Got to try Viscaria with Tenergy 05 as a beginner

[BaRanchik]

I've been playing for just over a year now, and today I got to try a friend's new Viscaria setup. He has been playing for 10 or so months.
I can see why people say it is not suitable for beginners. It felt nice on my forehand, but I didn't notice more spin compared to my Violin setup, probably due to dwell time.
Backhand was a disaster. The slightest touch makes the ball fly past the table. It was really difficult to control, and I had to avoid engaging the body to keep it inside.
I'm definitely years away from being worthy of something like that, but it was an interesting experience.

 

[JJ Ng]

No worry. I have played for decades (on and off). I still find Viscaria too fast for me. I don't see the appeal of it. I like my 5-ply wood blades and my slow carbon blades. I don't think I will ever get used to Viscaria. By the way I have a Nittaku Acoustic carbon with Tenergy 05 fx on the forehand and Tenergy 64 fx on the backhand side. Zero feel. It is collecting dust. I will probably slap some slower rubbers on that Acoustic carbon one day and see if I like it better. But playing slower equipments really is personal thing (some people like it slow and having "feeling" while other people want everything as fast as possible).

You not liking Viscaria does not mean anything. It does not mean you are years away from being "good enough" for Viscaria. Your playing style and the way you feel the ball might not be compatible with Viscaria. There is no shame in that.

 

[allfj]

Everyone has their opinions. Ive been playing for the past few years and i think im ready for a viscaria soon. I've tried one, and i think its full of control and powerful only when you need it to be. Of course your backhand will fly out if you dont have a stroke for it properly devleoped

 

[NextLevel]

So there are two possibilities- the most likely one is that the Viscaria is clearly stiffer than you prefer. However, what may compound that effect is that the Koto harder ply may give the ball more rebound than you prefer as well.

I personally can't stand Koto outer plies, they release the ball too quickly for my feeling. That said some people love them. I am more of a Limba and Hinoki guy, but Limba is what I mostly play with. That said, I can play with Koto, I just don't like how it feels to play with it as I don't feel the ball in the surface of the racket the same way.

I also thought I would never be able to use faster blades about 4 years ago. All my best table tennis had been played with all round blades up to that point. But then I tried out a Carbonado 245 with Dignics 09c and then a Mazunov with softer rubbers and the latter helped me appreciate better the need for speed within a point with the ABS balls as blocks that would give the opponent an opportunity to reloop started winning the point outright and I could play quick topspins with less effort. I now use fast looping blade plus stickier rubber combinations and I also appreciate better why the Mizutani blades are so expensive. There is room for a style that slows the ball down for sure, but my main point is that faster blades once you have strong spin technique are an option for giving yourself more time to play penetrating shots and blocks through the table while stepping away from the table. The problem has always been the short game and playing for the first attack. But if you train a lot to improve your spin, get a fast looping blade, the rewards are there with the ABS ball over time if you train a lot. It can take a few years to get the full benefit but you will still be playing a few years!

 

[Arch]

The Viscaria is a great blade, but it's definitely too fast for most people.
I own a fancy handle one and I love the feeling and feedback, but I wish it were 20% slower.
Alas, you can't have it all.

 

[Jslick89]

I've been using viscaria since USA TT rating of 1000. Now i'm 1550. I'm getting coached semi regularly and feel like i'm progressing fast. the only thing holding me back is the amount of time i can actually train. If i played more, i know i would improve faster.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I've been using viscaria since USA TT rating of 1000. Now i'm 1550. I'm getting coached semi regularly and feel like i'm progressing fast. the only thing holding me back is the amount of time i can actually train. If i played more, i know i would improve faster.

how long did it get you from 1000~1550 more or less?

 

[JJ Ng]

So there are two possibilities- the most likely one is that the Viscaria is clearly stiffer than you prefer. However, what may compound that effect is that the Koto harder ply may give the ball more rebound than you prefer as well.

I personally can't stand Koto outer plies, they release the ball too quickly for my feeling. That said some people love them. I am more of a Limba and Hinoki guy, but Limba is what I mostly play with. That said, I can play with Koto, I just don't like how it feels to play with it as I don't feel the ball in the surface of the racket the same way.

I also thought I would never be able to use faster blades about 4 years ago. All my best table tennis had been played with all round blades up to that point. But then I tried out a Carbonado 245 with Dignics 09c and then a Mazunov with softer rubbers and the latter helped me appreciate better the need for speed within a point with the ABS balls as blocks that would give the opponent an opportunity to reloop started winning the point outright and I could play quick topspins with less effort. I now use fast looping blade plus stickier rubber combinations and I also appreciate better why the Mizutani blades are so expensive. There is room for a style that slows the ball down for sure, but my main point is that faster blades once you have strong spin technique are an option for giving yourself more time to play penetrating shots and blocks through the table while stepping away from the table. The problem has always been the short game and playing for the first attack. But if you train a lot to improve your spin, get a fast looping blade, the rewards are there with the ABS ball over time if you train a lot. It can take a few years to get the full benefit but you will still be playing a few years!

Glad I am not the only one who does not Viscaria. Agree. Maybe I just don't like the koto outer ply either. I own plenty of other carbon blades. Just don't like Viscaria.

 

[Jslick89]

how long did it get you from 1000~1550 more or less?

approx one year.