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 Post subject: Nexy Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 23 Jul 2012, 09:27 
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Early days with Tuvalu: Superb, Fantastic, come immediately to mind. The blade is eighty grams, as advertised. The fit and finish are great. Very nice artwork/graphic of Tuvalu on forehand side and, as with the Labrynthos, an appeal to help the children on the back. ( I am a supporter of using the blades to build awareness)

The difference between the two sides is rather amazing. Bouncing a ball on either side of the raw blade produced a rather homogenous sound, so the difference came as a wonderful surprise.

Total weight for the blade, 2.2mm Giant Dragon's black,Tai-Chi soft and Kokutaku's red, OX, 911 is only 154 grams. The balance with that set up is very good. I play better with a balanced or handle heavy set-up. The blade seemed to lend itself to twiddling. I have rather large hands and loved the shape of the straight-handle, but I would prefer it to be five to seven mm longer. Both of the other players who have tried it thus far normally play with a flared handle, but had no complaints about the a shape or size.

I have tried several different set-ups, this far. First, the one mentioned above and the second with Giant Dragon, OX Crop Circles and an LKT XT Pro over 1.5mm Reactor sponge. I also tried Crop Circles with1.0mm sponge paired with the LKT.

I am a LP blocker and use the inverted mostly for serves as my forehand hits tend to be flat so the LKT worked better for me, particularly chopping away from the table.

Both the chopper and I (2 defenders who have tried it thus far) commented on the ease of chopping and fishing from mid-distance with the LKT on this blade.

Passive blocks and chop blocks against loops with the 911 were good, away from the the table the CC over sponge allowed greater diversity on the returns. Both of the CCs proved to be better when it came to hitting through spin than the 911. Brush blocks against push and chop were better with CCs while pushing against repeated heavy and light backspin generated with inverted, the 911 gets the nod.

First day out it was also used by a coach who is a mid-level all-round top spinner. He has been a Ma Lin Carbon, shake hands user for quite a long time. He has used max thickness Donic rubbers for a couple of years and is currently using Acuda. For his part of the test he used only the forehand side with the 2.2 Giant Dragon. He twiddled the bat for the backhand part of his time with the blade (he did get a random ball to the back hand which he flip killed with the 911, that was impressive)

He was over the moon about the blade's touch, response, gears and control. He was able to return serves very assertively. He even expressed an interest in a blade with both sides like the forehand.

More later. I hope to get permission to video some of the testing as I go along This is another great product from Nexy. I believe it will benefit more styles than mine.
tOD


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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 23 Jul 2012, 09:34 
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theOldDuffer wrote:
The difference between the two sides is rather amazing. Bouncing a ball on either side of the raw blade produced a rather homogenous sound, so the difference came as a wonderful surprise.

Thank tOD!

So in what aspect of your hit was difference most noticable?

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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 23 Jul 2012, 09:37 
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thx for the review.

speed comparison with other defense blade ?

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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 23 Jul 2012, 10:01 
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haggisv wrote:
theOldDuffer wrote:
The difference between the two sides is rather amazing. Bouncing a ball on either side of the raw blade produced a rather homogenous sound, so the difference came as a wonderful surprise.

Thank tOD!

So in what aspect of your hit was difference most noticable?


The slower backhand (difference between Fh/Bh) had a great braking effect, far fewer loops going long when taken directly off the bounce plus greater angular control.

Forehand-wise I love the ability to hit through back spin with LKT XT Pro.
tOD


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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 23 Jul 2012, 10:40 
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tobhik wrote:
thx for the review.

speed comparison with other defense blade ?


As to other defensive blades and particularly bi-sided ones:

The Ross Leidy U-S-B is absolutely slower and with better touch. In looking for a faster, controllable forehand I changed to his Chamelion blade, but I don't believe I have every seen a blade with the FH/BH difference of the Tuvalu.

I think Nexy is spot-on with what they were attempting with this blade. I normally prefer an all wood blade, and have never been a fan of a blade with an ebony outer ply, but this blade has the potential to make a believer of me. Sorry, but I haven't had much dealing with commercial defensive blades in recent years.

tOD


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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 23 Jul 2012, 11:33 
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I dont wanna be rude , but this tread is ment to be in the blades session, i am rigth?

