New Xiom Blades Series: Hugo Calderano and Lee Seungsoo (TMX / ALX)

[kevin.c]

During the YouTube live feed available in UK for the Harimoto match the commentator said he's using O7 Tour 😅


Nice to see them confirm this, other marketing makes it seem he's just using C55.

I find it quite funny they don't mention what blade he used though. Because.... Ahem...

View attachment 35988

Definitely not a TMXi or ALX.

Perhaps he's waiting for a break between target events to switch blades? If he plans to switch at all.

Now he is in the limelight, Xiom will definitely promote whatever blade that they want to sell. Hugo will probably use whatever he is using with a customised handle of the flagship model.

 

[fgarcia]

Quite interesting that everyone thinks that he plays HAL… his blade is clearly visible oversized and therefore no Standard HAL beside the handles

Sorry, but it doesn't make much sense to me. The idea in make EJ's like us to think that he, or any pro player is using a particular blade is to sell more. Well, HAL is discontinued, so what is the point?

Cheers!

 

[doppelmoral]

Sorry, but it doesn't make much sense to me. The idea in make EJ's like us to think that he, or any pro player is using a particular blade is to sell more. Well, HAL is discontinued, so what is the point?

Cheers!

Now he is in the limelight, Xiom will definitely promote whatever blade that they want to sell. Hugo will probably use whatever he is using with a customised handle of the flagship model.

I agree. Xiom has done alot of advertisement now on instagram, but only for his rubbers (C57.5 and C52.5). They havent mentioned his blade anywhere, even though two new models just came out.

This kinda shows to me that they dont want to promote the discontinued HAL that Hugo is probably still playing with.

 

[kevin.c]

I agree. Xiom has done alot of advertisement now on instagram, but only for his rubbers (C57.5 and C52.5). They havent mentioned his blade anywhere, even though two new models just came out.

This kinda shows to me that they dont want to promote the discontinued HAL that Hugo is probably still playing with.

Xiom produces excellent blades where many of us here have not only one but backup of the same blade. We will probably continue to get new versions because we trust the quality of the blade and not the player who is/or was using it. However, many TT players out there simply do not have much experience with Xiom products and they only know that Butterfly, DHS exists.

Hugo winning the world cup is probably Xiom biggest shot for a gigantic marketing promo in the recent years to increase brand presence. Xiom sponsored player beating the rest !

On a different topic, I've found the first review of the new Hugo ALX pro. From my limited grasp of Mandirin, the reviewer mentioned the blade is similar to a SALC blade with speed, power and control as well. Hopefully we can get a native speaker to provide a good accurate summary.

xiom骄猛2025新品雨果alx全网首发测评，脱缰野马，暴力十足，令人眼前一亮的顶级外置乒乓球底板_哔哩哔哩_bilibili

-, 视频播放量 10062、弹幕量 5、点赞数 134、投硬币枚数 38、收藏人数 51、转发人数 43, 视频作者 灵气乒坊101, 作者简介 做做测评，贴贴拍子 以最好的态度服务各位。 客户至上。 专业乒乓器材商，有兴趣可以加我微信聊聊。 dyb2006101 期待您的到来。 ，相关视频：骄猛 雨果 ALX PRO➕骄猛惊骇C55➕尼塔库Z2 Hammond 特注，世界杯冠军底板，骄猛雨果TMXI PRO换狂飙后试打报告，明显扎实厚重，骄猛雨果 alx ！手感无限接近蝴蝶林高远 alc！不会有蝴蝶 vis 退台掉球现象，下面是用雨果 alx...

www.bilibili.com

 

[NextLevel]

During the YouTube live feed available in UK for the Harimoto match the commentator said he's using O7 Tour 😅


Nice to see them confirm this, other marketing makes it seem he's just using C55.

I find it quite funny they don't mention what blade he used though. Because.... Ahem...

View attachment 35988

Definitely not a TMXi or ALX.

Perhaps he's waiting for a break between target events to switch blades? If he plans to switch at all.

Aren't these carbon blades? Hugo hates Carbon...

 

[Xiaoys]

Xiom produces excellent blades where many of us here have not only one but backup of the same blade. We will probably continue to get new versions because we trust the quality of the blade and not the player who is/or was using it. However, many TT players out there simply do not have much experience with Xiom products and they only know that Butterfly, DHS exists.

