First Impression of Galaxy T-4 (Compared to T-8)

[Der Echte]

I got a couple T-4s in a trade with Fatt (from MyTT and DTTW), so maybe I should call this "Premier Impression de T-4" or something like that. I have had a few hits and can describe it enough to call it a first impression. Someone asked me to compare it to the T-8, which I also use. He has Bryce on one side, so I refer to it a few times. This isn't going to be an all inclusive review, just how the T-4 compared to the T-8, so Galaxy enthusists can stop drooling. There should be enough meat and potatoes in this to keep you from starving though. Before I get into the review, it would be helpful or you all to know that I am below advanced level offensive player who likes to open and finish the point quickly. I strive to open with a slower loop and look to loopdrive/loopkill from there. I tested both T-4 ST handled blades with 40 deg Quattro/JO Coppa Gold and 999 on 35 deg (both sides). The T-4 felt light, like mid 80s in grams. I am accustomed to heavier blades and rubbers. Most people consider a mid 80s blade with Quatro (among the heaviest rubbers on the planet) way too heavy. I really liked the soft sponged 999 outfit right away. I will have to try the other one out with some of my favorite rubbers before I dismiss the jury. I am aslo accoustomed to FL handles, but the thickness of this ST handle wasn't so bad, I could deal with it OK enough.  
 
Short disclaimer - This is how I felt about it. It won't necessarily be how YOU feel about it. JKC really likes this blade and does real well with it. Well, that guy could do real well hitting Seemiller grip with a cassette tape plastic cover of Rory Gallagher, so take what I write for what it is worth.
 
1) T-8 to T-4 Ping ... T-4 is crazy annoyingly pingy with harder rubbers (even 40 deg Quattro!) and OK with soft sponged rubbers. T-8 is like a Clunk/Ping more muffled. Maybe I get used to it with more time. I never heard a blade so pingy, except maybe a BTY Sardius.
 
2) T-8 and T-4 Speed ... Both are easily lower to middle OFF + and bouncy/crisp. I wouldn't necessarily say T-8 is faster. They are pretty close. I rate the TBS as middle OFF.
 
3) T-8 to T-4 vibration ... There isn't a whole lot on either one - both are pretty stiff/bouncy blades. T-4 has some, but it isn't much more than the T-8.
 
4) Flicks ... both blades worked OK for this if you timed it right.
 
5) Loops ... Looping close to the table with a tacky, soft sponged rubber is noticeably easier with the T-4 - much higher percentage and WAY better feel. Loopdriving with harder rubbers is VERY fast with both the T-8 and T-4 and both blades are can't miss outstanding at it.
 
6) Blocking... You put Bryce on even a rec center blade and you have a blocking machine. Both blades block fine with rubbers that excell at blocking (Bryce/42 dg Quattro, maybe even LKT Power and Speed) You could throw a dart at either blade and be fine with Bryce on it.
 
7) Flex... There isn't much on either blade. They are both stiff blades with a hard feel. Get a Galaxy 986 if you want a flexy looping blade from Galaxy.
 
8) Chop... don't ask me that question. I don't do that unless I am using an LP combo bat for fun.
 
9) Pushes ... neither blade is better at it. They are both bouncy. You do better having hard sponged or rubbers with thicker topsheets for the touch shots on either blade.
 
10) Driving ... Both blades excell in driving the ball. Maybe T-8 counterdrives the ball a bit better, but if you have Bryce, you could counterhit a rocket onto the table using a premade blade, so what does it matter?
 
11) Tenergy Loops... I don't have the $$$ for Tenergy, but I can spin the crap out of the ball with a lot of Japanese/Chinese/Euro rubbers, as long as there is at least 2.0 mm of sponge. A lot of my loops against players up to USATT 1900 get returned longer than the opponent intended - like past the endline. I do that with ANY blade I use, so big deal T-8 or T-4. (Too bad the rest of my Allround game doesn't get me to USATT 1900.) With the harder sponged rubbers, you become more of a loopdriver or powerlooper using either the T-8 or T-4.
 
12) Forgiving ... Are you kidding me? Is forgiving a trait of any OFF + blade? No, with blades this fast, you had better hit it right the first time.
 
