I love offensive blades though I’m a modern defensive player. I depend on my forehand to get point at any time. After I’ve tried the XIOM Amadeus, XIOM Absolute Carbon 08 Control is the next offensive blade I’ve tried. I have had XIOM Omega III on the forehand and TSP Curl P3 0.6 mm long pips on the back hand.
As soon as I started hitting with this, it reminded me of Butterfly Matsushita Pro Special made which is also made of carbon except that this blade is faster. I put the blade to test with various strokes like looping with medium to extreme top spin, blocking, block chopping, hitting with the long pips.
Though I have found the feeling in my hand the same as Butterfly Matsushita Pro Special, this blade is a cutie in your hand and a perfect weapon for control oriented players.
This blade is superb in taking the heavy impact from your opponent’s hard shots. I have felt I have a sponge on my hand while placing the blade against an incoming heavy top spin shot. I have tested its best ability of control by placing the returns from those hard shots. I was amazed at its control even to hit the ball almost at the corner of the table and certain time on the line. In addition to its ability to generate a medium arc to get the ball to the other side, I have also noticed the ball sinks down because of top spin.
The XIOM Absolute Carbon 08 Control performs well close to the table as well as further away from the table – this amazing control comes from the toughness of aramid and hardness of carbon. The XIOM Amadeus is a very well top spin blade but someone who plays around the table – close to the table and further away – the Absolute Carbon Control is the best blade. The XIOM Absolute Carbon Control is little stiffer than Amadeus so has more control against any kind of shots – slow or fast – from the opponents.
I have felt XIOM Absolute Carbon Control can do very good cut strokes little further away from the table. It can also cut with less spin close to the table. I had amazing control when I was doing this. If you are a modern defensive player who plays further away from the table, this is a right weapon for you. I have also seen its amazing ability to hit flat. A combination of defensive and attack shots can confuse the opponents. An offensive player who would like to take the advantage of “knuckle ball” without sacrificing going to a defensive blade can use XIOM Absolute Carbon Control blade. I don’t recommend this for a defensive player or a modern defensive player who plays close to the table.
Talk about the underspin! This blade can loop with perfect control against underspin. The loops against underspin can generate very good top spin with sinking effect. The blade makes the looping against under spin more easy – it is easier than XIOM Amadeus.
The best inverted rubbers that match with this blade are tensor rubbers which are not that fast – XIOM Omega II, XIOM ZETA, XIOM True Innovation.