Looping bat

says Aging is a killer
says Aging is a killer
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Oct 2011
1,547
1,366
3,910
Read 1 reviews
........If the OP is playing in what it looks like he is saying, then he should know a lot more about equipment than a lot of the forum, and he is likely a lot better player than most of the forum. There shouldn't be too many people who could advise better........

The specs of what OP is asking for are pretty contradictory and very general. What kind of blocking? What distance? Passive, Off bounce, off table, fast? Soft touch for a short serve return, but good performance at mid distance?

I would say get ablade that does well in the three things you do the most. You are not gunna get a blade that makes it easy to do everything well. If your bread and butter is banging it on FH and topspinning it on BH, get what suits that and and adjust your touch as time goes by. If your bread and butter is spinning it up a lot, go for equipment that gives you the best feel and consistency for a loop and trade that off for the other aspects.

Nope. Generally young cadets know very little about equipment. They just play with what is handed to them and/or copy what their better comrades are playing with.
You may also be surprised to learn that most coaches also don't know a lot of the various in and outs of different rubbers and blades. Sure there are EJ coaches around, but not many. IMO and experience of course.

The OP is here to learn, that's why he asked the question. You have umpteen years of amateur experience and fooling around with blades and rubbers. But guess what, you, me and many on this forum are a tiny minority of TT players...and coaches. Don't assume that because we EJs tend to congregate on TT forums that our overall experience is the same as other players.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
May 2013
1,462
1,546
4,081
Read 2 reviews
Well, to some extend thats right.
But when you say "even Timo Boll" it somewhat changes the area of exploration.
There are a lot of blades of different brands in the category that just can not loop.
Speaking of "Timo Boll" blades particularly, one may say that even the "Timo Boll OFF-" is a good looper, but that is different.


Just to be clear, "Timo Boll" in my post refers to the player, not the BTY blade range. With that out of the way, please name some of OFF- or OFF blades that "just can not loop".
 
This user has no status.
Hi, regarding the points that people were making about asking coaches, I have done that to only a couple of coaches and they recommend a couple of different blades such as 5 ply wood and 5 ply wood + 2 layers of carbon. However, I probably worded my original post wrong so although I know which types of blades to use, i wondered what blades the loopers on this site are using so i can look into individual blades such as the xiom zx3 which somebody has recommended.so here is the updated question to avoid confusion; which individual blades ( not blade brackets) are good for loopinh
 
This user has no status.
Also to clear things up as I was pretty generic just saying that I was a junior, I think I know alot about blade properties e.g. difference between wood types, however I don't have the experience using so many blades that many people on these forums have, so therefore I don't know which individual blades are the best of the bunch for looping , which is why I decided to open this thread. Any answers about the blades that loopers were using would be appreciated. Also, coaches that I have asked seem to tell me more what types of blades to use not which individual ones to use. They just say that I need to try them all out, however I need to know which ones to try out, another reason for opening the thread. Also, apologies for how common this thread type probably is, but I am new to the site and wanted to know the opinions about this subject
Thanks
Joe
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ioiettino
says Варна
says Варна
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Apr 2017
2,222
1,051
3,975
Just to be clear, "Timo Boll" in my post refers to the player, not the BTY blade range. With that out of the way, please name some of OFF- or OFF blades that "just can not loop".

For example the 3+2 ply Palio 002 can not loop, but the faster 7+4 ply Palio V1 is a very good looper.
The number and type of wood and carbon plyes and the speed range as well may give a very general information about expected properties, but sometimes the truth is different. The Xiom ZX3 is OFF+ and is a very good looper, Xion Vega Tour is almost OFF+ and is a very good looper and for me has a better touch over and near the table.
So I would recomend to OP to try and compare the 5ply Xiom Off S, 7 ply Xiom Solo and Xiom Vega Tour/ZX3. All these are good loopers, but aside looping play and feel differently.
 

NDH

says Spin to win!

NDH

says Spin to win!
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Moderator
Feb 2016
1,589
2,715
4,912
Read 3 reviews
Also to clear things up as I was pretty generic just saying that I was a junior, I think I know alot about blade properties e.g. difference between wood types, however I don't have the experience using so many blades that many people on these forums have, so therefore I don't know which individual blades are the best of the bunch for looping , which is why I decided to open this thread. Any answers about the blades that loopers were using would be appreciated. Also, coaches that I have asked seem to tell me more what types of blades to use not which individual ones to use. They just say that I need to try them all out, however I need to know which ones to try out, another reason for opening the thread. Also, apologies for how common this thread type probably is, but I am new to the site and wanted to know the opinions about this subject
Thanks
Joe

Hi Joe, no need to apologies - I think people jump to conclusions about similar threads, because 99% of the time they end up being a complete waste.

However, in your case, I can see exactly where you are coming from, and why you are asking.

If you can try a few different types of blade (ALC vs ZLC in the butterfly range), you might be able to narrow your search down quite a bit.

I use a ZLC blade, but it's probably a touch too quick, so I'll be looking for something a bit slower (or maybe just slower rubbers).

A lot of the Butterfly ALC and ZLC range will be good.

As will many many other branded blades designed for attacking.

Out of interest, what were the blades your coaches recommended?
 
  • Like
Reactions: mart1nandersson
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Dec 2016
496
392
1,723
Dude, these kind of threads are killing me. There must be 823 threads like this and one pops up every week. Usually goes something like this. It is pretty much a modern virus common to every TT forum to more or less degree. Greg Letts is sure to include this in hiz next TT parody video cartoon.



