Tibhar H-1-9/Darker Speed 90/Armstrong Compress 5/Miyabi

[Genki]

I am a shakehand player and I 1 ply hinoki enthusiasts: I play a Darker Speed 90 with Razka Z rubber and it works great for me. I've been looking for a backup blade and it's near impossible to buy Darker Speed 90 nowadays.

I bought this blade following blades in my search for Hinoki Nirvana:

• Miyabi with Razka Z
• Armstrong Compress 5 with Z
• Tibhar H-1-9 with Z
• Masamune with Bluefire M2 / M3

1. Tibhar H-1-9 was a dud it felt like spaghetti. The feeling of this blade was weird like playing with one of those swimming pool noodles. I didn't like the feeling at all. I think I will have to sell this blade.
2. Armstrong Compress plays really nicely and very close to my Darker but the feeling is a little but different. Not better or worst just different. It feels heavy because I think it's balanced differently to the Darker.
3. Miyabi good blade plays more linear and direct and not as much feeling. Good balance feel.
4. Masamune with Bluefire. The jury is still out on this blade because I don't think the Bluefire rubber is working but it doesn't suck. It feels balance in the hand but I can't seem to generate the same amount of spin as the Darker.

Just wondering if anyone out there has had experience with these blades and would like to share and discuss.

 

[hinokihigh]

Any reason you went with Armstrong Compress 5 instead of Super Castillian? Both are single ply hinoki right?

And I think Masamune is a 3 ply ya?

DS90 you can still get them but the prices have definately risen. Most stores have sold out but I know some places that still sells them online.

 

[Genki]

Hello. Thanks for your message. Main reason is I did not know about Super Castillian. Please tell me more about this blade. I have not been able to find any store that still has new old stock of DS-90. I think there's a shop in Bangkok but the guy stopped replying to me.

 

[hinokihigh]

Hello. Thanks for your message. Main reason is I did not know about Super Castillian. Please tell me more about this blade. I have not been able to find any store that still has new old stock of DS-90. I think there's a shop in Bangkok but the guy stopped replying to me.

Chinese and Taiwan stores still have them. I think Thailand no stock.

Armstrong Super Castillian is another single ply hinoki but im not sure the difference with Compress 5. Both readily available in shops in Japan.

(hence i did not pursue them yet hehe)

 

[Genki]

I will keep the Armstrong Super Castillian in mind if I buy another blade and post a review.

 

[hinokihigh]

I would say DS90 still is the best. Just getting them a bit harder but can get second hand.

The ones im showing now mostly are collectable item, where its harder to get even a used one.

 

[TTMasterD]

Came across this thread. I have a ST and FL Speed 90 currently on sale, although in Germany. There also a few more from Darker. I play a Speed 90 myself as well as the Imperial. I had the Miyabi as well, in my view sufficient and a lot cheaper but still prefer the Speed 90 just because it is so rare. However, this is not really a great argument, but anyway...

Alle Anzeigen von TTMaster | Kleinanzeigen

Hier findest du alle Anzeigen von TTMaster

www.kleinanzeigen.de

 

[ML fan ph]

Came across this thread. I have a ST and FL Speed 90 currently on sale, although in Germany. There also a few more from Darker. I play a Speed 90 myself as well as the Imperial. I had the Miyabi as well, in my view sufficient and a lot cheaper but still prefer the Speed 90 just because it is so rare. However, this is not really a great argument, but anyway...

Alle Anzeigen von TTMaster | Kleinanzeigen

Hier findest du alle Anzeigen von TTMaster

www.kleinanzeigen.de

Can you tell more the difference of ds90 and miyabi? Thank you

 

[kase]

I used to use the armstrong val attack (hence my username) before I customised my own handles. They were multi-ply 7.5mm thick from what I remember. Good feel, sweet spot but only medium speed. I've also used the Tibhar single ply mentioned above, in jpen, and also a Blutenkirsche 1ply jpen. The Blutenkirsche was harder and faster.

