Someting similar to Xiom HAL?

[Peppa Pig]

Does anyone perhaps know if there is an inexpensive Chinese blade with a construction similar to the Xiom Calderano HAL (Koto top layers and a woven fiber instead of carbon fiber)?
I've been tempted by the HAL blade for a while but as I've never played with Koto I'd prefer to test such a configuration beforehand without spending a lot of cash.

 

[jk1980]

In terms of outer koto and non carbon fibre, the xiom zl pro comes to mind, but here the fibre is as an inner construction while the hal is an outer fibre blade. I know xiom is not Chinese, but at least it is half the price of the hal often enough

 

[Manto76]

According to TT Gearlab, the Donic Persson PowerPlay has similar characteristics:

Basically what these numbers indicate is that the Hugo HAL is faster than the PPP, and that it feels very slightly harder, but that their playing characteristics are almost identical.

Given that you can probably pick up a PPP at around EUR30, it may be worth a try?

See links below for the TT Gearlab numbers used above:

Performance Indices DB – DHS & Donic & Joola Blades

Note : All values are average values, and can be updated by further measurement. androAvaloxButterflyDHSDonicJoolaKTSNittakuStigaTibharVictasXiomYasakaYinhe DHS & Donic / Outer NameAvg.Wt (g)Ep…

ttgearlab.com

Performance Indices DB – Victas & Xiom Blades

Note : All values are average values, and can be updated by further measurement. androAvaloxButterflyDHSDonicJoolaKTSNittakuStigaTibharVictasXiomYasakaYinhe Victas & Xiom / Outer Fiber NameAvg.…

ttgearlab.com

 

[disaster3]

Does anyone perhaps know if there is an inexpensive Chinese blade with a construction similar to the Xiom Calderano HAL (Koto top layers and a woven fiber instead of carbon fiber)?
I've been tempted by the HAL blade for a while but as I've never played with Koto I'd prefer to test such a configuration beforehand without spending a lot of cash.

At this moment there are two blades. Timo Boll ZLF from butterfly and Victas ZX Gear-Fiber. Both are outer construction with fiber w/o carbon and with standard head size 157x150.

 

[Peppa Pig]

In terms of outer koto and non carbon fibre, the xiom zl pro comes to mind, but here the fibre is as an inner construction while the hal is an outer fibre blade. I know xiom is not Chinese, but at least it is half the price of the hal often enough

Thanks, the blade seems interesting indeed. And this series is manufactured in China, which is probably why its price is much lower than the HAL.

 

[Silver Server]

Another alternative without fiber is Butterfly Falcima. About the third of the price of HAL, probably just as fast, but with a touch more dwell.

 

[mikeytt]

Not extremely cheap but perhaps Xiom hayabusa ZL pro? it's a fibre rather than a carbon i assume it is similar to the HAL but havent used HAL before. i played with zl pro for a while its nice, very lightweight mine was 80g

 

[Peppa Pig]

Not extremely cheap but perhaps Xiom hayabusa ZL pro? it's a fibre rather than a carbon i assume it is similar to the HAL but havent used HAL before. i played with zl pro for a while its nice, very lightweight mine was 80g

Please, can you tell me if this blade is significantly slower than Innerforce ALC?
80g is the perfect weight for me, as I have some injuries and can't use heavy blade (my current blade also weighs 80g).

 

[mikeytt]

Please, can you tell me if this blade is significantly slower than Innerforce ALC?
80g is the perfect weight for me, as I have some injuries and can't use heavy blade (my current blade also weighs 80g).

i didn't feel a big difference in speed close to the table, but where i felt the blade lacks a bit is when i was far from the table doing fh topspin to topspin and things like that, i didnt feel much power in the ball. maybe i wasn't used to using such a light setup? i'd never used a blade this light before so my opinion might be bias.

for close to table play this blade is excellent with nice speed, i would still use it if i didnt like to go back from table sometimes. overall i liked using this blade and think its worth a try

ps: im not sure if my blade was abnormally light so double check with your retailer that 80g is a weight they can supply

 

