equipment

Hi Deep, I’ll answer the Rhyzer question on your team mate first. you are right it will be much easier for him to swap to a rubber which he is comfortable with already but with more control so the swap from Rhyzer 48 to 43 for him would make sense as you suggested.

On the blades I would say it’s quite good to have a spare blade the same as your main bat, it means there is no adjusting when you have to use it in an emergency or as you say sometimes just in training. Also by having a second at which is different it can be tempting to swap about and then put doubt in your mind which is best. I know this myself as I have been changing blades and testing a couple of different ones the last few months. I’ve been going from an innerforce to ALC and viscaria too. The Apolonia ZLC is a very nice and well balanced blade and as you said very very similar to an innerforce. So if I was you I’d stick with one of those as you know you like them and are comfortable with it as well. The ALC you may feel you have less cotnrol as it is more direct and has less feel than the Apolonia or innerforce as the carbon in those blades is deeper into the centre.

Any questions on that let me know!

Hi Deep, I’ll answer the Rhyzer question on your team mate first. you are right it will be much easier for him to swap to a rubber which he is comfortable with already but with more control so the swap from Rhyzer 48 to 43 for him would make sense as you suggested.

On the blades I would say it’s quite good to have a spare blade the same as your main bat, it means there is no adjusting when you have to use it in an emergency or as you say sometimes just in training. Also by having a second at which is different it can be tempting to swap about and then put doubt in your mind which is best. I know this myself as I have been changing blades and testing a couple of different ones the last few months. I’ve been going from an innerforce to ALC and viscaria too. The Apolonia ZLC is a very nice and well balanced blade and as you said very very similar to an innerforce. So if I was you I would stay with one of those as you know you like them and are comfortable with it as well. The ALC you may feel you have less control as it is more direct and has less feel than the Apolonia or innerforce as the carbon in those blades is deeper into the centre.

Any questions on that let me know!

Hi Dan. I think my original message might have been confusing, I was looking at only the Innerforce layer ZLC and apolonia compared to Innerforce layer ALC. what is the difference between them. I’m happy with my Apolonia and that will remain my main blade. It’s just a question of whether I have Innerforce layer ZLC as my spare blade which I already own or get a Innerforce layer ALC. 
I’m only asking as a friend wants to buy my spare blade Innerforce layer ZLC and he doesn’t want to buy NEW as it’s expensive. Is the Innerforce layer ALC that you are currently using similar as I could steer him to buy that instead of Innerforce layer ZLC. What is difference in characteristics? 

sorry if the question was confusing. Basically looking to compare the INNERFORCE ALC V INNERFORCE ZLC. 
 

Hi Deep, oh sorry my bad I understand what you mean now. To be honest there is very little difference in the innerforce Alc and zlc, the zlc is probably just a touch faster but the overall feeling and control is pretty similar. Yes I’ve been using the alc and I do like it, nice control and feeling which I wanted. I think to be honest the difference in the ZLC and ALc innerforce is small and it would be easy to adapt and change to one or the other. I wash changing from a Boll alc which is quicker and more direct.

Cheers Dan that’s what I thought also. Just easier to ask someone who has tried both as I have never used the Innerforce ALC. I think the Innerforce ALC is supposed to be tad slower with touch more dwell. 

what is your current set up at the moment are u still using Dignics 80 and Bh? Have u changed to Dignics 09C on fh? I have Dignics 80 on both sides and love it. 
Cheers Deep 
 

Yeah its worth finding out for sure first, yrab thats right just a slight bit more dwell and control.

Im currently back using the Boll alc with tenergy 05 both sides as i found my forehand had more power ajd quality with that set up but I may still end up changing. Dignics 80 is a really good option though and I do like it, especially on the backhand side. I think many pro players will change to the 09c though but I haven’t tested it much yet 🙂

Hi Dan
glad your back at the table again. Seen your review of Dignics 09C however could you kindly compare it to Dignics 80 now that you have tested it. I use D80 on both sides but may test Dignics 09C on fh. 
could you kindly compare speed, spin, control, countering, blocking. Also arc. 
also if you could compare both on your TTD ratings scores that would be extremely helpful. 

Hey Deep, so I would say overall they are quite similar rubbers in all aspects such as speed spin and control. The biggest difference with the 09c is the way the ball kicks out of the rubber because of the more grippy and tacky surface. The arc is higher with the 09c compared to the 80 and I would say it’s very similar in terms of speed but a slightly different feeling. Blocking and topspin shots do take some getting used to as you really need to close the bat angle with the 09c but after adjustment it was no problem. Both very good rubbers for sure and the biggest difference would be the arc and the way the ball kicks out of the rubber more with the 09c.

Cheers Dan. Would you say 09c is better in short game and serving and countering. I am mainly looking at getting it on fh. I’m happy with Dignics 80 on my bh specially blocking and punching with the lower arc. 

would you say it would be better than 80 for the fh? I know it’s all down to personal choice and opinion at end of the day. Also is it suited only close to table or would it be decent mid distance also? 

