Chinese Blade for BD 39 + Yinhe Moon 12

[schrodingerskoalabear]

Hello everyone!

I came back to Table tennis after 10+ years and have been playing for a few months now with Donic Powerplay Persson + Xiom Vega X (FH) + Xiom Vega Europe (BH). I am an early-intermediate player with the following likes/strengths and dislike/weaknesses

Likes: Decent FH looping
Dislikes/very weak: Serves and serve returns

My form is okay if not perfect and as an adult, I am trying to get fit for the game and wouldn't mind a physical game.

I recently tried a friend's DHS Hurricane (boosted) on the FH and thoroughly enjoyed the spin and its short game. I now want to test out cheapish a transition-to-Chinese-rubber setup. After going through lots of threads here during work, I seem to have landed on Big Dipper 39 on FH and Yinhe Moon 12 on BH to ease me into Chinese hybrids. (shoutout to @TensorBackhand @Michael Zhuang !)

Now my question is what is a good cheapish, can-be-bought from AliExpress blade that would pair these rubbers. I am looking to take this setup into a solid mid-to-high intermediate rating.

Any and all suggestions appreciated!

 

[TensorBackhand]

Hello everyone!

I came back to Table tennis after 10+ years and have been playing for a few months now with Donic Powerplay Persson + Xiom Vega X (FH) + Xiom Vega Europe (BH). I am an early-intermediate player with the following likes/strengths and dislike/weaknesses

Likes: Decent FH looping
Dislikes/very weak: Serves and serve returns

My form is okay if not perfect and as an adult, I am trying to get fit for the game and wouldn't mind a physical game.

I recently tried a friend's DHS Hurricane (boosted) on the FH and thoroughly enjoyed the spin and its short game. I now want to test out cheapish a transition-to-Chinese-rubber setup. After going through lots of threads here during work, I seem to have landed on Big Dipper 39 on FH and Yinhe Moon 12 on BH to ease me into Chinese hybrids. (shoutout to @TensorBackhand @Michael Zhuang !)

Now my question is what is a good cheapish, can-be-bought from AliExpress blade that would pair these rubbers. I am looking to take this setup into a solid mid-to-high intermediate rating.

Any and all suggestions appreciated!

Sanwei 75 inner is excellent. DHS Fang Bo is also excellent with more control/less speed tradeoff

 

[schrodingerskoalabear]

Sanwei 75 inner is excellent. DHS Fang Bo is also excellent with more control/less speed tradeoff

Sanwei looks promising!

Quesiton though: Would these be too fast for me?

I have not used a carbon blade yet and would rather not over-index on speed. I was thinking of Fextra 7, for example

 

[TensorBackhand]

Sanwei looks promising!

Quesiton though: Would these be too fast for me?

I have not used a carbon blade yet and would rather not over-index on speed. I was thinking of Fextra 7, for example

I think you could go for the Fang Bo. It's not super fast. In fact, on lower impact shots, it feels very woody like a non-carbon blade.

On harder shots, the carbon comes in and assists you in strong loops.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Sanwei F3 Pro is even softer and woodier than the Fang Bo. Another good, cheap option

 

[schrodingerskoalabear]

Thanks for all your help! @TensorBackhand

 

[turbozed]

Sanwei looks promising!

Quesiton though: Would these be too fast for me?

I have not used a carbon blade yet and would rather not over-index on speed. I was thinking of Fextra 7, for example

I went from a Fextra 7 to a 75 Inner about 6 months ago. I didn't notice any decrease in control at all to be honest. The carbon added more higher gears and made the same rubbers feel slightly more catapulty. For someone with a few years of experience, I'd argue that the 75 Inner is even easier to use while retaining most of the wood feel of the Fextra.

 

[schrodingerskoalabear]

I went from a Fextra 7 to a 75 Inner about 6 months ago. I didn't notice any decrease in control at all to be honest. The carbon added more higher gears and made the same rubbers feel slightly more catapulty. For someone with a few years of experience, I'd argue that the 75 Inner is even easier to use while retaining most of the wood feel of the Fextra.

Thank you for that personal insight.

I guess I am a little afraid if I opt for a faster setup, I am going to hinder my improvement vis-a-vis form and technique.

I think in my mind (and budget), it has come down to 75 Inner and F3 Pro.

Do you experience with the F3 pro compared to 75 inner?

 

[TensorBackhand]

Thank you for that personal insight.

I guess I am a little afraid if I opt for a faster setup, I am going to hinder my improvement vis-a-vis form and technique.

I think in my mind (and budget), it has come down to 75 Inner and F3 Pro.

Do you experience with the F3 pro compared to 75 inner?

75 is much harder and faster. F3 pro is soft, very similar to wood

 

[turbozed]

Thank you for that personal insight.

I guess I am a little afraid if I opt for a faster setup, I am going to hinder my improvement vis-a-vis form and technique.

I think in my mind (and budget), it has come down to 75 Inner and F3 Pro.

Do you experience with the F3 pro compared to 75 inner?

No I don't but if @TensorBackhand says that F3 is woodier and softer feeling, then I'm thinking it's the less extreme upgrade.

The great thing about these blades is that being around $30 you can always try one out for a period to see if you like it and not be out much money if it doesn't suit you. However, at the level you say you're at, I think either one should be great.

