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Xiom ICE CREAM AZXi
Blade description:
The Xiom ICE CREAM AZXi is a meticulously crafted table tennis blade that strikes a perfect balance between speed and control, tailored for both aggressive and precision-oriented players. This blade features a unique composition of five plies, incorporating limba wood on the outer layers and a combination of ALC (Aramid-Carbon) and ZLC (Zylon-Carbon) materials, interspersed with a kiri core. This blend not only enhances its aesthetic appeal but also optimizes its performance, making it a versatile choice for various playing styles.
Weighing in at a comfortable 88 grams and with a thickness of 5.8mm, the AZXi falls into the medium-weight category. Its design and material composition provide a flexibility rating of 4.8, allowing for excellent dwell time and enhanced ball feedback. Reviewers consistently highlight the blade’s incredible spin capabilities, especially on the ALC side, paired with the control and feel offered by the ZLC side. This versatility enables players to transition seamlessly from defensive plays to aggressive attacks.
Notably, the AZXi excels in the short game, offering precision on drops, pushes, and flicks, while also providing sufficient power for looping and smashing. Players have praised its ability to generate high arcs and impressive control during fast exchanges. Those looking for alternatives in the same performance range might consider the Viscaria or the Hurricane Long 5, yet many find the AZXi surpasses these options in terms of spin and versatility. Overall, the Xiom ICE CREAM AZXi stands tested and recommended by seasoned players as a stellar addition to any competitive player’s arsenal.
Recent Reviews
#1 — April 2023
I believe my search for “The Blade” has ended, at least for my playstyle. If I could characterize this blade in two words, it would be “Spin & Control.” My AZXi weighs 91 grams. As an equipment enthusiast, I’ve experimented with numerous blades, including well-known ones like TBS, Yinhe Pro 01, Andro Temper Tech all+, Viscaria, and Sanwei Froster ex-c.
This blade offers exceptional control and spin. On my forehand, I use Hurricane 3 Neo boosted, and on my backhand, I use Yasaka Rakza Z. The ALC side with my H3 Neo produces a high throw angle, resulting in significant spin and dwell time, creating a noticeably high arc. I had to adjust my angle slightly due to the higher arc. Compared to Viscaria, you get more dwell, a slightly higher arc, more spin, and more feeling, but less crisp feedback. Speed-wise, I find it equal to or slightly slower than Viscaria, but take that with a grain of salt as it’s been a while since I’ve played with Viscaria. Nonetheless, for my style of play, the forehand is superior to Viscaria.
On the backhand, the level of control is remarkable. I can hit hard and keep the ball on the table with ease. Contrary to popular belief, the ZLC side of the blade offers more control and slower speed. The BH on the AZXi is comparable to Viscaria, albeit slightly slower and with a duller feel. The control is superior to Viscaria. The slower speed compared to Viscaria is likely due to the Rakza Z being a slower rubber, but I still believe it provides better control. With a faster rubber, you’ll have no trouble ending points with kill shots. However, I prefer a slower rubber for enhanced control.
Serves are excellent, generating a lot of spin. It’s not excessively bouncy during short games, allowing for precise short drop shots. For my playstyle, this blade is unmatched when it comes to short games. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
#2 — March 2023
Amazing blade. The blade mentions that ALC is power, and the ZLC is control. For the ALC side, I used a boosted Battle II, and it is nearly perfect. In the short game, you can do everything as easily as an all-wood blade, there’s a lot of feel and precision. With harder strokes, you can definitely feel the speed of the carbon, but it adds up just right, it’s not too fast nor too slow, and always very spinny.
For the ZLC side, I used Tibhar Quantum X pro. You don’t get as much bounciness as the ALC, even on harder strokes. It feels very firm in the blocking area, and it’s fairly easy to do flicks. I find it difficult to play powerful and spinny shots simultaneously, but that might be my technique. I like it very much overall; you can do loops like Ma Long with this on FH, and on BH, you can barely miss and still do pressure with decent speed, amazing control, and slightly deceptive spin variations.
#3 — December 2022
Hi all… I am using this blade for a year already. I have used Xiom Jekyll & Hyde V47.5 on ALC and Xiom Jekyll & Hyde V52.5 on ZLC with this blade. It played amazingly better than my BTB ALC. It is a really awesome blade with that combination of rubber. It is worth investing in.