Long 5 Blades vs TMXi Blades

[joshmak10]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to build a new Innerforce Type Blade setup with DHS Hurricane 3 Neo Provincial Blue Sponge and Dignics 09C. I’m looking between getting one of the DHS Long 5 Blades (not W968, out of my budget) or one of the Xiom AJH TMXi blades. What is the comparison of these blades and which would you guys recommend? For reference I am mostly a two wing looper, more reliant on FH, and I’ve used FZD ALC for the past year with the same rubbers mentioned above. I want an alternate setup to my FZD ALC to see whether an Innerforce style blade would help with control, so coming from a FZD, an outer type blade, is going to Long 5 or a TMXi too big of a change and which one is more better coming from the FZD?

 

[RefereeNumber2]

I'm currently playing the Xiom TMXi Pro as my main blade, and while I haven't played the Long 5, I have a DHS 301 which I think should be pretty close, as well as a Harimoto ALC.

Compared to those, the TMXi is definitely a lot harder/stiffer; I think the difference from a Viscaria or FZD ALC when it comes to speed or performance is pretty small. However, it doesn't feel like an outer or an ALC blade, and it actually took me a while to understand the feedback. I haven't used a pure-ZLC blade, but I'd guess it feels much closer to a ZLC blade due to the TMX fiber. I really like the handle on the Pro version -- it's quite a bit bigger than standard handle sizes and helps balance out the 160x152 head size. But there's no way to avoid your racket being quite heavy and head-heavy with the Pro version.

If your goal is to get more control, I would go with the Long 5, since I don't think the TMXi blades would be especially easier to control than your FZD ALC. But if you want to try a different feeling of blade while maintaining the same speed, then you could go for one of the TMXi blades. I enjoy the Pro version a lot but the non-Pro version will likely have a closer balance to the FZD ALC, especially since your combination of rubbers seems pretty heavy.

 

[joshmak10]

I'm currently playing the Xiom TMXi Pro as my main blade, and while I haven't played the Long 5, I have a DHS 301 which I think should be pretty close, as well as a Harimoto ALC.

Compared to those, the TMXi is definitely a lot harder/stiffer; I think the difference from a Viscaria or FZD ALC when it comes to speed or performance is pretty small. However, it doesn't feel like an outer or an ALC blade, and it actually took me a while to understand the feedback. I haven't used a pure-ZLC blade, but I'd guess it feels much closer to a ZLC blade due to the TMX fiber. I really like the handle on the Pro version -- it's quite a bit bigger than standard handle sizes and helps balance out the 160x152 head size. But there's no way to avoid your racket being quite heavy and head-heavy with the Pro version.

If your goal is to get more control, I would go with the Long 5, since I don't think the TMXi blades would be especially easier to control than your FZD ALC. But if you want to try a different feeling of blade while maintaining the same speed, then you could go for one of the TMXi blades. I enjoy the Pro version a lot but the non-Pro version will likely have a closer balance to the FZD ALC, especially since your combination of rubbers seems pretty heavy.

Yeah i’ve been thinking the same way as you based on reviews i’ve read, thanks for basically confirming it for me 😄

Do you know by chance the difference between the Long 5 and 5x? They are the same price for me so Id like to know which one is better

 

[ttarc]

Yeah i’ve been thinking the same way as you based on reviews i’ve read, thanks for basically confirming it for me 😄

Do you know by chance the difference between the Long 5 and 5x? They are the same price for me so Id like to know which one is better

TTGearLab compared and measured both

DHS Hurricane Long 5X [Lab Test Report]

Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Comparison by Performance Indices……. 2-1. Elasticity Indices……. 2-2. Vibration Indices3. Summary 1. Introduction ‘Hurricane Long 5…

ttgearlab.com

 

[RefereeNumber2]

Yeah i’ve been thinking the same way as you based on reviews i’ve read, thanks for basically confirming it for me 😄

Do you know by chance the difference between the Long 5 and 5x? They are the same price for me so Id like to know which one is better

I haven't used either one, but my understanding is the 5x has a thicker core and thinner outer plies than the regular 5. So the 5x should be somewhat stiffer/faster.

TTGearLab compared and measured both

DHS Hurricane Long 5X [Lab Test Report]

Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Comparison by Performance Indices……. 2-1. Elasticity Indices……. 2-2. Vibration Indices3. Summary 1. Introduction ‘Hurricane Long 5…

ttgearlab.com

Yes, this is the review I had in mind. Based on the ttgearlab writeup, the 5x seems to be in between the 5 and a Viscaria-type in terms of speed.

 

[joshmak10]

I haven't used either one, but my understanding is the 5x has a thicker core and thinner outer plies than the regular 5. So the 5x should be somewhat stiffer/faster.

Yes, this is the review I had in mind. Based on the ttgearlab writeup, the 5x seems to be in between the 5 and a Viscaria-type in terms of speed.

Thanks to both of you. Will probably get a Long 5 normal then in this case, need more control

 

[dingyibvs]

Thanks to both of you. Will probably get a Long 5 normal then in this case, need more control

Note that Long 5 isn't just slower, it's flexier, which may or may not offer more control due to the non-linear nature of flexier blades.

 

[joshmak10]

Note that Long 5 isn't just slower, it's flexier, which may or may not offer more control due to the non-linear nature of flexier blades.

what exactly does the non linear nature mean? Does this mean that Long 5 has a higher arc than FZD ALC say?

