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Stiga Exclusive Blade Review |
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7220 |
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Posted: 10/23/2015 at 7:14am |
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TTEX and Stiga have collaborated for a new blade called Stiga Exclusive.
http://www.ttex.se/en/stommar/6777-stiga-table-tennis-blade-exclusive-off.html Stiga Exclusive Blade Weight: 90 grams (FL legend), 89 grams (ST) Hardness: Stiff Plies: 5 (walnut outer plies with secondary spruce layers and ayous center core) Speed: OFF Blade Head Size: 151x157mm The Stiga Exclusive blade is a specially-made blade by Stiga for TTEX.com online store in Sweden. I believe if I am not wrong about the info, this is exclusively distributed by TTEX and is not sold outside by other stores both online and local stores. One can only buy this through TTEX online order so in some way this is a rare blade. At first close up look on the Stiga Exclusive, one could see that it has the features of the new and high end blades of Stiga. It has the metal tag and logos. It also has no nct coating or finish on the blade surface. One thing I was surprised to find out with this blade is that the blade head size is the standard Butterfly head size which is 151x157mm. Supposedly, Stiga blades have a compact head size about 149x155mm. The blade is a bit thicker than the Intensity NCT and felt stiffer overall. Despite the NCT coating which gives the Intensity NCT a hard surface, the overall feeling of the Exclusive blade is stiffer while the Intensity NCT has flex. The increased head size did increase the weight also. Fortunately, mine is only 90 grams and the ST handle was 89 grams. The neck needed to be sanded down carefully as I would not want a beautiful blade such as this to be ruined. Overall look is a classic brown blade look for the Exclusive blade. On the bare blade, I bounced the Nexy polyball a few times and it had a medium height for its bounce like 6-7inches in height. The sound was loud but only in medium pitch. I attached a Xiom Vega Europe and a DHS H3 Provincial rubber for this blade test. When I was warming up using both backhand and forehand drives, I have noticed the Exclusive blade to have a diminished vibration when compared to the original Intensity NCT. The overall hardness on ball impact feels harder than Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive Intensity NCT and more or less equal to the Yinhe ProW5. The Intensity NCT still has the hardest surface feel with the Exclusive in the middle and the Ma Lin Extra Offensive as the softest. When I was doing drives and smashes with it, it is fast. In fact it is faster than the ProW5 and has a more solid feel on impact. The Exclusive blade seems well suited to the H3 Provincial as my forehand rubber. It was really good in all forms of strokes especially in looping and loop driving balls. The blade can make you spin that much even with polyballs. It gives a medium arc for the balls path onto the table when looping. In fact, looping and counter looping is its forte. It rates high also as a smashing blade but the looping and loop driving is on top of its arsenal. The Exclusive blade fares very well up to mid distance from the table. Further than that and you would need a bit more effort or very fast rubbers. I am quite surprised and impressed with the blade. I am using it now as my main set up when playing once a week. I have also found out that for European rubbers, it favors rubbers that are not too hard. The best hardness for rubbers in tandem with the Exclusive blade would be medium down to soft rubbers. When you dig hard rubbers that you can compress a lot when hitting through the sponge, the control and speed seem to be very high. It produced a loud sound when I was hitting using the Vega Europe DF. For Chinese rubbers, I think only hard or medium would suit well and not soft Chinese rubbers. The H3 Provincial when paired with the Exclusive blade is a nasty spinny set up. Those sharp loops are awesome. Overall, I actually love this better than the Intensity NCT or the Emerald blade. A bit pricey like the Emerald but it is that good. |
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
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Crowsfeather
Super Member Joined: 08/03/2013 Location: Thailand Status: Offline Points: 448 |
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Look like variant of intensity ???
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I'm no longer an EJ and I'm proud .
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7220 |
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i don't know if this is 7 ply or 5 ply. if it is 7 ply then it is closer to the 7.6 sense. if they will make a 5 ply intensity, then there is no point in making the same blade under the same brand unless it has a slightly different construction like a thicker core. Looks like walnut for the top plies.
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
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Crowsfeather
Super Member Joined: 08/03/2013 Location: Thailand Status: Offline Points: 448 |
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Thank you for information sir.
Exclusive looks oldschool in it design. I like that.
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I'm no longer an EJ and I'm proud .
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qualizon
Silver Member Joined: 01/15/2014 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 615 |
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I've talked to someone from ttex, and confirmed that it's a 5 ply blade with construction like the Xu Xin intensity nct. The different is, this blade will be heavier and faster, which I believe it's due to the thicker plies (possibly the core).
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kolevtt
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175 USD ...
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7220 |
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review added
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
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p1ngp0ng3r
Super Member Joined: 12/24/2005 Location: Netherlands Status: Offline Points: 228 |
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Thanks for the nice info Yogi.
I noticed this blade on TTEX website couple of days ago and am considering it to replace my Infinity. How does the eXclusive compare to Emerald in terms of speed and throw?
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Infinity VPS - Hybrid MK - T25 FX
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the_theologian
Premier Member Joined: 01/11/2009 Location: U.S. Status: Offline Points: 3895 |
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Appelgren Allplay ST / Vega Europe max
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7220 |
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Yup it is expensive.
