|
|
Stiga Cybershape Wood Review |
Post Reply |
Author | |
yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
Post Options
Thanks(2)
Posted: 01/09/2023 at 1:37pm |
Stiga Cybershape Wood Blade Weight: 88 grams Thickness: 5.8mm to 5.9mm Plies: 5 (limba-ayous combination) Speed: off- to off Stiga went back to a trusted all-wood blade design that they
have sold a lot in a few decades and is still selling good nowadays. They added
modifications and innovations thereby producing an entirely different blade but
still with signature Stiga all-wood blade feel. The construction of this 5-ply
blade is somewhat changed to the traditional Offensive Classic blade from Stiga
wherein the ayous core and inner plies seem to have an almost same thickness.
The core is thicker but the 2nd and 4th layers of ayous
(if these layers are really ayous) have an increased thickness compared to the
original Offensive classic blade that has a thin 2nd layer of about
0.4mm, the Stiga Cybershape wood have at least 2mm thick inner layers. The core
thickness was reduced as a result of this design, but I felt this is faster
than the Offensive Classic or Offensive Classic CR blade. The blade head
surface has a thin sealant, but I gave another coating of a wood varnish just
to make sure. The overall quality is topnotch and is expected just to be on par
with the Cybershape Carbon blade. Stiga has again applied the Cybershape design
to this all-wood blade because the shape enlarges the hitting area of the blade
which is the upper 1/3 part of the blade. By enlarging the upper part, Stiga also
says the sweet spot is also increased. THE Stiga CWT Innovation The Stiga CWT or Custom Weight Technology is an innovation
from Stiga added to the newer version of the Stiga Cybershape Carbon and the
Cybershape Wood blades. This is not a new idea but the concept of using magnets
to apply varied weights to the blade is a new one at least commercially. In the
past 20 years, the prominent brand that have done this is a Chinese company but
the way they applied the balance changing device is by using a weight that is
adjustable using a screw inside the handle. The blade balance changes when turn
the screw moving the weight towards the neck of the blade or towards the base
of the handle depending on the person's preference where the weight is. Stiga
opted to apply this concept using magnets and varied weights of 3, 6 and 9
grams depending on the heaviness of the rubbers used. Why is Stiga doing this?
In my opinion, the newer rubbers in the market starting 2019 tend to be very
heavy. Before I could only see a few heavy rubbers in the market with mostly
Chinese rubbers but nowadays both European and Japanese rubbers have a heavy
weight trend. This is due to the increased sponge hardness and density which
also increases the weight automatically. Having tried a lot of European and
Japanese rubbers from 2019 up to the present, the average weight of 50-degree
rubbers is in the 70-gram range with the hardest European rubber I have tried
at 57 or 58 degrees at 75 grams and a Japanese rubber with an equivalent
hardness of about 60 degrees to ESN hardness scale at about 78 grams on their
uncut weights. Having used both DNA Platinum Hard version rubbers on both sides
and also a hard Chinese rubber alternately on one side plus another beginner’s
Chinese rubber, the racket was heady heavy. In my opinion, the 6-gram weight
worked well for me as my preference as the 9-gram weight would be ideal for
players who have heavy racket setups especially the ones who have big arms and
large swings for hard hitting strokes but other than that the 3-gram and 6-gram
weight variants will do for most people. The 3 weight variants come as an
essential part of the blade and with the choices of these 3 weights, a player
can customize the balance of the weight in their own rackets. The weight of the
blade for the 2 Cybershape blades by Stiga tends towards the tip of the blade
head so by adding the 3 or 6-gram weight to the base of the handle, the balance
shifts lower and lessening the head-heaviness of the blade with today’s heavy
rubbers. As for the magnet itself, when you attach it to the base of the
handle, there is a metallic clicking sound upon securing the Stiga CWT. I think
magnet attaches itself firmly and does not show any signs of loosening. Just
make sure that the magnet itself and the hole it is attached to are both clean
and dust-free. Why magnets? I asked Stiga about this and they stated that
having a screw-type of weight or balancing device will make the setup clunky.
