Tibhar Fortino Force

Slightly faster than Fortino Performance. Topspin friendly, looping is fun.

The Tibhar Fortino Force is a fast blade with an inner layer structure.

Palio 5Q Sound

Palio 5Q Sound (AN) is a well-made blade with a decent overall feel. It is flexible, yet moderately stiff, providing a unique combination of control and power. The blade has a soft-medium hardness of 5 (2.1), similar to Tackiness Chop 2 (1.7).

Tackiness Chop 2 is an excellent choice for backhand, as it produces a good amount of spin and control. For forehand, players might prefer Tackiness Chop 1 (1.7) - a highly-rated inverted rubber that offers great control and spin.

The 5Q Sound works well for all-around play, but it excels in blocking and countering, providing great stability and control. It can also handle power loops well, and is comparable to popular blades like Yasaka Mark V or Butterfly Viscaria.

Overall, the Palio 5Q Sound is a versatile blade that offers a balanced combination of control and power, making it suitable for a wide range of playing styles.

I bought this blade hoping it would offer me some extra speed, coming from a Fortino Performance blade, which I really, really like but found a bit slow at times.

However, the Fortino Force is worse in every aspect compared to the Fortino Performance, except for speed. Even then, it’s debatable because you lose so much control close to the table due to its increased speed at any stroke level, even from the baseline.

There is less spin, less control, and serves are more difficult. The worst thing is the weird, hollow sound it makes when flat hitting, even just test-bouncing the ball on the bat, like a cheap $10 pre-made bat. I tried both hard and soft rubbers, so I doubt it’s a pairing issue. I’ve never experienced this with any of the blades I’ve had before.

I’ve found better-suited rubbers for my Fortino Performance: FH Victas Ventus Extra 2.0 or less, Rakza 9 also works wonders with marginally more spin and less speed, and BH Rasanter R45 2.0 or less. I’ve also improved my fitness and overall playing form. Now that I’ve acquired this blade, I’ll have to find a new owner for it.

Dimensions: 155x148x6.6 mm; Handle: 28x24.4x102 mm; Weight: 87.1 g.

The blade features a large playing surface and is not stiff. While the handle contains a cavity, it does not negatively impact the balance, sound, or vibrations.

The blade exhibits minimal flex and weak springiness. The ball does not linger on the blade, making spin generation quite challenging, as the ball releases too quickly. A rubber with a longer dwell time is recommended.

This blade performs exceptionally well in finishing flat hits, and it is also great for playing with short pips on the backhand.

Due to the lack of flexibility and vibrations, playing from a far distance is quite challenging, requiring excessive effort. The rebound characteristic is linear, resulting in high control.