XIOM new blades, any review on Tetra, Artemis, Chrome or Indeed?

[staysmart]

I am interested in TETRA inner and how it compares with older TMX blades.

 

[piligrim]

 

[BHShoulderPain]

I tried the Tetra TMXi for one session. My main blade is an AJH TMXi Pro, so I'll do some comparisons. Here are my first impressions:

- It's definitely a crisp blade with a lower arc than the AJH. Dwell time is less but a bit faster. Spin is definitely less, but it's deceptively spinny (out of position or lower quality returns had more spin than usual).
- It's really reminds me of a Nittaku Acoustic Carbon Inner but with a better backhand due to the headshape.

 

[Larshos]

I am interested in TETRA inner and how it compares with older TMX blades.

Where did you find this graphic?

 

[chinacurious]

Is it supposed to mean that high on the vertical axis means more control and low means less control? And then left side of the horizontal mean more speed/less spin and right side of the horizontal mean less speed/more spin?

It's very confusing. Maybe they planned on making it 3D but didn't manage to. Xiom must have by far the worst way to describe their products in numbers.

 

[kevin.c]

I tried the Tetra TMXi for one session. My main blade is an AJH TMXi Pro, so I'll do some comparisons. Here are my first impressions:

- It's definitely a crisp blade with a lower arc than the AJH. Dwell time is less but a bit faster. Spin is definitely less, but it's deceptively spinny (out of position or lower quality returns had more spin than usual).
- It's really reminds me of a Nittaku Acoustic Carbon Inner but with a better backhand due to the headshape.

Was your new blade about the same weight as the older AJH TMXI Pro? Whats the weight distribution like? Is it head heavy? Hope you did some measurements of the frequency as well.

 

[BHShoulderPain]

I have a AJH that's 88 grams, but I'm using one that's 92 grams right now. The weight of the Tetra was not bad at all. I used two d05. I think my AJH is slightly more head heavy.

I don't measure frequencies. Just play.

 

[staysmart]

Where did you find this graphic?

Some website that sells XIOM blades https://dhssport.com/ro/Xiom-Tetra-TMXi

 

[golden_son]

Is it supposed to mean that high on the vertical axis means more control and low means less control? And then left side of the horizontal mean more speed/less spin and right side of the horizontal mean less speed/more spin?

It's very confusing. Maybe they planned on making it 3D but didn't manage to. Xiom must have by far the worst way to describe their products in numbers.

That's how I read the graph. They use the same/similar system in their catalogs.

What irks me more is the four qualifying measurements they use for blades: "catapult," "ball grab," "repulsion," and "precision." I'm fine with manufacturers having their own way of describing blade properties but you have to explain what they mean... These are pretty direct translations of the Japanese but nowhere have I seen them actually give a clear definition, so we're left making our own assumptions. I mean what's the actual difference between catapult and repulsion, according to Xiom? Who knows...and that's the problem.

 

[TTWiz]

That's how I read the graph. They use the same/similar system in their catalogs.

What irks me more is the four qualifying measurements they use for blades: "catapult," "ball grab," "repulsion," and "precision." I'm fine with manufacturers having their own way of describing blade properties but you have to explain what they mean... These are pretty direct translations of the Japanese but nowhere have I seen them actually give a clear definition, so we're left making our own assumptions. I mean what's the actual difference between catapult and repulsion, according to Xiom? Who knows...and that's the problem.

Catapult:
The blade's ability to spring the ball back with added speed

Repulsion:
How quickly and directly the ball bounces off the blade. A high repulsion rating usually means the blade is stiffer/harder

I completely agree that Xiom should include these specific definitions for each property on their website. While the visual charts are helpful for comparing blades, providing clear written explanations of what terms like 'Ballgrab' and 'Catapult' actually mean in a gameplay context would make it much easier for players to choose the right equipment for their specific style

 

[golden_son]

Catapult:
The blade's ability to spring the ball back with added speed

Repulsion:
How quickly and directly the ball bounces off the blade. A high repulsion rating usually means the blade is stiffer/harder

I completely agree that Xiom should include these specific definitions for each property on their website. While the visual charts are helpful for comparing blades, providing clear written explanations of what terms like 'Ballgrab' and 'Catapult' actually mean in a gameplay context would make it much easier for players to choose the right equipment for their specific style

On the one hand, those are generally what I would assume those terms to mean, but that is based entirely on my familiarity with blades; it's certainly left unclear to anyone new to the sport. (I think we agree here.)

