I've noticed that almost all aggressive players at the world level are using rather stiff composite blades. However, many attackers are using stiff 7 ply wood blades as well. My question is whether there is a big difference between the fast and stiff 7 ply wood blades and the fast and stiff composite blades (Carbon,ALC,Arylate,Kev,Zylon,Aramid, etc.). The reason I am asking is because I see all-out attackers, such as Kenji Matsudaira or Petr Korbel playing with the Korbel SK7 and similarly aggressive players, such as Kreanga or Schlager, playing with Primorac carbon (not sure about Kreanga though).

SK7, Timo Boll W7 vs. TBS, Primorac Carbon


Edited by cls2222 - 03/19/2011 at 11:06pm

Davey wrote: Both are heavier and many 7ply are ,"composite",-when you consider they use carbon an excellent choice is the Rosskopf Emotion 7 ply-it is very fast and has excellent control qualities The Rossi Force is 5 ply and listed as faster??????????? Its a choice a good fast 5ply will be lighter and composites like the 10plus plies can have no more than 20 per cent kevlar, carbon or whatever by the rules the blade must be 80 per cent wood. Carbo Kevlar for example is lightning fast but heavy and hard to control- Rossi Force is a blade with the qualities of a 7 ply in a 5ply-yet a 7 ply to me can be a great offensive weapon-if weight doesnt bother you and lack of control composites are fine.

Is there still a large "sweetspot" with the stiff wood blades?

the difference would be on feel, 7 ply all wood blades have better feel than carbon blades though the latter have bigger sweet spots. i used to shun all wood blades but when i met my coach and saw why he is still using his 25 yr old dhs 08 that was given to him by a national coach in china i began to ponder and then tried using a 7 ply blade. my coach said 7 ply blades can be as fast as carbon blades but at fast speeds they would retain their feel and control which are more important than just speed alone. that is if you have the right technique. i have tried his set up- neo skyline 3 on fh and acuda s2 in the bh and it is as fast as using teh same rubbers on a sardius or schlager carbon

Stiff 7 Ply wood vs. Carbon/Composite

Recently I've been asking my self and few fellas in the forum the same question. But there is something which I can't find an answer yet-ppl are saying often about a 7/9/or11ply that they are stiff and hard, but IMHO a carbon would always make a blade harder. So I am still hoping that one day I'll find a 7/9ply all-wood which will be as fast as my carbon ones, but will give me more spin and maybe more feeling. So far , when I hear someone saying"Ohhh, this 7(or9)ply wood is stiff and hard" I get really scared that this is harder than the (carbon)ones I have:
Halmark Carbon Extreme
Tube Carbo
Iolite 
729-8030
KC
I also have a HS Cryzer, which is nice but I need some top speed.
The Senkoh 90 are very good, fast with nice soft feel and superb control but I wish there was a bit more flex, cause for example I still produce more spin with my main Harmark Carbon which is obviously harder. For the moment I have an eye on some Darker like the 7P(don't know which one yet)  Carbon Esteem, Legato Point Carbon 7P, Nimatsu Maestro, Staysher, Break 7/9 and few very sexy and absolutely unknown all wood ones by Kokutaku.
Any opinion?
BTW today I tried an Ebenholz V with T05-slowish combo with hard feel, but with astonishing control-every ball was on the table without too much effort, speed or spin

I had to use Terpentine to get my Stiga Boost TC rubbers off the WSC and they are boosted beyond belief. Looks like a "U." Got to get a picture up here lol. Something tells me I'm really going to like these Boost rubbers on a stiff carbon 



Edited by cls2222 - 03/21/2011 at 1:38pm

Asaomi wrote: I have used both. Now first, there is a difference between STIFF and HARD. STIFF means that the blade bends less when hitting, while HARD means hardness of the top ply. When i played Clipper CR (7 ply allwood), it felt very good when hitting, but it was way too stiff for short play. Even though composite blades like TBS or Viscaria (what i am currently using) is composite, they are flexier. Sure, clipper was very fast, and also decent soft on the outer ply, it did not satisfy my needs. Viscaria is also pretty soft, but also decent fast. I feel that the composite factor gives me a different feel which i do like, but its not the famous allwood feel. I also believe that the outer ply do effect the feel as well. But  if the blade is composite, the material will determine the feel. Different composites, like 3W 2C, would usually be harder. Ive hit with primorac carbon, and it has no feel at all, though really fast. Both 7ply and composites are fast, but i think that the blades flexibility is more important for looping stiffness, which is more suitable for hitting. I might see alot of female players using blades like clipper, due to the hitting-dominated style.

Thanks for the explanation.

It's Donic Formula glue (Worst glue ever). If I didn't use the Terpentine the sponge would rip off in chunks. I am going back to VOC glue after this because this water based stuff is too strong. The glue is probably more adhesive to the sponge than the sponge is cohesive lol


Edited by cls2222 - 03/21/2011 at 4:34pm