Xiom Control Series3/ALL+ Impressions

[dauntless]

Played with it last night.

First impressions:

First glance: How could you not like Xiom's style? From product design to marketing they have done a nice job. Finish quality was perfect... there was some slight variation in the thickness of the outer ply but it was minimal and the overall thickness was perfect.

It has gears. I would never have expected it to have such control (most of the time) on passive blocks and at the same time have the ability to produce enough speed away from table. It is slower that the Dawei Wavestone, but not by much...I am keeping the Wavestone because even though its rated at OFF+ it doesn't really play that way for me.

I should start by saying I got two sheets of Joola Energy 2.0 GP from I love pingpong and they were only 28 USD (looked exactly as thick as MAX) and used regular Nittaku Dine glue. I put a couple of thin coats on the sponge, waited and glued them. I rolled and pressed for about an hour with really good adhesion. Finished it off with some nice Xiom edge tape.

I am not used to Energy on backhand (been playing with Juic Spinspiel Ultima 2.0) and so my backhand was not so good, but it improved steadily through practice and games. I had a really great practice session with a 1600-1700 rated player (got second recently in under 1700 local tourny) and did drills. Here is where I started to appreciate the blades control and consistency (sweetspot) It just did very well on almost everything. I did have some weird blocks but I think that was just me getting used to the blde rubber combo.

I was ending up short on my blocks, pushes and chops and then magic happened: my blocks were lower, tighter, and some of my pushes were outstanding...despite the fact that I am undecided about the handle size (rather smallish), I think I love this blade.

It is a little more dead due to the aramid/carbon-- slightly less feel than even the Wavestone. Primorac had more feeling... but less control...and also fewer gears. The Primorac is OFF- and I would say that the C3/ALL+ approaches that easily if the right stroke and form is used. It does not approach the speed of the Wavestone, but that is why I got a ALL+

More next week

[dauntless]

One thing that I need to reiterate is that this blade has gears.  

I think that is why I why I was hitting into the net over the table. I just wasn't used to the ability to control and slow down play. All I have to do to speed things up is change my stroke a little and it give speed. The guy who has been helping me the most with my game was having me do over the table drills Chinese style. This guy is cpen holder and has been playing forever. Unbelievable disguised serves. Anyway, he was having me get my left leg under the table, coming in to full extension for flips/push return service and then long to FH, then short to BH again at extreme angles (putting leg under the table again). My a$$ and legs are hurting from the practice.

The goal was to get used to being in position to hit before the stroke. He was saying your legs need to get you there before you even start swinging. He was also getting me to take balls off the bounce more too.

With this session  C3/ALL+ I was really able to see "gears" that alfie and others have talked about. Also, slowing down my game and working on consistency is EXACTLY where I need to be. I will get used to the handle. For my level, I feel there is plenty of speed on this blade...especially when paired with my rubber of choice Energy GP.

Cheers.

[alfie]

you were hitting into the net over the table because the blade is not bouncy in the short game i.e. a little touch with the blade sends the ball very short,this after you get used to it is absolutly awesome for your short game.
         The guy teaching you to get in position before you start the stroke is telling you the correct way so stay with him.
         The more you play with that blade you will not want to play with anything else it is just unreal once you get to know what it can do

[dauntless]

So Alie, the K-4 isn't going to be your #1 setup? How are you finding it as compared with the C3/ALL+ ?

I have to say I think you are right about the not bouncy factor. Once I started getting used to the feeling of it, I saw an improvement in control over the push...got into a pushing contest with  the guy that I train with and he beats me blindfolded, but I out pushed on several occasions...and that my friends is a first.

I am getting some erratic blocks and again I think that is just me getting used to the blade/rubber combo...for the record: the Wavestone is my all time best blocking machine (Energy GP Max)... won many points just blocking off smash or heavy "winner" loops. I am hoping I can get the Xiom up to speed fast, although it really doesn't matter, because I think that the slower speed of the blade is going to "teach" (read: force) me better strokes and still have enough top end to be able to finish strong once I start attacking after opening up a point. Anyway, this is my final answer. EJing anymore is not an option. And I mean it this time...  

[dauntless]

I forgot to mention one crucial thing:

It sounds awesome too!!! Its like "crack, crack, smack," real loud with the Energy.

[alfie]

when you say erratic blocks I think you have figure out how fast a ball is coming and ajust acordingly,when fast balls come at you the blocks are a decent speed but if there is a good distance between the players you need to do a more agressive block as the blade takes the energy out of the ball

[alfie]

it's not a k4 but T4 that I bought but only used it 1 time so I have really no idea what the blade can do,it will take several times playing with it to start figuring it out,been playing in the basement with it just hitting balls and it's faster than my control all+ but not by a large margin,it is for sure not an OFF+ blade in my eyes.
        I can tell you it's for sure a good blade and I will play with it next week in my league matches,that's how confident I am in it's quality.
          Will it ever be like my control all+ who knows but it is a very good blade and I would recomend it to offensive players especially those that play mid distance

[dauntless]

The T-4 sounds like a nice blade. I know Galaxy quality is impressive. I have an 896 but it seems very soft and slow...not really what I was looking for .

