First of all, I have to thank Ulmo for allowing me to keep this blade for a while. I have received this blade last March, and I have got some time to test this Ulmo Spezial Shape blade only yesterday. I became sick few times, and the project for Table Tennis Store made my life so busy.
I’m not seeing a special shape blade like this for the first time. I have seen few, and one really attracted me was a branded penhold style blade (like one ply XIOM Athena RSM) with the shakehand handle rather than a penhold handle. I have seen similar blades which are custom made also. The purpose of making such blades is to increase the sweet spot, and Ulmo Spezial Shape blade is no exception. I have seen few offensive players using such specially shaped blades including choppers who play away from the table.
I have tried the Ulmo Spezial Shape blade with Butterfly Tenergy 25 and TSP Curl P3 on the backhand.
No doubt, this blade comes in the OFF category. The Ulmo Spezial Shape blade is not suitable for the defensive game. I have no idea about what wood being used in the blade, but this blade has excellent craftsmanship - with a hologram on the handle. It has excellent finish. By looking at it, I’ve felt the blade is made in a factory rather than by hand. I love German products because of this reason.
The blade is little flex. I have not felt the vibration in my hand which was a good thing for me.
There is speed difference on different spots on the blade. The tip is surely faster, and the weight is towards the handle. To me such behavior is not something I can trust, so to me I have less sweet spot with Ulmo Special Shape blade. An offensive player can find this blade having more sweet spot for him. I would say it has more sweet spot for an offensive game.
I’ve felt this blade suits for more hitting. I have tried continuous loop and power spin, and I have found the speed difference on the blade put me into trouble. I have hard time managing my backhand when I have moved towards BH to play defensive strokes. The Ulmo Spezial blade is faster, and it has less control for a defensive strokes.
I could not find a proper rubber for this blade. The rubbers in the market are shorter that the size of Ulmo Spezial Shape blade. This was a problem with many other similar custom shape blades I have seen. A player I have seen with such a size had two pieces of rubbers on his blade. I don’t know whether that is legal according to the ITTF rule.
It takes little time to master a blade like Ulmo Spezial blade. It has to become a likable blade. It is hard to market such specially shaped blades because of many reasons - the primary reason is the rubber that suits this blade.
The Ulmo Spezial blade suits hitters, in my testing.
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Ulmo Special Shape Blade
Ulmo Special Shape Blade
Ulmo Special Shape Blade
Ulmo Special Shape Blade
Ulmo Special Shape Blade
Ulmo Special Shape Blade
Ulmo Special Shape Blade
