Calderano Signs with Joola (#139)

[ThePongCommenter]

The H could stand for 합판/合板/habpan/plywood in Korean.

If so, that would just about confirm that Hugo is in fact directly dealing/receiving from ADK in Korea rather than Joola Germany/USA, as was said before on this thread.

Sounds like it came from this batch.

Hugo is free to use whichever blade he chooses, we produced the ARY-x for a reason and if that’s ultimately what he decides to use then he will. The supplier sent all of his blades with a green and yellow handle because that’s what he liked initially, I have asked them whenever they send blades to Hugo to use the correct handle colour so people can distinguish which blade is which. I can tell you for a fact that he has just been sent more of both blade, the carbon and the non-carbon some of which I sent myself from the US.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

Well to include all possibilities....maybe someone is trying too fool us. Would be easy to put a regular stock blade in some kind of engraving machine and voila....a special Hugo blade!

Except for that fact that Matt already said he confirmed it did in fact come from Hugo's batch but he doesn't know how it ended up in China.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

I have to ask, are US people really sure you know what your OEMs in Asia are up to and the ins and outs of how the blade process works? It seems based on zeio's posts that there are all these custom pro blades all over the place being used by players posting pics on Asian forums and you are claiming that there is no customization. Maybe the local Joolas in Asia are pushing the model that really makes money and you should be joining them by having more custom pro blade models out there and making money in the "I want a pro blade" market.

Thinking out loud for a second, ignore me if I don't make any sense.

🤔

 

[zeio]

Seems likely. Why the need to denote 2F.5H then if it is a stock ARY-C which would all be 2F.5H? Because there is a blade that was sent to Hugo in that batch that is actually 7H or 2C.5H that uses the same handle? Methinks...

If so, that would just about confirm that Hugo is in fact directly dealing/receiving from ADK in Korea rather than Joola Germany/USA, as was said before on this thread.

Hmm, given the following, is it safe to assume the "Joola" ones with the code on the left side of handle (coincidentally mostly seen at ITTF majors) are closer to the Xiom ones?

2025
The one from WTT F Hong Kong had the code CODE VI on the right side of handle.

2026
The one from SGP GS had the code with an outline of CODE ??? on the right side of handle.
The one from World Cup (see previous link) had a code with an outline like the one below on the left side of handle.
The one from WTTC had the code AJ52152 on the left side of handle that was first seen at SGP GS 2026, so he used at least 2 different blades there.

For reference, the XIOM one from WTT SCT Ljubjana 2025 had the code with an outline of AX?2052 on the left side of handle.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wttglobal/54606939275/

The one from WTT Ljubljana had a code on the right side of handle, presumably the same for USA GS, WTT SCT São José dos Campos, EUG GS, WTT CS Macao.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

🤔

As I already stated there were a large number of samples of different fibers, layerings and specs produced for Hugo earlier in the year after his signing - it was in the dozens, there is a big difference between ‘the concept of a Pro's custom blade’ and a sample made for player testing before they choose their final specs. I already answered to this point.

JOOLA subsidiaries in Asia are not selling a different blade, this is one blade that has somehow ended up in the wild.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Blades have significantly high MOQs for retail production, you can't just make customized blades on a one by one basis, so in short to answer - yes we do know how the blade production process works.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Except for that fact that Matt already said he confirmed it did in fact come from Hugo's batch but he doesn't know how it ended up in China.

It came from the prototyping samples, not a batch of Hugo's actual blades, there is a significant difference - just to clarify.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

It came from the prototyping samples, not a batch of Hugo's actual blades, there is a significant difference - just to clarify.

I meant that as the batch that were prepared for Hugo, not necessarily owned or used by. Appreciate the clarification though.

 

[The0rigina1]

Well to include all possibilities....maybe someone is trying too fool us. Would be easy to put a regular stock blade in some kind of engraving machine and voila....a special Hugo blade!

Are we deadass

 

[zeio]

As I already stated there were a large number of samples of different fibers, layerings and specs produced for Hugo earlier in the year after his signing - it was in the dozens, there is a big difference between ‘the concept of a Pro's custom blade’ and a sample made for player testing before they choose their final specs. I already answered to this point.

JOOLA subsidiaries in Asia are not selling a different blade, this is one blade that has somehow ended up in the wild.

And your definition is the source of argument here. That's how DHS does it with prototype blades for their players and they call it custom-made.

Stories of DHS and Blade Prototypes
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/stories-of-dhs-and-blade-prototypes.38746/post-589624

 

[Matt Hetherington]

And your definition is the source of argument here. That's how DHS does it with prototype blades for their players and they call it custom-made.

Stories of DHS and Blade Prototypes
https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/stories-of-dhs-and-blade-prototypes.38746/post-589624

No it's not the source of the argument, the source of your argument is whether or not players have different customized blades AFTER their product has been commercially released to the market and whether they are using a different blade to what is offered commercially.

The samples that are produced before a player selects one and mass production of a commercial begins is not the same at all. The source of the argument is not that my definition of two different things makes them the same. They are not the same.

 

[backspacer]

@Matt Hetherington

Unrelated, but any plans to release more purple rubbers? Noticed that the Hugo and other Trinity ones don't come in purple.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

@Matt Hetherington

Unrelated, but any plans to release more purple rubbers? Noticed that the Hugo and other Trinity ones don't come in purple.

Typically hybrid rubbers don’t come in other colours, not sure the exact reason but it’s something to do with topsheet density and process to increase grip and it not handling the dye as well. In all honesty it seems like the coloured rubber thing didn’t really pick up any momentum after it was implemented so I almost wonder if things will revert mostly back to red and black.

 

[backspacer]

Typically hybrid rubbers don’t come in other colours, not sure the exact reason but it’s something to do with topsheet density and process to increase grip and it not handling the dye as well. In all honesty it seems like the coloured rubber thing didn’t really pick up any momentum after it was implemented so I almost wonder if things will revert mostly back to red and black.

I hope they are not getting discontinued. Otherwise I'm gonna need a life long stock of purple rubbers 😅

I have seen plenty of people here with the new colours from personal experience Some people I have played against weren't even aware of the change though and Butterfly for some reason hasn't jumped on.

 

[piligrim]

I hope they are not getting discontinued. Otherwise I'm gonna need a life long stock of purple rubbers 😅

I have seen plenty of people here with the new colours from personal experience Some people I have played against weren't even aware of the change though and Butterfly for some reason hasn't jumped on.

Same here. I like blue and green

 

[Sedis]

Same here. I like blue and green

Same, luckily they seem popular with pimples players and with a name like 'Grass D'tecs' it seems unlikley that my LPs will get discontinued in green.
Even though I would prefer blue, I like green better than red.