Xiom Strato

A blade with a thicker core and outer ply than Ignito, almost the same core thickness as Primorac Carbon but a thicker outer ply.

The thicker Hinoki outer ply makes the blade softer and with a higher arc than Primorac Carbon. If you are a topspin player, it may suit you. However, usually, one key defining property in Hinoki Carbon blades is the low throw angle. I am a person who does not raise his hand that much in topspins and does a lot of flat hits. For me, Primorac Carbon or Donic Carbospeed are more suitable for this style of play, where the blades give a low arc with enough spin to land the ball on the table. With the Strato, the curve is high and often goes out of the table, and blocking is more difficult than typical Hinoki Carbon blades.

I don’t know the point of this blade as a product. If I want a topspin focused blade with a high arc, I would play with one of the numerous offerings in this category like various ALC blades or even less stiff blades with a thin Hinoki outer ply like Rossi Emotion.

This is a slightly flexible, soft, very springy, very fast, medium arc blade that I cannot understand the target audience for.

Off+, Fast, balanced weight and feels light.

Need more control when paired with fast rubbers like Andro Rasanter and Nittaku Fastarc G1. DHS Hurricane 3 Neo 40°-41° 2.15mm is good enough for FH, reducing blade speed, increasing control and spin.

For BH rubber, you can use European or Japanese rubber with a hardness of 47.5° and a thickness of 2.0.

This blade is less hard for some people.

Violent. Recently, I broke an Asian Pacific Seamless 40+ ball and a Nittaku Seam 40+ ball.

Currently, I am using my Butterfly Viscaria blade. I had used this blade for a long time. After a lot of research in table tennis, I thought of bringing this blade back to life for a try. I previously used Rakza 7 and Hurricane 3 Neo on this blade. Recently, I put my old Viscaria blade rubbers on it and also changed my handle from ST to FL.

Since I have ordered new rubbers, I decided to give an honest review. The speed, control, and feel are not on par with my Viscaria. If I rate this with my Viscaria, I would rate it 6, and the Viscaria I would rate it 10. Even though the Strato is so thick, it lacks a lot in power, speed, and control. Maybe it is slightly okay. I found the backhand a bit good, but it’s not as aggressive as my Viscaria. I just wanted to compare the Strato to my Viscaria, so I had to write an honest review.

I think, or maybe if it had ALC carbon maybe it would have performed a bit better. On the serves, I could serve short, where it slightly excels. And I liked the chopping; I can say 40%. The touch play is also like 50%, and the topspin is good, but it depends. I may give it 50%.

I had to struggle to put power on the ball, but with my Butterfly Viscaria, it is unforgiving. Small errors are done. (Boy, no chance) With the Strato, there is not a chance to overcome gaining points through most means.

By the way, I am using DHS Hurricane 3 on the backhand and DHS Skyline TG 3 on the forehand. I like this setup a lot. On my Viscaria, I updated Rakza 9 on my backhand instead of DHS Hurricane 3 and my DHS Skyline TG 3 on the forehand.

In my opinion, those who really want to excel in table tennis, I would recommend a few blades: (Stiga Dynasty Xuxin, Butterfly Viscaria, Harimoto ALC, Long V, Timo Boll ALC. I would never go for the rest.)

Pear shaped head, really cool for fast swing backhand loop. Little vibration though.

In the past I played some other hinoki carbon blades - Gergely Carbon, Primorac Carbon, Xiom Axelo, Xiom Ignito. Strato is the most soft of them. Against Primorac Carbon is slightly slower and significantly softer. It’s the softest hinoki carbon I ever tried.

My two pieces are 84 grams and 80 grams. In this weight Strato is not an extremely powerful blade. It matches very well with a plastic ball - stiff, mild feel, enough power, light. I am happy that I found it.

I checked all blade categories in the past and - I hope - I found my definite blade. Highly recommended with short or medium pimples on the BH side.

The Xiom Strato is my favorite blade! It’s fast, offers good control, is spinny, and precise.