They are both good in the short game but 09c probably slightly better with the more grippy top sheet which adds control. It would be good for both sides I think but forehand definitely no problem, it just depends if you want that extra kick from the rubber but you’d get used to it and find it works well whatever, and definitely no problem using it closer and at mid distance too ?

Hi Guys. Just some feedback I have been using Apolonia for over a year and love it but bought IFL ALC about 4-5 weeks ago to try out. I have same set up on both blades Dignics 09C fh and Dignics 80 Bh. I’m not enjoying the IFLALC but it’s mainly down to speed. Control is fantastic but just doesnt have the same zip as my Apolonia and it’s more evident on Bh as it’s shorter stroke.
My Apolonia is 91g where as IFLALC is 85g. Question is the speed difference mainly down to the weight. I know Apolonia is supposed to be a tad faster but in this case speed difference seems quite significant and very noticeable.

Ideally I would have like a IFLALC about 90g to really compare.

Is weight difference of 6g a huge factor in the speed difference being experienced?

Hi Guys firstly happy new year. Hopefully 2021 brings us all more joy and certainly better health worldwide! Certainly can’t get any worse. 

secondly I will apologise in advance it’s another equipment based question! Lol I’m not a EJ but as it’s lockdown and doesn’t look like and competitive TT will begin for many months thought I would try couple of blades out. I’m happy with my rubbers Dignics 09C and Dignics 80 so no way will I change those. 

my query is my main blade is Apolonia ZLC 91g. Bought IFLALC 85g but significantly slow. Am selling it as even tho I tried for quite few weeks I just didn’t like it mainly due to speed. 

im now considering Harimoto ALC and will get one 90-91g same as my Apolonia. I have seen the review on YouTube anyway and comparison to Timoboll ALC BUT plse can you give me a comparison to the Apolonia I already have and love. 

yes I know if I love Apolonia then why try anything else… well lockdown is boring and don’t look like will be any competitive TT for months I think so thought I try harimoto. 

please can you compare characteristics of Harimoto compared to Apolonia please. 

many thanks guys. Stay safe 

Hey Deep, definitely, happy new year to you too let’s hope for improvements soon! No worries at all we’re happy to help with any table tennis related topics and equipment is a big one for sure.

Yeah I can understand wanting to test new blades right now in the current situation as there aren’t any events etc. I personally really like the Harimoto blade and found it to have a sharper and crisper feel compared to the Apolonia and probably slightly more speed as well. Both have very good control for carbon blades and are not all out speed/power blades but still with plenty of pop. I’d also say the Harimoto blade might be slightly stiffer and more direct but probably not a huge difference from your Apolonia.

I’m quite sure you’ll enjoy the Harimoto anyway, let us know how it goes!
Cheers, stay safe, Tom

Thanks for reply buddy. I expected Harimoto to have higher arc due to being ALC. I gather blocking and punching on Bh is quite easy in comparison to the IFL ALC. 
Any aspects it is better than Apolonia at in your opinion? I guess I will just get and test for myself rather than Um and ah…. 

No worries, yeah best way is to get a feel yourself because everyone likes different things and different feelings. Personally I preferred the more crisp feeling of the Harimoto, in fairness not a huge difference between the two in terms of blade composition, speed so just comes down to how you feel with each one really ?

Hi Guys 
I have seen your review of Rakza 7 and out of curiousity how does Rakza 7 compare to Rozena?
My lad is using Rozena on both sides which he has had exactly a year now. I was just curious how they compare. I am somewhat surprised that your review said Rakza 7 doesn’t produce lots of spin, I assumed it would have been the other way as it’s so popular including your own pocket rocket using it on his Bh and everyone has seen quality of his Bh!! 
I have never used Rakza 7 myself anyway. A team mate had it on his Bh but I never tried it and he managed get fair amount of spin. 

if you could compare it to Rozena in terms of speed spin control, blocking. 
Cheers Deep 

Hi Deep, I do still think the spin is pretty good on the Rakza 7 rubbers, just not as much compared to the more expensive rubbers like tenergy and dignics for example. I actually think it’s a brilliant rubber and much better than rozena all round. Better speed and spin I would say but without losing hardly any control, just a really good feeling all round attacking rubber which is very consistent and stable.

I’m sure your lad would get on very well with Rakza 7 if switching from Rozena. My personal opinion and I’m sure Dan’s too is it would be a definite upgrade and with very little drawbacks. We were both very impressed with it especially for controlled attacking play. Cheers, Tom

Cheers Tom. Would it be a good rubber on both fh and Bh I assume. I know most seem to say it’s probably suited on Bh more but I rather my lad use one rubber on both sides to have a consistent feel for now and play with good consistency which is why the tenergy series is a no no at the moment. 

in fairness he doesn’t need anything faster than Rozena type of speed anyway and my understanding also was that Rakza 7 wouldn’t be far off from Rozena either. 

Yes absolutely fine for both backhand and forehand for sure, makes sense to keep things simple and have the same both sides I agree. I think Rakza 7 is a little faster but not much in it to be fair, certainly not a big change by any means 🙂