TT11 testing - Fall 2017 edition!

Tek101 wrote: Didn't know you sent me the H3 so it was sitting in my package room for a bit... but I have it and I am currently testing it.

Review: Stiga Carbonado 90

unstopabl3 wrote: Oh boy, has anyone tried the 45 yet? Anyone from this thread tested it yet? Which blade are you using slevin?

Edited by slevin - 01/18/2018 at 3:25pm

I want to, given that I'm using a similar blade right now. Perhaps, in a few weeks.

Carbonado 45 on its way to h0n1g. Nittaku Hurricane sheet on its way to Tek101.

slevin wrote: Two testers want it after the holidays.

Oh, sorry I meant if you had a review on it haha. Apologies for the miscommunication.

slevin wrote: No, not at the moment

How about 45? :)

Slevin, is anyone testing the carbonado 90?

ohwell wrote: Slevin, what are the dimensions of the Feel blades?

Slevin, what are the dimensions of the Feel blades?

The ZX3 is going out to kindof99 today.


Slevin was kind enough to send me the Xiom ZX3 for testing. I did a short two hour test last night. Here are my brief impressions.


The blade is also high quality with a very smooth finish. Tons of info printed on both sides including the claim of 250 year old Kiso Hinoki wood. In my semi-professional estimate I would say the wood is not a day over 225.

The handle has a slightly less smooth finish than the blade. It is also very slightly smaller than the width of the blade so that you can feel the blade sticking out from the handle as you run your thumb around the circumference of the handle. Not a deal breaker, but an unexpected small flaw for an expensive blade.

This blade is light weighing 83.3 on my scale.

I glued with rubber cement an Andro Rasanter R47 2.0 black to the FH and an Air DefenderS 2.0 red to the BH. Even with lighter 2.0 rubbers the glued blade felt head heavy in my hand which is not my preference. The wings on the blade are sharp, and if I owned it I would for sure do some sanding.

I am currently playing with a Butterfly Primorac Carbon weighing 85 grams. A few years ago when they first hit the market I owned two Xiom Hayabusa ZXi's and played them for about 8 months.

The line is marketed as the Feel series. This blade does have very good feel. From the very first balls I hit the blade just felt right. I did not struggle at all to place the ball where I wanted with various shots. The blade is fast, but my own blade is fast and I would estimate the speed about equal to my Primorac Carbon. I felt like the touch was probably better with the ZX3 than the Primorac. For a fast blade, the over the table and mid-range game was excellent. I rarely play far back from the table except in practice rallies, but there was enough pop to handle a long game. However, far back from the table there was a small power drop off compared to the Primorac.

I have one major dislike about it that is a deal breaker for me. It has a very small / short handle. I'm a bigger guy at 6'3" and about 230, and the handle was uncomfortably small for me. The handle is also about 1/8" shorter than the Primorac. If I owned it I would probably have a craftsman replace the handle for me.

Overall though, an excellent blade.






Edited by LOG1C1AN - 12/08/2017 at 6:25pm

Review: Xiom Feel Z2

Edited by kindof99 - 12/21/2017 at 5:31pm

The ZX2 review is updated above. Blade is mailed to kindof99.

al_111 wrote: Thanks, Slevin! Just to be clear - are you comparing it to a boosted or unboosted H3N?

To boosted H3N. If you don't like boosting, This rubber trumps H3N.

Thanks, Slevin! Just to be clear - are you comparing it to a boosted or unboosted H3N?