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Short review: BBC Ultima Speed

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JimT View Drop Down
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    Posted: 06/04/2012 at 4:01pm
Brand: BBC (Blades By Charlie, www.bladesbycharlie.com)
Model: Ultima Speed (or Ultima-6; don't look for it on the website, it's a unique name, (c) Wink)
Class: OFF to OFF+
Handle: FL, 100 mm
Weight: 89-90 g
Face shape: Attack II
Thickness: 7.6 mm
Plies: 3+2, ie, WRC 1.5 mm + carbon + WRC 4.25 mm + carbon + WRC 1.5 mm

This blade is my custom variant of BBC 9-10-9 (which is built the same way, from the same materials but with thicker outer plies and thinner central ply; specifically 2.25 mm - C - 2.5 mm - C - 2.25 mm).

My main blade Ultima (or Ultima-7) is constructed by formula 7-16-7, and this one is 6-17-6 - so the outer layers are a tiny bit thinner, and the overall thickness is decreased by 0.25 mm to make the blade a little bit less powerful and more controllable... I didn't want another Ultima Plus or Nexy Sahara (they are too fast for me).





More pictures can be found here: https://picasaweb.google.com/JimT2008/BBCUltimaSpeed
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JimT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/04/2012 at 4:04pm
I have played with it for a few hours during 2-3 practice sessions.

This one is indeed faster than Ultima (similar in speed to Photino or TB Spirit), and slower than Ultima Plus (Nexy Sahara, Primorac Carbon). I would say it has about same speed as Schlager Carbon but has better control due to relatively thick and soft outer layers of WRC.

From the very beginning I knew I was not going to use same rubbers as I do on Ultima (Xiom Omega IV Asia, Palio Blitz, both in MAX) so I tried Galaxy Mars 41 Red (which is really 39 in hardness) and LKT Rapid Speed (whose slight tackiness I hoped would help to slow the blade a little, and give it more control on shorter BH game).

Both rubbers did play more or less like I expected but not great. Mars 39 was acting a bit mushy and was easily bottoming out, while Rapid Speed was still not great in short game, and a little unpredictable in BH loops. Or perhaps it was just me, playing not in my best shape.

Next I tried Rapid Speed on FH paired up with Palio Blitz 2.0 on BH. That gave me a better FH game while BH was still too fast with not enough control in placements.

I think the next combination should be - same on FH, and something a bit softer and a little slower on BH. Perhaps something along the lines of Sriver EL, or Acuda S2 in 1.9-2.0 - I need something which will be reliable, very controllable, with a relatively higher throw than Omega or Blitz but not as fast. Tackiness would be a minus... I think.

Any suggestions?

What would you put on BH of a Butterfly Schlager Carbon, for instance?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mhnh007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/05/2012 at 10:17am
So JimT, let me get this straight.  In the Ultima, you fatten the core from 2.50 mm to 4.75 mm, and thinner the top ply from 2.25 mm to 1.75 mm.  and in the Ultima Plus, you thinner the top ply from 1.75 mm to 1.25 mm to make it faster right?  and on this one you add the top ply back to 1.50 mm, and reduce the CORE to 4.25 mm to slow it down right?  To sum it up you have:

Ultima:            1.75, 4.75, 1.75
Ultima+:          1.25, 4.75, 1.25
Ultima Speed: 1.50, 4.25, 1.50

How are these blades compare to the original 9-10-9 in term of Speed, and power?

Thanks,
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JimT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/05/2012 at 10:32am
Originally posted by mhnh007 mhnh007 wrote:

So JimT, let me get this straight.  In the Ultima, you fatten the core from 2.50 mm to 4.75 mm, and thinner the top ply from 2.25 mm to 1.75 mm.  and in the Ultima Plus, you thinner the top ply from 1.75 mm to 1.25 mm to make it faster right?  and on this one you add the top ply back to 1.50 mm, and reduce the CORE to 4.25 mm to slow it down right? ...

How are these blades compare to the original 9-10-9 in term of Speed, and power?

Thanks,


I would say that since I keep the weight at around 88-89 g and thickness is almost always the same, the speed and power is inversely proportional to the thickness of the outer layer. The closer carbon is to the surface the faster and less controllable becomes the blades.

Speed: 9-10-9 (OFF-) < Ultima (OFF- to OFF) < Ultima Speed (OFF to OFF+) < Ultima Plus (true OFF+)

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mhnh007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/05/2012 at 10:41am
I see.  So the CORE on the Ultima+ is thinker than the Ultima then.  Thank you for the clarification.

JimT - When you make the top thinner, and the bounce is faster (which I like), and make the blade faster, but does it make the throw longer as well?  I like fast blade, but not long throw as I play close to the table.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JimT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/05/2012 at 10:46am
Originally posted by mhnh007 mhnh007 wrote:

I see.  So the CORE on the Ultima+ is thinker than the Ultima then.  Thank you for the clarification.

JimT - When you make the top thinner, and the bounce is faster (which I like), and make the blade faster, but does it make the throw longer as well?  I like fast blade, but not long throw as I play close to the table.