Hugo winning the world cup is probably Xiom biggest shot for a gigantic marketing promo in the recent years to increase brand presence. Xiom sponsored player beating the rest !

On a different topic, I've found the first review of the new Hugo ALX pro. From my limited grasp of Mandirin, the reviewer mentioned the blade is similar to a SALC blade with speed, power and control as well. Hopefully we can get a native speaker to provide a good accurate summary.

xiom骄猛2025新品雨果alx全网首发测评，脱缰野马，暴力十足，令人眼前一亮的顶级外置乒乓球底板_哔哩哔哩_bilibili

-, 视频播放量 10062、弹幕量 5、点赞数 134、投硬币枚数 38、收藏人数 51、转发人数 43, 视频作者 灵气乒坊101, 作者简介 做做测评，贴贴拍子 以最好的态度服务各位。 客户至上。 专业乒乓器材商，有兴趣可以加我微信聊聊。 dyb2006101 期待您的到来。 ，相关视频：骄猛 雨果 ALX PRO➕骄猛惊骇C55➕尼塔库Z2 Hammond 特注，世界杯冠军底板，骄猛雨果TMXI PRO换狂飙后试打报告，明显扎实厚重，骄猛雨果 alx ！手感无限接近蝴蝶林高远 alc！不会有蝴蝶 vis 退台掉球现象，下面是用雨果 alx...

www.bilibili.com

The uploader believes that under low power, the racket sounds quite clear and is very fast, with an arc similar to Ajh Tmxi pro. It also has enough power in mid-to-long range play, similar to Fan Zhendong's salc and Super viscaria. However, its close-range swing speed feels a bit slow and cumbersome.

 

[TIME]

I had four solid hours yesterday with my new Hugo TMXi Pro. Again, the weight is 85.6, and rubbers are Donic Bluestar A2 FH and Xiom Vega Pro H on BH.

I had an hour with my coach first. I asked him to help me with feedback on any perceived difference between my AJH and Hugo (same rubber on both). He said my ball seems the same with both blades. No perceived difference.

Later I had three hours of club play. I played one match with the AJH and the rest of the night with the Hugo. The biggest difference I can describe as a slightly sharper / crisper feel with the Hugo, and in comparison a slightly more muted feel with the AJH in terms of ball feedback. The first match with the Hugo I made 4-5 errors I usually don't make. Then my brain clicked in and the rest of the night it just felt like my blade. I played great and was not even thinking about the blade. My serves were very effective, but that might be because I was playing with new rubber. Overall, I'm very happy that I have a replacement for the AJH.

 

[doppelmoral]

I had four solid hours yesterday with my new Hugo TMXi Pro. Again, the weight is 85.6, and rubbers are Donic Bluestar A2 FH and Xiom Vega Pro H on BH.

I had an hour with my coach first. I asked him to help me with feedback on any perceived difference between my AJH and Hugo (same rubber on both). He said my ball seems the same with both blades. No perceived difference.

Later I had three hours of club play. I played one match with the AJH and the rest of the night with the Hugo. The biggest difference I can describe as a slightly sharper / crisper feel with the Hugo, and in comparison a slightly more muted feel with the AJH in terms of ball feedback. The first match with the Hugo I made 4-5 errors I usually don't make. Then my brain clicked in and the rest of the night it just felt like my blade. I played great and was not even thinking about the blade. My serves were very effective, but that might be because I was playing with new rubber. Overall, I'm very happy that I have a replacement for the AJH.

Regular AJH or AJH Pro?

thanks for the review

 

[TIME]

Regular AJH or AJH Pro?

thanks for the review

I used the regular AJH yesterday, but I own and have played quite a bit with an AJH Pro also.

 

[kevin.c]

I had four solid hours yesterday with my new Hugo TMXi Pro. Again, the weight is 85.6, and rubbers are Donic Bluestar A2 FH and Xiom Vega Pro H on BH.

I had an hour with my coach first. I asked him to help me with feedback on any perceived difference between my AJH and Hugo (same rubber on both). He said my ball seems the same with both blades. No perceived difference.

