The XIOM Absolute Carbon Speed is not a well known blade among the XIOM fans in America. What makes XIOM Speed surprising is that XIOM Speed is the best selling blade in Europe and Asia. This had made the XIOM Speed to rest in the professional classic line of products in XIOM.
The XIOM Speed is a carbon blade - made of Absolute Carbon. From my testing of different XIOM blades, I have a feeling that XIOM Speed is a junior version of XIOM Strato. The XIOM Speed lacks little bit of power compared to the XIOM Strato. It has more softer feeling than XIOM Strato. The XIOM Strato has little more meat than the XIOM Speed.
I have tested the XIOM Omega III Asian version on XIOM Speed. The whole combination suits more mid distance game. Unlike its name suggests, it is not a too-far-away-from-the-table blade with thicker sponge versions of Omega III. However, I have found more thrust in balls’ forward motion with softer versions of XIOM rubbers - called European versions. The XIOM Strato makes more loop angle, while XIOM Speed does not. The XIOM Speed is not suitable for brushing to generate spin. It is suitable for back of the ball hit.
The XIOM Speed is suitable for short pips. The XIOM Short pips named XIOM Styx SP makes very disastrous shots on XIOM Speed. I don’t recommend it to use it for defensive shots like chops as the shorts will be close to flat.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi, Varghese,
I wonder if you have more to share on Styx, and whether you could do a review of the short pips. I have used short pips such as Raystorm, 802-40 before, so I am curious to know how Styx measures up. I read it makes “disastrous” shots but couldn’t quite figure out what it means. Also which Xiom blade do you think it pairs well with.
Thank you, SLT.
What I meant by ‘disastrous’ is very fast and sinking balls that hard to return unless the opponent loops with care.
For close to the table, I would recommend XIOM Ignito. For few feet away from the table, XIOM Absolute Speed is better.
I would like to know that if I have 2 rubbers - omega iv Elite for backhand and vega euro for forehand I should select what kind of blade.
I need a replacement for clipper cr in xiom’line someone told me that the closest thing to clipper is Extreme S but i dont know how fast is ignito compared to clipper(cpen)