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[ejunkie]

Is 5-ply all wood blades too slow for the post glue era? More and more top players don't use them anymore, and the trend for the rest of us is the same due to their influence. Do modern defensive players use something that's even faster?

[rokphish]

top players using 5-ply blades and speedglue used to be able to hold it against others who use carbon or other composites or other faster blades... such as wanghao, malin, wlq, malong... all was and some are still using 5-ply wood blades and so far they're still holding the top spots...

i still think the 5-ply woods will still be around for awhile...

[ejunkie]

It just seems that the hot items right now are the new Butterfly Composite blades. I am still using some 5-ply blades but find that they lack speed pairing with Chinese rubbers. I don't want to change my rubbers so I guess I have to wait for the new tuned H3 to come out. True that there are a few Chinese still holding onto the 5-ply blades, but their equipments are still much faster with special rubber tuned and blades sealed to increase speed.

[rokphish]

sealing off blades won't make any noticeable difference if only done 2-3 thin layers...

i heard from a my uncle who talked with a trainer in one china's province team... not too positive feedbacks on the new tuned hurricane...

[ejunkie]

If the H3 tuned is not as good I will give BW a try when it is accepted by ittf.

[729 fx]

Is 5-ply all wood blades too slow for the post glue era? More and more top players don't use them anymore, and the trend for the rest of us is the same due to their influence. Do modern defensive players use something that's even faster?

Maybe varghese can give you the answer to the last question. He is a modern defender.

As for your first question, I would say that the 5-ply wood may be slow due to advancement in technology which produces faster blades. The glue factor is minimal. The trend for most of us is to keep up with the change, that is like in tennis, no one uses a wooden racket anymore, nowadays it is the composites like graphite, kevlar, titanium etc.

[ejunkie]

Yeah but it's just me that can seem to handle the fast blade with a T05 on top? Just an observation, those who use fast setup like that locally can't seem to get along with other people. I don't mean that they are not social--they are very, but they are so thin skin that it's impossible to be friends with them. Do you find that to be the case?

[729 fx]

Well, I personnally do not think it is you alone facing the problem handling the fast blade with a T05 on top. Most players with fast blade would prefer to do things at a faster pace. Maybe in their life, there are very "fast-paced" type of people.
Some of us prefer the laid-back style, hence, when playing tt, we play defensively or an all-round game.

Coming back to the topic, all wood blade still features in todays modern game.

[ejunkie]

Very good observations, 729. unfortunately we are all forced to live the fast pace.