W968 envy forced me to get HL5 clone

[TensorBackhand]

there are nicer clones of clowns of clones.................
US $25.41
could somebody please force me to get one of these....or two

Ok, get 1 or I will send frogs on you.

Btw where is link for this one

 

[lodro]

Ok, get 1 or I will send frogs on you.

Btw where is link for this one

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002570685680.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.585938da51tIa8&mp=1

Now you owe me a couple of dozen frogs. Don't worry about the sauce i can make that myself

 

[TensorBackhand]

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002570685680.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.585938da51tIa8&mp=1

Now you owe me a couple of dozen frogs. Don't worry about the sauce i can make that myself

Ah but this is not fake stuor. This is xvt brand blade. I considered this before, but i think it was quite thick.

 

[WingTT]

I also got the Stuor HL5 copy and I also own a HL5 as well as the Donic Ovtcharov No1 senso. The Stuor is in the same ballpark but it is a bit harder and faster on the low end and feels less forgiving/controllable as a result. The Donic and HL5 is pretty close except for the weight balance. Unfortunately none of the blades are exactly like the one I fell in love with, a HL5 a club mate has. It felt even more like a 5 ply on the low end and on the high end on hard hits had that deep hold feeling where you feel the blade grab the ball a bit and then catapult it out with some magic spin that makes it land telepathically where you want it to. The club mate even bought another HL5 from tt11 again and it did feel or was as fast on the top end as the first one he got. Such is the variableness of wood and manufacturing.

 

[thomas.pong]

I also got the Stuor HL5 copy and I also own a HL5 as well as the Donic Ovtcharov No1 senso. The Stuor is in the same ballpark but it is a bit harder and faster on the low end and feels less forgiving/controllable as a result. The Donic and HL5 is pretty close except for the weight balance. Unfortunately none of the blades are exactly like the one I fell in love with, a HL5 a club mate has. It felt even more like a 5 ply on the low end and on the high end on hard hits had that deep hold feeling where you feel the blade grab the ball a bit and then catapult it out with some magic spin that makes it land telepathically where you want it to. The club mate even bought another HL5 from tt11 again and it did feel or was as fast on the top end as the first one he got. Such is the variableness of wood and manufacturing.

What you're describing sounds a lot like the W968, get a Provincial if you can.

 

[TensorBackhand]

I also got the Stuor HL5 copy and I also own a HL5 as well as the Donic Ovtcharov No1 senso. The Stuor is in the same ballpark but it is a bit harder and faster on the low end and feels less forgiving/controllable as a result. The Donic and HL5 is pretty close except for the weight balance. Unfortunately none of the blades are exactly like the one I fell in love with, a HL5 a club mate has. It felt even more like a 5 ply on the low end and on the high end on hard hits had that deep hold feeling where you feel the blade grab the ball a bit and then catapult it out with some magic spin that makes it land telepathically where you want it to. The club mate even bought another HL5 from tt11 again and it did feel or was as fast on the top end as the first one he got. Such is the variableness of wood and manufacturing.

How was the topend speed of the Stuor?

 

[ricospin]

View attachment 24380View attachment 24381View attachment 24382

If anything, the thicker outer plies might be to your benefit. From the 4 different w968s (National Commercial, National). It felt very woody, almost as if it was an all wood blade. Maybe this is Stuor's way of compensating the fact that they might not have the same materials as DHS to make it feel the same, therefore they have a thicker wood layer.

HL5 has more carbon feel. 5X feels too unstable for me, too fast and unpredictable.

 

[lodro]

Ah but this is not fake stuor. This is xvt brand blade. I considered this before, but i think it was quite thick.

You can't prove this in any way. Who knows where either blades were made . Once the factory has made the first 10 000 copies they grade them into firsts, seconds and thirds etc,
Buyers can then chose what quality grade they want and if you buy 1000 or more you can have any print or label on the blades you want.
I still think you owe me some frogs 🤣

 

[TensorBackhand]

Well I tested the Stuor for an hour today just to tryout. I had a Loki Rxton 5 on a ZJK ZLC clone blade and moved it onto the Stuor to try. Compared to the ZJK ZLC clone, the HL5 clone is indeed a lot slower. Its also quite a bit slower than the Stuor Harimoto SZLC clone blade.

