OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I did and I felt it was harmless and hard to control on the Laby. It is totally tamed or enhanced, you could say, by the Unicorn. In fact, I am done with the Labyrinthos I think. Really over her this time! No, really... I loved that blade for a time--more during the cell ball days--but am looking for more control to play a bit further off the table. I have one FL, virtually new model left to sell if you or anyone is interested. It's a great blade with a fast FH, and none I've tried pairs better with Dtecs or Dornenglanz.

I like the Hellfire X in OX. I have put it in a number of blades including the Unicorn.

Blade-wise I’ve settled on the Butterfly Innershield Layer ZLF. For blocking and defensive “touch” play the wood is soft and controllable. For harder chopping and attacking (I love attacking with the Hellfire) the carbon layer provides a crisp snappiness.

The same snappiness carries over beautifully to my forehand where I use Xiom Vega Europe DF in Max, which is a normal enough rubber with a pretty slow sponge, though I’m sure any inverted rubber would be fine.

Whether I’m flat hitting my forehand or using a whipping action to loop, this “slow fast” blade is awesome.

I’ve also tried the Hellfire and Xiom on the butterfly Zhang Jike original Blue Dragon blade. This setup was a little over my head - just slightly too fast for me. The Innershield has a similar feel in the way the carbon layer works with the wood, but it’s a little easier to control.

Recently I’ve really been just aggressively attacking with the Hellfire X OX sheet, and one gripe I have is the rubber doesn’t last long. It’s gossamer stuff, and it seems like I may just be asking too much when I’m attacking with it. I destroyed it in maybe 20 hours of hard play. Just put a new sheet on an hour ago.

I have four more sheets of the Hellfire X to use. After that I MAY try a TSP Curl (not sure which and open to suggestions!) to see how it holds up to my new and improved more aggressive LP style.

I used to use TSP Curl P3aR. Then Hellfire and now Hellfire X. My backhand game is mostly close to the table blocking and pushing. P3aR is great for that, minimal friction, slow and safe with good reversal. Hellfire is similar, not quite as safe but with a little more disruption. With Hellfire X I’m trying to attack more and find it much more effective for that. I don’t know which of the Curl series would be best for attacking but P3aR is not so good being very slow with very little grip. Curl P-H might be a good one to try. It’s also a little slow, but harder and grippier. I suspect it would be very good for attacking on an offensive blade.

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2. S&T Black & White / Armstrong SH-I 1.8 / TSP Curl P3 Alpha R OX