Ross Leidy "Sotto Voce"

I had to share this one,

Ross Leidy Sotto Voce
Blade Size: 260mm x 149mm
Head: Compact modified 7mm
Head Size: 155mm x 149mm
Ply: AYC-IPE-BALSA-IPE-AYC 5 ply
Handle: Padauk 105mm
Weight: 81.4 grams
Elasticity: Stiff
Surface feel: Hard
Speed: Off to Off+
Blade Throw: Low

I have been watching Ross Leidy's work for a few months now. Ross makes some of the most beautiful blades out there and as I said to him once "I have never seen an ugly or just an okay blade that you have built". They are all beautiful even stunning with each having their own personality more like "shock and awe" in the table tennis world.

I had to have one and I contacted Ross through his website. We passed roughly close to 60 emails back and forth in the space of about two and a half weeks going over every detail and sending pictures of the construction every step of the way. To be honest I would not of expected anything less, as any Custom Blade Builder out there worth more than a grain of salt would, and are, very much detail-orientated in the quality of their work.  Most of the emails had to do with a custom head shape, upping the thickness of the blade from 6.4mm to 7mm for added stiffness, modification to the throat (wings) of the blade for added comfort and ease of twiddling, and increasing handle length to 105mm. I had my Sotto Voce in roughly 3 weeks. Taking one look at this Ross Leidy masterpiece it is a showpiece and not a playpiece deserving of a glass cabinet to be displayed in. "How could I defile such a beauty with glue" seems almost a crime worth hanging for!! Alas, I am a table tennis player and I had to know "HOW DO YOU PLAY"


This Sotto Voce is a clear Off to Off+, fast, low throw with a hard feel. I was a little taken back at first with the surface feel, that hardness which is quite unlike any wood or carbon blade I have played with. The sound that this blade gives is a solid "thunk" and it sounds like how it feels. It took me quite awhile to get use to it. After a few rubber combinations I am using a used sheet of Donic JO Gold Max FH and Stiga Magna TS II 1.8mm BH. Total weight with rubbers and handle wrap is 166.5 grams and the blade does feel very balanced with a slight more weight to the head.


Loop/Loop Drives: Very spinny slow loops near or a few feet off the table with tons of control. Loop drives are very fast and loaded. Loop drives away from the table are brutal. This blade is not a long throw blade as I find that at whatever distance away from the table my loops and drives are landing way before the edge of my opponents side of the table consistently. A very consistent and linear attacking weapon. Thanks to the IPE the sweet spot is huge, larger than on just about any blade I have played with. A reviewer on another forum made the claim that the sweet spot was so huge he could just about make an acceptable shot no matter where the ball landed on the blade, I can attest to that being 100% correct, Amazing!! Backhand loops and drives are equally spinny and fast and I had no problem here. The Alaskan Yellow Cedar gives this blade just enough dwell but good footwork and playing your shot through and not being half hearted about it will pay off in spades.


Smashes: Fast and brutal, remember the IPE and at 7mm this thing is a hammer. Defensive blocks loaded with top spin, backspin, sidespin, or the occasional loose ball,  just hit it hard!!

Pushes: Excellent!! Pushes are very spinny and direct. The blade has good rebound without the springiness of most carbon blades. There is just enough rebound and once dialled in it becomes a very safe and predictable shot especially in ball placement. I found myself only focusing on my wrist movement to load backspin on the ball and totally forgot about getting the ball over the net, it was always there. With a little practice the push with this blade becomes a weapon of destruction as you can push very fast and loaded with spin left, right, center all over the place. It can be a very frustrating scene to witness on my opponents side of the table. Drop shots I have not done much of, so I really cannot comment, but I cannot see any problems where this shot is concerned.

Flicks: Great, surprising for such a thick blade. Backhand flicks are very spinny short or long as I had no problem here. I have not done much forehand flicks, will report more on this at a later date.

Blocks: I had real problems blocking with this blade and rubber combinations I tried before this set up. After changing rubbers blocking is much better but some practice is needed. I can tell you this much that the blade blocks like the Proverbial "Brick Wall"

Serves: Very good!! short and long, spinny, dead,  no problem.





Edited by Carryboy - 10/17/2011 at 4:47pm

Edited by Carryboy - 11/10/2011 at 3:23pm

Did anyone ever played with any of Ross blades ?

melarimsa wrote: Did anyone ever played with any of Ross blades ?

Melarimsa

JCDI has a Sotto Voce, which is mentioned in his signature and I have a unique one off design from Ross.

Here is my one :






The outer plies are Birds Eye Maple, over Mahogany medial plies and a Balsa core; which are hidden behind the Walnut edging.

Mopani wood was used for the handle pieces and it weighs 85 grams.

Initially I paired it with 2mm Palio Blitz, which was my replacement for Tenergy 64. I've subsequently tested it with 2.1mm Tenergy 05 and feel that's a better match.

Doraemon

The blade surfaces are smooth and the knots that look like "dents", are a natural part of the grain of Birds Eye Maple.

This masterpiece Ross made for me lately. Weight is 64gr, ALL+, very good control, very comfortable for wrist.

Hey guys, thanks for all the kind words.

I must resist. I have enough. I do not need another blade. I must resist. Please tell me that these blades are very expensive and nothing different from normal priced stuff.

From $140 to $275 !

If I even buy one, I will not play with it. This is ART !

Hi Ross, my dream blade request is in your mailbox. Concerning a certain "Ultimate Primorac". This should be a hoot if you can build it!

i might order before the end of the year. im planning to have a customized 7ply all wood blade of my own design hehehe

By the way, welcome to the forum Ross