Exclusive is more or less the same speed level with emerald minus the vibration and plus the more solid feel. Intensity is slower |
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shaame
Beginner Joined: 04/11/2015 Location: Vienna Status: Offline Points: 13 |
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It's on sale now... 102 bucks
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H 3 Neo 2.2//Xiom Offensive S\\Xiom Vega Pro 2.0
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piligrim
Premier Member Joined: 06/21/2011 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 5319 |
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stiffer than Emerald? |
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Ray
Gold Member Joined: 02/28/2012 Location: Online Status: Offline Points: 1845 |
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Thanks. Still super expensive if you can live with Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Off (exactly the same composition: walnut-spruce-ayous-spruce-walnut). |
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opinari
Super Member Joined: 05/23/2006 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 459 |
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The Exclusive actually seems like a shakehand version of the Xu Xin Intensity as someone else mentioned. The XX Intensity also has no coating or other treatment and supposedly feels more solid than the normal Intensity. Assuming it's similar, one piece of advice for any potential buyers - it's really important to seal this blade. The first time I removed a rubber from the XX Intensity, it came with a good portion of the top ply in the form of splinters. |
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Blade: BTY Zhang Jike ALC-CS
FH: BTY Tenergy 05 BH: BTY Rozena |
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The Canadian Bacon
Gold Member Joined: 08/29/2015 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 1323 |
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Yogi, were the blades sent lacquered? (i think i may have found my Clipper CC replacement)
*thanks* Edited by The Canadian Bacon - 12/14/2015 at 4:54pm |
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7220 |
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Nope it is not lacquered nor has the nct coating.
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
ITTF Level 1 Coaching Course Conductor, ITTF Level 1 Coach |
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frogger
Premier Member Joined: 08/03/2010 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3062 |
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Thanks yogi! |
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Wood Paddle
Red side Black side. |
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chronos
Gold Member Joined: 02/27/2007 Status: Offline Points: 1721 |
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Was lucky enough to be in Stockholm last week and stopped by TTEX and picked out two of these - 89 grams and perfect. They're on sale right now and were $105 each. What a cool blade. Yogi, how does it compare to Stiga Infinity?
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7220 |
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Infinity is slower and has more vibrations, lighter weight and is thinner.
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
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ttspirit
Super Member Joined: 08/17/2006 Location: Papua NewGuinea Status: Offline Points: 260 |
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Helo Yogi bear,
I'm interested in that blade you havem especially the ST handle. What handle dimensions does it have ? I mean: thickness, wideness and length ? And how is the handle shape, I mean the radius ? Is it similar to other blades ? regards, ttspirit |
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Matt Pimple
Gold Member Joined: 12/03/2012 Location: Phoenix Status: Offline Points: 1995 |
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Yogi, thanks for your review.
How would you rate the Exclusive in terms of speed, hardness and stiffness with the Intensity Carbon? I played the Intensity Carbon for a while but eventually found it too hard, fast and stiff: a beast I could not tame. |
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7220 |
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Intensity carbon is way caster and lighter. I have noticed the speed of the exclusive blade as somewhere faster than a rosewood. It also has a bigger blade head like that of alc's
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
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Matt Pimple
Gold Member Joined: 12/03/2012 Location: Phoenix Status: Offline Points: 1995 |
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Thanks yogi! Do you still use the Exclusive as your main blade? I would also be interested if you (or others) would be able to compare it in speed and stiffness to benchmark carbon blades like TB ALC or Viscaria. |
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onehander
Member Joined: 07/17/2015 Location: CA Status: Offline Points: 71 |
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I've been using this with a straight handle for the past 2 months. It's my favorite so far after trying a few different blades from friends. H3 Neo Provincial works incredibly well with it just as Yogi mentioned in his review.
It feels very solid (good feedback) and fast and blocks well like the 7 ply blades I've tried (Tibhar Samsonov Force Pro and DHS PG7). But it has a softer, more controlled feel for looping like Nittaku Acoustic and OSP Virtuoso. It has a bit more heft than any of the four above blades, but it's well balanced. It is very comfortable at mid distance with unboosted H3 Neo. I'm not sure if it's the wood types or the quality of the woods used, but hitting has a very crisp feeling unlike the other blades that I've tried before. Unfortunately I have never used a TB ALC or Viscaria, so I cannot compare it with those blades. But I have played with a friend's OSP Expert Carbon (with H3/Tenergy 80) for maybe 4 hours and this Stiga Exclusive has more feel, is faster, and stiffer. The OSP Expert Carbon has a much nicer finish though.
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ttspirit
Super Member Joined: 08/17/2006 Location: Papua NewGuinea Status: Offline Points: 260 |
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What are the exact handle dimensions ?
regards, ttspirit |
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Matt Pimple
Gold Member Joined: 12/03/2012 Location: Phoenix Status: Offline Points: 1995 |
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@onehander: thanks for the feedback!
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7220 |
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Matt, unfortunately it is kinda heavy if I use chinese rubber on one side and a tibhar evolution on the other side so I shifted to the avenger 5
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
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Matt Pimple
Gold Member Joined: 12/03/2012 Location: Phoenix Status: Offline Points: 1995 |
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Thanks yogi! Weight might not be that much of any issue for me since I play a lighter anti on bh. My current blade is 93g. I'm kind of intrigued by this blade but not so much by the price, still $120 even on sale. Might have to look for a used one... |
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chronos
Gold Member Joined: 02/27/2007 Status: Offline Points: 1721 |
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Hi ttspirit, I'm not sure about the handle dimensions but these come in the standard stiga handle dimensions - Legend and ST
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7220 |
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Matt if the weight is ok then by all means get one. The weight is the only reason I stopped using it.
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
ITTF Level 1 Coaching Course Conductor, ITTF Level 1 Coach |
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