This user has no status.
New Member
Hi all, this is my first post.
I wanted to bring up a discussion on throw angle and BLADES, not just rubbers. I've been playing for 4 years, and have been slightly modifying my equipment every once in a while, generally using soft all+ blades while trying a few different rubber styles (inverted). Recently, I decided to switch to a higher quality, slightly faster blade. So I did and I was shocked at the difference in throw angles, using the same rubbers.
BEFORE- blade: Yinhe n10 (all+) fh: DHS Hurricane 3 provincial (not neo) bh: Donic Baracuda
If you've ever played with Baracuda, you know it's pretty spinny and has a very high throw angle (at least with yinhe n10). I felt out of control whenever I was blocking on my backhand, having to really close the angle of the face. Same for pretty much every other topspin shot. Forehand with H3 was pretty slow and veeery easy to block with a pretty low throw angle (with yinhe n10). I could also really close the face and loop when I wanted to, really brushing the ball, thanks to the tackiness (I think).
AFTER- blade: Stiga Intensity nct fh+bh: same as before
The Stiga blade is slightly heavier ~5g, and has a stiffer outer ply than the crappy Yinhe n10 which is fairly soft.
I was expecting my backhand to be even more out of control, considering it's a 'faster' blade, however, the throw angle was much lower than before. Suddenly it became very controlable. It was quite the revelation. On the contrary, the throw angle was higher on the hurricane, although not so drastically. Speed difference overall was only slightly faster, which was nice.
Here's what I think is happening, and I'd like to see what others think about it as well. I make the assumption that the stiffer blade generally reduces dwell time on both of the rubbers. On eu/jp style Baracuda, it prevents incoming spin from taking too much effect. The spinning ball just has less time to grip. However, with the chinese style Hurricane, I think less dwell time prevents the sticky topsheet from taking too much effect, relying only on the characteristics of the rubber and sponge (not tackiness). At least in blocking, it felt more like all the other european rubbers I have played with, higher throw. I think that before I switched the blade, the tackiness would hold on longer (like capturing the ball), and then project the ball back more perpendicular to the blade (lower throw angle).
Conclusions:
For non tacky rubbers, a softer blade will increase throw angle.
For tacky rubbers, a softer blade will decrease throw angle.
Please share your thoughts, explanations, or relevant experiences! Maybe point me to similar threads that talk more in depth about this stuff.
I wanted to bring up a discussion on throw angle and BLADES, not just rubbers. I've been playing for 4 years, and have been slightly modifying my equipment every once in a while, generally using soft all+ blades while trying a few different rubber styles (inverted). Recently, I decided to switch to a higher quality, slightly faster blade. So I did and I was shocked at the difference in throw angles, using the same rubbers.
BEFORE- blade: Yinhe n10 (all+) fh: DHS Hurricane 3 provincial (not neo) bh: Donic Baracuda
If you've ever played with Baracuda, you know it's pretty spinny and has a very high throw angle (at least with yinhe n10). I felt out of control whenever I was blocking on my backhand, having to really close the angle of the face. Same for pretty much every other topspin shot. Forehand with H3 was pretty slow and veeery easy to block with a pretty low throw angle (with yinhe n10). I could also really close the face and loop when I wanted to, really brushing the ball, thanks to the tackiness (I think).
AFTER- blade: Stiga Intensity nct fh+bh: same as before
The Stiga blade is slightly heavier ~5g, and has a stiffer outer ply than the crappy Yinhe n10 which is fairly soft.
I was expecting my backhand to be even more out of control, considering it's a 'faster' blade, however, the throw angle was much lower than before. Suddenly it became very controlable. It was quite the revelation. On the contrary, the throw angle was higher on the hurricane, although not so drastically. Speed difference overall was only slightly faster, which was nice.
Here's what I think is happening, and I'd like to see what others think about it as well. I make the assumption that the stiffer blade generally reduces dwell time on both of the rubbers. On eu/jp style Baracuda, it prevents incoming spin from taking too much effect. The spinning ball just has less time to grip. However, with the chinese style Hurricane, I think less dwell time prevents the sticky topsheet from taking too much effect, relying only on the characteristics of the rubber and sponge (not tackiness). At least in blocking, it felt more like all the other european rubbers I have played with, higher throw. I think that before I switched the blade, the tackiness would hold on longer (like capturing the ball), and then project the ball back more perpendicular to the blade (lower throw angle).
Conclusions:
For non tacky rubbers, a softer blade will increase throw angle.
For tacky rubbers, a softer blade will decrease throw angle.
Please share your thoughts, explanations, or relevant experiences! Maybe point me to similar threads that talk more in depth about this stuff.
