If a Beginner Wants to Buy an Outer ALC Blade
Generally, carbon blades are not much advised, especially for young beginners; I still feel all-wood blades better cultivate feel and understanding of spin and arc. But if you are already an adult, and an adult who does not want to play so tiringly, wanting lightness and ease, then aiming at some outer ALC blades is fair. At this point, we need to look at the relatively soft, easy-to-control, easy-arc-making types.
1
Recter Yujian. Now Pinduoduo’s price is “outrageously” low. At this price, it is about unrivaled. Some players who criticized me for comparing it with the Vis, Lin Gaoyuan ALC, have actually bought the Yujian as a training blade. As I said before, the Yujian is a typical representative of a soft-type outer blue-aramid-carbon blade — quite ball-holding, with decent spin. Though its bottom power does have a gap from the Vis line (probably a B-grade kiri core; the Vis is A-grade), the feel has close points, also using Japanese Kuraray fiber. Mellow, but the after-power is less than high-end blades — but do beginners need that much bottom power?
2
Sanwei 75#. You find Sanwei now has many “suffix” blades based on the 75#, because the earliest 75# really was popular. Besides decent ball-holding, it is also a blade that easily produces explosiveness. At this price, having spin and speed is already nice. Though the feel lacks the layered progression of a high-end outer aramid-carbon blade, seeming a bit thin. Simply, close-table impact is decent; backing off, the support is not so enough. But for beginners, enough — and fairly ball-holding too.
3
Yinhe PRO-01. Yinhe was China’s first maker to develop blue-aramid carbon, praised for the K series back in 2003. This Professional No. 1 PRO-01 is also a representative of easy-to-use outer ALC blades. Good ball-holding, easy spin, while keeping decent crispness. The solidity does have a gap from the Vis, but it is not the same-tier-price thing. For beginners, though an outer blade, overall it really is in the easy-to-control range. Plus Yinhe’s quality-control reputation, and years of valuable experience in ALC blades, hot sales make sense. We look forward to the green-aramid-carbon PRO-01G launching April 18, to compare it with Saviga, China’s first to introduce green fiber, and see the craft differences.
4
Yinhe Blue-Gold Workshop customs represent Yinhe’s highest craft. By ease of use and current online reputation, the Yin Hang imperial-issue and my Yazhi ALC, from value to performance, are favored existences. Many readers have played them, and they really are soft-type outer ALC that beginners adapt to fairly easily. Of course, soft-type does not mean the energy-storage effect is poor. The Blue-Gold Workshop’s generally slightly heavier weight is also a groundwork for high ball quality.
5
Fan Zhendong ALC, Lin Gaoyuan ALC. For beginners, the Viscaria seems a bit hard and solid. Not unadaptable, but it takes a bit longer. And it is pickier about rubber. By comparison, for beginners, the Fan A and Lin A are relatively more suitable, with more universal rubber pairing. The Fan A is also a soft style, callable a candy blade — players of different levels pick it up easily. The Lin A’s wrapping is comfortable, and pairing a tensor may work better than the Fan A, but it is now discontinued, with a much higher price. As for ball quality, beginners need not mind it. If you really mind, choose a heavier one. Weight has a fair impact on the Fan A’s (including Minion ALC’s) ball quality.