The blade has a very soft and woody feeling for a carbon blade. If I hadn't known, I would have just thought it was a 5 ply wood blade, something like the Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive.

It's soft and fairly flexy, but with that, it feels somewhat slow to me. Somehow it felt a little sluggish or laggy. With a hybrid rubber (like Jupiter 3) or tensor rubber I don't think it would be an issue, but the Rxton 5 feels slow here. H3 might feel slow here as well.

My backhand felt like it had a good deal of control and also spin. But on the forehand, I was missing a lot of shots. I think I was trying to compensate, and sometimes overcompensating for its speed. I think next I should try a faster rubber to see how it plays.

 

[thomas.pong]

Well I tested the Stuor for an hour today just to tryout. I had a Loki Rxton 5 on a ZJK ZLC clone blade and moved it onto the Stuor to try. Compared to the ZJK ZLC clone, the HL5 clone is indeed a lot slower. Its also quite a bit slower than the Stuor Harimoto SZLC clone blade.

The blade has a very soft and woody feeling for a carbon blade. If I hadn't known, I would have just thought it was a 5 ply wood blade, something like the Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive.

It's soft and fairly flexy, but with that, it feels somewhat slow to me. Somehow it felt a little sluggish or laggy. With a hybrid rubber (like Jupiter 3) or tensor rubber I don't think it would be an issue, but the Rxton 5 feels slow here. H3 might feel slow here as well.

My backhand felt like it had a good deal of control and also spin. But on the forehand, I was missing a lot of shots. I think I was trying to compensate, and sometimes overcompensating for its speed. I think next I should try a faster rubber to see how it plays.

This makes it sound like an HL5 which to me lacks crispiness and power unlike the W968.

 

[TensorBackhand]

This makes it sound like an HL5 which to me lacks crispiness and power unlike the W968.

I'm wondering if the Fang Bo Carbon is actually closer to the W968 than the HL5. Because the FB feels quite crisp and fast. The Stuor Harimoto ZLC feels softer than the FB, but it has a lot of kick and catapult from the ZLC layer. So both blades are quite fast.

I will test some of my faster rubbers on the Stuor Long 5 clone to see if it plays better. If its still sluggish, maybe I will sell it.

 

[thomas.pong]

I'm wondering if the Fang Bo Carbon is actually closer to the W968 than the HL5. Because the FB feels quite crisp and fast. The Stuor Harimoto ZLC feels softer than the FB, but it has a lot of kick and catapult from the ZLC layer. So both blades are quite fast.

I will test some of my faster rubbers on the Stuor Long 5 clone to see if it plays better. If its still sluggish, maybe I will sell it.

I think the DHS X versions of the HL5 and Fang Bo Carbon are bound to feel closest to the 968 but even then...

 

[TensorBackhand]

I think the DHS X versions of the HL5 and Fang Bo Carbon are bound to feel closest to the 968 but even then...

Faster for sure, but I think they have to compensate by giving away feeling and control and dwell time

 

[lodro]

I'm wondering if the Fang Bo Carbon is actually closer to the W968 than the HL5. Because the FB feels quite crisp and fast. The Stuor Harimoto ZLC feels softer than the FB, but it has a lot of kick and catapult from the ZLC layer. So both blades are quite fast.

I will test some of my faster rubbers on the Stuor Long 5 clone to see if it plays better. If its still sluggish, maybe I will sell it.

Well I tested the Stuor for an hour today just to tryout. I had a Loki Rxton 5 on a ZJK ZLC clone blade and moved it onto the Stuor to try. Compared to the ZJK ZLC clone, the HL5 clone is indeed a lot slower. Its also quite a bit slower than the Stuor Harimoto SZLC clone blade.

The blade has a very soft and woody feeling for a carbon blade. If I hadn't known, I would have just thought it was a 5 ply wood blade, something like the Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive.

It's soft and fairly flexy, but with that, it feels somewhat slow to me. Somehow it felt a little sluggish or laggy. With a hybrid rubber (like Jupiter 3) or tensor rubber I don't think it would be an issue, but the Rxton 5 feels slow here. H3 might feel slow here as well.