The first question someone would ask is "Are you for real? You don't know what a common blade/rubber does?" OK, maybe coach just handed the player a bat and said use it... such a thing happens so maybe the poster really doesn't know. So... no issue asking, a forum is a great place to ask stuff.

The next question to be asked is "Since you are around a coach, what has coach said? Why did you not believe or listen to coach? What have the better players near you said? What have the better vets said to you? Why haven't you listened? Did you burn bridges with that crowd?

What I personally never understand is if there are coaches and vets nearby, there is a good source of guidance.

Maybe I could understand if the question is phrased "I am not really sure about what my trouble maker coach or vets are recommending and would like to check the checker to be sure they are not pulling my leg."

That last situation is understandable.

This thread is a little different and even funnier. If the OP is playing in what it looks like he is saying, then he should know a lot more about equipment than a lot of the forum, and he is likely a lot better player than most of the forum. There shouldn't be too many people who could advise better.

The specs of what OP is asking for are pretty contradictory and very general. What kind of blocking? What distance? Passive, Off bounce, off table, fast? Soft touch for a short serve return, but good performance at mid distance?

I would say get ablade that does well in the three things you do the most. You are not gunna get a blade that makes it easy to do everything well. If your bread and butter is banging it on FH and topspinning it on BH, get what suits that and and adjust your touch as time goes by. If your bread and butter is spinning it up a lot, go for equipment that gives you the best feel and consistency for a loop and trade that off for the other aspects.

I think this is pretty unnecessary, although others have answered it better than I would.
It doesn't take much to ignore these threads if you'd rather, or to ask the OP any of your questions (in a kind manner, that is - he's a cadet) if you genuinely feel like answering him in return.
One thing I want to add about this kind of threads, and the reason I came back to answer: there are always a lot more readers than posters in general, and I feel it doesn't hurt to mention the merits of any piece of equipment in general terms, for everyone's benefit. Yes there is a strong subjective aspect to it, and no it won't always be perfect and on point, but that's also one of the pleasures in TT for those so inclined. And, for a great many members, that is the one thing that will bring them to this forum and others such like. The way people answer is most likely the thing that will determine whether or not they stay and delve into other subjects, not to mention other readers who may feel like posting and haven't done it yet. Not everyone feels quite so comfortable exposing their views to the rest of the world.

Sorry about the tone.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Feb 2018
1,088
756
2,410
Read 2 reviews
Nope. Generally young cadets know very little about equipment. They just play with what is handed to them and/or copy what their better comrades are playing with.

That's exactly my experience as well. I play in club which is cluttered with Swedish youth champs and most of them (i.e. the really good cadets) play with what their coaches has told them to get (which usually is quite low end stuff that they should upgrade from considering their level of play). Most of them get really curious when they realise that I'm a major EJ and want to borrow my setups. It's like a whole new world to them.

(Yes, EJ'ing is bad and I would probably increase my gameplay from poor to mediocre if I stopped abusing equipment but it's bizarre to see a 14 year old Swedish champ playing with Stiga Cobra glued on to a Stiga ALL)
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Tinykin
This user has no status.
Hi Joe, no need to apologies - I think people jump to conclusions about similar threads, because 99% of the time they end up being a complete waste.

However, in your case, I can see exactly where you are coming from, and why you are asking.

If you can try a few different types of blade (ALC vs ZLC in the butterfly range), you might be able to narrow your search down quite a bit.

I use a ZLC blade, but it's probably a touch too quick, so I'll be looking for something a bit slower (or maybe just slower rubbers).

A lot of the Butterfly ALC and ZLC range will be good.

As will many many other branded blades designed for attacking.

Out of interest, what were the blades your coaches recommended?

They recommended the Rossi emotion but that was the only one. I used it for the first time today paired with t05 on either side and it plays like a dream on the forehand but I cant get to grips with it on rhe backhand which was most likely down to texhnique. I will probably glue on a sheet of evo mxp this week and see how it goes, if not then I might try hurricane 3 even though it is best suited as a forehand rubber
 
says Spin and more spin.
says Spin and more spin.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Moderator
Dec 2010
16,640
18,535
56,964
Read 11 reviews
For a decently high level player who wants a carbon blade that is good for looping, a Butterfly Innerforce ZLC (Butterfly Apolonia) might be excellent. Limba top ply and carbon closer to the core would give you the grab and feel of limba with the speed of the composite ply.

You could also try a DHS ML 5 or an 896 blade. Those are excellent as well. Those are Limba with the ALC layer near the core.
 
  • Like
Reactions: laistrogian
This user has no status.
For a decently high level player who wants a carbon blade that is good for looping, a Butterfly Innerforce ZLC (Butterfly Apolonia) might be excellent. Limba top ply and carbon closer to the core would give you the grab and feel of limba with the speed of the composite ply.

You could also try a DHS ML 5 or an 896 blade. Those are excellent as well. Those are Limba with the ALC layer near the core.
Yinhe 896?
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Sep 2015
170
61
233
I love my Yinhe 896 as recommended by Der echte and Carl. Great bat for looping. Just bought a new one as a backup from ttequipment.co.uk as it's the first time I have seen one from a UK based supplier. Had to email though as it's not currently on the site.
 
Last edited:
says 2023 Certified Organ Donor
says 2023 Certified Organ Donor
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Sep 2011
13,493
14,299
32,463
Read 27 reviews
I love my Yinhe 896 as recommended by Der echte and Carl. Great bat for looping. Just bought a new one as a backup from ttequipment.co.uk as it's the first time I have seen one from a UK based supplier. Had to email though as it's not currently on the site.
The 896 is an easy looping fallback blade for me which I use in between main setups. I frequently recommend this blade to all round OFF players who want to build a very usable bat on the cheap.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 
Top