Deciding on a custom made bat.

[iJaymez1]

Hey, so I've had custom bats before and at the moment I'm using some random Friendship blade with a Skyline Neo 3 on the forehand and a Butterfly Sriver on the backhand, both max. I'm thinking of switching the blade to either:

Blade: TSP Swat Carbon or TSP Black Balsa 7.0

And the rubbers I'm going with are a Yasaka Rakza X max on forehand (Black) And a Xiom Omega 5 Europe on the backhand (red).

I'm a cpen player so I'd probably wanting to go with the lighter of the 2 blades since I play a lot of RPB and not TPB, the Black Balsa, but I don't know if it'd tend to my needs of attack, since I'm an offensive player. What do you guys think is better? If anyone has ever used a Balsa 7.0 before please let me know what you think are there are very few reviews on it. Also let me know the pros and cons if possible. Thank you all in advance,
-Steve.

 

[Kaizoku]

Interesting thoughts, why not try picking one of the popular and well played Penhold blades though?
With more reviews etc. I went on like you the first time I got a custom blade, I thought "Hey, let's get a really fancy new blade that seems good, and unique not much used thus far, blade" and ended up with Yasaka Silver Line Carbon.
It was not bad, but Hurricane Hao III is for sure a lot better.

 

[iJaymez1]

I don't have the budget, that is why :/ Could you recommend a light enough decent penhold blade that is within say, $70?

 

[Kaizoku]

I don't have the budget, that is why :/ Could you recommend a light enough decent penhold blade that is within say, $70?

Yeah Hurricane Hao III costs a bit more, and I've not tried a lot of others. But based on online reviews and recomandations.
I'd personally go with Yasaka Extra Offensive, on that budget. This was on my consideration list when I Bought Hurricane Hao III, but after buying a Yasaka pre made carbon, and Yasaka silver Line, I wanted to try a new brand lolz. and the reviews and composition was slightly more appealing to me, on the hurricane Hao III.
You can buy it here for 51 (+ Shipping?) - https://www.megaspin.net/store/default.asp?pid=y-ma-lin-ex-off-cs
The weight varies from around 82-90 g, but considering the comment
"Chose this blade around 88-90gr, the lighter ones around 82-85gr may feel hollow." I'd might want to go above 86 g if I were you, hollow feel is not good, although it would be minimal differences.
You can probably send them a message and request a weight, tt11 does it, however not 100% sure about megaspin.

 

[iJaymez1]

Shipping to Australia is $45... That's why I'm considering buying a TSP Swat carbon. It is decent but not highly reviewed so I'm not sure.

 

[Kaizoku]

Shipping to Australia is $45... That's why I'm considering buying a TSP Swat carbon. It is decent but not highly reviewed so I'm not sure.

Hm, this is why I usually don't order from Megaspin heh. I think http://www.tabletennis11.com/ could be a solution, but YEO (and MEO) is out of order there. I did btw just now notice Hurricane Hao II was on sale, but still 85 usd, so maybe a bit much. (shipping is usually below 10 usd for tt11, depending on the size of order ofc)
http://www.tabletennis11.com/other_eng/dhs-hurricane-hao-ii-ch-pen
though, when tt11 don't have what I want, I usually go to ebay lol
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Yasaka-Ma-L...434?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item417cea4642 that's 61 usd. free international shipping. Might take 2-3 weeks.
But that would be within your budget yea? I've bought from Outshine sports a couple times before btw, no problems.
And, it's a picture of regular handle, but is written "Handle: Penhold" in the description. so it's the pen version.
I do btw know nothing about TSP Swat carbon.
I found this
http://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=20218 though, that's all I know, seems okey I guess.

 

[mahomedy13]

Orders above $70 from TT11 get free shipping

 

[iJaymez1]

Thanks so much for your help, I will put all of that into consideration and let you know in the end what I've bought.

 

[iJaymez1]

I bought the ebay ma lin blade thinking it was 61 AUD but it actually turned out to be $80, and I didn't even know. I'm such an idiot. Way over budget now :/

 

[TurboZ]

Wow! I will go for the HH2 from TT11 if paying that much. You can buy a YEO Cpen from Dandoy for under AUD50. I have two and the JTTAA version from Japan (heavier. thicker) plays much better than the one from Europe. Of course that is just my case and not applying to everyone. You may find a good one without the JTTAA marks. After all they are all made in Sweden.

http://tabletennisequipment.dandoy-...e=blades-penholder&cPath=545&products_id=3758

 

[iJaymez1]

Thank you sir.

 

[iJaymez1]

Hopefully if the seller I bought the Ma Lin blade from will refund me then I will be all good, if not then I'll have to wait longer to buy my other side of rubber

 

[TurboZ]

Don't know if cancelling a purchase from ebay is easy but wish you good luck for getting your money back.

 

[iJaymez1]

Thank you very much sir, and thanks so much for the site, the shipping is very cheap and so is the blade there. Thanks!!!