My backhand felt like it had a good deal of control and also spin. But on the forehand, I was missing a lot of shots. I think I was trying to compensate, and sometimes overcompensating for its speed. I think next I should try a faster rubber to see how it plays.

There is NO FASTER rubber than the RXTON5 .😂
No matter what rubbers you will fit, this blade from Stuor , with inner layer and Carbo/Kev is
not a good ripoff. 😂

 

[thomas.pong]

Faster for sure, but I think they have to compensate by giving away feeling and control and dwell time

Perhaps, the W968 combines them all with some secret magic recipe.

One day you should get a Provincial if you can.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Perhaps, the W968 combines them all with some secret magic recipe.

One day you should get a Provincial if you can.

hah, if I ever get to 2200, then I will. But I don't see that happening realistically.

 

[thomas.pong]

hah, if I ever get to 2200, then I will. But I don't see that happening realistically.

I think the W968 is fit for at least 1600+, maybe even lower depending on the player.

The feel, control and feedback are insane and the speed is not overwhelming unless you really get into it, plus that can always be tinkered with the rubbers chosen for it. I see players below 1400 play with Viscaria and the likes all the time, so if they chose a HL5 or W968 or another inner carbon blade, I would find that way more appropriate.

I don't know that I'll ever reach 2000, but I beat 2000 players from time to time so I'm happy enough with my level and keep on getting better little by little, that and enjoying the game and my setup is all I can ask for!

 

[TensorBackhand]

I think the W968 is fit for at least 1600+, maybe even lower depending on the player.

The feel, control and feedback are insane and the speed is not overwhelming unless you really get into it, plus that can always be tinkered with the rubbers chosen for it. I see players below 1400 play with Viscaria and the likes all the time, so if they chose a HL5 or W968 or another inner carbon blade, I would find that way more appropriate.

I don't know that's I'll ever reach 2000, but I beat 2000 players from time to time so I'm happy enough with my level and keep on getting better little by little, that and enjoying the game and my setup is all I can ask for!

Yeah if you saw my post on another thread, I won 3 straight games against a 2050-2100 guy. So I think I'm improving little by little as well.

My personality is not to get the very best or expensive item. I like to find little amazing gems that others have overlooked. That's my approach to both rubbers and blades. That's my approach to smartphones (longtime Xiaomi Redmi user) or anything that I buy.

 

[TensorBackhand]

I put my highly rated Jupiter 3 and AK47 red on the Stuor Long 5 to test tomorrow. If it is still slow after this, then the blade really is slow.

 

[thomas.pong]

Yeah if you saw my post on another thread, I won 3 straight games against a 2050-2100 guy. So I think I'm improving little by little as well.

My personality is not to get the very best or expensive item. I like to find little amazing gems that others have overlooked. That's my approach to both rubbers and blades. That's my approach to smartphones (longtime Xiaomi Redmi user) or anything that I buy.

It's a pretty sound approach.

You like myself like to try a lot of equipment though, so settling on something good enough for a while or very good period, might benefit you. It's extremely unlikely you will find a cheap W968 clone given the quality and selection that goes into it, unless you spend $150 or more on one made by SDC or another top artisan specialist. On the other end, you can easily find several great cheap clones of a Viscaria or HL5. The Yinhe V-14 Pro or DHS Fang Bo Carbon are such blades, and they're more than good enough.

I've pretty much stuck to the same blade and rubbers (IF ZLC + 2 T05 FX, then HZ2 FH) for the past 3 years, I still tried a whole bunch of blades and rubbers on the side for the fun and knowledge of it, but nothing felt better. I finally found what I was looking for in a blade with the W968, so I won't be buying / testing too many blades from now on, while I'll keep on testing rubbers here and there not intending to find something better, maybe just cheaper (T05 FX is by far the best BH rubber for me, Z2 is my favorite tension rubber for my FH, and H3 is H3). I'll try the Glazers when they come out though I likely won't switch to them, I might try 1 or 2 Mantra Pro when TT11 releases them, that'll be about it this year.