I don't think speed will be the problem for you. With my carbon inner blade and Chinese rubbers, I feel like my setup is slower (or at least easier to control) than my friend's who has more bouncy rubbers and all wood blades.

This is all very personal to the user though so online opinions will only get you within the ballpark. What feels better for you after that will be completely your subjective opinion.

Maybe you can tell us what blade your friend had and whether he boosted the H3. That might help people figure out what sort of speed you liked about his setup.

 

[schrodingerskoalabear]

No I don't but if @TensorBackhand says that F3 is woodier and softer feeling, then I'm thinking it's the less extreme upgrade.

The great thing about these blades is that being around $30 you can always try one out for a period to see if you like it and not be out much money if it doesn't suit you. However, at the level you say you're at, I think either one should be great.

I don't think speed will be the problem for you. With my carbon inner blade and Chinese rubbers, I feel like my setup is slower (or at least easier to control) than my friend's who has more bouncy rubbers and all wood blades.

This is all very personal to the user though so online opinions will only get you within the ballpark. What feels better for you after that will be completely your subjective opinion.

Maybe you can tell us what blade your friend had and whether he boosted the H3. That might help people figure out what sort of speed you liked about his setup.

Thanks, this context helps. I am going to ask my friend to ask what blade he is using the boosted H3 with. I think that will help matters.

Given @TensorBackhand 's sage advice, my gut, very abstract feeling makes me lean towards the F3 Pro. Though I am going to wait until my friend texts me back the blade

 

[schrodingerskoalabear]

So my friend has a DHS N301 (pen holder) with the H3 Neo Boosted on FH.

Which between Inner 75 or F3 Pro or another sub-$40 option would work that is closer to 301 in characteristics?

 

[turbozed]

So my friend has a DHS N301 (pen holder) with the H3 Neo Boosted on FH.

Which between Inner 75 or F3 Pro or another sub-$40 option would work that is closer to 301 in characteristics?

@TensorBackhand might have more knowlegde here but looks like the N301 is similar to W968 but with a koto outer ply. So I would imagine that the Sanwei 75 Inner with koto top ply and a bit more power than the F3 would be more similar to his blade.

I would think that a 75 Inner with unboosted Big Dipper would be noticeably less powerful and maybe a bit easier to play than your friend's setup.

 

[TensorBackhand]

@TensorBackhand might have more knowlegde here but looks like the N301 is similar to W968 but with a koto outer ply. So I would imagine that the Sanwei 75 Inner with koto top ply and a bit more power than the F3 would be more similar to his blade.

I would think that a 75 Inner with unboosted Big Dipper would be noticeably less powerful and maybe a bit easier to play than your friend's setup.

So my friend has a DHS N301 (pen holder) with the H3 Neo Boosted on FH.

Which between Inner 75 or F3 Pro or another sub-$40 option would work that is closer to 301 in characteristics?

You know, the funny thing is I was gonna guess that your friend had the 301. I don't know why, but it just popped into my head.

The 301 is definitely more similar to the F3 Pro. The Inner 75 actually has the same composition as the 301, but it is thicker and harder and faster.

In terms of speed and function and feeling, the F3 Pro actually is quite similar to the 301. F3 Pro is thicker, but softer. So it kinda balances out and they end up being similar.

 

[schrodingerskoalabear]

You know, the funny thing is I was gonna guess that your friend had the 301. I don't know why, but it just popped into my head.

The 301 is definitely more similar to the F3 Pro. The Inner 75 actually has the same composition as the 301, but it is thicker and harder and faster.

In terms of speed and function and feeling, the F3 Pro actually is quite similar to the 301. F3 Pro is thicker, but softer. So it kinda balances out and they end up being similar.

That's really funny; sums up your expertise where even your guesses are probably based on so much knowledge on the matter!

Thank you both!

Looks like F3 Pro it is.

 

[_ak]

I feel comfortable with 75 inner and slower hybrid on FH, but a bit too bouncy on BH side. Regular Moon was too dead, mid-speed tensors were a bit too fast. No idea about Moon 12

 

[schrodingerskoalabear]

I feel comfortable with 75 inner and slower hybrid on FH, but a bit too bouncy on BH side. Regular Moon was too dead, mid-speed tensors were a bit too fast. No idea about Moon 12

Which rubber do you use on your FH?

 

[_ak]

Which rubber do you use on your FH?

BD 38 and 39 with and without booster, Glayzer 09c with booster. Right now gluing Battle 3 38d.

P.S. Forgot about Battle 2 Provincial BS without booster, but I didn't like its topsheet. It was ok about speed though.

 

[TensorBackhand]

I feel comfortable with 75 inner and slower hybrid on FH, but a bit too bouncy on BH side. Regular Moon was too dead, mid-speed tensors were a bit too fast. No idea about Moon 12

I also often take a slow rubber and put it on the 75 inner to balance it out. A fast rubber on the 75 inner is just insanely fast. Performs well in theory, but a bit hard to control.

 

[schrodingerskoalabear]

BD 38 and 39 with and without booster, Glayzer 09c with booster. Right now gluing Battle 3 38d.

P.S. Forgot about Battle 2 Provincial BS without booster, but I didn't like its topsheet. It was ok about speed though.

How has your experience been with the unboosted 39 on the short game and FH looping?

Where do you think it falls short for you?