Handcrafted Blades by Ross Leidy

Very nice. What's the difference between the two blades?

Carryboy asked me to post a few photos of his latest blade.  Earlier, I had sent him a similar demo blade, and he was so enthusiastic about it that he commissioned the one below.  Based on his comments to me about the blade, I'll definitely be adding this composition to my lineup.   It's a 5-ply OFF blade with a western red cedar core, and medium/medium-hard anigre for the medial and outer plies.  The handle is orange agate and east indian rosewood.

Thanks for posting Ross. 

Ross Leidy wrote: fatt wrote: Reading your posts I was wondering if you had kiri cores (could not read about it on your website) and I got my answer   I only recently found a source for kiri, and I still need to update the website.   fatt wrote: I used to play the Mizutani Jun (one of the best offensive looping fast blades ever made) before I banned Butterfly from my tt life; this blade is close to it, the dyed red koto replacing the ZL carbon in the MJ composition (limba-zl carbon-limba-kiri-limba-zl carbon-limba). I might be next in line for a matching pair of those. Could a teak or paduk veneer do the same job than koto in the above blade composition?   Only Speedy has played this blade, so he might be able to compare it to the Mizutani Jun.  It does have a handle modeled directly from the ST Mizutani.  Speedy and I hashed out the composition over numerous emails, and in the end the blade didn't have quite the speed he was after.  An adjustment to the koto layer (switching it out for something harder) should bump it up a notch.  I currently do not have padauk veneer, but it is a possibility if it's a requirement.  Contact me offline if you'd like me to add you to the waiting list.

Like Ross mentioned, we had numerous emails going back and forth before we agree on a composition.  Before I compare to Mizutani, I have to say this first.  The reason I didn't get the speed that I want is because of me and had NOTHING to do with Ross.  Here is why.  I ask him to put a blade together with hardwood plies but the end product must be 85grams to 87grams.  It is almost impossible without using Balsa.  But, I didn't want to use Balsa core.  You might asked me why?  Well, because I was trying to make this blade similar to Mizutani and the speed between Viscaria and Mizutani.  So, at the end of the day, we actually got exactly what I designed for.  However, the feel is too good to be true.  Again why? Well, I am using pips and I thought that with 7-ply, it will be hard enough for my pips, but not really.  It feels so good that I could have use inverted rubbers on both sides.

Long story short, we got stuck with the dilemma: Weight vs. Speed, so I decided to go with weight and feel and sacrificed speed a little.  Basically, it came out exactly what we expected.

Now, I will tell you one thing I really like about Ross that he didn't mention.  During the design phase, I wanted a ST handle exactly like Mizutani.  Ross didn't have the router bits for the handle.  That's like a week before the Nationals.  He went out of his way and bought that router, finished the handle and the blade, sent the paddle to me, and I received the blade 2 days before the Nationals.  Just that alone, I would work with him any day.  This is why I took the blade for a test during my first match of the tournament.

Now, let me compare my blade to Mizutani Jun.  Here is the short version below:

Mizutani Jun

Plies: 3W+2 ZLCarbon (low throw)
Speed: 9+
Control: 7
Feel: 8
Comments:  This is a fast blade.  I used this for years.  This is a good blade if you want to end the rally quickly.

Leidy-Tran (7-ply)

Plies: 7W (medium throw)
Speed: 8-
Control: 9
Feel: 9+
Comments:  This is a good control blade.  It's not good, it's GREAT.  It's not as fast as Mizutani Jun; however, it is very balanced.  Great feel on the ball.  Good for two wing loopers.  If you are looking for power from the blade, this is NOT for you.  If you are looking for consistent looping and counter-looping, this is a perfect blade.  If you have problem with blocking, this blade can also help you because it's very stable blade.

If you have any other questions, please post it on this thread so Ross and I can help to answer.

@Ross:  I will email you about our next adventure.  BTW, I hope that you don't mind... I named that blade as Leidy-Tran 7-Ply

@All: Stand by for new blade with new combination.





Edited by speedy - 12/25/2011 at 9:44pm

Is arylate-carbon blade available?

Ross doesn't need a mark, his blades are beautiful enough to distinguish from the rest.

mercuur wrote: He could use different colour woods for those pieces at the end of the handle ; Like a very dark colour one side and light other side. That way it has a recognizable difference between both sides for fh and bh also without rubber. Or for the griphalves with two dark and one light in the middle (post above on this page) reversed at one side ; two light, one dark.

If you look closely at the handle gallery on his page, you can see that he did handles with different designs on fh and bh side. 

mmerkel wrote: mercuur wrote: He could use different colour woods for those pieces at the end of the handle ; Like a very dark colour one side and light other side. That way it has a recognizable difference between both sides for fh and bh also without rubber. Or for the griphalves with two dark and one light in the middle (post above on this page) reversed at one side ; two light, one dark. If you look closely at the handle gallery on his page, you can see that he did handles with different designs on fh and bh side.

Hmmm.....I got some money for Christmas...and I like how these blades are turning out....maybe I should get a custom?  

I have one of Mr. Leidys blades and it is awesome.  Mine is something like an Acoustic so it is very well balanced.  The fit and finish on these blades is outstanding .  I would recommend them to anyone looking for a quality blade.  Honestly for the quality of blade you get the price is very reasonable.  I would not worry about labels or serial numbers you know right away looking at the blades who built them there is nothing else on the market like them,not even close...  One last thing his customer service is second to none, he works with you every step of the way building you exactly what you want. Great experience .  

Great! Just when I thought the Christmas spending was over you guys show me this! 

I own one of these.  I am glad that I ordered it.  You guys also need to see the case go with it.  Ross, you need to upload a picture of one of those too.

Here is my custom Hurricane King shape and handle size which is the same as Latika spec.
The handle now need to be hollowed so that it's not handle heavy.

I am also going to be getting one of these blades 

So it's koto-ayc-ayous-ayc-koto?