[K.K]

since i play hugo HAL i can attest you that donic PPP plays nothing like it. HAL is way stiffer and way faster with a lower trajectory. HAL plays more like an easier to play outer carbon blade while PPP plays like a slighty stiffer 5ply allwood. Falcima same as PPP but stiffer and faster... still an allwood blade bounce and trajectory. the only real close thing is timo boll ZLF but for me HAL has more pop and zip and better support in half distance, while ZLF felt a bit dry and empty. the reason i chose it over ZLF (besides the better handle of HAL)

when i tried zylon compared to arylate blades, i noticed that they have way more catapult and bounce, same with innercarbon compared to outercarbon. so if you would get the xiom ZL pro i can imagine that it will play really different compared to HAL just because the different construction.

maybe you could try those CNF blades, they have mostly same construction but instead of dark limba like HAL they have ayous as third layer, so we could think they will be more flexible and with less power in half distance and if you want a light one you will have problems to find one that doesn't feel empty. but take that with a grain of salt since i never played with one. i think there is one blade by LOKI that is CNF if i remember correctly, maybe you can ask in the loki chat if someone played with it. most cnf blades tend to cost a fortune

 

[ML fan]

since i play hugo HAL i can attest you that donic PPP plays nothing like it. HAL is way stiffer and way faster with a lower trajectory. HAL plays more like an easier to play outer carbon blade while PPP plays like a slighty stiffer 5ply allwood. Falcima same as PPP but stiffer and faster... still an allwood blade bounce and trajectory. the only real close thing is timo boll ZLF but for me HAL has more pop and zip and better support in half distance, while ZLF felt a bit dry and empty. the reason i chose it over ZLF (besides the better handle of HAL)

when i tried zylon compared to arylate blades, i noticed that they have way more catapult and bounce, same with innercarbon compared to outercarbon. so if you would get the xiom ZL pro i can imagine that it will play really different compared to HAL just because the different construction.

maybe you could try those CNF blades, they have mostly same construction but instead of dark limba like HAL they have ayous as third layer, so we could think they will be more flexible and with less power in half distance and if you want a light one you will have problems to find one that doesn't feel empty. but take that with a grain of salt since i never played with one. i think there is one blade by LOKI that is CNF if i remember correctly, maybe you can ask in the loki chat if someone played with it. most cnf blades tend to cost a fortune

I am using Loki CNF. Of all the blades I have tried(allwood,ALC, ZLC, Super zlc, Carbon, w968 and more.. ) I love the feel of CNF. Best in short games, dont lack power on attacks. However, ai want a blade with a good brand for aesthetics and quality, or whatever reason. That is why I am here about Hugo Hal. Also reading about revoldia and Fzd cnf, Stiga Dynasty Carbon, or Nittaku acoustic allwood.

 

[rbtitco]

since i play hugo HAL i can attest you that donic PPP plays nothing like it. HAL is way stiffer and way faster with a lower trajectory. HAL plays more like an easier to play outer carbon blade while PPP plays like a slighty stiffer 5ply allwood. Falcima same as PPP but stiffer and faster... still an allwood blade bounce and trajectory. the only real close thing is timo boll ZLF but for me HAL has more pop and zip and better support in half distance, while ZLF felt a bit dry and empty. the reason i chose it over ZLF (besides the better handle of HAL)

when i tried zylon compared to arylate blades, i noticed that they have way more catapult and bounce, same with innercarbon compared to outercarbon. so if you would get the xiom ZL pro i can imagine that it will play really different compared to HAL just because the different construction.

maybe you could try those CNF blades, they have mostly same construction but instead of dark limba like HAL they have ayous as third layer, so we could think they will be more flexible and with less power in half distance and if you want a light one you will have problems to find one that doesn't feel empty. but take that with a grain of salt since i never played with one. i think there is one blade by LOKI that is CNF if i remember correctly, maybe you can ask in the loki chat if someone played with it. most cnf blades tend to cost a fortune

I was kind of wondering about Revoldia, too. Anyone here that can compare that to HAL?

 

[ML fan]

I was kind of wondering about Revoldia, too. Anyone here that can compare that to HAL?

