Andro Carbo Aramid

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Greetings,
Reborn - there are basically 2 types of blades if you divides all the blades into 2 categories only, 1 that flex and 1 that doesn't. Your HKing is a blade that flex big time, next time when you are abt 2 meters away from the table and then try to do a full on whipy swing,, u should be able to feel that flex in the blade.

Oh, and I thought the HKing was on the stiff side. So Hugo would the HKing be good with tensors?

Rob was the blade I had a few hits with at Geelong a KCA? I know it was an Andro, and it had a real nice look and feel to it.

[Peter C]

Sunflex

I tried Plasma 470 on my Carbo Aramid forehand tonight and my experience was very disappointing. I didn't feel it was good match for this blade and I play better with Max Sriver EL and 2mm Xtend.

Standing up to the table and taking the ball early off the bounce with plasma 470 was fine, but my looping and counterlooping from 4-6 back from the table lacked the consistentcy I'm used to. i was sending a lot of loops off the end of the table. It made me wonder if I was having an off night.

So i ended up removing the plasma 470 off the blade and replacing it with 2mm Xtend.

In the meantime I used my Mazunov with Bryce forehand and Sriver G2 FX backhand instead. I realised straight away that I wasn't having an off night after all, as I was looping very consistently with this set up. It was simply a case of me finding the plasma 470 didn't work for me on the Carbo Aramid.

I felt the rubber had a lower throw than I expected and would probably be more suited on a wooden blade with a higher throw than the Carbo Aramid. Being a harder sponge it makes me wonder if Plasma 470 would be better off on a wooden blade with soft outer plies i.e. soft blade/hard rubber scenario.

In a previous post back on 24th April, I mentioned my forehand looping with Xtend was less consistent on the Carbo Aramid, than on the Michael Maze,and as such, felt it wasn't the right rubber for me on this blade.

Well, after playing with this blade for a few more weeks, I can now play just as consistently with Xtend on the Carbo Aramid,  as i can with Xtend on the Michael Maze.

The more I've played with the Carbo Aramid and got used to it, the more I like it and I'd say it's a great blade. I can fully understand why Rob and other Carbo Aramid users rate this blade so highly.

[Wiz]

Greetings,
Reborn - there are basically 2 types of blades if you divides all the blades into 2 categories only, 1 that flex and 1 that doesn't. Your HKing is a blade that flex big time, next time when you are abt 2 meters away from the table and then try to do a full on whipy swing,, u should be able to feel that flex in the blade.

Oh, and I thought the HKing was on the stiff side. So Hugo would the HKing be good with tensors?

Rob was the blade I had a few hits with at Geelong a KCA? I know it was an Andro, and it had a real nice look and feel to it.

My Nittaku WLQ (very similar to HKing - or you can call it the poor mans version of the HKing) - no good with Tensors. I've tried pretty much every tensor i have on it and it just doesn't feel right.

[dauntless]

Well, I finally bought one, and I need to get some rubbers by the time it arrives.
Any thoughts? I wonder about BTY Cermet, is that kind of medium or is it softer?

Thanks.

BTW: I have a similar thread started over here: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=243

I didn't realize I would own this blade so soon, it just sort of happened, now I guess my EJ path is set for a while, I should really get a list of all the rubbers I will consider and do a poll... that might be silly but fun.

cheers, i'll have my new blade by next practice, but not rubbers

[pingpongrob]

Rob was the blade I had a few hits with at Geelong a KCA? I know it was an Andro, and it had a real nice look and feel to it.

There was 2 Blades. My primary blade was the KCA, but I also had a Donic Dima Sawtec with the cork handle.

[Darno]

I wonder about BTY Cermet, is that kind of medium or is it softer?

I'm currently using Cermet for my fh on my KCA.  It is medsoft hardness according to the butterfly scale and is a great looping rubber.  I have it tuned with p.o., but when I had it glued up it was at another level.  I'm trying to move away from treating rubbers, so I will most likely give Roxon 450 a try for my Fh.

[dauntless]

This question goes for Rob or any other KCA owner.

I'M FREAKING OUT!

Just got my KCA blade in the mail. In the case, wrapped perfectly. And it is in 9.9 out of 10 condition used, no blemishes, handle clean, no scratched or anything but....

The blade makes sound?!?! What the heck is going on!  :o  :o  :?

[Silver]

ahahahaha

you seem to have missed the blade's major selling point.



anyway, I notice that they've been discontinued.

