Xiom Aria

I used this for years, and like many other 5-ply all wood blades, I feel it suits a wide variety of players and styles.

Lots of ball time and great sensation, with good speed from close range and high control. Speed is right between Primorac and Korbel.

Weight distribution feels balanced, and the handle is good for larger hands. If you put really fast rubbers on it, it can definitely suit an aggressive close to table offensive game.

It can also suit all rounders and maybe even beginners.

Excelente madero, mucho control y buena sensación.

Este madero proporciona un excelente control y una sensación agradable. Es ideal para jugadores que valoran la precisión y la consistencia en su juego.

I am using the Aria blade with Xiom Vega Europe 2mm rubbers on both sides. Previously, I used the Tibhar Samsonov Alpha SGS blade with Acuda S2 and Bluefire JP01 Turbo rubbers.

The Aria blade provides excellent control and has ample power for driving shots up to mid-distance, even with Xiom Vega Europe rubbers, which are not particularly aggressive. By pairing the blade with rubbers that suit your needs, you can achieve optimal performance.

Despite being lightweight, the Aria blade feels slightly head-heavy when rubbers are glued on. However, this has not impacted my gameplay using the ST handle.

While the Aria blade is relatively fast for a 5-ply blade, it may not be the best choice as a first custom setup. The combination of speed and control makes it ideal for offensive play, particularly for topspins, blocks, and smash shots up to mid-distance.

I found this blade to be lightweight (around 80-82 g) compared to the Korbel. It offers increased speed while maintaining the feel and control characteristic of 5-ply blades. The thicker design provides a stronger and stiffer feel but sacrifices some flexibility. This blade is recommended for players who favor 5-ply wood but desire greater power.

Coming from Butterfly Petr Korbel, Aria has more control, a softer feel, a lower rebound angle, and less weight (mine is 82 grams). I think it’s great for close to table topspin, block, and drive, but it lacks power from mid-distance.

I’ve compared Korbel and Aria using Donic Barracuda 2.0 on both. Korbel has more power and maybe a little more spin, with a more direct and stiffer, woodier feel. However, I hit the table more consistently with Aria and love the ST handle and low weight.

I play this blade after trying many composite blades in order to gain control in fast and spiny games. It works very well on the backhand with Tenergy 64 Max and Tenergy 05 FX Max on the forehand. Serving is very decent, and returning serve is easy with fewer errors even if we have slight misjudgments. On the backhand, blocking is excellent, flipping is easy, and backspin return blocking is tremendous. On the forehand, topspin is easy but not the best, but looping with a little bit of topspin is best. A passive block from an opponent is a fatal mistake that can be countered with a hard smash or topspin. Staying in a topspin-to-topspin game is always convenient to play with.

When I switched to Aria from a composite blade, I immediately noticed improved feeling and a slightly less speed, which are great. The FL handle is so comfortable, and the overall balance is superb.

Currently paired it with TG skyline 3 neo and Vega Europe, and I feel this is a good setup for 2 wing looping style.

It’s a nice blade for offensive style (topspin and drive).

The feel and control are about the same as the Stiga Tube Carbo.

Mine is set with Omega I and Stiga Innova Ultra Light.

This all-wood blade is incredibly fast, possibly one of the fastest in its category. Despite its speed, it boasts a surprisingly soft feel.

For those accustomed to slow blades like the Stiga Allround Classic, the Aria may initially seem too fast. However, if you’re using a blade comparable to the Butterfly Korbel, the Aria will offer similar control with enhanced power, providing a satisfying experience.

For players who have transitioned from faster carbon blades, the Aria will deliver comparable power while offering superior feel and control.