Btw, I wanna see more coments on the chopping style. I have my eyes on this blade... ;)

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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 23 Jul 2012, 21:29 
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manofan wrote:
I dont wanna be rude , but this tread is ment to be in the blades session, i am rigth?

Btw, I wanna see more coments on the chopping style. I have my eyes on this blade... ;)


I am not a chopper, but feel free to have it moved.

tOD


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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 24 Jul 2012, 18:17 
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Introduction

I payed on 12th of July and received the parcel at 21th of July. That is a very quick service and delivery considering Korea to Germany. When I held the blade in my hands I realized that the finish is as perfect as in the picture shown on the website.
Bouncing a ball on the naked blade I could not detect any difference in speed between forehand and backhand. Then I mounted a Desperado/OX on the backhand and compared the speed with a Matsushita Pro Model and a BBC 8-9-8 both with Desperado OX. The speed ranking was Tuvalu>8-9-8>>MPM. With respect to the speed increase compared to my other blades I chose a 1.7mm Sunflex BZ60 rubber for the forehand.
Looking at my racket I have to state that the little boy on the backside begging for money is not at all helpful if you play a LP/OX rubber in red: the logo shines through the rubber. At least in Germany I know several referees who would reject such a racket. This means I would have to change rubber colours or use a white adhesive foil. It would be nice if this logo will be omitted or integrated into the forehand.
So far the "cellar test". Real life starts next week.

1st session

I should characterize my game. I stand relatively close to the table and try nasty placements with my LP either as short drop dead or aggressively long pushes. If I am forced to stand farther away I can switch to a decent backspin-based defense. Forehand is rarely used mostly for final smashes or blocks and sudden topspin attacks of backspin balls in my forehand. In Germany there are 13 table tennis leagues and I am an average player in the 10th league. So my impressions are more valuable for the less gifted part of table tennis community.


Several LP specialist met for an informal training and testing. With some of them I tried Tuvalu, 8-9-8 and Dream Perfect all with Desperado OX. After warming up with the opponent I tried the different blades one after the other giving the first blade a second chance because it takes of course a few balls to adapt to the opponent so that at the beginning the first blade has a disadvantage.

Against players mainly acting the same way like me (backhand dominant LP disruptive game) the Tuvalu was absolutely great and the clear winner. I had a crisp feeling by hitting the ball with a very good precision and at the same time potent power. Starting a backhand rally ended mostly by the opponent pushing the ball into the net. Superb !

The outcome was different upon defense against topspin. Close to the table I could nicely block the incoming balls however only up to a certain level of spin/speed. As soon as a critical level was reached I could not gain any control by no means (greater closing of the blade, slight takeback of the blade upon ball contact, ...); I asume that a heavy balsa-based catapult was initiated. Far away from the table the Tuvalu was not suitable at all. The ball came out to high and with only little backspin. Perhaps/probably (?) a more intense training will lead to a more useful result. But in my opinion the blade seems not to be made for this kind of game.

Concerning the forehand I noticed very nice blocks: short and very flat. In the second session I will try to figure out about attacking by spin and smashes.


2nd session


Aceton removed the little boy on the backhand - thanks to theOldDuffer.

I changed the rubbers. Forehand Haifu Shark II Soft 1.9mm; this is the rubber I have played the last weeks on my 8-9-8, so I can better judge the new blade. On the backhand I mounted the godfather of all disruptive pimples the D.TecS/OX. This LP is more elastic and softer as the Desperado thus more disruptive however less suitable for offensive actions. Well more honestly: not at all suitable for attacks - so far. Furthermore the D.TecS is excellent in the long distance defence with heavy backspin.

Backhand

Excellent ! To my very big surprise I could attack with the D.TecS. Even smashes were able with high precision and a reasonable success quote. This is the first blade where I succeeded with D.TecS attacks. Very close to the table hard attacks were still a problem but the fewer balls ended as scyscrapers behind the table. Probably adaption by training will solve this problem. Of course the usual D.TecS tortures were also able at great precision of placement and with a lot of poison.
The blade is very useful in mid distance defence by LP blocking and countering. The higher basic speed as well as the catapult are very helpful in producing some danger for the opponent.
However far from the table the blade is not at all suitable for a backspin-based defense by heavy chopping. At the end of the training I handed the racket to a much stronger players (5th and 7th league). One of them regularly integrates defense game far from the back into his games. He was not able to produce reasonable balls with the blade - shyly hitting the ball with little spin or heavily chopping with balls much too high and little spin either.

