The 729 Blue Arylate Carbon table tennis blade by Friendship is a 7-ply, all-wood blade with a blue arylate-carbon center ply that offers a unique blend of speed, control, and consistency. With an overall rating of 9.3 out of 10, the 729 Blue Arylate Carbon is designed for high-level players looking for a blade that can handle a variety of playing styles.
The blade's speed rating of 9 makes it suitable for fast-paced, aggressive play, while its control rating of 8 provides excellent touch and accuracy. The blue arylate-carbon center ply helps to increase the blade's stiffness (6.1) and hardness (6.5), resulting in increased power and stability.
The 729 Blue Arylate Carbon is known for its exceptional consistency, with a rating of 8.3 out of 10. This means that players can expect a consistent response from the blade, allowing them to play with confidence and control. The blade's 85-gram weight provides a good balance between speed and control, making it suitable for both offensive and defensive players.
Based on forum reviews, the 729 Blue Arylate Carbon is particularly well-suited for players who prefer a fast, all-around game. Its combination of speed, control, and consistency makes it a versatile blade that can be used for a variety of strokes, including powerful drives, controlled loops, and tricky serves.
Overall, the Friendship 729 Blue Arylate Carbon table tennis blade is a high-quality blade that offers excellent performance for players of all levels. Its unique construction and materials provide a balanced combination of speed, control, consistency, and power. Whether you are an experienced player looking for a blade to take your game to the next level or a recreational player seeking a versatile blade for all-around play, the 729 Blue Arylate Carbon is definitely worth considering.
The 729 ALC blade is a fairly affordable option for a blade with ALC carbon. While there may be concerns about the quality of the workmanship (requiring varnish application and exhibiting a lack of grinding), the price makes it an attractive choice.
The blade’s construction is similar to that of the Viscaria, Fan Zhendong, Yinhe Pro 01, and Sanwei 75 ALC (Koto/ALC/Limba/Kiri). All these blades share a similar layout, but each possesses its own unique characteristics. The weight of the 729 ALC varies, typically ranging from 88-95g, differing from some copies. The handle is generally comfortable, although some users may find it too thin. The blade thickness ranges from 5.7-5.9mm, featuring a carbon outer layer.
The blade offers a pleasant, albeit subtle, vibration, with a minimal contact area with the ball. In terms of speed, it aligns with the range of blades mentioned earlier. It provides good control, consistent with other blades of similar construction. The stiffness falls within the range of 1370-1430Hz.
The 729 ALC performs well in both the first and second zones, and its performance in the third zone is dependent on the rubbers used. It pairs well with a variety of rubbers, including tensor, hybrid, and Chinese rubbers.
The blade can be heavy; mine weighs 95 grams.
It spins well but requires slightly more rotation on the ball when executing strokes compared to some all-wood blades I’ve tried. Direct shots are still effective, and the control is good. The arc is long, and the sweet spot is regular. It is pronouncedly head-heavy. I sanded off some sharp edges, but the overall quality seems excellent.
The handle is quite small and thin. Those with larger palms may find it uncomfortable, and grip tape may be necessary.
Overall, this is an excellent and super affordable ALC blade. Highly recommended.
Update 2024: It lacks power when played away from the table. This is the only drawback of this blade for me.
I’ve been using this blade since February 2024. It’s very similar to a Viscaria. The FL handle is quite thin, and for larger hands, it can be a little uncomfortable. It’s a shame there isn’t an ST handle option available.
It has a good feeling, and the ALC (Arylate-Carbon) is well-formed with a quality weave.
I tested it with Tenergy 05 Hard on the forehand (FH) and Butterfly Rozena on the backhand (BH).
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