MUSKO reviews from OSP

After trying out a Clipper CR Cpen, I got an urge to try out another 7ply wood.  The CR had so much power, but also very dwelly.  My Ludeack Power Handle is broken so I’ll have to wait for another handle to come.  So I made a deal to bring the OSP Musko on board, Thanks Speedstick!  Initially the weight threw me off at 94grs, but I’m willing to budge for my EJ bug. 

Background:  I am playing with Yinhe’s ZLC, YEO jtta as my primary blades.  Chinese (MoonPro,BW,H2/3,TG3,) FH, & Euro(Non-Tensors(Moon,TinArc3) Style on BH.  The characteristics of the blades are different, but easily transitioned with a session of drilling.  YEO has more dwell, ZLC better in smashing, & touch.  Both excel at loop driving, and equally linear on slow shots(forces me to improve better footwork, or I will potentially lose the point on those shots).  I have played with Ebenholz V, and felt that it has too much dwell…making loop drives slower on further table shots.  However, perfect for your all-around attackers out there.  Also plays with 656 sparingly, it’s harder to control even tho it’s not a fast blade.

First Impressions: The craftsmanship of OSP blades are second to none!  No rough finishes, bad plies, miss-aligned tags, etc.  This is the second OSP blade I own (SN465).  Feels fairly balance as I wont be able to tell after I slap on the rubbers.  FH: TG3 #21 sponge, BH: Moon.  Setup is at ~177grams, which is considered on the heavy side for me.  Walnut outer plies just like YEO, Probably Kiri Inner (3mm) with Limbas, & dyed Limbas(all less than 1mm).  Woodwork on the blades is flawless in terms of symmetry, balance and finish.   When I was bouncing the ball on bare blade, I thought it was the same as YEO but more hard.  Nice Handle work, Loving it!  I was afraid that this blade might be too stiff, and dead as the outer plies are so thin, but OSP sure do know what they are doing in producing a power house blade with inner flex. 

In-Action Sessions:  Warming up FH-FH feels very fast when I’m hitting hard, but I was able to control & feel my shots.  Shots are pretty linear, except for when hitting hard…then it becomes like a blur.  BH-BH: I’m fairly comfortable with it, able to do brush & side-spin RPB loops.  I’m still working on generating power from my lower extremities instead on only my forearm/wrist.  But I am pretty comfortable in blocking with RPB at different locations. I still tend to use TBH during games, but will try to only do that to change pace & not as defensive blocking.  Noticeably not as loud as YEO hits.  Pushes are very good for a fast blade, I can drop shot easily as well as deep pushes. 

Game Characteristics: After about 30mins of warm up, and I became pretty comfortable with playing a game mainly because of the feel of the setup.  My opponent is ~1900 close to table blocker & attacker.  He has very good feel for the game, does everything good especially blocking.  He uses Schlager with T05 on both sides.  He beat me at the last meeting.  I have to remember to attack more & work on BH counters.  My Short serves were good, but didn’t score as many points as I usually do against him.  However, my fast serves (no spin, underspin, side-underspins) were giving him hell.  I was able to attack most third balls on those serves.  Once he pushed to my BH, I try open with RPB loop with a lot of spin or no spin down the line or into his backhand to set up for my FH drive.  He was forced to back away & lob at that point, and usually points won for me.  It was a close match, I beat him 3-1.  I kept trying to work on my short serves when I’m ahead to master it, so he was able to push me in a defensive mode.  Blocking gets quite difficult cause the blade is fast, it will take some getting used to.  Dwell is very good with this setup as we counter loop during the match, I can feel the ball sinks into rubber & blade flexing just enough (same as YEO,V4).  After the game, I went back into training mode at another table.  Just working on RPB blocks/loops/counters, then transition to FH like the Falkenberg Drill. 

Second match was at another day.  My opponent is a LP, Smash ~1950 player.  I recently lost to him at a tourney in the finals.  I was using my YEO at that time.  This time results were completely different.  He had so much trouble with my loop drives & slow spinny loops, also because I learned from my mistakes.  I was more focused on being patient and go for the kill once I see a dead ball coming back.  He was surprised by how I have improved in such a short time.  Not to discount my blade, maybe it had something to do with the rubber also.  I had SST Pro on the YEO, and that rubber was fairly slower than TG3 #21.  I wrote a review on SST Pro, will have to dig it out from my archive files.  Results were 5-1, 4-2.  Update:  He hasn’t beaten me for 3weeks in counting now…

Summary: This blade has far exceeded my expectations.  First I was a bit disappointed cause it didn’t have the feel of the Clipper CR.  I soon realized that the Clippers might all varied in performance(quality control, & weight), and I prefer not to risk buying one commercially unless I can get one from team members.  I can say that each Musko will play the same since OSP hand-make every single blade, and they are consistent with their quality control.  I have been playing with this setup exclusively (only bringing one blade to the clubs) for over 3 weeks now, and it’s beginning to grow as I already see myself abandoning my V4 & YEO perhaps until the end of the next tournament.  Weight is still an issue cause I have to choose my rubbers very selectively=(.

Overall: I would rate Musko against the blades I have used from my EJ days.  Some I have played only occasionally, but will revisit blades such as 656, Ludeack Power.  I think I am a much better player now  to extract the performance of these blades.  These are all impartial opinions as I have certain preferences to FH & BH Rubbers.  I’m more than happy to hear other opinions.

Speed(1^st & Max Gear): Xiom RSM Plat  = Musko > Ludeack Power ≥ Chinese ULC = V4/IF ZLC = YEO jtta > Ebenholz V ≥ DHS 656 = DHS HK > YEO non-jtta = Stiga OC

Spin Generation: Xiom RSM Plat  = IF ZLC > V4 = Musko = YEO jtta  = Ludeack Power > DHS 656 = DHS HK = Ebenholz V ≥ Chinese ULC > YEO non-jtta = Stiga OC

Medium Gear:  Musko ≥ Chinese ULC > IF ZLC = V4 = Ludeack Power >  DHS 656 = DHS HK = Ebenholz V > YEO non-jtta = Stiga OC

Feel:  Xiom RSM Plat ≥  DHS HK = YEO jtta = DHS 656 = Ludeack Power = IF ZLC = Ebenholz V > Musko = V4 = Stiga OC > ULC = YEO non-jtta   

Control(Placement, defense): DHS HK  ≥ Ebenholz V  = Stiga OC > Xiom RSM Plat  ≥ YEO jtta = V4/IFZLC = Ludeack Power ≥ Musko = DHS 656 = YEO non-jtta > Chinese ULC 

In conclusion I will rate OSP Musko as follows:

94gr, ~5.8mm thick,

Speed: 9.5 out of 10

Spin: 9.0 out of 10

Control: 8 out of 10

Hardness: Hard

Flex: Medium-Hard

I have changed my blade again=S, Musko is too heavy for my play.  I have no chance against 2100+ because recovery time is slower & wrist fatigue due to weight of the blade.  Anybody got a lighter one for trade?  Also looking for a Nittaku Adelie (~83gr) / Amultart (<87gr)

PingPongHolic10 wrote:   Background:  I am playing with Yinhe’s ZLC, YEO jtta as my primary blades.

Interesting.....just wondering if you ever tired the Galaxy V1?