What Makes a Good Outer Aramid-Carbon Blade?
This question arose because the Heima-tuned KLC, inner yellow-aramid carbon, sold hot, with high praise, so many die-hards then asked me to release an outer one — a Heima-tuned ALC, outer blue-aramid carbon. But the question: how do I confirm my Heima-tuned ALC plays well? For someone who considers himself extremely familiar with inner structures — within the Butterfly system alone, the Innerforce blades’ retail, custom and player-custom versions, including different fibers, I have played them all; I have dabbled much in other brands too, and have long played inner as my main blade — what is good, I naturally have a say. I have played many outer blue-aramid-carbon blades too, of different brands and tiers. But what makes a better outer blade, I fell into deep thought.
1
The Zhou Yu custom ALC and Viscaria. Start from these. Some players feel the Vis is still classic — faithful, stable, more centered balance, with so many players endorsing it. But some feel the cheaper Zhou Yu custom plays better. Why? We find the Zhou Yu custom ALC holds the ball more easily and creates arcs more easily under small-to-medium power. And its elasticity is ample, with an amplifying feel when you fire and loop-drive. Selling at five-or-six hundred yuan is absolutely worth it. But I still feel its feel lacks flavor. Withstanding the opponent’s single-ball power, it seems a bit thin. Though it easily produces power, it always feels not solid and heavy enough. By comparison, I would still choose the Viscaria. Even though many now feel the Vis regressed, a bit hollow, and its arc-making ability is not strong, for me, firing to a degree, I feel it has more toughness, with a ceiling that can keep climbing — more flavorful. This relates to fiber modulus, fiber treatment and the core’s solidity. Not that you must like one, but this is the difference between the two.
2
The Sanwei 75# and 75 PAR. Playing these, I had similar doubts. Actually, the earliest outer 75# I found quite good — strong explosiveness. After firing, it really is transparent and crisp, fast, and can hold the ball. But I still felt it lacked flavor — thin, without that layered-transmission feel between the wood. But a good Vis has it; you feel the “transmission.” The custom Viscaria, never mind — very obvious. A vicious ball-bite and energy-storage feel. Then this year’s 75 PAR began to have flavor. Simply, it has that bit of better toughness when stopping the ball. This “toughness” lets you better add spin and power. But while I feel selling it at four hundred yuan is fine, I am still a bit unsatisfied — not clear enough under small-to-medium power; if it could be softer-springier under medium power, even better.
3
The Viscaria, Lin Gaoyuan ALC and Fan Zhendong ALC. Looking at the latter two, they clearly hold the ball more than the Vis. I prefer the Lin A, especially paired with a tensor — the wrapping is very comfortable. But paired with Hurricane, oiled is okay; under-oiled, combined with this blade, the muffled situation is worse than the Fan A. The Fan A still holds the ball. Some are too meaty, some fairly solid. Whether you like the more solid, more powerful Vis, or the more ball-gripping latter two, all fine. But we clearly feel the latter two are the era’s trend.
4
Then come the Yin Hang custom and Liu Dingshuo-tuned. The former is steadier, more balanced, with a feel different from but a style close to the Lin A. The Liu Dingshuo-tuned is the kind of outer blade that can loop-drive heavier, more jet-feel balls, with thicker fiber, a bit like the Super Viscaria. I valued this thick fiber and bonding, and plan to build on it. These two styles suit different people. For me, a more top-tier outer aramid-carbon blade should be this: very ball-holding, easy arc-making, denser core and fiber, withstanding, with toughness, and a spin and power ceiling you can keep raising. This is of course my goal in making the Heima-tuned ALC. But when a blade reaches this, it seems unavoidable that the balance point leans a bit toward the head. Even the custom Vis is so. Or, picking a good Fan A is so too. So what is the better choice?