I just realized there is a typo in your table

9-10-9 is 9-10-9 (meaning 90thou WRC + carbon + 100thou WRC + carbon + 90 thou WRC or 2.25mm - 2.5mm - 2.25mm, add about 0.5 mm for carbon and glue and you get the total thickness)

Ultima is 7-16-7 (1.75mm - 4mm - 1.75mm), 8.1 total thickness
Ultima Speed is 6-17-6 (1.5mm - 4.25mm - 1.5mm), 7.8 thickness
Ultima Plus is 5-19-5 (1.25mm - 4.75mm - 1.25mm), 7.8 thickness
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mhnh007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/05/2012 at 11:07am
Originally posted by JimT JimT wrote:


9-10-9 is 9-10-9 (meaning 90thou WRC + carbon + 100thou WRC + carbon + 90 thou WRC or 2.25mm - 2.5mm - 2.25mm, add about 0.5 mm for carbon and glue and you get the total thickness)

Ultima is 7-16-7 (1.75mm - 4mm - 1.75mm), 8.1 total thickness
Ultima Speed is 6-17-6 (1.5mm - 4.25mm - 1.5mm), 7.8 thickness
Ultima Plus is 5-19-5 (1.25mm - 4.75mm - 1.25mm), 7.8 thickness

Thank you for the correction.  So the overall for all the blade is between 7.50-8.01 mm  with the original 9-10-9 the thinnest (7.50 mm).  I may be tempting to experiment with 1.25-4.00-1.25 to keep the overall thickness at ~7.00 mm.  What do you think of this?  I may run it by Charlie to get his opinion as well.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JimT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/05/2012 at 12:14pm
Originally posted by mhnh007 mhnh007 wrote:

Originally posted by JimT JimT wrote:


9-10-9 is 9-10-9 (meaning 90thou WRC + carbon + 100thou WRC + carbon + 90 thou WRC or 2.25mm - 2.5mm - 2.25mm, add about 0.5 mm for carbon and glue and you get the total thickness)

Ultima is 7-16-7 (1.75mm - 4mm - 1.75mm), 8.1 total thickness
Ultima Speed is 6-17-6 (1.5mm - 4.25mm - 1.5mm), 7.8 thickness
Ultima Plus is 5-19-5 (1.25mm - 4.75mm - 1.25mm), 7.8 thickness

Thank you for the correction.  So the overall for all the blade is between 7.50-8.01 mm  with the original 9-10-9 the thinnest (7.50 mm).  I may be tempting to experiment with 1.25-4.00-1.25 to keep the overall thickness at ~7.00 mm.  What do you think of this?  I may run it by Charlie to get his opinion as well.


Certainly talk to Charlie. I would say that having 5 as the outer layer thickness is way too low - you will get smth like Schlager Carbon blade but with somewhat softer outers.

What is your goal? what kind of speed you are looking for? flex? control compared to 9-10-9?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mhnh007 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/05/2012 at 12:46pm
The outer ply would be 1.25 mm like in your Ultima plus not 0.50 mm.  Only the CORE is reduce from 4.75 to 4.00 mm.  I do not shy away from stiff blade, but I find if the blade is too thick > 7.4 mm, my BH block is not good.  I like to have a powerful blade, but not too bouncy.  I like the Schlager Carbon very much, but wish it has a lower gear.  I tried the Primorac Carbon, which suppose to be slower, but for some reason I did not like it, the feel and power is not there.  I have not play with the 9-10-9, but from the review. it seem like it's what I am looking for, except it may be a bit softer than I like.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JimT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/05/2012 at 2:30pm
Originally posted by mhnh007 mhnh007 wrote:

The outer ply would be 1.25 mm like in your Ultima plus not 0.50 mm.  Only the CORE is reduce from 4.75 to 4.00 mm.  I do not shy away from stiff blade, but I find if the blade is too thick > 7.4 mm, my BH block is not good.  I like to have a powerful blade, but not too bouncy.  I like the Schlager Carbon very much, but wish it has a lower gear.  I tried the Primorac Carbon, which suppose to be slower, but for some reason I did not like it, the feel and power is not there.  I have not play with the 9-10-9, but from the review. it seem like it's what I am looking for, except it may be a bit softer than I like.


5 (50 thou) means 1.25 mm - that's what I meant.

I would advise you to try Ultima Speed but make the core layer a bit thinner BUT keeping the overall weight more or less the same like 86-87 g.

So my advice is to try 6-14-6 - that will make it 7 mm thick, and with the same weight it should play like SC but with more control and softer short game.

Then - if you don't like it - send it over to me, I will gladly give it a try. I am not kidding...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote the_theologian Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/10/2012 at 8:08am
Originally posted by JimT JimT wrote:


Any suggestions?

What would you put on BH of a Butterfly Schlager Carbon, for instance?
 
maybe you should grab Fatt's 1.8 Illuminas that I just saw in the FS section
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JimT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06/10/2012 at 12:20pm
Originally posted by the_theologian the_theologian wrote:

Originally posted by JimT JimT wrote:


Any suggestions?

What would you put on BH of a Butterfly Schlager Carbon, for instance?
 
maybe you should grab Fatt's 1.8 Illuminas that I just saw in the FS section


Actually, I will indeed be trying 2.0 Illumina on it. (and 2.2 on FH)
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