Donic Ovtcharov True Carbon

tom wrote: The blade has good feel but setup is 176g = blade is probably on the light (slow) side.

Been using this for a few weeks with MXP and El-S rubbers.  Don't have too much to compare it to but it's definitely faster than anything I've used (Stiga Maplewood V and Rossi Emotion).  Can finally smash and play far from the table.  The sweet spot feels small on smashing though.  Not sure if this is normal for a high end blade.  I didn't really notice this with my other blades but didn't get to smash often with them.  But when you hit the ball on the sweet spot it can really fly.


Edited by WeebleWobble - 12/12/2016 at 12:39pm

definitely a good balanced off (or off-) blade

Baal: I think that the DOTC has at least a bit more carbon in its fiber than BTY's ALC fiber. I feel that on harder hits, DOTC is faster than BTY ALC blades of same weights even if it is a bit thinner.

slevin wrote: Baal: I think that the DOTC has at least a bit more carbon in its fiber than BTY's ALC fiber. I feel that on harder hits, DOTC is faster than BTY ALC blades of same weights even if it is a bit thinner. I have 3 DOTC blades at the moment. I feel that DOTC is 90% BTY ALC blade feel and 10% JRE feel: it is a bit softer than my BTY ALC blades (thus spinner on slow loops & in serves) but slightly faster and slightly less dwelly / spinny on powerloops (implying more carbon in its fiber).

You can feel that the carbon layer is thicker?  Really?  You can feel that?  It is true that my various ALC blades feel non-identical (even the ones of the same model), but I certainly can't attribute it to that -- especially when we are talking about things made out of wood, especially blades as similar as these. 

I don't have x-ray vision either, or spidey sense, and I don't use The Force, and I can't make myself invisible. 

Actually, from a design perspective, a blade that had more arylate in it would probably have even less high frequency vibration and might therefore have more of a feeling of dwell.  (And again, the thing that feels like dwell is not actually that, and may or many not be related to it).

I don't buy into a lot of EJ-speak, frankly.   

If you like ALC blades, whether or not you like this one is going to come down to getting one in a weight you like, and if you like the shape of the handle.  That's it.  And the price is good.

No.  The test was as follows:

I learned recently that one can buy carbon/vectran weaves from more than one company, and with somewhat different weaves and compositions.  The weaves are not marketed by the same people who produce Vectran fibers (Btfly calls Vectran by the name Arylate, for some reason).   So it is certainly possible that the composite layer is slightly different in the OTC than in a Btfly.  If it is, I just don't think it matters all that much.  I have a ZJK-ALC of the same weight as my lighter OTC.  Both with ST.  They are truly indistinguishable to play with.  Actually those two are much more like each other than my two OTCs are.  And I have a pretty good feeling for subtle differences in the way ALC blades feel.  I may not know much, but that I know. 

But not as strong as people who can tell whether Jun Mitzutani is playing with a ZLC or a sZLC blade by watching the way a ball comes of his blade on a Youtube video.  That kind of EJ knowledge requires The Force.  I sit in awe of the EJ Master who can do that.

http://mytabletennis.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=70780&PID=929964&title=mj-zlc-mj-szlc#929964

Hey Baal, is throw angle of OTC is same like of Viscaria/ALC/TBS?

How about OTC FL Handle ? I want to know it . Like Viscaria , Timo boll ALC or Stiga Master FL ?
Anyone tried it ?

OTC handle is slightly thinner (smaller) than viscaria, probably similar to TB alc

AKThu wrote: How about OTC FL Handle ? I want to know it . Like Viscaria , Timo boll ALC or Stiga Master FL ? Anyone tried it ?

I think the OTC's FL handle is better than Viscaria's. The Viscaria felt a little longer to me and a little thinner / rounder towards the blade face. Even if the OTC's handle is 0.5 mm thinner( I am not quite sure about that), it is a bit thicker in the upper part and feels a little shorter to me, which results in less head heaviness.

Hans Regenkurt wrote: unstopabl3 wrote: If I was looking to end my blade quest would you say I should buy Timo Boll ALC or try OTC for about $30 cheaper? And is OTC more close to a Viscaria in feel and gameplay or Timo Boll ALC? Thanks I would say the two Butterfly blades you mentioned are closer to each other. They both have a slightly muted ALC feel. The OTC has less of that mutedness.

Do you get a lot of vibration with OTC? And which one would you say is faster if we were to compare at the same weight: OTC, TB ALC, Viscaria? I'm guessing it would be OTC as others have stated it has more carbon in it.

Thanks


Edited by unstopabl3 - 02/26/2017 at 9:22am

Save your money until you develop strong technique unless you just like collecting blades (which I suspect is the case) or resell at a modest loss. Just get a 5 ply all wood like Korbel or a TB AlC until then. Such popular blades are good benchmarks for establishing technique and switching if necessary.

Baal wrote: ALC blades actually require solid technique.  I get saving money, so if you're not sure, why pay so much more for TB ALC? Because it comes from Btfly? Really, there is no single way I can see in which you are likely to get a better blade that way than by buying the DTC for a bunch less.  They are extremely similar blades designed for exactly the same kind of player of equal build quality and similar (nearly identical)  composition.  If you dislike or play badly with a DTC then you will have the same problems with a TB ALC of the same weight.

Maybe NL suggested that due to the fact that TB ALC has a proven history of being a blade which can be used by every player from amateur to pros and instead of "trying out" OTC to see if someone likes it or not and then spending $130-$150 again to get TB ALC, one should just save the $90 and get TB ALC in the first place.

I will try out my club mates TB ALC and see if I like it before buying it and wasting money this time. Btw are these blades good enough if I get one in 85-88 grams or will it be much slower than the blades in the 90g range? Keeping in mind that the average weight for TB ALC advertised on many websites is 85g.

Thanks