Xiom Hayabusa ZX
Blade description:
The Xiom Hayabusa ZX is a composite blade featuring a 5+2 construction, utilizing Zephylium Carbon layers positioned close to the core. This composition results in a blade that balances high speed with high levels of control, making it a versatile option for attackers who also rely on blocking, chopping, and consistent mid-distance looping.
Playing Characteristics
- Feel and Flex: The blade offers a medium-soft feel. Close to the table, it mimics the sensation of an all-wood blade with minimal flex. As the player moves to mid-distance and increases the intensity of the stroke, the blade engages more flex, providing a stable feel with minimal vibration.
- Weight Distribution: The blade typically weighs between 85 and 90 grams and is noticeably head-heavy. This weight distribution contributes to increased power output, particularly when executing aggressive topspin shots away from the table.
- Versatility: While capable of high speed, the blade maintains sufficient control for touch shots, flicks, and defensive maneuvers like blocking. It is well-suited for a modern offensive game that requires both heavy spin production and consistent, reliable placement.
Construction and Handling
- Build Quality: The blade features an average head size, though users may find the handle to be on the smaller side with edges that can feel sharp out of the box. Production consistency has been noted as a potential area of concern, with occasional variations in top ply thickness and finish quality.
- Adaptability: Due to its significant power at distance and head-heavy nature, players may require an adjustment period to calibrate their stroke, particularly when transitioning from traditional all-wood setups. The blade is often noted for providing a high-performance alternative to premium-priced carbon options currently on the market.
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Recent Reviews
#1 — February 2023
My favorite of 6 blades, I tend to rebuild the setups of my favorite pros, but in this case, I wanted to make my own using this blade. I paired it with new Xiom Jeckyl n Hyde Rubbers, and it’s very good to me. It offers much control while having loads of speed.
It handles everything you want to do with it, including looping, blocking, on-table play, off-table play, fishing, flicking, and smashing. It all feels great and consistent. For its price, this blade is a clear winner in the ZLC world of blades. To make it short, it’s a hidden gem!
#2 — June 2015
One of the best blades in the table tennis market today. Many people don’t know this!
Blade composition: limba-limba-zephylium carbon-ayous-zephylium
#3 — April 2015
Physical:
The Hayabusa ZX is a well-crafted blade with an average-sized head and a slightly small handle. While the finish is not of premium quality, it is still acceptable. The top plies exhibit uneven thickness, discernable to the naked eye. Despite this, Xiom provides a sanding stick to address this issue. The fiber layers are positioned close to the core. With rubbers attached, the blade becomes noticeably head-heavy. Its weight without rubbers is approximately 85-90 grams.
Feel:
Near the table, the blade has a solid wood-like feel with minimal to no flex. It possesses a medium-soft sensation. At low speeds, the blade does not rebound the ball instantaneously. Control is relatively good for a modern blade when playing close to the table.
However, when playing further away (2m or more) and engaging in looping and harder hitting shots, the blade’s characteristics change significantly. It exhibits slightly more flex, although still not to a great extent. The flex feels stable, and vibrations are kept to a minimum. The blade’s speed increases dramatically when playing away from the table. At this point, it showcases its true nature as a modern blade designed for heavy topspin play. It took me a week to adapt to this blade’s power and adjust my playing style accordingly. Reviews had led me to believe that the blade would be significantly slower, especially at mid-distance and beyond. Once acclimated, control is acceptable, but it does not offer the same level of control as a traditional 5-ply all-wood blade. I believe the blade’s head-heaviness and the innovative materials used contribute to its power.
Pros and Cons:
The blade’s most significant advantage is arguably its price. It provides comparable performance to BTY blades but at a much more affordable cost. A major downside is its production quality. As a premium Xiom product, it should be impeccably crafted. Personal preferences and individual blade requirements determine the rest of the pros and cons.
I welcome any questions you may have regarding this blade.
Have fun and enjoy your table tennis!
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