The Chinese-made blade with a screw-type weight device I had in the past had a
tendency of loosening and it tends to be annoying in the past. At least, the
magnet has no moving parts when it is attached firmly to the handle. The Stiga
CWT also comes with the magnet remover for convenience. Blade Speed The blade speed of the Cybershape Wood is definitely above
that of the Offensive Classic and Offensive Classic CR. It is slower than the
Rosewood V, Ebenholz V or Intensity Wood but more or less on par with the
Arctic wood. If I compare this to other blades like Stratus Power Wood, it has
more or less equal speed but with the Petr Korbel, it is slightly slower. Does
this blade still offer speed? Yes, granting the right combination of rubbers,
the Cybershape Wood is still fast. The DNA Platinum H version is one fast
rubber, it is one of the fastest rubbers in the market with regards to its
hardness. When I combined it with the Cybershape Wood, it was like already
using a carbon blade. I have been saying this again and again in my newer
reviews – the newer rubbers nowadays are enough to give you the speed that you
would want that you do not need blades that are too stiff or too fast. I can
describe the combo as like having an almost off+ setup that retain the feel and
control that most players want in a fast setup. With Chinese rubbers, the
Cybershape is not really slow especially with a Hurricane 3 neo 37 degrees
rubber. Either the H3 37-degree rubber or the DNA Platinum H will give you the
balance of speed and spin that you want. The Looping Game It is an understatement to say that the Cybershape Wood is a
good looping blade not because it is slow but having glued a very fast and
bouncy rubber to it was still good enough to brush loop the ball. Even with
other regular 5-ply blades, it is easier to loop with a slower rubber or with
the semi-tacky Euro rubber that we have now in the market like the Stiga DNA
Dragon Grip. With the Cybershape Wood, I was still able to effectively loop
underspin balls above the table on-the-rise. This is easier to do with a tacky
rubber but with a grippy rubber, it takes more skill. I felt that the
combination of the Cybershape Wood and DNA Platinum H could go as far as 6 feet
away from the table without a feeling of reduction in speed or power when
looping or counter loops, but I think that is the limit without too much
exerting a lot of effort. All Other Aspects The Cybershape is a control blade. Basically, all the short
strokes such short pushes, flicks or drop shots are expected to be easily done
for each of the stroke mentioned. Blocking is excellent as the blade has flex
and control and can easily block strong topspins. I believe the Cybershape Wood
can both be a passive player’s blade in which he can just block and push chop
to win points or attack aggressively with it while still maintain a good amount
of control. The Cybershape Wood is a multi-dimensional blade that is great for
all types of playing styles whether it is for attacking or an all-around type
of playing style. |
|
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 |
|
Sponsored Links | |
igorponger
Premier Member Joined: 07/29/2006 Location: Everywhere Status: Offline Points: 3252 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
POOR DESCRIPTION, SORRY.
Blade Geometry is omitted here. Width, height within a millimeter accuracy. Playing surface by sq.cm. This given description came out incomplete as wanting for geometry actual specifications. https://youtu.be/q_pb6BLvv5g Follow this video-guidance to accomplish your review and to give us more particulars of the Stiga geometry. Thanks. Edited by igorponger - 01/10/2023 at 5:48am |
|
Simon_plays
Gold Member Joined: 05/02/2015 Location: Vietnam Status: Offline Points: 1084 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Igor, your sense of humour never fails to make me smile.
Yogi Bear, is this blade double limba with an ayous core?
|
|
yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
This follows the Cybershape Carbon shape which i already shared in my previous review.
|
|
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 |
|
yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
I think this is still Limba ayous ayous.
|
|
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 |
|
aerial
Super Member Joined: 01/11/2015 Location: NY Status: Offline Points: 499 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
how easy is it to remove and install the cwt weights?
|
|
yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
Easy to remove using the black plastic thingie that is found beside the weights in the pictures above.
|
|
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 |
|
notfound123
Gold Member Joined: 01/18/2008 Location: MD, USA Status: Offline Points: 1025 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
yogi_bear... what's the heaviest "setting" of the blade, i.e. with the heaviest piece inserted? ~90g?
|
|
yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
|
88gms +9gms = 97gms
|
|
mon22
Gold Member Joined: 03/05/2010 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 1174 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
got the cyberwood this week as well, non CWT version
As I suspected, the throw angle compared to carbon is higher and almost “safer” on loops. You could get away playing with the same style/approach as your traditional round blades. I say this because I think the CYBERSHAPE excels in DRIVES and hitting through the ball vs that grab and shoot feeling on traditional looping blades. Having that approach makes the cybershape heavy to wield and awkward. Becomes erratic. However, doing more of a drive loop/hit lets the racket do the work of shooting it forward. The cyber wood flexes too much compared to the carbon. Been playing with the carbon 6 months now Tibhar K3 and hurricane 9 pink on bh.
|
|
I am a total Newb. Come at me!
|
|
yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
|
flex can be remedied with harder rubbers on it.
|
|
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 |
|
Post Reply | |
Tweet
|
Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum |
Forum Home | Go to the Forums | Forum Help | Disclaimer
MyTableTennis.NET is the trading name of Alex Table Tennis Ltd. |