OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Anymore news on this one? I'm tired of having to replace my cheap chinese pips 3-4 times per season and I'm thinking of switching to this one because, in my experience, Hallmark's pips are of very high quality and have very good durability. One of the players in my club that plays a blocking game with LP close to the table have been using a sheet of Hallmark Phoenix 4 years in a row and he only switched to a new sheet this season because the sheet had been all "curled up" and bubbly where he holds his finger while serving. Anyway, anymore news on how this Friction Special 2 plays compared to other LP's? It seems to have hard pips put still a slow speed which I usually like.

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Read about my adventures to perfect my style and the ever-present battle against the evil EJ virus!

Well, I caved in and bought a sheet in red ox. I'm tired of having to replace my CK531A and such before it's really broken in and I'm hoping that this will have a lot higher durability. A friend of mine have played with his Hallmark Phoenix 4 years without even a single pip falling off or getting damaged at the base. You can expect an full in-depth review in about 2-3 weeks.

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Read about my adventures to perfect my style and the ever-present battle against the evil EJ virus!

Friction Special 2 will be available in black OX at the beginning of May.

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Blade: Re-Impact Tachi. BH: Grass DTecS (ox, new version) FH: Palio Thor's max

I emailed Steve Hall in november and he told me that the Friction Super Special was supposed to be available in January. FS2 is already available in both colors.
I don't understand Hallmark's attitude; FS2 and Friction Super Special were on the LARC published in october 2008. It took them more than 2 years to have these new rubbers on the market. Well so far, there's only FS2 and it seems Hallmark has trouble delivering the rubber.

I don't trust Hallmark anymore. They thought they could fool the ITTF with their Supernova (I bought it and could never play with it) and Phoenix should only be sold for a couple euros as it's crap.

Cheers,
Ma'man

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Fringe rocks big time!!!!!

Blade : TSP Toccata Carbon Def
FH : Shark II 33° 2mm Black
BH : Octopus Ox red

I don't know why I received their newsletter saying this and only this. I'll probably unsubscribe. It even looks like it's from the eighties (apart from the fact I received it via email).

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Blade: Re-Impact Tachi. BH: Grass DTecS (ox, new version) FH: Palio Thor's max

I quite enjoyed phoenix. first dampening sponge available if I remember right

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Yasaka Dynamix 17
Tibhar Q 50
Butterfly Raystorm

Well, I played my fist session with Friction Special 2 last night and I got to test it quite extensively. Hard and stiff pips with A LOT of control are the main things, very good close to the table and very good to be aggressive with. A longer review will come in one or two weeks.

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Read about my adventures to perfect my style and the ever-present battle against the evil EJ virus!

How fast is it compared to Zeitgeist?

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My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

About the same, but I have more control with FS2.

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Read about my adventures to perfect my style and the ever-present battle against the evil EJ virus!

Interesting. What about spin-reversal?

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The MNNB Blog has had some pretty amazing stuff lately. Just click this text to check it out. | My OOAK Interview
Table Tennis Video Links: itTV | laola1.tv | ttbl | fftt | Challenger Series | mnnb-tv

My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

I would say more. It's pretty much the same on light contact but as soon as you start blocking harder loops FS2 gets more reversal, still definitely less than D.Tecs though. This is a rubber that rewards more active and aggressive play and doesn't get as flimsy as D.Tecs and other soft pips when you put some pressure on it. I also suspect that this is a rubber that looses it's friction faster than others, but that's just a feeling based on the feeling of the surface. My friend have experienced the same with Phoenix though.

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Read about my adventures to perfect my style and the ever-present battle against the evil EJ virus!

Here's me blocking with Hallmark Friction Special 2. Maybe not the most focused session but you get the picture.

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Read about my adventures to perfect my style and the ever-present battle against the evil EJ virus!

Not bad for an LP you've just started with. He looked to be a very consistent player, but you made him miss a lot of shots.

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The MNNB Blog has had some pretty amazing stuff lately. Just click this text to check it out. | My OOAK Interview
Table Tennis Video Links: itTV | laola1.tv | ttbl | fftt | Challenger Series | mnnb-tv

My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

That guy knows how to use a LP! All of his shots are kept very low.

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Read about my adventures to perfect my style and the ever-present battle against the evil EJ virus!

The choice of the blade is important. IMO, the guy has found the right combo giving a low throw-angle which explains why he can keep the ball low over the net.

It would be interesting to know what blade he is using.

He has good footwork, working with the legs to absorb the speed of the incoming ball and his chopping technique is really good.

A nice video for all the choppers!

Cheers,
Ma'man

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Fringe rocks big time!!!!!

Blade : TSP Toccata Carbon Def
FH : Shark II 33° 2mm Black
BH : Octopus Ox red