Later I had three hours of club play. I played one match with the AJH and the rest of the night with the Hugo. The biggest difference I can describe as a slightly sharper / crisper feel with the Hugo, and in comparison a slightly more muted feel with the AJH in terms of ball feedback. The first match with the Hugo I made 4-5 errors I usually don't make. Then my brain clicked in and the rest of the night it just felt like my blade. I played great and was not even thinking about the blade. My serves were very effective, but that might be because I was playing with new rubber. Overall, I'm very happy that I have a replacement for the AJH.

Thanks for the review, did you have the same rubbers with Ajh pro?

 

[Arkady]

I understand that the top is AJH TMXi Pro and bottom is Hugo TMXi Pro.
I'm more interested in comparison of AJH TMXi with AJH TMXi Pro.

But next week I'm getting my AJH TMXi Pro and I'll compare it myself with the normal version. I'll post close ups.
I'm really curious if there would be difference in core and plies thickness.

Just received my backup AJH TMXi and a brand new AJH TMXi Pro. I am posting close-ups to make a comparison of the plies.
On the bottom it's the normal AJH TMXi, on top is the AJH TMXi Pro

I don't have a calliper to measure the overall thickness if it's the same but the impression I get from the photos is this:
TMXi normal version has a thicker core ply and thinner outter plies, while the Pro Version is the exact opposite: Thinner core ply and thicker outside plies. What is your impression by the photos?

I haven't played the Pro version yet, so I don't really have an opinion if it plays differently than the normal version.

What amazed me though is this. The weight of the Pro version is 84.78gr while the weight of the normal version is 86.65gr! One would expect that due to the bigger head size the Pro version would be definitely heavier.
In both orders I asked the lighter they had in stock, but still, it's not normal.

I've seen Pro version with weight about 93gr. I'm not sure that deviations of about 9-10gr are normal for a blade...

 

[disaster3]

Can anyone clarify what is the purpose creating Viscaria type of blade with such big headsize? It will be really head heavy which will not be as fast in terms of transition FH<>BH close to the table as Viscaria is.
I try to understand this.... or maybe there is other reason unknown to me... I would be grateful for clarifaction

Hugo ALX Pro Surpreme (FL, ST) (outer)
Outer Veneer: Koto , Special Material: Axylium Carbon, Middle Layer: Ayous
Thickness: 5.8mm
Average Weight 83g
Headsize: 160x152
Country of Manufacture: Korea

 

[K.K]

bigger headsize doesn't automatically mean more headheavy and always depends on the woodmaker and the intention. you can have a non-hollowed handle or use a heavier wood to balance out the bigger headsize, so smaller headsize blades can feel head heavy too. then you have the rubbers also to counter the weight with something like xioms own lighter omega series. maybe this could have been an intend, too.
but playing wise a bigger headsize will feel less stiff and gives more power from distance and half distance play. but you will sacrifice agility over the table and the easy of use because more head heaviness is more strain on the wrist. that is the reason it says 'pro' because it is mostly for semi or professional use

 

[doppelmoral]

Just received my backup AJH TMXi and a brand new AJH TMXi Pro. I am posting close-ups to make a comparison of the plies.
On the bottom it's the normal AJH TMXi, on top is the AJH TMXi Pro

I don't have a calliper to measure the overall thickness if it's the same but the impression I get from the photos is this:
TMXi normal version has a thicker core ply and thinner outter plies, while the Pro Version is the exact opposite: Thinner core ply and thicker outside plies. What is your impression by the photos?

I haven't played the Pro version yet, so I don't really have an opinion if it plays differently than the normal version.

What amazed me though is this. The weight of the Pro version is 84.78gr while the weight of the normal version is 86.65gr! One would expect that due to the bigger head size the Pro version would be definitely heavier.
In both orders I asked the lighter they had in stock, but still, it's not normal.

I've seen Pro version with weight about 93gr. I'm not sure that deviations of about 9-10gr are normal for a blade...


View attachment 36051

View attachment 36052

Hi Arkady,
congratz for your new backup blades. And yes, your observations seem right: pro has thinner core and thicker middle ply, regular version has the opposite. I am surprised you received a 84g Pro version of AJH though.

