The Star Players of the Green-Aramid-Carbon Era: Outer Blades
Yinhe will release the outer green-aramid-carbon PRO-01G on April 18. Unwittingly, green-aramid-carbon blades have become another major camp after ALC, KLC and ZLC. Once thought a niche film, now it is on the big screen. This composite fiber, with hardness between ALC and ZLC, a bit tough, and innately loop-capable, has birthed many star players of the blade world.
1
Bingfeng HRD. Representatives: some European women players whose names I forget. This is China’s first imported-brand green-aramid-carbon blade. Domestically, before this, there already were some. The local company Saviga was the first domestically to procure Japanese green fiber and use it in blade-making. I also released the green-aramid-carbon Yanyang very early. Later there were the green-aramid-carbon Yaonie and Moyu too. This Bingfeng HRD’s structure resembles the Viscaria, but the fiber changed from ALC blue-aramid carbon to green-aramid carbon. Its biggest trait: this is a blade you can swing loops with, with strong forehand ball-holding. For players switching from inner to outer, this is fairly easy to adapt to. The backhand’s elasticity is less than the Vis’s.
2
Zhou Qihao S-ALC 90. Zhou Qihao’s series has a 45 and a 90. But the development curves differ now — the 90 is very good; the 45 is just steady, with insufficient killing power. The 90’s current representatives: Zhou Qihao, Pitchford. Compared with the Bingfeng HRD, both outer green-aramid carbon, you can see with the naked eye: the 90’s fiber is clearly thicker, hence called S-ALC. In overall ball-grip and arc ability, still very good. Still a crisp-outside-soft-inside feel. The backhand rebound improved over the Bingfeng HRD. Comparing the Vis and Super Vis, the Bingfeng HRD and Zhou Qihao 90, you find: indeed, the thicker-fiber one has better pace-borrowing rebound under medium power, more effortless.
3
Inspiration hybrid carbon. Representatives: Yuan Licen, Mizuki Oikawa. Like the two above, also Korean-made. The commonality: decent rebound, good loop performance. But in feel, the Inspiration hybrid carbon seems harder and drier. Under medium power it is springier, and after firing the bottom power is bigger than the Zhou Qihao 90. But because the feel is hard and dry, some like it, some cannot adapt — like a blend of the Viscaria and An Jaehyun TMX, like the old Inspiration Carbon King with some hard, crisp, dry-springy Korean seasoning added. This too is a blade you can swing loops with. But the feel really leans a bit hard. Down to personal preference.
4
Tibhar Alexis. Representative: Alexis. This one is faster than both the Bingfeng HRD and Inspiration hybrid carbon, though the structure and fiber trend identical, also the same factory. I wonder if the fiber and bonding recipe are about the same, with quality-control variation. But there are some detail differences. For example, the Inspiration hybrid carbon’s blade shoulder is narrower; the Alexis’s is relatively wider, so forehand-backhand transitions are comfortable and stable. Overall, this one is slightly harder and a bit faster. Down to whether you like soft or firm. Besides, there is Tibhar’s Kenta Matsudaira Carbon, also outer green-aramid carbon. And Andro’s VCO, the same structure. Representatives: Kao Cheng-Jui, India’s Manush Shah, and others. Because these imported-brand green-aramid-carbon blades are basically OEM’d by Korean factories, the feel surely has many similarities. As more stars endorse and use them, the green-aramid-carbon sapling gradually grows into a towering tree.