Recently I've been using the Pro Prop Tigress (American Hinoki 1 ply 9mm). I really recommend this, it's quite cheap, like USD$55. It has great power, feel and sweet spot. The grain is quite tight. Unfortunately I recently ruined one with glue sheets - even though it was sealed. My cheapie Yinhe T10s never had a problem, but the Tigress wood is more delicate.

 

[Lazer]

I used to use the armstrong val attack (hence my username) before I customised my own handles. They were multi-ply 7.5mm thick from what I remember. Good feel, sweet spot but only medium speed. I've also used the Tibhar single ply mentioned above, in jpen, and also a Blutenkirsche 1ply jpen. The Blutenkirsche was harder and faster.

Recently I've been using the Pro Prop Tigress (American Hinoki 1 ply 9mm). I really recommend this, it's quite cheap, like USD$55. It has great power, feel and sweet spot. The grain is quite tight. Unfortunately I recently ruined one with glue sheets - even though it was sealed. My cheapie Yinhe T10s never had a problem, but the Tigress wood is more delicate.

Glue sheets upside down?
They come with one strong side and one weak side. The weak side goes against the blade..,

Cheers
L-zr

 

[ML fan ph]

I used to use the armstrong val attack (hence my username) before I customised my own handles. They were multi-ply 7.5mm thick from what I remember. Good feel, sweet spot but only medium speed. I've also used the Tibhar single ply mentioned above, in jpen, and also a Blutenkirsche 1ply jpen. The Blutenkirsche was harder and faster.

Recently I've been using the Pro Prop Tigress (American Hinoki 1 ply 9mm). I really recommend this, it's quite cheap, like USD$55. It has great power, feel and sweet spot. The grain is quite tight. Unfortunately I recently ruined one with glue sheets - even though it was sealed. My cheapie Yinhe T10s never had a problem, but the Tigress wood is more delicate.

Where to buy that pro pop tigress?

 

[hinokihigh]

Where to buy that pro pop tigress?

- US$0.00US$0.00 : 徐老師桌球郵購園地-I Love Ping Pong Web Shop

徐老師桌球郵購園地-I Love Ping Pong Web Shop : - ...

ww3.ping-pong.tw

 

[ML fan ph]

- US$0.00US$0.00 : 徐老師桌球郵購園地-I Love Ping Pong Web Shop

徐老師桌球郵購園地-I Love Ping Pong Web Shop : - ...

ww3.ping-pong.tw

Thank you. Hinokihigh, I tried miyabi just today, changed from sanwei h10, taiwanese cypress, i think, cause I feel, i will have injury with sanwei h10 because of 240grams weight. Miyabi is lighter compared to sanwei h10. So my problem solved.. however, the feel of the ball in sanwei h10 is better, I feel direct feel, and strong shots. And control on short stroke. Now, in miyabi,.feels too soft. Needs to use power more. Will america cypress solve my problem? Within 90 grams of blade yet feel like taiwanese cypress, direct feel, and sound better.?

 

[hinokihigh]

maybe get a ds90 and make that your benchmark hehe

 

[kase]

Glue sheets upside down?
They come with one strong side and one weak side. The weak side goes against the blade..,

Cheers
L-zr

No.

Funnily enough it doesnt damage the top ply of my Chinese carbon-balsa blades that have a 'hinoki' to ply. I guess the price you pay for better quality wood is it being more prone to damage.

 

[ML fan ph]

maybe get a ds90 and make that your benchmark he

I cant find ds90 anymore

 

[Lazer]

No.

Funnily enough it doesnt damage the top ply of my Chinese carbon-balsa blades that have a 'hinoki' to ply. I guess the price you pay for better quality wood is it being more prone to damage.

Good quality doesn’t necessarily comes with a high price. You don’t want to glue upside down that could rip the best quality wood.

Cheers
L-zr