My Xiom Axelo setup

[NextLevel]

I like the grab effect of Hinoki - I briefly played with an American Hinoki one-ply (it split eventually of course) and it was the main reason I liked the Rossi Emotion - in fact, I think the Rossi Emotion with an ALC weave would be a fantastic blade and a huge bestseller, even more than the current Rossi Emotion is. I have no problem with them mixing it with other wood plies, especially if hinoki is a thin outer ply.

I gave up on Butterfly blades because of the lack of straight handles at Butterfly NA and the prices. I kept looking at their blades and couldn't justify the prices even on the rare occasions I paid them. With a better selection/production scheme, I would probably have 2 Mazunovs by now and some Michael Maze blades.

Will definitely grab a multi-ply hinoki and test if I see a user at a tournament. I used to love Balsa coming up. It took me a lot of work to wean myself off it and get back into the land of regular blades. Now I use stuff that is heavy enough to make many people complain.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Yep. That grab is what I am talking about. For me, I always feel it is better when the whole blade is Hinoki. I don't like Butterfly either. But those blades I described, they are not made any more and they were special. If any other brand makes a thin 5 ply Hinoki blade I am sure it would have that same thing.

But I bet the thin 7 ply Darker blade feels really good too.


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[AndySmith]

I like the grab effect of Hinoki - I briefly played with an American Hinoki one-ply (it split eventually of course) and it was the main reason I liked the Rossi Emotion - in fact, I think the Rossi Emotion with an ALC weave would be a fantastic blade and a huge bestseller, even more than the current Rossi Emotion is.

I still love the JRE - great blade. I wonder if sticking ALC in there would result in too much damping and end up with a bad feel, but it could still be amazing. The Nexy Arirang is a hinoki/ALC 5+2 blade and had good feel, so probably nothing to worry about.

 

[NextLevel]

I still love the JRE - great blade. I wonder if sticking ALC in there would result in too much damping and end up with a bad feel, but it could still be amazing. The Nexy Arirang is a hinoki/ALC 5+2 blade and had good feel, so probably nothing to worry about.

That is possible but I doubt it. The biggest problems with the blade come from me when I hit hard - I feel like I am playing with something completely different from how it plays on my 60-70% shots, which is where I usually am topspinning close to the table. I don't think the dampeners are as influential at low impact - it's one of the reasons I don't mind Innerforce ALCs or Hurricane Longs.

In any case, I am stuck with the Loop King for now. BTW, I opened the last set of Big Dipper sheets I had from the very first batch (a batch I refused to open because of all the QC issues that followed) and as you can see from the video, using it makes me depressed a little to think of what could have been. It made me nostalgic enough to place another order for 38 deg from Cole and hope.

 

[AndySmith]

That is possible but I doubt it. The biggest problems with the blade come from me when I hit hard - I feel like I am playing with something completely different from how it plays on my 60-70% shots, which is where I usually am topspinning close to the table. I don't think the dampeners are as influential at low impact - it's one of the reasons I don't mind Innerforce ALCs or Hurricane Longs.

In any case, I am stuck with the Loop King for now. BTW, I opened the last set of Big Dipper sheets I had from the very first batch (a batch I refused to open because of all the QC issues that followed) and as you can see from the video, using it makes me depressed a little to think of what could have been. It made me nostalgic enough to place another order for 38 deg from Cole and hope.

True, when the fibre is next to the core it helps a lot. I'm sticking with my WSC for now, but often wonder what an ALC version of it would be like. I should give the IF-ALC a try I suppose, but I'm irrationally anti-Butterfly these days.

Just saying the words "Big" and "Dipper" are triggers for me these days. Opening up some bad old wounds there mate. I still hope that they produce a Provincial version one day and I could rely on the QC. Those first 38 degree batches were something else...

 

[Machine_Head]

Andy, do the new batches of 38 degree BD play bad? I am planning to order a couple of sheets from Hong Kong.

 

[AndySmith]

Andy, do the new batches of 38 degree BD play bad? I am planning to order a couple of sheets from Hong Kong.

This is a bit OT, but since you're the OP I hope you can FM (forgive me).

