Xiom Novus blades have been in the market for some time and they have added blades in the series like Offensive S and Extreme S about 2 or 3 years ago. They decided to change the handle designs of the 8 blades listed below for extra comfort and add a fresh new look. I can assure everybody that the quality and finish are excellent for these blades The Novus blades are what initially made Xiom famous aside from the Vega Series rubbers. In year 2009 or 2010, blades like Stradivarius has been selling great in the market. I measured all handles in flared and they are at these dimensions. Length = 100mm; Middle part of handle = 22.4mm x 28.4mm cross sectional diameter, bottom of handle = 23.5mm x 33.7mm. I can say that the flared handles have a narrow flared design and almost feels like a conic handle. Even the Aigis with flared handle can be twiddled easily but still maintains the grip of a wider flared handle. The all wood blades have a brown top on their handles while the pure carbon onees have a blue top. The Stradivarius has a red top on its handle amd is the only non-pure carbon blade in the series.
Aigis
Weight: 81 grams Thickness: 4.8mm Blade head: 166x156mm Plies: 5 (limba top) Speed: Def+ to All
This is one of the best chopping blades in the market for modern defensivwe players. This is a classic blade that people love due to the blade's good control and at the same time the ability to attack. The Aigis can chop defensively really well both far or near the table especially using with long pimples. It is slow enough to chop but at the same time if you attack with it, the Aigis can give you good amount of power. This blade is not slow for a defensive blade.
All Around S
Weight: 81 grams Thickness: 5.2mm Blade head: 158x151mm Plies: 5 (limba top) Speed: All+
This blade has been one of best suggested blades in several forums due to its good feel, high control and is excellent in learning all the basic strokes. This is somewhat faster compared to other all+ blades in the market with the exception of Stiga Nostalgic ALL because that blade is really an Off- blade. A friend of mine who is a chopper is using this he can chop really well using this blade. This is not just an all around blade for its speed but a truly all around blade since you can do everything with this blade.
Offensive S
Weight: 84 grams Thickness: 6mm Blade head: 158x151mm Plies: 5 (limba top) Speed: Off
This is my favorite and present blade. Along with the All Around S, this has been the blade that people like me suggest in the forums for beginners and internmediate level players use due to its good speed, feel and control. The Petr Korbel blade is an offensive 5 ply all wood blade which is good but the Offensive S is slightly better because of its better feel and does not feel rough like the Korbel. This is a fast 5 ply blade, not as fast as some other stiff 5 ply blades but still fast enough for offensive shots. A beginner can still use this blade to develop his strokes but has a slower rubbers like those low-end Chinese rubbers in the market.
Extreme S
Weight: 84 grams Thickness: 6.9mm Blade head: 157x150mm Plies: 7 (limba top) Speed: Off+
This is a very fast 7 ply blade. If one wants to maintain using an all wood blade but need more power then this blade has everything you would like for an offensive blade. Despite being a 7 ply blade, it has some flex to enable you to loop or spin well. This is a powerful blade near or far from the table and might not be suited for beginners.This is a pure offensive blade that is excellent for smashing or driving. It blocks well with good amount of control and is forgiving for a fast blade. This is very underrated yet IMO one of the best 7 ply all wood blades in the market.
Ignito
Weight: 84 grams Thickness: 6.51mm Blade head: 158x150mm Plies: 3+2 (kiso hinoki+carbon) Speed: Off+
The Ignito has the speed that you need for powershots but also the control that you need. This has a high rebound effect and you can feel its liveliness with every bounce of the ball on your shots. More or less, this is the Primorac Carbon of Xiom. It has good feel eventhough it is a stiff blade. Beginners should not use this blade. If you have the skill, you can have very fast shots while maintaining a good amount of spin on your counter loops and initial spin.
Strato
Weight: 86 grams Thickness: 7.03mm Blade head: 158x150mm Plies: 3+2 (kiso hinoki+carbon) Speed: Off+
The Strato is the thicker than the Ignito. If you check it you can see the increased thickness of the kiso-hinoki top ply as compared to the Ignito. Despite being a thick blade with carbon, it has some softness I felt with it. The core is also thicker in this blade. This was made entirely for just smashing and spin drives that overpowers opponent's attacks. Strato is very fast and is faster than a Gergely or Primorac Carbon but offers better control because it does not feel as stiff as the 2 mentioned blades. This is designed especially for hitters or for players who love playing away from the table.
Stradivarius
Weight: 83 grams Thickness: 5.7mm Blade head: 157x149mm Plies: 5+2 (koto+carbon aramid) Speed: Off+
This is the best selling composite blade of Xiom since 10 years ago. Even though this has carbon aramid as its composite material, this has been the best alternative to Timo Boll Spirit or Timo Boll ALC in the early years it was released. Its soft carbon aramid composite layer insures a somewhat balanced feel of softness and hardness. It has the hardness to produce fast speed but at the same time the softneess to offer better control. I love the feel of this blade and the vibration is very minimal. I am using a Xiom Tau II on the forehand with this blade and it loops amazing and at the same time counter loops and smashes are great. i have come to love carbon aramid over the years more than ALC and pure carbon because of its good amount of feel and balance between speed and control. This is both a looping and hitting blade despite the good amount of speed.
Axelo
Weight: 88 grams Thickness: 7.6mm Blade head: 158x150mm Plies: 3+2 (kiso hinoki+carbon) Speed: Off+
This is the 2nd fastest Xiom blade in the market (Ice Cream AZX is the fastest IMO). Although this was built to match Sardius or Schlager carbon, this is slightly slower and feel softer. This is in its own right an all out, very fast blade. It is slightly forgiving compared to the 2 mentioned blades but this is just pure speed in and away from the table. This is only for expert level players that can consistently handle this blade in order to spin, loop or drive the table. If you have the skills you are rewarded with amazingly fast shots. This is also the thickest carbon blade in the Xiom line of carbon blade. Let me point out that most of the carbon blades released now in this series seem softer compared than their old versions.
------------- Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
ITTF Level 1 Coaching Course Conductor, ITTF Level 1 Coach
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