 

[dingyibvs]

what exactly does the non linear nature mean? Does this mean that Long 5 has a higher arc than FZD ALC say?

It does, but that's not what it means. It means that softer shots can feel very soft, mushy, but then the power kicks in with the hard shots. Most amateurs though do a lot of medium powered shots, and that can be a bit unpredictable with flexier blades as sometimes it goes slower and sometimes it goes faster when you're in that range.

 

[joshmak10]

It does, but that's not what it means. It means that softer shots can feel very soft, mushy, but then the power kicks in with the hard shots. Most amateurs though do a lot of medium powered shots, and that can be a bit unpredictable with flexier blades as sometimes it goes slower and sometimes it goes faster when you're in that range.

Ah ok, so basically a Long 5 feels like a wooden blade in short game and low power shots but like a fast carbon on high power shots? I play pretty powerful so this may help me i feel

 

[vossi39]

I currently have both a TMXi Pro and a HL5 with H3 on both sides (one BS, one OS) in testing. The TMXi Pro has a larger headsize and is a bit (head) heavier than HL5. I do not have the impression, that HL5 is flexier, but that might depend on the thickness you get. My HL5 has 5.9mm and the TMXi has 6.0mm. Due to the larger headsize the TMXi is not faster than the HL5.
I have not compared intensively, but on the two occasions I tested them with the same training partners, I could generate more spin on my loops, with the TMXi. The number of blocks, which went out, were noticeably higher with the TMXi.
Another big difference is the larger/thicker handle on the TMXi. So if you have chance to try them, do it. It is a distinct difference.

 

[joshmak10]

I currently have both a TMXi Pro and a HL5 with H3 on both sides (one BS, one OS) in testing. The TMXi Pro has a larger headsize and is a bit (head) heavier than HL5. I do not have the impression, that HL5 is flexier, but that might depend on the thickness you get. My HL5 has 5.9mm and the TMXi has 6.0mm. Due to the larger headsize the TMXi is not faster than the HL5.
I have not compared intensively, but on the two occasions I tested them with the same training partners, I could generate more spin on my loops, with the TMXi. The number of blocks, which went out, were noticeably higher with the TMXi.
Another big difference is the larger/thicker handle on the TMXi. So if you have chance to try them, do it. It is a distinct difference.

Which one did you like more personally? Did you find one more easier to control or play with?

 

[vossi39]

Currently the HL5 feels a bit more controlled, but this might be a result from playing it for a longer time (6 weeks HL5 vs 1 week TMXi). I'll try to get used to the TMXi over the next weeks, since I like the additional spin on my FH. If I can't get used to the TMXi, I will revert back to the HL5.

 

[joshmak10]

Currently the HL5 feels a bit more controlled, but this might be a result from playing it for a longer time (6 weeks HL5 vs 1 week TMXi). I'll try to get used to the TMXi over the next weeks, since I like the additional spin on my FH. If I can't get used to the TMXi, I will revert back to the HL5.

Ok thank you for the insight, very helpful information. I’m now leaning more towards the HL5 now

 

[deepanmania]

Why not Xiom Ice Cream AZXi? I'm also using FZD ALC but when I used my friend's AZXi, its control was so good for me. I've tried Long 5 once and it gave me a dull feeling but AZXi is a very controlled and balanced racket, never tried TMXi.

 

[joshmak10]

Why not Xiom Ice Cream AZXi? I'm also using FZD ALC but when I used my friend's AZXi, its control was so good for me. I've tried Long 5 once and it gave me a dull feeling but AZXi is a very controlled and balanced racket, never tried TMXi.

The Ice cream series has been discontinued on most websites for a while now, so I can’t find one at a decent price

 

[deepanmania]

The Ice cream series has been discontinued on most websites for a while now, so I can’t find one at a decent price

Oh, I see, I'm not sure of that. I can still see it's listed on the XIOM's website.
I still don't understand why it's not a popular blade.

 

[Fedex78]

I own a TMXi which I use from time to time, and have used a TMXi Pro for a short period of time.

TMXi Pro:
Very good blade, great handle, a lot of power but you need to be phisically very strong cause the plate being 160x152mm with two inverted OFF/OFF+ rubbers (> 47,5° / 50°) the racket weights a lot (200gr +) and you'll seem to have a sail attached to your hand when doing topspin

TMXi:
For us mere mortals this is a nicely balanced blade, with enough speed and control. Think of it as an Ovtcharov ALC a bit slower and a bit more controlled, on BH mainly.

 

[joshmak10]

I own a TMXi which I use from time to time, and have used a TMXi Pro for a short period of time.

TMXi Pro:
Very good blade, great handle, a lot of power but you need to be phisically very strong cause the plate being 160x152mm with two inverted OFF/OFF+ rubbers (> 47,5° / 50°) the racket weights a lot (200gr +) and you'll seem to have a sail attached to your hand when doing topspin

TMXi:
For us mere mortals this is a nicely balanced blade, with enough speed and control. Think of it as an Ovtcharov ALC a bit slower and a bit more controlled, on BH mainly.

Sounds pretty promising for both versions? Any comparison to the Long 5 by any chance?

 

[joshmak10]

Oh, I see, I'm not sure of that. I can still see it's listed on the XIOM's website.
I still don't understand why it's not a popular blade.

Honestky I think it could be a really good blade for me too, but since i cannot get at a decent price, I have to look for other options like TMXi or Long 5