Any other blades similar to Fang Bo Carbon?

[thomas.pong]

I was hoping it might be a little like the 968, because of the crisper surface, but still keeping the inner fibre structure.

but you think that is unrealistic?

Absolutely, the comp is crazy different.

Your best bet is the Yasaka Atletico Power for commercial, and SDC for artisanal.

Sorry to break it to you, but SDC is your best option at a real W968 clone. Cheaper blades cannot recreate the feel and properties it has, even BTY can't on a commercial level, only on a custom level.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Absolutely, the comp is crazy different.

Your best is the Yasaka Atletico Power for commercial, and SDC for artisanal.

Sorry to break it to you, but SDC is your best option at a real W968 clone. Cheaper blades cannot recreate the feel and properties it has, even BTY can't on a commercial level, only on a custom level.

Sure, I believe that as well.

But as a separate issue, I'm just curious about this darkwood + inner fibre composition. I haven't seen this composition elsewhere, so it just seems interesting. I just wonder if they might be onto something potentiall good. A bit of crispy punch from the darkwood + dwell time and catapult from the inner KLC.

You don't think its' got potential?

 

[thomas.pong]

Sure, I believe that as well.

But as a separate issue, I'm just curious about this darkwood + inner fibre composition. I haven't seen this composition elsewhere, so it just seems interesting. I just wonder if they might be onto something potentiall good. A bit of crispy punch from the darkwood + dwell time and catapult from the inner KLC.

You don't think its' got potential?

Nope.

I stay far away from these hard top plies w/ carbon.

Most pros and manufacturers do too.

 

[thomas.pong]

Using the knowledge I've accumulated testing a lot of equipment over many years, I know what plies, thickness and other factors to go for or stay away from. Wishful thinking cannot overcome composition. You're not going to get the dwell you're looking for from a hard top ply, just like you're not going to get a W968 from a different comp or cheap materials, it's just fact.

Also, if you really like your Fang Bo Carbon, stop looking! If you really want a W968, find a used Provincial for around $200 instead of buying 5 $40 blades, that would be worth it.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Using the knowledge I've accumulated testing a lot of equipment over many years, I know what plies, thickness and other factors to go for or stay away from. Wishful thinking cannot overcome composition. You're not going to get the dwell you're looking for from a hard top ply, just like you're not going to get a W968 from a different comp or cheap materials, it's just fact.

Also, if you really like your Fang Bo Carbon, stop looking! If you really want a W968, find a used Provincial for around $200 instead of buying 5 $40 blades, that would be worth it.

I really really like my 2 blades that I got now, the Fang Bo and the Stuor Harimoto ZLC. Basically I'm settled on these 2 blades for my current play.

But whenever I see a blade that looks interesting, I just start wondering about its potential. That's why I was asking about the Darkwood KLC blades.

 

[thomas.pong]

It's best to stick to the true and tested comps.

 

[ricospin]

I disliked FB Carbon because of the feedback. Feeling was not clear until you hit the ball very hard.

Although not similar, I found Sanwei 75 Inner a more pleasant blade to use. It’s crisp and easy to use. The feeling is a lot more clearer.

H301 has the same composition as 75 Inner, different fiber. Plays more mellow and more woody compared to 75i.

Banda SF is Fang Bo’s new signature blade with stiga. Gan didn’t like this blade too much, but it could be worth checking out.

Although the best option is to just keep what you have and go with it. If ain’t broke, don’t fix it haha

 

[TensorBackhand]

Absolutely, the comp is crazy different.

Your best is the Yasaka Atletico Power for commercial, and SDC for artisanal.

Sorry to break it to you, but SDC is your best option at a real W968 clone. Cheaper blades cannot recreate the feel and properties it has, even BTY can't on a commercial level, only on a custom level.

Well i asked a few sellers on Ali. They said the blade is stiff type. So it probably really is quite stiff.

Although ive been testing the stiga emerald vps, but it doesnt seem all that stiff to me despite the ebony surface.

 

[ricospin]

Well i asked a few sellers on Ali. They said the blade is stiff type. So it probably really is quite stiff.

Although ive been testing the stiga emerald vps, but it doesnt seem all that stiff to me despite the ebony surface.

I generally find limba top ply blades to feel a bit kind of knocky and stiff. Harder top ply feel more pleasant to me.

 

[TensorBackhand]

I generally find limba top ply blades to feel a bit kind of knocky and stiff. Harder top ply feel more pleasant to me.

Limba is way softer than ebony it would appear

 

[TheProfessor]

I really really like my 2 blades that I got now, the Fang Bo and the Stuor Harimoto ZLC. Basically I'm settled on these 2 blades for my current play.

But whenever I see a blade that looks interesting, I just start wondering about its potential. That's why I was asking about the Darkwood KLC blades.

No harm in trying the 729 King series, I've tried the RedWood, Rosewood and the Ebony ones.
Best one among the one's I've use is the Rosewood. I haven't tried the Sandalwood I think it's called.
I'd suggest the Rosewood one, I used it with the Battle 2 Provincial and it's really good at brush looping.
It doesn't cost much at $40~ and if you're really that curious, might as well give it a shot.

 

[TensorBackhand]

No harm in trying the 729 King series, I've tried the RedWood, Rosewood and the Ebony ones.
Best one among the one's I've use is the Rosewood. I haven't tried the Sandalwood I think it's called.
I'd suggest the Rosewood one, I used it with the Battle 2 Provincial and it's really good at brush looping.
It doesn't cost much at $40~ and if you're really that curious, might as well give it a shot.