What made BD work for me was the balance of the 38 degree sheet - topsheet not too tacky, sponge not too hard, etc. The first 38s were just perfect for me - supernatural. But then more recent batches labelled up as 38 degree were much harder and BD became more like a typical chinese rubber for me then. I tried 3 different suppliers but they were all much harder than the original batch of 38s I had.

Of course, YMMV. You may like a harder sponge on BD, or very recent batches might be softer once again. I just don't like the uncertainty and have moved on.

 

[Machine_Head]

Thanks for the info Andy.

My hand is itching to play but unfortunately I won't be able to go near a table for at least a week. I contracted viral conjunctivitis. What a bummer...

But I was able to hit a few balls with my gf yesterday despite of my impaired vision. Doing slow spiny shots are not a problem with the Axelo. I think you just have to be conscious with how much power you put out. I guess one thing about fast blades that attracted me to them was the potential power at your reserve.

 

[NextLevel]

MachineHead, do you play tournaments?

 

[Machine_Head]

No I don't play tournaments yet.

 

[NextLevel]

No I don't play tournaments yet.

OK, but at least you have a club where you play good players?

All this talk about Hinoki, BTW, has made me glue up my Vega Tour. That Hinoki feel is really something else. I will give it a work out tomorrow evening at the club.

 

[Machine_Head]

Yes. A lot of young players there are varsity players of the school they go to. Playing with them is a good gauge on how far i have come. When i started there the score was usually 3-11. But now i can score as much as 8-11 and even winning some a set or two.

NextLevel, what is it about hinoki top plies that you like? Is it the "grab" feeling you mentioned a few posts back? How would you describe that "grab" feeling?

 

[fais]

Does the YEO qualify as a blade that can help one develop better feel/technique? I was very inconsistent with the YEO7P, but switching back to YEO i feel a huge difference. Im not enitrely sure if its just my preference in lighter blades or the feedback i get with an "aged" YEO.

I have an intensity nct, prepped for gluing (sealed) but dont have rubbers for it yet. I may just wait a bit.

 

[AndySmith]

All this talk about Hinoki, BTW, has made me glue up my Vega Tour.

Finally. Although I was hoping you'd sell it to me for $40 without ever trying it out.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

Finally. Although I was hoping you'd sell it to me for $40 without ever trying it out.

Hahahaha. Love it. Sorry for bringing up the idea of how Hinoki plays.


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[NextLevel]

Does the YEO qualify as a blade that can help one develop better feel/technique? I was very inconsistent with the YEO7P, but switching back to YEO i feel a huge difference. Im not enitrely sure if its just my preference in lighter blades or the feedback i get with an "aged" YEO.

I have an intensity nct, prepped for gluing (sealed) but dont have rubbers for it yet. I may just wait a bit.

How do you do with limba blades? Your blades seem to be mostly hard contact blades.

 

[NextLevel]

Yes. A lot of young players there are varsity players of the school they go to. Playing with them is a good gauge on how far i have come. When i started there the score was usually 3-11. But now i can score as much as 8-11 and even winning some a set or two.

NextLevel, what is it about hinoki top plies that you like? Is it the "grab" feeling you mentioned a few posts back? How would you describe that "grab" feeling?

It's vibrations and bounce really really. Hinoki is too bouncy as a thick upper ply but as a thin outer, you get the vibrations with less bounce. It does okay with a thin outer ply and then hinoki in the inner plies as well.

 

[fais]

How do you do with limba blades? Your blades seem to be mostly hard contact blades.

Good question, i don't know. My first blade was a stiga oc, which i didn't like at the time (it broke, so i can't go back and retry ). I am an offensive looper and I play with chinese rubbers, as such i've found harder blades feel better to me. What would be a good cheap limba blade to try that would work well with tacky chinese rubbers?

 

[NextLevel]

Good question, i don't know. My first blade was a stiga oc, which i didn't like at the time (it broke, so i can't go back and retry ). I am an offensive looper and I play with chinese rubbers, as such i've found harder blades feel better to me. What would be a good cheap limba blade to try that would work well with tacky chinese rubbers?

Limba blades as part of all wood tend to be cheap but it depends on the speed and brand. Cheapest I bought was Dawei Quattro Limba but the balance is not as good as the feel. I play with Chinese rubbers often as well (Big Dipper), but I have never liked hard woods because I like the feeling of dwell.