Stiga Emerald VPS V

Using this blade for three weeks, it has exceeded my expectations. It offers excellent speed with acceptable control. I’ve been using H3N on the forehand and Fastarc G-1 on the backhand. The blade’s consistent brushing capabilities make it effective against pips. However, its standout feature is its blocking ability, thanks to its large sweet spot. I tested it with Tenergy 05 on the forehand, and it performed exceptionally well. Pairing H3N with this blade provides excellent control but slightly compromises speed. For modern playstyles, Dignics 09 °C on both sides might be a more suitable choice.

I have been using this blade for 5 years, with periods of use and non-use. Firstly, this is an all-wood OFF+ blade, close to the OFF side. Mine came with an anatomic handle and weighs 93 grams. It has good craftsmanship and quality. I sometimes hit the table, but this blade has been resistant to damage. It works well with attack short pips. Plus, it’s good for blocking because it has a large sweet spot.

The blade is ultra forgiving, to a point that I feel sorry for my opponent. The ebenholz wood gives good speed, while the 5-ply structure gives good control. It is quite hard, so it is not too good for looping, but overall it is a good blade.

It is a quite good and lightweight blade with the proper rubber. Be careful not to put on very heavy or hard-sponge rubbers, because in the first case it becomes head-heavy and in the second case has less control.

I tried stiga airoc on both forehand and backhand. It was very spinny and fast, but I had a lack of control in the short game. I changed to Xiom Omega Europe IV. It had a much better reaction in control, and is very fast and spinny with this blade, but the bat became head-heavy because of these rubbers!

The final choice was Donic Acuda Blue P2 on the forehand and P3 on the backhand. It was magical! The spin, control, and speed were all just right! And the Donics are a lot lighter than the Xiom! I will change the P3 with P2 though because it’s too soft and I have a lack of speed which I don’t have with the P2.

Very Good.

@killerbee:

The Bonding between layers is the actual specificity of this blade: Veneer Precision System.

And it seems that the bonding is really specific if it doesn’t support hot water like all your other blades.

I have no quality issue with this blade. It’s hard, it’s fast (off+), it has a large sweet spot and a medium throw angle.

The touch is good, all wood always provides a good feeling. Plays well with Tenergy 64 rubbers.

I didn’t like the combination with calibras LT and Calibra Tour rubbers, the dwell time was ultra short but it was impressive with T64/T80/T05.

I had this blade, but it was overpriced and poorly made. When I changed the rubber, it tore off large portions of the top veneer, which I have never encountered with other brands like Butterfly blades.

The situation worsened when I tried to repair it. After cleaning the surface with hot water, the top veneer started to ripple, indicating a weak bond between the top layer and the ones underneath.

I have owned blades from various manufacturers, but I have never experienced anything like this, even after exposing them to hot water.

I strongly advise staying away from this blade. It was so poorly constructed that I eventually discarded it.

I will not be purchasing from this company again. I apologize if my review appears harsh, but it is an honest representation of my experience.