Xiom Stradivarius

[namari]

So Skippy, tell us about your Xiom Stradivarius. How does it play? What have you played with in the past? How does it compare? etc.

[Skippy]

Welcome Namari!
The blades I have played in the past in order from oldest to newest is.  Tibhar Smash ALL, Dawei Kama ALL+, Yinhe T-2 (OFF+), and now the Stradivarius OFF.  None of these blades even come close to the Stradivarius.  It's in a different class.  The fastest blade I have played is the T-2, but it's so stiff I couldn't loop with it very well.  I could do all other things really well with it.  The Stradivarius has the OFF speed but a complete feel of an all wood blade.  It has nice flex, and really allows alot of dwell time for looping and just applying spin in general.  There is no shot that I have noticed that the Stradivarius doesn't hit well.  If there is a draw back to this blade it's that the 20-25% of the blade that is not part of the "sweet spot"  really drops off in comparison to a full blown carbon blade.  The loopability seems to more than make up for that one small weakness.  When I got this blade I was nervous about the Koto outer ply.  I had heard that Koto is really hard, and those statements were quite correct.  This made me think that the blade would lack touch.  I was so wrong.  This blade is outstanding in the short game.  I am done looking for blades, now it's just finding rubbers that I like as well as this blade.  

edit:  Oh, and blocking is a dream with this blade.  It seems to take some pace off the ball if you defensively block, but maintains really nice pace if you block with some aggression.  You have a moment when the ball makes contact with the bat to adjust and change your placement at the last moment.  All in all I am very pleased with the Stradivarius.

[aeoliah]

You make me start thinking to get one Xiom Aramid Carbon too, which is not good for my wallet . It seems that this Stradivarius is a hit currently, everybody seems to be praising it.

[sunflex]

this blade sounds like my dream blade:p
 a faster version of waldner senso carbon. I might want one.

[namari]

Wow! Thanks for that review. My mouth is watering!

[Skippy]

You from Boston?

[namari]

About an hour southwest of Boston, closer to the RI border.

[alfie]

do you play in the RI tournaments or the Framingham tournaments?

[Skippy]

I'm from KC!  We have very few players here, but I do have a pretty solid player right in my neighborhood that will probably start training with me soon.  Once winter kicks in.

[michaelh]

Hi,

Does Xiom Stradivarius goes well with H3? i tried power carbon off+ and it was too fast for my forehand, i couldn't get spin and having a hard time lifting backspins. So i'm back to my old blade.

I like XIOM blade very much and would like to try another but don't knwo which one goes well with hurricane 3.

Anyone got any ideas?

[supachop]

Rob, Have you tried the Xiom Stradivarious yet ? What are your thoughts on it.

[supachop]

michaelh,  Do you play at Coburg ?

[alfie]

I'm from KC!  We have very few players here, but I do have a pretty solid player right in my neighborhood that will probably start training with me soon.  Once winter kicks in.

H3 is very nice on the Maximus OFF but needs either plenty of glue or CTE to get enough speed

[Skippy]

H3 seems to feel better on all woods traditionally.  Maybe the Max, or Amadeus would be good.

[pingpongrob]

I have a sheet of H3, (got it from alfie) Will try it on the stratavarious on Monday.

[alfie]

I have a sheet of H3, (got it from alfie) Will try it on the stratavarious on Monday.

       Do you have any CTE I put 10 layers on mine? if not glue the crap out of it

[michaelh]

michaelh,  Do you play at Coburg ?

Yeah Phil. it' me, your team mate.

[michaelh]

I have a sheet of H3, (got it from alfie) Will try it on the stratavarious on Monday.

looking forward to your review rob.

[supachop]

michaelh,  Do you play at Coburg ?

Yeah Phil. it' me, your team mate.

Hi Michael. I thought i was you. I just wanted to make sure. Rob and i will try it on monday night. I will let you know what i think of it. Do you want the H3 glued?

[michaelh]

michaelh,  Do you play at Coburg ?

Yeah Phil. it' me, your team mate.

Hi Michael. I thought i was you. I just wanted to make sure. Rob and i will try it on monday night. I will let you know what i think of it. Do you want the H3 glued?

yeah sure.

[Skippy]

Hi,

Does Xiom Stradivarius goes well with H3? i tried power carbon off+ and it was too fast for my forehand, i couldn't get spin and having a hard time lifting backspins. So i'm back to my old blade.

I like XIOM blade very much and would like to try another but don't knwo which one goes well with hurricane 3.

Anyone got any ideas?

Well, I have had a few weeks of playing with my Stradivarius now with the rubbers I had laying around pretty much.  Actually Rob gave some help with one of them.  I certainly wasn't planning on putting a sheet of 2008 XP Super Power on "the" Stradivarius, but I gotta be honest.  It's not playing that badly.  I'm beating some guys that I used to have alot of trouble with.  It's not super similar to H3, but it's the most similar rubber I have played to H3 on the Stradivarius.  I could put a sheet of Cream Jap to give you an even more educated comparison.  I'll give it a ride sometime.

[namari]

do you play in the RI tournaments or the Framingham tournaments?

I've played in the RI tourny twice, alfie. I hope to play in the 2008 RI Winter Classic in the spring of next year, assuming that there is one scheduled. Too bad the Framingham Club got moved. Westboro is a bit far for me.

[Heath]

Hi Guys,

Just bought a Stradivarius after seeing it go on special. Thanks Rob. I've been watching this blade and dreaming about if for some months now, and i finally got it.

First of all, very impressed on the craftsmanship of the blade. The sound of the blade bare (bouncing a ball), eminated quality. Stuck a 470 and 430 Plasma on the blade, EE2 and speedglued just for that extra punch. Results were amazing, looping was easy and very spinny. The sound made a very nice click, touch was crisp when blocking and chopping. Feeling of the blade at contact was very nice. Overall very impressed, well worth the money. I wont be ejing much more after this combo, maybe just a few more Srivers

Heath

[alfie]

do you play in the RI tournaments or the Framingham tournaments?

I've played in the RI tourny twice, alfie. I hope to play in the 2008 RI Winter Classic in the spring of next year, assuming that there is one scheduled. Too bad the Framingham Club got moved. Westboro is a bit far for me.

        I played in the RI tournament last year and Framingham this year 1 time,yes to bad about Framingham it seemed a very good club with tournaments every month

[Skippy]

Heath!  The man that started all this Stradivarius talk awhile ago has come back to make a contribution to the remake of his original thread!  Congrats on the Stradivarius Heath!  I got one too and I love it!  The best blade I have ever hit with.  I don't have the rubbers that you have on your unfortunately, but we'll see.

[pingpongrob]

Here it is for all to see the Stratavarious with Impuls speed and Omega 2 & the Control All+ with H3 and Omega 1.

The Strat is faster, but not supa Fast, and the Control All+ is definetly an Allround + Blade.

Here is the Video http://http://video.google.com.au/videoplay?docid=6174771389865493035&hl=en-AU

[Silver]

not uploaded yet?

[gekogark1212]

Damn Rob, you sure know how to tease!  

[pingpongrob]

Damn Rob, you sure know how to tease!  :oops:

[Skippy]

So what are your thoughts on the blades and the rubbers?  It didn't look like Hurricane played that poorly from what I could tell.  How did you like the Strad?  The Impuls Speed looks faster than it's rated.  In fact the arc didn't look that different between the Impuls, and the Omega's.