Some EJ highlights for me:
Tested a Revoldia, and OSP ultimate (+?) which were both really great feeling blades in their own right. Also an Acoustic, which was on my wishlist to test for a long time. I can feel the similarity with Korbel, yet the Acoustic just does it better for me. Insane amount of dwell as per usual on these 5ply blades.
Another very interesting blade for me was the HL5. I always wanted to feel what the fuss is about, and I think I get it. There's so much feeling in this blade that I felt reminiscent of my Appelgren Allplay. But when you start powering up, the gear ratio is completely different. I don't think I can really compare it to any other inner blade I've tried before, quite unique.
Also very pleasantly surprised to be able to test D09c on a few different blades. The versatility of that rubber is really something else.
(I tried G09c later that day and it just doesn't work in the same way. There's a quite big deadzone where the ball just doesn't do anything at all, even just drops off the racket.)
And I was pleasantly surprised by Rxton 9. Seems like Loki really upped their game.
It's also great to cross off stuff I don't like. First off is basically every ESN rubber we touched. Rasanter C53, Xiom Vega X, Rakza Z, and even MK hybrid I didn't really care much for. Rakza Z was OK to use, but it's the sponge feeling I just don't like, similar to Rakza 7. MK hybrid is actually quite a good rubber, but it is too hard for my BH and not enough for my FH. C53 is the kind of hybrid that joins the worst of both worlds, rather than the best, it's springy, poppy and hardly has any option to drag the ball with you like a tacky rubber does. And Vega X, I'm not sure who it is for. Kind of like MK hybrid, it's not good for either side, even if it's a decent rubber on its own.
I also tried Victor's testing blade, the B2X. Can't say I like it compared to the other ones, but it's a versatile option that probably provides a good base for different rubbers. I didn't like Battle 2, again. It feels weird, kind of plastic, even though Victor's sheet was significantly better quality than mine.
Hayata H2 has potential, but it didn't feel nice in my hand. I think that covers the important bits.
I can safely call my rubber selection limited to Glayzer on BH, D09c and H3N on FH. I would love a second BH option, and Mercury 2 soft will work in a pinch, but it's not a preferred option, it's just dirt cheap.
As for blades... I will stick to Innerforce Layer ALC because it is really growing on me. I would love to get rid of all the other stuff except my SDC blades, well maybe I keep one and sell the other. If my innerforce ever breaks, and my playstyle allows for it, I would want to explore the HL5. It's a proper crazy blade and it feels gorgeous.
