OOAK Table Tennis Forum

So true!

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Guys - thanks for the compliments on the blade. I do like how the handle turned out. Certain types of wood are just incredible, and I think amboyna burl is in that category. Amazing stuff.

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Ross
Handcrafted Table Tennis Blades

Don't give all the credit to the wood, it's the Wood Magician that turns it into a masterpiece!

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

I agree ... but a magician still needs to be inspired by his materials.

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Weapon 1: Andro Kinetic Supreme Hinoki/Zylon OFF-; Andro Hexer HDs (FH 2.1/BH 1.9)
Weapon 2: Ross Leidy 'Smokey'; Friendship 729-5s
Club1: Daylesford - since 2010
Club2: Ballarat - since 2011
Blog: A Naked Bear

no doubt this handle is beautiful but i wonder-how do these kind of beautiful shiny handles function in humid conditions and when held by a sweaty palm? aren't they too slippy?

I probably own as many Leidy blades as anyone, but the finish on all of the handles provides a sure grip
tOD

thank you tOD for a fast reply! sorry to bother but do you mean these smooth & shiny handles are not slippery WHILE WET WITH YOUR PALM'S SWEAT?

by the way,i dont' own any blade made by Ross( yet...) so i just wonder about this issue since i live in a very humid part of the world(most of the year) and sweat a lot while playing TT.

I may not be a prolific perspirer:), but I really have never lost a blade because my hand was so sweaty it litteraly flew away. I have neropothy in my fingers that can cause me to lose touch with the paddle, but any accidents there could not be attributed to a grip/finish that is overly slippery.

I also twiddle a lot, so control and tactile awareness is very important to me.
tOD

I used to build blades and know that some finishes can become too tacky in warm moist hands. Ross has found a very good way to finish the handles.

Time for a gallery update?
tOD

I have two blades by Ross, the second of which has a "smooth & shiny" handle:
The handle has never been slippery, but - as tOD comments - it would become "tacky" when my hands warmed up. Ross was already ahead of this one, and had supplied me with some extra fine sandpaper. A little buffing and now the handle is not slippery, just perfect!

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"So long, and thanks for all the fish
So sad that it should come to this" Sung by the dolphins in The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy

I recently completed a blade for gentleman in Singapore who asked if I could post a few photos of his blade. The composition is like the Acoustic, with limba - limba - kiri - limba - limba. For his version of it, Daniel chose white limba for one outer and black limba for the other. Pistol grip is bocote with a purpleheart end cap.

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Ross
Handcrafted Table Tennis Blades

Ingo Garbe a world famous pipe maker once said: "I don't make pipes, I make pieces of art, which you can use for smoking."

So Ross does not make blades. He makes pieces of art which you can use for playing table tennis.

Your quote sent me googling Ingo Garbe - wow, he's created some beautiful pipes! I'm humbled by the comparison.

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Ross
Handcrafted Table Tennis Blades

Very nice Ross!

You take such nice pictures too. May I ask what equipment you use, particularly your lighting and background?

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Hi Alex,
Thanks! Most photos are taken with a Nikon D90 with 18-105 lens. I take the photos in a corner of the shop on a piece of white posterboard and a couple of inexpensive floods. I load the photos into Adobe Lightroom to adjust white balance, crop, and export to jpg. If needed, I'll adjust the exposure and add some fill light, but that's about it. For the lights and background, I probably spent US$25 total.

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Ross
Handcrafted Table Tennis Blades