Xiom Hugo Calderano HAL

Hal is arguably one of the finest amateur blades available. I’ve owned numerous blades and am familiar with the characteristics of various materials such as vectran, tamca, ulc, alc, zlf, zlc, spzlc, kevlar, and soft carbon. However, Hal offers something truly unique and exceptional.

During my three weeks of playtesting Hugo Calderano’s SAL blade, I found it to be exceptionally soft, fast, and capable of producing long, straight parabolas. It provides a superb feel, akin to vectran, but with potentially insufficient control for my preferences, particularly when paired with harder rubbers. Dignics 05 would likely yield better results with SAL than with Hal.

In contrast, Hal exhibits medium hardness, promotes more curved shots, and offers greater grip. It remarkably combines slow and fast characteristics simultaneously. Its distinctiveness lies in its ability to mimic the playing qualities of wood while simultaneously providing a large sweet spot. It facilitates powerful shots while absorbing the opponent’s energy, enabling both high-powered spins and effective blocking.

While the short game may feel somewhat lacking, Hal excels in looping. Its overall feel is highly satisfying.

Despite not being a Butterfly product, which may impact resale value, Hal is an exceptionally worthwhile purchase. It is an OFF- blade that can produce all+ and even off+ shots when paired with fast rubbers and a powerful swing. It offers an exceptional level of forgiveness, allowing players to comfortably rectify mistakes.

MUY BUENA MADERA. Tuve la oportunidad de probarla porque quería cambiar mi antigua madera Maze Performance por una más rápida para subir de nivel. Debo decir que la primera sensación en la mano al tocar la pelota fue como una Stiga con cápsula de aire de por allá en el 2005. Pero luego de bolear un poco y practicar los tiros, me llevé una gran satisfacción. Encontré una madera rápida con mucho control. Tiene efecto catapulta, por lo que debes entrenar para dominarla ya que la velocidad la decides tú en el juego. Hay golpes que uno da con fallas y pareciera corregirla la pala. Dentro de la mesa el juego lo dominas tú y fuera de la mesa también. Si hay algo negativo que deba decir de la madera es que debes entrenar para adaptarte al golpe de ahí, más nada, pero muy poco tiempo. Me adapté rápido. Me gusta la velocidad que le puedes imprimir y el control es lo máximo. Corrige el ángulo de ataque lo que hace que me haga tener más confianza al atacar tanto de forehand y de back. Al ser una madera suave, el toque al sacar imprime más spin y la velocidad de verdad que estoy muy a gusto. Es una muy buena raqueta y muy buena inversión. Me costó 185 dólares y debo decir que si le suben el precio no me sorprendería.

Been playing it with R53 fh and dignics 80 bh and it was simply awesome. No problems in accelerating the ball and even with a rubber as hard as R53, I’m still feeling loads of dwell time, surely this could only have come from the blade!

As mentioned in the previous reviews, I agree fast and hard rubbers would be sort of tamed to a balanced performance with this controllable blade. Definitely recommend a try if you haven’t yet!

Blade for extreme topspin and control. Not a speed monster, but it’s high enough to put anyone under pressure. You can do unimaginable things with this blade. It’s a great piece of wood with fiber that plays very lively.

Good at everything, controlled but powerful.

This blade is a good all-rounder, offering both control and power. It is well-suited for players of all levels, from beginners to advanced players. The blade is made of high-quality materials, and it is durable and well-made. It has a good balance and feel, and it is easy to control. The blade also has good power, and it can generate a lot of spin. Overall, this blade is a good choice for players who are looking for a good all-rounder that is well-suited for all types of play.

This is a very good blade that performs well in top spin blocks. It has a thin layer of red arylate, which contributes to its excellent control and feel. However, it lacks the sound and stiffness that is characteristic of carbon blades.

In terms of pace, the blade is comparable to a Boll ZLF blade, but with better control. This makes it a great option for players who want a blade with good all-around performance.

It’s important to note that this blade has a pace of 8.6, not 9.3 as advertised.

I’ve been training with the XIOM HAL blade for six months now, and I find it to be an excellent choice. If you’re seeking larger strokes with more straightforward looping and counter-looping techniques, this blade delivers. It offers great speed at mid and long distances, as well as exceptional control in close-range play.

Compared to other blades like Viscaria, Maze Performance, and Korbel, HAL’s noticeably increased dwell time allows for broader strokes. Its relative flexibility contributes to this increased dwell time and provides a “whip effect” that allows for explosive speed when needed, while also enabling slow and controlled play for short-range shots.

HAL boasts a large sweet spot, forgiving many off-center and ill-timed strikes. It’s particularly well-suited for use with hard rubbers, such as the Fastarc G1 I use on both sides, which complements my skill level and playing style.

One of HAL’s most impressive aspects is the feedback it provides upon ball impact. You receive clear feedback, whether you’ve struck the ball in the exact center or slightly off. This feature aids in the development of precision striking technique, similar to what you might experience with an all-wood blade.

From my experience, carbon blades often sacrifice this feedback in favor of speed and a larger sweet spot. While I haven’t trained extensively with one, I believe HAL is an excellent choice for players still developing their techniques, as I am. Its build quality is exceptional, and its weight and balance feel perfect.

This blade is great for beginners and intermediate players. It has a good balance of speed and control, and it is very easy to use. I would recommend this blade to anyone who is looking for a good all-around blade.

The blade is made of high-quality materials, and it is very durable. It has a nice weight to it, and it feels very comfortable in the hand. The handle is also very comfortable, and it provides a good grip.

Overall, this is a great blade for the price. I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good all-around blade.

Decent blade. Not very fast though, even with Rasanter R53 on both sides. Maybe I just need to get used to it or break the rubbers in more. Donic’s new Xtreme blade is significantly faster with similar control.

This blade embodies all the desirable qualities. Despite its carbon content, it lacks the typical carbon feel. It facilitates effortless spin generation while maintaining a moderate speed.

You need a fast rubber and big swing to get power from this blade. It’s easy to loop with, but it lacks power and spin. If you’re already comfortable with a carbon blade, this blade may not be suitable for you.