I own three AJH TMXi Pro now (received my third blade today, all 88g, 1240-1260hz). I have a friend who also uses this blade and talked to few others that use AJH Pro. The weight range that I know of for FL is 88-95g. Average weight is 90g. The lightest ST I have heard of is 87g. In my opinion, its a good idea in general to have a blade that is close to nominal weight.

84g is extremely light, and I somehow cant imagine it will keep the good characteristics of AJH Pro, which replicates W968. Can you measure the frequency of the regular and the pro version?

Just my opinion: I would return the blade and ask for a piece that is closer to 90g. My preferred weight is 88g, it feels slightly less crisp and has more vibrations than the 90g+ version, but you get more control and still have good power. And, it lets me keep the overall weight of my setup at about 190g, which feels balanced.

Btw, I think we could move this discussion to the AJH blade thread, could be useful for anyone who will look up the blade. I thought AJH Pro is discontinued but for some reason TT11 got new stock of FL. I am not complaining though, glad I was able to pick up a third blade.

 

[Arkady]

Hi Arkady,
congratz for your new backup blades. And yes, your observations seem right: pro has thinner core and thicker middle ply, regular version has the opposite. I am surprised you received a 84g Pro version of AJH though.

I own three AJH TMXi Pro now (received my third blade today, all 88g, 1240-1260hz). I have a friend who also uses this blade and talked to few others that use AJH Pro. The weight range that I know of for FL is 88-95g. Average weight is 90g. The lightest ST I have heard of is 87g. In my opinion, its a good idea in general to have a blade that is close to nominal weight.

84g is extremely light, and I somehow cant imagine it will keep the good characteristics of AJH Pro, which replicates W968. Can you measure the frequency of the regular and the pro version?

Just my opinion: I would return the blade and ask for a piece that is closer to 90g. My preferred weight is 88g, it feels slightly less crisp and has more vibrations than the 90g+ version, but you get more control and still have good power. And, it lets me keep the overall weight of my setup at about 190g, which feels balanced.

Btw, I think we could move this discussion to the AJH blade thread, could be useful for anyone who will look up the blade. I thought AJH Pro is discontinued but for some reason TT11 got new stock of FL. I am not complaining though, glad I was able to pick up a third blade.

My AHJ TMXi Pro is 1292Hz and AJH TMXi (normal version) is 1399Hz.

Well, at first I had some reservations about the weight of the Pro (because it's very light indeed) but I decided to keep it. The reasons are that the bigger head means bigger rubbers size as well and the fact that I use glue sheets instead of normal glue that adds a little weight as well. Given the fact that I want a combo of max 186 to 188gr, I decided that the 84 grams might be good for me.

Yes, moving the thread to an exclusive one for AJH TMXi one is a good idea. Send a message to a mod to make the split.

 

[disaster3]

you know that you can put those Hz in the... I'm not an acoustician, but my friend has some knowledge in this field and he said that it makes sense if we compare 2 identical blades (i.e. 2x Viscarias or 2x AHJ TMXi Pro) to notice the differences.
If we compare 2 different blades (i.e. Viscaria and Harimoto ALC or AHJ TMXi Pro vs AJH TMXi (not Pro) , they have different dimensions, different thickness, then the one with more Hz does not have to be faster and its value has to be related to other blades.

He always laughed at me when I bought new blade and sent him some numbers (incl. Hz's).

This is just for the record from an amateur

 

[andzejgolot]

Nobilis 1730 Hz
OFF
Viscaria
1480 Hz
OFF+
I laugh at guys too.

 

[andzejgolot]

I dont see commercial HAL/ SAL here. The blade is thicker than 5,8 mm

 

[Robin0910]

I dont see commercial HAL/ SAL here. The blade is thicker than 5,8 mm
View attachment 36073

A guy just wrote about asking xiom customer service:
“I reached out to Xiom regarding Hugo HAL blade. They informed me that they will soon release details about the new blade that Hugo will be using moving forward (not HAL).”
I’m pretty sure either
a) he was already using this new blade
b) the new blade will be the same but renamed
c) he was and is still using HAL and his “new blade” will have replaced handles and he’ll keep using the HAL. If he really used that at the World Cup why would he change it?

 

[andzejgolot]

Yeah it looks like
- they discountined, lack of performance consistency he didnt use it long time
- he used different blades with handle
- handle stay the same = new composition
For me they will use the handle and new composition