XIOM Fuga Blade Reviews
FUGA is a special blade for aggressive players whose strategy is close-to-table topspin of Chinese style. Everything of FUGA is optimized for aiming the rising of ball from bounce. Its thickness of 5.6 mm provides sufficient deformation for the stability of aggressive play. Hard wood was selected as the material of top layer for sharp and compact feel. But, the top layer is thin, so its hardness doesn’t disturb the overall flexibility and stability of FUGA. Every technique of table tennis is so easy with FUGA. Especially close-to-table and on-table techniques can be performed effortlessly. Aggressive close-to-table topspin is very secure and effective. Players will be able to dominate fast game with ease.
Special weapon for modern aggressive close-to-table topspin players. Optimized speed and compact feel for the ease of aggressive play.
Characteristics:
- Speed 90
- Rating OFF-
- Thickness 5.6 mm
- Construction 5 ply
Click here for best prices on Xiom Fuga blade from Megaspin
Review by rokphish2 (published with permission)
Okay, here it goes…
The Fuga is one of three of the Xiom’s Novus Wood series.
The 5 ply blade is made of Koto – Spruce – Ayous – Spruce – Koto at 5.6-5.8 mm thickness.
The made and finishing of the blade is superb and very smooth. The flaw I see: the cut on the logo on the handle is not very straight, but it’s a very minuscule overlook.
If I were to rate it on the finishing/make of the blade, I would rate it at 99% (points taken off for the small flaw.)
The head is about the average size, the size according to Xiom’s specification are: 158×150.2 while the handle are 100x34x24 for the FL & 100x29x22 for the ST. The ST handle is slightly smaller towards the bottom end. First thing I noticed when holding it was how nice and comfortable it is on my hand. The handle is wide and thick enough, about as good as my Hurricane blades FL handles. Feels thinner but wider than the HK. It’s certainly wider and thicker than the Korbel FL & Wavestone FL handles which I also have. The head is about the same as my Hurricanes & Korbel blades.
The weight quoted for me is 83.8g (FL) & 83.4g (ST) but when I weighed it using my dad’s digital weight scale for his medicines, it weighed at 84.05g (FL) & 83.75g (ST). Close enough to the quoted weight.
The rubbers I put on the blade are: Hurricane 3 Provincial 39 degree and Prasidha Tokyo 2, so they are the same rubbers as I have on the Hurricane King setup.
Now, here are the preliminary/first impressions I have on the blade:
First times I hit with it, certainly much better compared to the first time I hit with Aria, which felt bad right after trying Amadeus, but after awhile got better as I play longer with Aria.
The blade feels softer than Aria, slightly harder than Amadeus. It’s slower than the Aria, probably the same as Korbel, and has a good dwell time. I could impart heavy spins on both fast and slow loops just fine.
On fast loops, I felt it as quick as I did with the Amadeus (not as quick as Ignito, which is best in this regard in my opinion). It’s quite fast, but just my feeling I could do it much faster with Ignito.
Blocks are effortless, just a good amount of bounce. I don’t have problem on the short play with it.
Chops are fine short and long, nothing to write home about.
I usually don’t smash on FH, so I don’t know how it does altering between loops and smashes. The few smashes on FH I did were good. Not blazing fast of course with the Hurricane rubber, but enough to win the point. I smash on the BH, when I smash, it generates fast speed and power.
Control is good. Feels sharper than the Aria
I switched sides and used the Tokyo 2 on the FH and it felt great. Things are going faster, much faster, but still with good amount of control. I think for those playing with both Japanese/European rubbers will be satisfied with the amount of speed and control of this blade. This is even without gluing.
For those who haven’t played with Tokyo 2 rubber, I think it’s somewhat similar with Bryce Speed FX on speed and spin ( I feel spinier for Tokyo 2). Less bouncy on the short play and better control over all.
Actually, playing with Fuga, my Tokyo 2 on FH feels so great. I like it the most compared to other blades I have tried. Seems like Tokyo 2 on the FH of Fuga is a perfect match for me. I switched the rubbers more often than I had previously with other blades.
It vibrates quite a bit on flat hit, even more so when I flat hit using H3P rubber on the FH. Flat hitting with Tokyo 2 gives less vibration. When looping, I feel the vibration is less pronounce, just slightly and gives good feedback. Flat hitting with H3P is quite bad feedback, but because I don’t flat hit with my FH a lot so this is not a problem. It is less of a problem if using other rubber as well as I found out with the Tokyo 2 on FH.
Throw is about medium I’d say.
Now, how do I feel about Fuga vs HK? Many said the HK is an overpriced blade with nothing special about it. Nevertheless, I like it much. The Fuga, is a pretty good alternative. Especially at about a third of the cost of HK. It’s fairly fast, especially using the Tokyo 2. Good at medium distance, probably better closer to the table (I’m still struggling trying to stay closer to the table). With good, soft but clear feel and good amount of control.
Please bear in mind that this is just preliminary impressions. I do plan to revisit the blades after I finish making my round with the untested blades. Plus I want to try the xiom blades with the Zeta rubber I just got.
Well, that’s it for now.
Comments and questions are welcome.