For now the Xiom blade is fulfilling all of my needs:

Control
Gears - enough speed when needed
Quality & Design
Larger sweetspot than all wood
Cool Factor
Ability to grow/morph with faster rubbers.

Alfie:
I know I asked you this in another thread, but you mentioned all the rubbers you had tried with this blade, which rubbers worked out for you the best overall?

[alfie]

all rubbers go good with the blade I think rubber prefrence should be a personal thing on what suits each individuals game,what I like you may not like but the best I have played with are the ones in my sig although not really given the H3 or SP a proper tryout,from now for a straight month I will be using the SP on the FH of this blade to see how I like the setup and the SP in comparrison to H3.
         I really am trying to get my game so that I use Chinese rubbers on the FH and either sriver fx or impuls speed on the BH,I believe the Chinese rubbers are best for my game close to the table attack

[dauntless]

I was wondering how the SP would do, but believe it or not on the backhand.
I know nothing about SP, but I have read the help take some of the spin off the ball, allowing more aggressive attacking. That would seem to be ideal if you are taking the ball off the bounce more on your forehand and doing flat hits and blocks.

I wonder, unless of course you serve BH, if the Sp would limit your service? Do you rely on a lot of spin or more on placement/speed variation? (or both?)

I would love to hear how any rubber combinations work out for you. Good luck with the SP.

[alfie]

the SP is SP transcend which is a tacky Chinese inverted rubber not short pips,I used it last night for the first time on the control all+ and liked it very much,still like H3 best out of all Chinese rubbers but only played with SPT a couple times.

[dauntless]

Played again last Tues. but tonights practice is canceled due to weather in Hawaii http://www.kitv.com
I played with 3 other members and all of them complemented me on my improvement with my game. This is only the third practice.
I was just nailing my backhand the other night. The Energy is nice on this blade.

Getting my touch down with this blade... I might need slightly faster rubbers on my forehand, any suggestions? The energy is a little on the bouncy side, maybe I just need to break it in (yeah... that actually makes sense).

I will stop actively EJing on blades. Doesn't mean I won't look around though. If I can, I might buy another of these Xiom blades down the road...so far I have to give two thumbs up.

My power is out right now due to the storms, but I have rigged up a solution with a 100' heavy duty construction power cord. When there is a will their is a way!!!!!

[dauntless]

the SP is SP transcend which is a tacky Chinese inverted rubber not short pips,I used it last night for the first time on the control all+ and liked it very much,still like H3 best out of all Chinese rubbers but only played with SPT a couple times.

Wow, ok...I feel like an idiot.

Anyway, I used a slightly tacky topsheet (palio cj8000) on a saviga sponge from Cole. It felt a lot like Energy but with a bit of tackiness. It was actually quite nice. My serves were super spinny with that. I am just a little hesitant to build my game around something that may not be readily available all the time.

Tuesday, I was working with my training partner and he had me doing over the table-- and I mean literally OVER the table drills. This guy grew up in China and said I am getting into a defensive position too quickly... hence lots and lots of attacking, compact strokes over the table off the bounce to speed up my game and to start controlling the table. He had me put my feet under the table!!!!
It was really-- and I mean really hard to break this backing up habit....and then viola, it just started working...amazing. The Xiom blade just works man. Great to finally have a blade that helps me learn.

Random question:
I was thinking I could try a little spinmax on the Energy, but again a little reluctant because I am not sure what the outcome would be. This would be just to get a little tackiness on the rubber--kind of like the Palio. I've got an older sheet I could try it on.
Also, is it worth doing the Tibhar CTE? What effect does it impart and for how long? As an improving novice, I am trying to not mess up my game too much now that I have found a blade/rubber combo that is working for me-- but I guess I am just a junkie for finding the "perfect" setup...

[Skippy]

As far as readily available Palio CJ8000.  I wouldn't worry about that.  Tomorrow BTY could discontinue Sriver.  They wont but they could.  The CJ8000 has been around a long time.  Don't sweat that, and even if it does disappear there are a handful of Chinese topsheets that are super comparable.  I have a Sheet of CJ8000 C that I'm testing for fun on the Strad, and so far it's actually really really nice.  It's actually suprisingly euro in feeling with a little bit of tack.  It's not hugely different from a Juic 999 topsheet.

[alfie]

if you are going to try CTE on a topsheet then I suggest you try it on an old rubber as sometimes it make the rubber look bad if you don't do it right.
       The control 3 is at it's best close to the table and the energy will be good as will cj8000,I don't know what way around you are using them but I would use the energy on FH and CJ8000 BH.
      BTW I have a H3 on a backup blade that I used CTE on the topsheet,it used to be extreemly tacky but now just normal tacky and the topsheet is a bit softer than normal,the rubber looks really bad but plays better than any othe rubber I have got,imo energy and CJ8000 are topsheets that are already plenty soft enough you may breake the bond between topsheet and sponge if you try CTE on the topsheet of those rubbers

[dauntless]

Here are pics of my 82g Control/ALL+

[attachment=1:880fc]all+closeuplayers.jpg[/attachment:880fc]

[attachment=0:880fc]DSCF3881 (Small).JPG[/attachment:880fc]

I was wondering what the core layer, the center is made from. Notice how they did the cuts on a diagonal.
Anyone know what this wood is?

Thanks

[Silver]

looks like kiri or something.