On the other hand, that definition of "repulsion" sounds like the direct opposite of "ballgrab" (aka "dwell"?) which suggests those two properties would be inversely proportional. And yet the Tetra has both an 8.6/10 for "ballgrab" and 9.0/10 for "repulsion". That doesn't quite square with me.

 

[kevin.c]

Finally a review on the new Chrome blade.

 

[TTWiz]

On the one hand, those are generally what I would assume those terms to mean, but that is based entirely on my familiarity with blades; it's certainly left unclear to anyone new to the sport. (I think we agree here.)

On the other hand, that definition of "repulsion" sounds like the direct opposite of "ballgrab" (aka "dwell"?) which suggests those two properties would be inversely proportional. And yet the Tetra has both an 8.6/10 for "ballgrab" and 9.0/10 for "repulsion". That doesn't quite square with

I totally get your point. It does seem a bit contradictory to have such high scores for both.

My best guess is that it’s down to the inner-fiber construction. I suspect that on low-impact shots, like serves, pushes or soft loops, you mostly feel the outer wood layers, which gives you that 8.6 ballgrab. But when you really swing at it and engage the TMX fiber, that 9.0 repulsion is what kicks in to give you the extra speed and directness.

 

[piligrim]

I can't imagine someone decide to buy blade based on review like this

 

[Julzig]

I can't imagine someone decide to buy blade based on review like this

yeah his reviews are just some first impressions now, only touching the surface level. It used to be slightly better than this

 

[BHShoulderPain]

I have a Chrome XAXI but haven't had any rubber to glue on it. What I can see is that the limba plys on this blade is even thicker than AJH. To me, this must be Xiom's version of the W968.

 

[chinacurious]

What's the weight if your XAXi? Can you measure frequency?

 

[kevin.c]

I have a Chrome XAXI but haven't had any rubber to glue on it. What I can see is that the limba plys on this blade is even thicker than AJH. To me, this must be Xiom's version of the W968.

Looking forward to your review of the blade. Keen to know the differences as compared to AJH TMXi Pro. In my view, AJH is not quite similar to W968 as it's way harder and stiffer blade as compared.

 

[BHShoulderPain]

I had a chance to use the Tetra TMXi again.

Overall characteristics of the blade:
Low Power
- Dwell time is average
- High arc
Medium Power/High Power
- Dwell time is short
- Medium arc
There's really only two gears on this blade. When you hit the ball without hitting the carbon, there was a lot of grip and noticeably high arcing loops. Once you hit into the carbon, the arc lowers. There doesn't seem to be kick on any of my loops. However, the slow soft loops were quite deadly and oftentimes loaded with spin.

Forehand loops and drives were quite slow with D05. It really requires forward motion to hit any quality shots. However, I also felt like there was a lack of dwell on the forehand as well. I think D05 is just a bad fit for the forehand. Not fast enough to generate any power and not enough dwell and control for safety. I would probably put a Hurricane or Hybrid rubber on the forehand. I would say though, when I hit through the blade, it was quite lethal.

Backhand is the strength of this blade. I was able to produce safe high arching balls with brushing and threatening balls from mid distance. Blocks against drives were really easy. However, the same can't be said against spinny loops.

Pushes were nice and controlled. I did have some trouble with forehand flicks but that's probably a d05 issue. The backhand flicks were loaded with spin and effortless.

If I had to summarize this blade: it has the feeling of a nittaku acoustic carbon inner and the playing characteristics of a harimoto zlc except for the increased finishing power.

 

[BHShoulderPain]

I glued a Hurricane 3 Neo Orange Sponge 40 degrees on the Tetra TMXi. It was definitely an improvement. Noticeably more stable especially on the counter loops. However, it seems like the hard rubber on the forehand affected the backhand a little. The feeling was noticeably more stiff and a lot of my balls were going off the table. I flipped the hurricane to my backhand and it felt really natural. Maybe double hurricane or hybrids would work.

For now, I'll go back to my AJH.