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This blade is oversize and very BIG! I could not fit any of
my used rubbers on there since there were not even close to fitting!
Well it took me while to figure out what this blade would be suitable for. This
blade is real slow, probably around ALL, and really takes the pace out of the
ball. For blocking and counterhitting the ball comes back real slow, and even
for driving and looping it was hard to get real good pace. But for brush
looping, which is mainly dependant on the rubber not the blade, it comes off
quite fast. This provided quite a contrast...
With long pimples rubber on one side, blocking and counterhitting is really
nice. Since the blade has such great dwell time, I had great control on all my
shots. This blade made it very manageble even with fast long pimples rubber,
even for chopping away from the table.
When I started playing a more passive game away from the table, I realised where
this blade excels. I had great control with ALL my shots, and the great dwell
time of the blade made it real easy to manipulate spin. I could float the ball
and return very heavy backspin with ease. Most rubbers would not have enough
power to hit winners from medium to far distance, but with a fast glued up
rubber this would still be an option.
I think this blade suits modern type defender, with either 2 control type
rubbers or a combination of a slower long pimpled rubber and a control rubber on
the other side. It has enough power to put the ball away when you come in
closer, but from mid-far distance you'll have to rely on strategy and spin
manipulation to win points. Alex...
This is Friendship's answer to the popular defensive
"Hock" blades. They have
that low tone that screams control. However,
even the Toxic3 isn't as slow as some of the 3ply hocks I've tried.
The 5ply still has that low tone, although not quite as
pronounced. However when you take a
bigger cut that tone disappears and it feels more like a normal all-around
blade.
Both rackets have the distinctive Hock shape, with an
exaggerated oversized head.
This racket will most likely be covered on at least one
side with some sort of pips-out rubber. Often
long pips. The typical choppers
forehand will be a sticky topsheet on a thin (<1.5), dead sponge.
If the player wants to be able to loop with the forehand they will
sometimes go to a sponge around 1.8 thickness.
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