I will probably feel different about the T-4 given more time, especially after a few times with the harder rubbers I like, so I will have to add more comments about it later.

[speedplay]

And as soon as you have grown to like this T-4, I expect that you ship the T-8 to me, right

Now, I know you haven't tried the Wavestone (shame on you!) but how would you rate the hardness of the outer layers on the T-8? I think the Wavestone feels medium and I really like it and my fear is that if I buy a T-8, the hard feeling would make the blade useless for me.

[Der Echte]

Well Speedplay, I just agreed to ship Nathan my Dawei GTS with its rubbers for his Wavestone with 999 over Quattro on both sides. I really like the GTS. It was the best (OFF -) control carbon blade I ever hit with. I will still use the TBS as my prefered setup until I run into a more fitting blade, or I get way better powerlooping. So Speedplay, I won't have to raid your flat with a few select friends to get a Wavestone after all.    I bet every night you were waiting for me like Kato waits for Inspector Clueseax from Pink Panther movies.

I still use the T-8 to test out Rapid Sound and Rapid Power. I might still be open to a trade though. If Peter in England can get stuff I send from here, I'm sure the few extra km for the post won't matter all that much for it to get to you safely.

The more I hit with the T-4 and a soft sponged rubber, the more I like it. I don't feel that way about the T-8. The only softish sponged rubber I liked on it was BTY Bryce. Yes Bryce. That rubber isn't all that hard sponged as people think it is. Interestingly enough, I don't mind the ST handle on the T-4 at all. Just about every blade I have ever used has been a FL handle.

[speedplay]

Nathan as in The Theologian from OOAK? I didn't think he wanted to part from his Wavestone as he looked like he enjoyed it as much as I do!

Well my friend, once you have it, you are in for a treat! I look forward to your views on it, but by the time you get it, Im ight have bought a T-8 my self. I'm still undecided if I should include it with my coming order here or not.

The main thing I'm concerned about is how hard it is compared to the Wavestone. If it is with out vibrations, stiff and with a softish feel, I might really like it!

[Der Echte]

I think he had two of them, so he should still have an account balance of one Wavestone. If not, I think he has a Genote or some other blade. He just didn't seem to like 999 on Quattro a lot. Since he already has a Wavestone, he might have been in the running for a different blade. looks like he is also considering some BTY blades. The T-8 didn't have a soft feeling at all to me. It felt stiff and hard without a lot of vibration.

[speedplay]

Confirms my doubt about the blade, I suspected it would be hard, but Debraj keeps on recommending it to me as an improved version of the wavestone...

Still disapointed with Nathan, I have 3 Wavestone blades and I wouldn't part from either of them with out a fight

[Der Echte]

Maybe Nathan got word of my planned airborne assault on your flat and sent me his Wavestone to prevent an international incident. I could have just as easily sent in my ceiling cat to retrieve one of your Wavestones, but a raid would have been infinately more fun. (Ever see that "Ceiling Cat " pic?)

What you might like about the T-8 Speedplay is the stiff and hard feel to go with the OFF + speed. Your powerloops are worthy of the term with any fastish offensive rubber - even faster with a rubber in Couga or Varites class. I know you like hitting a strong FH shot. I keep pimping Bryce, but I take it you gotta block at least some on your FH and Bryce is almost a weapon in itself on a blade like the T-8 in blocking. You don't get the spin until you make a nice powerful swing on a loopdrive, but you know exactly what you are getting. Also you like to counterhit FH. It doesn't take all that much of a powerful swing with the T-8 and Bryce to make that ball go back where you want it - FAST. I would venture that Tenergy or Express One would work well on it as well. BUT... like you mentioned in another forum where you call me Der_Echte, who in your club forks over that many Kroners for any of those rubbers fro you to give it a go? The only Tensor or "Tensioned" rubber I tried on it was 729 Highpoint, reportedly a German Made ESN Tensor exactly like Donic F2, which was REAL NIFTY fast/spinny on forward swinging type loops like powerlooping against weak bottomspin or loopkilling topspin blocks. The FH rubber in the two match vids against D. Fomin I used was Highpoint on my TBS. I simply like the feel and balance of power/consistancy of the TBS. The T-8 is easily a faster blade.