OOAK Table Tennis Forum

https://airblades.net/

I had a Joola Colt OFF in the past, but broken in accident. Considering to buy another one from Joola, but cannot find it in their website. Turn out a lot of info showing this referring to Airblades for ergonomic handle blades. But their similar one always come with their brand rubber.

Is anyone using Airblades bat and can share your reviews?

How come Joola discontinue Colt model?

_________________
The Buddha said: “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly,...” And to play table tennis.

天下武功 ，無堅不摧 ，唯快不破。

Why? Because it wasn't selling, perhaps? Because they are constantly making new models and need space in the catalog? Because blades (like other things) are made in production batches and they ran out of what they made five years ago?

Anyhow.. I had a look at the Airblades web site, and see a few things that are a little off-putting.



?? Why is he holding this penhold?? And in the next photo he's holding it backwards (does he twiddle?):



When you read about the guy who started the company - he's a TENNIS coach. And plays in a garage with his kids. The blades themselves look OK, I guess... but.. er, WHITE rubber?

And the rubber on the blade:



is not ITTF approved so you can't use it in a USATT sanctioned tournament. Nor are the balls they sell:



(The balls are expensive....)

He only sells pre-mades, by the way, which is another red flag - it's aimed at the "advaced rec player" rather than the enthusiast.

Iskandar

Yea, got the same feeling, so didn’t go ahead to buy from Airblades. I just like the handle, very comfortable.

I got few other traditional Butterfly blades, they are better blades, but I just like the ergonomics design, the only downside is not easy to do twiddling…

Finally, bought a 7 ply wood blade — 729 Master Green Goblin 7 - this is the 1st 7 ply all wood blade I try…

See a new style Cybershape… STIGA - but very expensive… wish to try… but not yet see anyone I knew is using it… cannot borrow one to try…

Just thinking if it is possible to have a blade like a sun shape but only the Centre circle has rubber attached, will it be allowed in formal competition /game?

_________________
The Buddha said: “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly,...” And to play table tennis.

天下武功 ，無堅不摧 ，唯快不破。

There are people who complain about opponents with rubber that's crumbling around the edges - and I've seen videos where people who've hit the side of the table and managed to put slight blemishes in the rubber at the edges get told they need to change bats, so no, I don't think it'd be "legal". At least, not in tournaments where you might have people complain about it.

(If you're desperately looking for a blade, might I suggest the Sanwei M8.. )

Iskandar

Incidentally, there's an American company called Killerspin that is somewhat similar, though they have been around a while, are a lot bigger, and have a great deal more reputation.

https://www.killerspin.com/

They sell lots of rec-grade stuff and some enthusiast-grade stuff. Mostly pre-mades (though they do sell one or two rubber sheets). But they seem to push extra-fast equipment for high prices that seems to appeal to some rec-grade players. Some of these are not tournament legal (2 black sheets), and some of the prices are ridiculous:

https://www.killerspin.com/collections/ ... ed-edition

Check out some of the reviews for this product.. I can imagine some basement player buying this bat (for $349.99) to "look cool" when he goes to a club the first time... and everyone gives him that certain look for showing up with a $349.99 racket with two sheets of black rubber, and with a super-fast carbon blade to boot...

Iskandar