Galaxy W1 (Wood King) review

I have played a lot with W-1 (and some other members did as well).

Here is the abridged version of a full review that maybe will be posted at some point in the future. There is also some photos in a thread about W-1 somewhere - google it and ye shalt find.

Name: Yin-He (Galaxy, Milkyway) W-1 (Wood King)
Type: OFF
Plies: 7 Wood + 2 Carbon
Weight: on average around 84-90 g range
Price: approx. $60 but you can find a cheaper one slightly used
Style: offense, loop-kill attack, fast block
Handle: FL (on mine) and ST
Similar to: Btfy Jun Mizutani

This is a carbon blade with extremely good control for such a fast one - speed rated around 9 on a regular Galaxy scale, check here

http://mytabletennis.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14855

It seems that the carbon layers are not second after the outer ones but third. That allows for both better control and less pingy sound... perhaps that answers the question that Cole Ely asked on his website (Why would the "Wood King" have two layers of carbon? - C.E.) because the blade certainly sounds and plays more like a 7-ply not-too-stiff fast blade. His opinion? here it is "To me, this is the best carbon blade I've ever played with. I've had a couple of better players confirm my opinion." (from http://www.colestt.com/compositeblades.php)

It loops just a tiny little bit worse than it's more flexible counterpart W-2 (which is the most expensive out of the old-line non-custom Galaxy blades, around $70). But then it is better in flat game, blocks and smashes.

Control rating is better than for T-8 and ways better than T-4. It is indeed a rather fast (definitely OFF) blade with very good control in both short game and off-the-table attack - naturally it is my subjective estimate as I play with relatively hard-sponged rubbers. However with softer rubbers it can be suitable even for the still developing players in the 1200-1700 range.

My opinion is that - for an offensive amateur player it could be easily be a blade to keep for the length of his entire "career". Just update and upgrade the rubbers, but keep the blade.

LOOPMEISTER wrote: I agree with Jim's review except its not very similar to the MJ. Its closer to the Innerforce ALC or something like that but slower.

W-1 is slower than ALC? C'mon that's just not funny

LOOPMEISTER wrote: JimT wrote: LOOPMEISTER wrote: I agree with Jim's review except its not very similar to the MJ. Its closer to the Innerforce ALC or something like that but slower. W-1 is slower than ALC? C'mon that's just not funny Its debatable depending on how you measure speed, but wood king has a more "woody" feeling than ALC, and to me the ball comes off a little slower. Of course the ball will travel as far or further. Its been a while since I played with the Wood King (and I was using older speed glue rubbers), so maybe my memories are not accurate, but as I remember it had a sluggish woody feedback--not dwell-- but good carbon power once the ball gets going. But definitely closer to an Innerforce composite blade than the MJ which has much more flex and crisper/sharper feeling than Wood King.

Woodier than ALC - that I totally agree with. I think this is actually a plus. Never played with Innerforce so cannot judge its closeness to MJ

Thank you all for the review .

Jim did you ever try the M4? I have a few Galaxy blades but not that one. I think I should have tried that one when I was testing them

I have made the W-1 my primary setup temporarily with Apollo on both sides. I have hit with it enough to talk about it.

I use aquafina to brush my hair. But hopefully my stuffed animal isn't looking. Pervert.