Stiga Intensity NCT Carbon

In the latest, I come from using Friendship 729 V6 & L3 blades. I have now bought this Stiga Intensity NCT Carbon.

I started using it with DHS Skyline TG2 NEO/DHS Tinarc 3. The speed is a bit higher in this blade, and control is fine. It works well brush looping on forehand, but my backhand is a bit harder to get the top spins to work properly.

I think the blade is a little bit too bouncy for me, and it’s a little heavier than my Friendship blades. Compared to other concave handles, this one isn’t fitting my hand exactly.

I have to struggle a bit to get a good grip when I play. I had a Stiga Hans Alser (large concave), Stiga Erik Lindh (quite straight), and these Friendship blades (concave). I have no problem with any of them, only this Stiga Intensity NCT Carbon. Therefore, I have now returned to my Friendship 729 V6 blade again. It’s a bit slower, lighter, and gives me a better grip and better control.

My perfect blade for me as of now. Fantastic! Now, I can beat those higher level players in our club using this perfect blade that I couldn’t beat before.

Best blade I’ve ever had so far. Excellent control and high speed, always predicting the trajectory. Its large sweet spot allows for a great feeling and touch. After a couple of months, I’m sure it’s an excellent blade, and my level of play is getting more consistent. I’m using it with Mantra M on FH and Calibra LT Spin on BH.

I recently switched to the Stiga Intensity Carbon from the Tibhar Marcos Freitas blade. The Stiga Intensity Carbon is notably lighter and faster than the Marcos Freitas while maintaining good control. The Stiga blade has a slightly larger head size compared to other brands.

While the Stiga Intensity Carbon is not as stiff as the Marcos Freitas, the slight vibration it produces enhances the feel and control of the ball. The handle requires some sanding for a more comfortable grip, and lacquering is recommended for protection.

Overall, the Stiga Intensity Carbon is one of the best carbon blades offered by Stiga.

Better than the Intensity NCT

I have tried out many of the top blades from all the major brands, and the Stiga Intensity Carbon is the right blade for me. It’s an excellent blade that got everything I want a blade to have. It’s pretty light with large sweet spots and a nice dwell time. The feeling and control are just great. I almost never feel that I get bad hits, even if I don’t hit the ball in the middle of the racket. I think this blade is OFF and not OFF +, and I think this blade combined with medium rubbers is hard to beat.

The blade is excellent. It’s light, very fast, and has a large sweet spot and dwell time. The feeling is also great. The control is excellent. You can think where you want to hit the ball and the results will be fantastic.

However, the edges are sharp where the face of the racket bends into the handle. This can hurt the middle finger of a shakehand player. You can solve this problem by rubbing a file and making the sharp edges round.

I would say this blade is very reliable. It offers a good balance of speed and control, with enough power for most players (OFF, not OFF+). The carbon layer is ultra-thin, providing stability without sacrificing control. Topspins and blocks are excellent and predictable.

Update: After using this blade for an extended period, I believe I have found my perfect blade. Its stability is unmatched, and I have retired my other two great blades (Innerforce ZLC and Nittaku Violin). With this blade, I no longer have to question my equipment after strange shots. It performs exactly as I intend it to, and any mistakes are solely my responsibility. It’s truly amazing.

Very satisfied, suits my style. Short game satisfying. Flat hits have assisted my game marginally. Opponents commended my short game. There was a great percentage of misconception perceived by players receiving my serves whilst using this blade also.

I felt that I had great control in serve game and a vast variety of spin/ no spin serves at my disposal. This blade assisted me in tricking my opponent at different sections of play in the game. I found that I was able to trick players at the serve (spin/ no spin), “appear” to be accelerating spin on rally exchanges, and keep the ball marginally shorter after receiving half long serves.

These were highlight moments using this blade. Some similar experiences to when I used YEO. From what I can recall from YEO experiences, I feel that the benefits of this blade are:

1. Slight increase in speed 2. Light weight blade

Negatives:

1. Spin.

All things considered, for my style, this blade set up is what I seek. Stay forward, TT enthusiasts.