaria players be like: Hold on to my beer.
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A good swordsman believes in his experience and skill. The sword makes not the swordsman.
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I am happy with two DHS blades i have mainly because of their blades handle, i feel it is smooth and comfortable more than Butterfly blades, i had or used like 3-4 butterfly blades and although they are each different but none were as nice as DHS ones, and that alone made me to just stick with DHS, but i got HH3 and L5X, no L5 or Bo or other DHS blades, so i don't know if the feeling is a big factor in TT equipment and play style too.
In the clubs i went to i see many people using Viscaria over DHS blades, majority are Butterfly or Yasaka or Nittaku, it is like BTY is 70% and Yasaka is 40% and Nittaku is 35% while DHS is barely 5%, in two clubs i only saw 3 or players only with DHS out of over 200 players beside me of course, in fact in the club of my city where 4 players are coming to play one of them is using Viscaria for years and playing like super wall in front of you, but he upgraded to super ALC Viscaria and he never look back, his style is really like a pure art, but he is not being offensive in so many points, he just placing balls perfectly away from players making them move all directions and attack when needed, but that isn't enough against stronger players, he lost mostly to those with stronger top spin and loopers, he is just playing by the table, so opposite than what you mentioned about that Viscaria is amazing for mid to far from table.
In the clubs i went to i see many people using Viscaria over DHS blades, majority are Butterfly or Yasaka or Nittaku, it is like BTY is 70% and Yasaka is 40% and Nittaku is 35% while DHS is barely 5%, in two clubs i only saw 3 or players only with DHS out of over 200 players beside me of course, in fact in the club of my city where 4 players are coming to play one of them is using Viscaria for years and playing like super wall in front of you, but he upgraded to super ALC Viscaria and he never look back, his style is really like a pure art, but he is not being offensive in so many points, he just placing balls perfectly away from players making them move all directions and attack when needed, but that isn't enough against stronger players, he lost mostly to those with stronger top spin and loopers, he is just playing by the table, so opposite than what you mentioned about that Viscaria is amazing for mid to far from table.
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Thanks for the comparison. My buddy has an upgraded HL5 that I played with. It was super fun. The vibration/feel was incredible. I struggled with the backhand tho but my backhand always needs work lol. For now, I just switched to using a Chinese rubber on my forehand on my vis and it’s working out well so far
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it's a really well balanced blade. Can do anything I need it to when i have the proper technique. and yup definitely always working on the backhand! Thanks again.
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I wonder why the Viscaria type is more popular (from my perception) than the Innerforce limba type.
Most player start with some kind of an allround blade. Mostly with soft outer layers. Later on most player develop their forehand earlier and faster than their backhand.
Even on higher level the forehand is still much more lethal than the backhand.
Still Viscaria and it's variants seems to be the most popular blades.
Most player start with some kind of an allround blade. Mostly with soft outer layers. Later on most player develop their forehand earlier and faster than their backhand.
Even on higher level the forehand is still much more lethal than the backhand.
Still Viscaria and it's variants seems to be the most popular blades.
Outer composite blades just have more easily accessible power. To access the power of the ultimate HL5, the W968 for example, you need to put an obscene amount of power into the shot. When you do, the shot created is intoxicating. The issue with that is that one, it's non-linear so when you do access its power it's difficult to control as it goes very fast. Two, if you attempt but fail to access its power, due to the non-linearity the shot will feel mushy and slow and easily tanks into the net. The same behavior shows in blocking, where if the incoming shot has good power the block can easily go long. In order to make blocking more controllable you need to use active blocks, which makes every block engage the blade and thus creating a more consistent behavior. But of course, that also requires good technique.
This is why if you watch Chinese pros' channels, they generally recommend that amateurs should not use the 968. You need to be active with both attacks and defense, and the technique and power requirement is just too much even for many pros. Those Chinese pros (ex-CNT players) all have access to 968, but many choose outer composite blades instead for this reason.
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I think it has to do with the fact that some of the European greats have used these blades. Timo is a living legend and has shaped European table tennis like no other player before him. His influence is much greater even than Waldner, so it makes sense that his equipment would be so popular, he has been the face of Butterfly for over a decade and will continue being for a while.
Seeing the success of players like Zhang with Viscaria, Timo with the Spirit, and a bunch Chinese and European players using variants of them, people started using them and nowadays they work really good with the plastic ball too. So manufacturers keep making them, and they keep selling.
As for why the pros themselves started using them in the first place, they tried many things and they found what worked the best, and since many have similar playstyles, they all ended up using similar equipment. Same with rubbers. 10 years ago Tenergy was the only rubber that was really viable at the top level, so much so that players from other companies also used them. Ovcharov is a good example with Donic.
Another thing is that outer carbon with hard surface, like koto, blade works better with medium and soft rubbers, while inner carbon with soft surface, like limba, work better with hard rubbers.
The medium gen, Ovcharov, Franziska, etc, have bigger moves than the old gens, Waldner, Timo, etc. Softer blades support longer more powerful strokes, while harder blades shorter, more snappy strokes.
Also when hybrids became a thing, many switched over to inner soft. Timo is kind of an exception...
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