Nexy Arirang review thread

 

My Arirang setup was Evo FX-P on FH and regular Aurus on BH.

 

Even with FX-P, I was very impressed with teh pace I could generate. maybe it was all those months using a $10 ALL+ blade...

 

Control, Control, and Control rule with this blade, but at teh middle of the OFF speed zone I was accustomed to with the TBS. I felt like I jumped 1/2 to one full level using Arirang combo. I was performing way better, like 2-3 points better vs the same players after I broke out the Arirang.

 

I could really go for the rip on counterloops and still be confident I would land it.

 

I'll do a much longer discussion with more complete comments after some more have voiced their experiences with it.

I look forward to a match play with the blade. It's definitely no disappointment like I had with this Victas Quartet Speed I brought back from Japan which actually has a similar composition and finish  (except second layer) but thinner. 

Arirang - like all Nexy blades I played -  has good power on shots with decent forward momentum, so playing and All+ blade sound like good preparation 

 

 

It feels to me the Arirang has the best points of the Calix II and TBS maintaining absolute super control throughout any and every gear.

 

I played a match vs our young female coach last night. (Hey guys, fly over to my club, she is not married yet and is in the prime of her "gotta get married" age.

 

I usually have a difficult time getting a bat on coach's drives and loops, then make it land when she sets up her offense. Last night, I could get the bat on and even with a short control swing, I could land the ball with good spin and control. My defense (topspin defense and placement countering or blocking her fast or spinny shots) saved my bacon. I NEVER played like that vs her ever. This wasn't the only match I could either stay in the rally with such a shot or even regain the initiative.

 

All those months using the nice inexpensive spinny 896 made me use a lot of topspin shots to take my chance at a finish in the corner, down the line or at the body, so I got used to making a lot of shots before going for it, but with Arirang, I got the control to make a strong opener, a spinny opener, a controlled low topspin passing shot (a defensive topspin we use to setup an offensive topspin on the next shot) or a power loop on the first ball. I am more inclined to spin the ball up and finish on the next ball if it is there and the Aririang with Evo FX-P on the FH does not disappoint at all. It goes right where I want, whether I am trying to setup for the next ball, trying to pressure, or trying to finish the point. I never could make all those shots possible or have them at my disposal with this level of confidence and control before. I will need a TBS equipped with my normal combination to really know right now how they both stack up vs each other, I go by my experiences using TBS as my main blade over here in Korea when I am not long term testing a blade.

 

We can argue how much of playing the slower ALL+ blade helped me out and there will prolly be a lot of validity to that point. every time I long term tested a slower Nexy blade and switched back to TBS I felt like I played matches a lot better.

 

We can argue how much I can attribute this performance to the ability of the blade and het rubber combination. I am inclined to say the blade and rubber combo has a lot more to do with it, but the truth is likely somewhere in between. I think those months using the 896 helped my game play out a lot.

 

I don't think the boost in my play using the Arirang is enough to move me from city Div 2 to Div 1 with same winning percentage, but I can hang with the Div 1 croewd a LOT better using it. For sure, using Arirang + FX-P, I am doing so much better vs the Div 4 & Div 5 crowds that I must give large handicaps (4-5 points per game) and I do much better winning percentage vs the few Div 1 players I get to run into in my local club or a visit to a closeby club.

 

Match results or how your game with your equipment trouble an opponent ought to be the ultimate measure of how well such and such equipment is for you, but how it feels and how confident you play using it surely must have its proper place.

 

I heard someone say recently on a forum that you will quickly forget how well you play using new equipment when you run into someone who REALLY can play well and dominate you. I had a Swedish TT player who messaged our KFTTC on FB and he came to my local club. I managed -10, -9, -9 vs him in a lot of long rally points where he was at the end of many of these rallies, just simply better. Dude needs to letter his jersey The Better Player. He would be Div 0 (ZERO) here in our city and give a div 2 player like me a 3 point handicap. He said he was ranked in the middle 300 in Sweden and remembered Magnus from Speedplay's club in his city. Tere are only 4 active players his level north of Seoul, excluding coaches/owners, who 50% of them are former pro players or elite amature players.

Although I am happily married myself I might enjoy a photo :) 

I found that this blade has really good feeling, still less speed than my iolite but much more control.

When I hit the ball with it I feel like the ball was push into the core.

after I tried it 4 hours I was really impressed. This blade is made easy for counter looping style for sure.Now I think I can do almost everything when I play this blade.

Looping : This blade is very good for looping. Now I know the meaning of "Looping machine" clearly.As I said.This blade is less power than my iolite but much more control.my killing shot is less powerful but

I feel like everytime I hit the ball It won't fail.Having so much confidence on loop-trade.

Blocking : with more control.This blade is also good for blocking.But I need to do a bit more active block than before.  

Short game: as my friend said.As serve receiving and ball placement are very precise.But for me.I can do my flicking as usual.

Choping : I'm not really good in choping but I did it a few shot. This blade is too fast to do it.

Smashing : a bit too slow to do a killing shot in my opinion.but when I do it I can place the ball everywhere I want.What a WONDERFUL CONTROL.

For me.This blade is really suit my style.I rate it as off blade with medium feel.Really good feeling.Wonderful look (especially the "gem" hehe :P)

I'm saving to buy a second one after it release in public. I was finding a blade like this for long time ago. A table tennis blade that isn't just a sport equipment.

full of meaning,really beautiful looking and perfect for my playing style. 

 

Can you show me picture of your "Ari" I love to see the ST handle.

Peter C wrote: The flared handle on the Arirang is the most comfortable Nexy flared handle I've come across to date.

 Yes, the handle is top. Most of the flared handles are too flared for me, because they are too small on one side and too wide on the other. So I always played with straight handles. 

Some months ago I found a Nittaku Tenor with flared handle and liked it very much, because it is only a bit flared, enough to hold the blade stable in my hands, but not too flared (as Calix 2). If you compare the handles of Arirang, Calix and Tenor, you will see, what I mean.