Yeah. But they are quite expensive..that's why we need to make sure

 

[haggisv]

since i play hugo HAL i can attest you that donic PPP plays nothing like it. HAL is way stiffer and way faster with a lower trajectory. HAL plays more like an easier to play outer carbon blade while PPP plays like a slighty stiffer 5ply allwood.

That does make me wonder about the value of the TT Gearlab measurement parameters. Perhaps the small differences in their numbers are far more significant that they appear to be?

 

[K.K]

i recently went to the butterfly store to try some rubbers and tried the new outerforce alc and the fzd cnf. the cnf has so much catapult it felt more like a very stiff 5 ply blade. was hard to control and the outerforce alc suited me way more. the trajectory was just a bit flat compared to my hugo hal. my xiom blade had way more feeling to. i found the alc too thick for it‘s softness.
both are no alternatives for hugo hal…

 

[K.K]

That does make me wonder about the value of the TT Gearlab measurement parameters. Perhaps the small differences in their numbers are far more significant that they appear to be?

i wonder that too! i feel like there are some things that are still missing even though the ttgearlab helps a lot. trajectory, catapult and kick by the fibre is one thing. and the other is feeling of handle, wood quality and fibre.

 

[xeNTric]

i recently went to the butterfly store to try some rubbers and tried the new outerforce alc and the fzd cnf. the cnf has so much catapult it felt more like a very stiff 5 ply blade. was hard to control and the outerforce alc suited me way more. the trajectory was just a bit flat compared to my hugo hal. my xiom blade had way more feeling to. i found the alc too thick for it‘s softness.
both are no alternatives for hugo hal…

What about the Outerforce CAF, did you have a chance to look at it?

Even though the scores don't tell the whole story, the TTGearLab ratings on both Elasticity and Vibration on the Outerforce CAF are very close to the ones also stated by them on the Hugo HAL

 

[K.K]

What about the Outerforce CAF, did you have a chance to look at it?

Even though the scores don't tell the whole story, the TTGearLab ratings on both Elasticity and Vibration on the Outerforce CAF are very close to the ones also stated by them on the Hugo HAL

that seams weird, the outerforce alc wasn‘t so much faster then the hugo hal. the butterfly shop person said the caf is way slower. and without the alc it would be even softer and thicker too. way to soft and thick for my taste resulting in less feeling for the ball, but i can just assume because i didn‘t tried the caf. i don‘t know the weight of both blades i tried, maybe the alc was pretty light

 

[ML fan]

i recently went to the butterfly store to try some rubbers and tried the new outerforce alc and the fzd cnf. the cnf has so much catapult it felt more like a very stiff 5 ply blade. was hard to control and the outerforce alc suited me way more. the trajectory was just a bit flat compared to my hugo hal. my xiom blade had way more feeling to. i found the alc too thick for it‘s softness.
both are no alternatives for hugo hal…

Hello. Thank you for your review here. Maybe you could help me choose a blade. For few years being a junkie, I am closing in to the blade that I want.. I like:
1. Crisp Blade
2. Excellent short games
3. Spinny serves and shots
4. Not lack power too
5. With good feeling or feedback or vibration

And to my research and some testing, it boils down to these choices:
1. CNF
2. Nittaku Acoustic
3. Stiga Dynasty Carbon
4. Xiom Hugo Hal
or if ever, Viscaria

Can anybody comment on this?
Thank you!!

 

[K.K]

Hello. Thank you for your review here. Maybe you could help me choose a blade. For few years being a junkie, I am closing in to the blade that I want.. I like:
1. Crisp Blade
2. Excellent short games
3. Spinny serves and shots
4. Not lack power too
5. With good feeling or feedback or vibration

And to my research and some testing, it boils down to these choices:
1. CNF
2. Nittaku Acoustic
3. Stiga Dynasty Carbon
4. Xiom Hugo Hal
or if ever, Viscaria

Can anybody comment on this?
Thank you!!

xiom hugo hal is not a crisp blade as most of the blades on your list except for dynasty, so you should look for one of the many classic viscaria-style blades then.