How is the feeling and flex/dwell on the ebony?

I have heard that ebony is very hard, and that these blades would not have much dwell time compared to limba surface blades. What do you think?

 

[TheProfessor]

How is the feeling and flex/dwell on the ebony?

I have heard that ebony is very hard, and that these blades would not have much dwell time compared to limba surface blades. What do you think?

The Ebony version is very stiff, I used a fairly soft forehand rubber on it 729 Super FX with Lightning Sponge.
The dwell from the blade is pretty much not existent, the tack from the rubber is the one doing more of the "dwell" sensation. There's only a slight dwell from the blade on very high impact shots which causes the blade to flex a tad bit but overall, it's a very very stiff blade. It would have worked better with a harder rubber but I wasn't able to test it further as I lent it to my friend who lives quite far from where I live, so I wouldn't be able to test it anytime soon.

 

[TensorBackhand]

The Ebony version is very stiff, I used a fairly soft forehand rubber on it 729 Super FX with Lightning Sponge.
The dwell from the blade is pretty much not existent, the tack from the rubber is the one doing more of the "dwell" sensation. There's only a slight dwell from the blade on very high impact shots which causes the blade to flex a tad bit but overall, it's a very very stiff blade. It would have worked better with a harder rubber but I wasn't able to test it further as I lent it to my friend who lives quite far from where I live, so I wouldn't be able to test it anytime soon.

I see. I probably wouldn't like this blade in that case. I want a flexier blade because I rely alot on looping and spinning.

 

[TensorBackhand]

The Ebony version is very stiff, I used a fairly soft forehand rubber on it 729 Super FX with Lightning Sponge.
The dwell from the blade is pretty much not existent, the tack from the rubber is the one doing more of the "dwell" sensation. There's only a slight dwell from the blade on very high impact shots which causes the blade to flex a tad bit but overall, it's a very very stiff blade. It would have worked better with a harder rubber but I wasn't able to test it further as I lent it to my friend who lives quite far from where I live, so I wouldn't be able to test it anytime soon.

Have you tested the Sanwei F3 Pro? Is this blade also very stiff? or is it somewhat flexy like the FB Carbon?

 

[TheProfessor]

Have you tested the Sanwei F3 Pro? Is this blade also very stiff? or is it somewhat flexy like the FB Carbon?

The F3 Pro is a discontinued blade, it has been succeeded by the Sanwei Paramid unfortunately I haven't tried the Paramid yet either. I'll ask my local Sanwei distributor for one to test.

 

[TensorBackhand]

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255800437040188.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.9.59ac255d7d8CIS&algo_pvid=0db6a698-943f-4e28-97e1-97546ab19a81&algo_exp_id=0db6a698-943f-4e28-97e1-97546ab19a81-4&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2210000005179260405%22%7D&pdp_npi=3%40dis%21USD%2140.58%2136.93%21%21%21%21%21%402102196716764457742637471d06e3%2110000005179260405%21sea%21US%211644340096&curPageLogUid=6MIZjd3p6RZK

I'm really interested in this new blade because I haven't seen a composition like this. It has ebony wood on the surface, but uses inner fibre Kev-Carbon, and ayous core.

Would this play more similar to Viscaria because of the stiff surface? or play more like HL5 because of the inner-fibre?

Maybe 301 would be a good comparison? Do you think it would have good dwell time for looping or would the hard surface negate the dwell time?

Wow, look at this. This is really weird. Stuor now has a clone of this relatively unknown 729 ebony blade:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256803664612738.html?pdp_npi=3%40dis%21USD%21US%20%2436.88%21US%20%2433.19%21%21%21%21%21%402101d4a716784901973731762e6ad3%2112000027335644823%21sh01%21%21&spm=a2g0o.store_pc_home.productList_2001688741343.subject_1&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

I'm thinking, is 729's blade actually outsourced to Stuor? Or did Stuor just decide to copy it?

 

[VilligeMaster]

Anybody have experience with the F3 Pro?

As a inner carbon blade with ayous surface, I would expect it to be fairly soft and flexy and good for looping. But some reviews say its very stiff like a frying pan. Anybody have experience?

I used 2 Sanwei F3 Pro, both looking same, but performance was totally different. Sanwei blades are very inconsistent im weight and performance same as Butterfly. I used many blades, especialy innerfiber Carbon construction.

 

[Ishmaelkhan]

Anybody have experience with the F3 Pro?

As a inner carbon blade with ayous surface, I would expect it to be fairly soft and flexy and good for looping. But some reviews say its very stiff like a frying pan. Anybody have experience?

I have played with F3 pro for a bit. It does have a soft feeling (relative to carbon blades), and is quite flexible too. The reviews saying it is stiff are probably for the old version (now listed as F3 Classic on Sanwei's website I think). F3 Pro is meant to be a thin blade, like 5.5mm thin.

 

[allethre]

I disliked FB Carbon because of the feedback. Feeling was not clear until you hit the ball very hard.

Although not similar, I found Sanwei 75 Inner a more pleasant blade to use. It’s crisp and easy to use. The feeling is a lot more clearer.

H301 has the same composition as 75 Inner, different fiber. Plays more mellow and more woody compared to 75i.

Banda SF is Fang Bo’s new signature blade with stiga. Gan didn’t like this blade too much, but it could be worth checking out.

Although the best option is to just keep what you have and go with it. If ain’t broke, don’t fix it haha

Hello ricospin,

How's your Sanwei 75 inner? I'm planning to buy it but there's no reviews of it other than Gan.