[dauntless]

Ok, I'm an idiot...
Just skyped Rob, and he educated me in a very patient way, that _that_ sound IS the kinetic system and that its normal.  :mrgreen:

Thanks Rob, and for anyone who is new to this forum and/or may consider ATT as a supplier I have to say without question Rob is the best in the business in my opinion.

cheers

[dauntless]

thanks Silver, knew I could count on you! LOL

have a sneaking suspicion that I will not live this down for a while...

At least I admitted it.  

[Silver]

Personally, I think the kinetic system idea is a complete pile of bullshit. Physics says that the blade won't decelerate fast enough on contact with the ball for the little kinetic balls to whack the other side of the chamber, as their picture and system explanation say.

Whatever it's supposed to do though, it does sound cool.

[pingpongrob]

Personally, I think the kinetic system idea is a complete pile of bullshit. Physics says that the blade won't decelerate fast enough on contact with the ball for the little kinetic balls to whack the other side of the chamber, as their picture and system explanation say.

Whatever it's supposed to do though, it does sound cool.

[Silver]

I bet if I removed the balls, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference

[pingpongrob]

I bet if I removed the balls, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference

Go Ahead make my Day.

Infact i listen to the balls moving as I'm about to serve the ball, it helps with my Focus & Concentration.

[Peter C]

Hearing the sand sound for the first time, was odd as it's not something I'd experienced when using a TT blade before.

Bearing in mind the KCA has very good control, the kinetic system must contribute to some degree.

The quality of it's control was highlighted, when I allowed 12 year Jason, who comes to coaching on saturdays to try it. He's already developed good technique using a starter bat, with good control and reasonable speed.

He picked up the KCA with 2mm Xtend and within 10 minutes looked like he'd been using it on a regular basis. The extra speed and spin he was generating with the bat, was better than some adults who've tried the bat too. He was very consistent on looping drills and had good control over the bat.

He also played well with 2mm Coppa on the forehand of a Mazunov, but struggled with 2.3mm Plasma 470. I can understand that as  Plasma 470 isn't the easiest rubber to play with.

Whilst it's true it's not normally advisable trying younger players on faster bats, because it can inhibit their development; I do feel it a worthwhile exercise with younger players who've already got decent technique and control.

I also noticed my nephew, who is not as talented as Jason at TT, also found it easy to control the KCA.

Personally I find the KCA with 2mm Xtend , as easy as a Stiga Allround with 2mm 35% Quattro to control. In other words, i can play any shot in the book.

[dauntless]

what will most likely end up on the blade is andro plasma women 2.0 and impulse speed max I will have identical setup for the control 3 and looks like I'm buying another KCA will hit with it tonight with EGP 2.0 and cj8000 Palio on saviga sponge 2. Something
let you know what happens

[dauntless]

Gotta say I love this blade man. Nice step up from the Xiom blade for me. I just felt like attacking everyting with this.
I'm going to have to Ej a little on the rubbers... got a lot of great advice and words of experience, thanks everyone for helping with this blade decision--> it took a long time to ante up and get one, and boy am I excited.

I don;t think it is "new toy" syndrome either, I REALLY liked this on the 1st practice with it, I even won same games off of te better players in my club... hope they weren't just placating me since I had a new blade...  

Thanks again, I am super "stoked" now

[gekogark1212]

Well as all my know by now, I love my Andro CF Carbo Aramid, in fact I now have a spare thanks to Geko.

I swear only Silver, or maybe Tommyzai can understand what I mean by "it was an EJ moment". Over the last week or so I really wanted this blade again. To the extent where I would visit Rob's site constantly to weigh the benefits vs costs in my head.

I'll get one off you soon Rob, prob when I'm down in Melbourne.

[Silver]

I have many of those moments.

Mostly they don't have anything to do with tabletennis though...

[gekogark1212]

Hey guys so in the end what did you settle down with? I recall going through HELL to find the right rubber, only stopping at Bryce Speed and Omega 2.

If it's possible can we just list down the pro's and con's of the rubber on this blade? Thanks.

I'll go 1st:

Bryce Speed: Pros: very good control and speed. spin is nice, but nothing spectacular. good number of gears. Cons: away from table looping is still very inconsistant, EXPENSIVE!, tears easily

Omega 2: Pros: the speed of the rubber balances the slow(er) nature of the blade very well
Cons: low spin (compared to EVERYTHING else...apart from anti), too bouncy and hence lose the short game ability associated with the blade.

[rokphish]

Looks like the Andro Carbo-Aramid fad has died down...