Harimoto's Win and Loss, and the Three Different-Styled Blades Behind Them
In the men’s team round of 32, Japan beat Belgium 3-1. Tomokazu Harimoto went 1-1 — as we said before, who gains the forehand gains all under heaven; backhand-dominant players always trend toward instability. Or, they more easily lead to an even state between the two, and whoever feels better that day wins. Taking the chance, let us discuss three different-styled blades in these two matches.
Nuytinck 3-1 Tomokazu Harimoto
Nuytinck’s blade: the Nuytinck ZC, also called Niuding ZC. English name Cedric Nuytinck Hybrid ZC. A blade named after this star, also previously the most-used among Tibhar’s stars. Nuytinck has always been better at doubles than singles, with thin ability. His receive strokes are varied — long push, flick, side-flick, quite rich. But this match against Tomokazu Harimoto showed more two-wing loops, mighty and heavy. Facts prove that although Harimoto’s defense is outstanding, against a relatively unfamiliar violent player, he still cannot defend it. Defense, after all, reacts second, is passive. Forced into defense, one reason is also not receiving Nuytinck’s serve well — a lefty, he serves natural-spin and reverse-spin well. For most players, this is always a test. Even having read the spin, in that instant, you may not adjust in time, because the spin direction is exactly opposite a right-hander’s. Though the team also has two lefties, Yukiya Uda and Sora Matsushima, the serve placement differs, and Nuytinck’s forehand striking power really is great, putting much pressure on Harimoto.
This Nuytinck blade’s structure is close to the Jun Mizutani ZLC, but the power ply changed from ayous to limba. The actual feel may be even softer than the new Mizutani Z. But it is outer ZLC after all, so the rebound speed is still quite nice. By comparison, the Heima-tuned PLC is a bit springier than these two, with better elasticity and speed, not as transparent but punchier. Because it also has a limba face ply, the ball-holding feel is more comfortable than koto-face blades (like the Zhang Jike ZLC, Fan Zhendong ZLC), and spin comes more easily too.
Lassenfoss 1-3 Tomokazu Harimoto
Lassenfoss used the Viscaria, and Tomokazu Harimoto the Harimoto SALC. Essentially these are blue-aramid carbon, outer or inner. The former, outer, highlights firmness and explosiveness, that instant-support-then-rebound effect. The latter, inner, though it ramps up speed very fast too, has a softer, more transparent feel, so it more easily has high error-tolerance and ball-holding. The choice between the two depends more on your preference for feel and ball-holding depth. The Vis is harder; the Harimoto SA is softer and more transparent, gripping deeper than the Vis. For an outer ALC to be as transparent as the Harimoto SA is fairly hard. The Boll 70th Anniversary is about the closest. Lassenfoss has never lagged in gear obsession. With outer ALC alone, over the past year he tried the limba-face Freitas ALC, the koto-face Boll ALC and Fan Zhendong ALC, and now the Vis. Maybe this act can serve as evidence that these blades really do play differently.