Forehand

Excellent ! I was able to open with a smooth heavily rotating topspin of low speed as well as with fast smash spins. I could take the ball in any phase of its trajectory: in the rising phase (=> smash spins), at the peak (=> normal topspin) or in the declining phase (=> slow spins). It was really great fun to kill higher balls by powerful smashes.
As before blocking incoming topspins was no problem. The blocks were short with ball sinking down rapidly.

General remarks

The blade is surprisingly tolerant in passive situation. If for example I was outmaneuvered and just managed to get the racket to the ball, to my great surprise many balls still ended onto the table. On the other hand the blade is very sharp if you attack with power. Very easily you hurt yourself instead of the opponent.

Conclusion

- a great blade by Nexy
- very recommendable to aggressive LP players acting close at the table
- supporting a strong forehand
- not suitable for defenders acting far from the table
- handle definitely too short


Last edited by cogito on 25 Jul 2012, 21:45, edited 2 times in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 24 Jul 2012, 19:30 
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Quote:
Looking at my racket I have to state that the little boy on the backside begging for money is not at all helpful if you play a LP/OX rubber in red: the logo shines through the rubber. At least in Germany I know several referees who would reject such a racket. This means I would have to change rubber colours or use a white adhesive foil. It would be nice if this logo will be omitted or integrated into the forehand.
So far the "cellar test". Real life starts next week.


For those of us using translucent pips, the backside printing can be removed in a couple of seconds, by simple the expedient of wiping it off using a cloth with some acetone on it. Prior to sealing a blade I give it a gentle sanding and wash it down with acetone, let dry and then apply sanding sealer (not sure what that is always called in other countries).

Hope this helps,
tOD


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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 24 Jul 2012, 19:41 
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theOldDuffer wrote:
For those of us using translucent pips, the backside printing can be removed in a couple of seconds, by simple the expedient of wiping it off using a cloth with some acetone on it.


Great :up: ! I did not dare to attack the superb finish of the blade this way. Good hint !


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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 25 Jul 2012, 00:08 
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Shipping from Korea to Denmark
Very fast from July 14 to 19. And 5 days by danish customs.
Not 75$ but "only" 55$ in tax.... :cash:

Blade
Very nice finish, but I find handle a little to short. I will use my Dremel on each corner near
handle because they harm my finger grip.... (I will remove what I painted black)
Attachment:
handle1.jpg
handle1.jpg [ 27.19 KiB | Viewed 9316 times ]


When I sealed blade with TSP racket coating the dark ebony side
lifted a bit making a small crack.. But nothing a piece of sandpaper
could't handle.
Bouncing the ball on the blade.... No big diffidence to me...
First impression, without playing
To me this blade is fast. Feels like Dr.N Firewall plus,
so besides small handle perfect for Pushblocker , but still
I haven't played with it yet. But it feels perfect for fast pushes...
10 min hit
Wow, chop-blocking works like a charm with soft hands, with very much reversal.

I am soon on Holiday, so I have to wait to try the setup


Setup

Tibhar Grass D.tecs 0x black New and Tibhar Rapid soft 1.8mm red


Last edited by Geddk on 25 Jul 2012, 03:36, edited 3 times in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 25 Jul 2012, 00:41 
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Geddk wrote:
Very nice finish, but I find handle a little to short.


That is true. Additional 5mm would be beneficial. Although this certainly depends on the hands.


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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 25 Jul 2012, 21:46 
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I updated my review with the second session (see above).


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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 26 Jul 2012, 01:10 
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TOD and Cogito, what is the weight of your tuvalu.

can you compare the blade with Tachi (if you have tachi).

I am still abroad in KL, would be back on Monday to do the order (nexy has emailed me the bank transfer detail).

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 Post subject: Re: Tuvalu Reviews
PostPosted: 26 Jul 2012, 02:14 
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tobhik wrote:
TOD and Cogito, what is the weight of your tuvalu.

can you compare the blade with Tachi (if you have tachi).


- 87g

The Tachi is by far better in blocking topspins close at the table and in defense far from the table. The Tuvalu is clearly superior in LP-attacks and has a much better forehand. The more passive disruptive game is of equal efficiency with both blades.


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