MJ ZLC & MJ SZLC

I think one might rethink that statement after comparing play with a pure carbon blade (I don't even know which - perhaps the Qabod or Schlager Carbon) vs with a 5-ply standard looping blade. This is especially true for soft loops.

It is a bit more complicated than that for power loops (in which soft all-wood blades produce less spin for me) and also when one uses a composite material (carbon + another fiber), but in general, IMHO, blades are a big determinant of spin generation, especially, when, for most practical purposes, players are really making rubber choices among the set that is largely similar (like MX-P vs OVT vs Rasant Grip, etc)

And yes, the SZLC material that is used in the MJ-SZLC is really something in terms of generating spin.

MJ ZLC is a pretty flexy blade - clearly more than any Viscaria.

MJ SZLC is a pretty stiff blade - more than any Viscaria.

Similar names, but different behaviour. It is not like the negligible difference between Viscaria / TBALC / TBS / ZJK-ALC. I've predominantly used the MJ & the MJ-SZLC for about 2.25 of the last 3 years.

It is not difficult to make out when players are using particularly stiff or flexy set-ups. Catapault from flexy blade clearly looks different when player makes a stroke that would maximise flex. Different from a rebound of a very stiff, OFF+ blade.

Werner Schlager during his famous WTTC run: stiff set-up

Freitas generally: flexy blade

I don't want to bother through the laborious process of cutting and creating GIFS, but if you see the short-form match between MJ & Ovtcharov in the Polish open, MJ's shots don't have that flex-catapault that they generally do when he used to use the MJ-ZLC.

I admit that this is purely unsubstantiated but: I'm guessing that you haven't compared the 2 blades side-by-side much with the same rubbers have you?

Given the nature of your allegation, I'm unsure of how I can further make my point (it is one unsubstantiated viewpoint vs another).

Either ways, back to my OTHER contention that he most likely was using a MJ-SZLC @ the Polish Open:

 judging TT ball behavior such as dwell time by watching a video replay of a match that is being recorded for the purpose of showing the match on conventional TV or similar devices is not suited for that purpose of judging dwell time or the time a ball is at rest on a paddle since it would require capturing information that is happening around 1.9M/S. 

I would concur.  People must have some incredibly sensitive/brilliant cognitive vision to "see" flex without high speed slow mo!  Possibly they see a small net speed difference gauging from inbound/outbound ball speed estimated spin and trajectory and location on the bat on contact point, as well as biomechanics of the player (wrist speed and looseness, ower/ upper arm speed, trunk speed etc etc etc). Amazing if true.  Myself...I don't think I could see for sure even reasonable speed differences between two offensive setups.  However, I imagine if you know back to front a particular player's style then you would perhaps notice quite small equipment adjustments when watching them?