I requested a light blade and received an ultra-light one weighing 80.3g, which became 80.9g after applying two light coats of polyurethane. The blade measured 7.1mm in thickness. The FL grip is wide and flat, providing a secure hold.

The Strato has the same design as my Bty Primorac Carbon: Kiso Hinoki + Carbon + Kiso Hinoki (center). However, the Strato’s outer ply of Hinoki is thicker than the Primorac Carbon. Surprisingly, the Strato has a firmer wood feel than the P/C, resulting in a more precise signal. The power is comparable to the P/C; it may be slightly slower (yet still too fast for most people in competitions) with noticeably better control, similar excellent spin capability, and a lighter weight (my copy is 80g vs. 90g). In summary, these attributes are precisely what I was looking for, where the P/C fell short. I wonder if the lightweight has anything to do with the slower speed or perhaps the thicker top layer. However, I find the speed perfect for recreational play, but slightly too fast for competition when on the defense.

This blade is a looping powerhouse. It can generate exceptionally strong topspin with a medium-low and very fast trajectory. It’s undoubtedly one of the best OFF+ blades. My ratings: Speed = 9.6; Control = 8.8; Stiffness = 9; Hardness = 6.7; Spin = Very good; Throw = Med low; Consistency = 9; Balance = Head heavy; Overall = 9.5. What an exceptional blade the Xiom Strato is!

Update: I initially underrated the speed as 9.4, but have since corrected it to 9.6. I believe medium-soft rubber is the most suitable for this blade. Currently, I use Fastarc S-1 (1.8mm) for FH and Mark V HPS (2.0mm) for BH. I absolutely love this blade/rubber combination.

I have found out that this blade exhibits an excellent balance of speed and control, as well as good quality. I will compare it with other hinoki carbon blades. This blade is the softest hinoki carbon blade I have ever used, but it is not softer than Aryl.C or Aramid. Its speed is almost equal to Gregerly. It offers superb control due to its softer feel.

This is my favorite blade, and I never think of changing. I use Sriver G3 FX FH and Yasaka Mark V XS BH. This blade should use rubber that balances both sides.

I compare this with the Sardius (Black Butterfly Plate). It has the same speed, but Strato is easier to control in position. Strato is lighter than Sardius, so you can respond to the ball faster. For me, BH is good for blocking, flicking, and topspin (but I usually topspin out of the table because it’s faster; I think I have to adapt to it). FH, I can definitely say, is “Perfect.” It’s easy to topspin, and the ball speed is to my satisfaction.

I think this blade suits offensive players; it’s great to play at a middle distance and out of the table (for in the table, that depends on the person).

In reviewing the blade characteristics of Primorac and schlager off+, certain differences emerge. Primorac’s 7-ply construction, featuring limba outer plies and spruce core, offers a combination of speed and control. This makes it suitable for all-around play, balancing offensive power with defensive stability.

In contrast, schlager off+'s 5-ply build showcases limba outer plies and a thicker core. This results in a faster blade, with a pronounced emphasis on offensive play. Its thinner construction provides a crisper feel, enhancing spin and direct attacking shots.

Regarding weight, Primorac weighs slightly more due to its 7-ply structure. However, both blades offer a comfortable grip and balanced handling. The choice between Primorac and schlager off+ ultimately depends on the player’s preferred style of play.

I bought this blade with an ST handle. The handle is wide and fits my large hand perfectly. Anyone who touches my blade comments on its superb quality.

Xiom has done an excellent job with this blade. It has an average stiffness, making it hard and medium-heavy. It is an ideal blade for OFF players. It also allows for easy pushes, blocks, and underspins. However, the blade truly shines in modern topspin play.

I have paired it with Vega Pro (backhand) and Omega IV Pro (forehand), and I highly recommend this rubber setup.

I purchased the blade in Poland for approximately $95.

Blade Review

This blade is of great quality, well made and provides an excellent playing experience. Its construction features a high-quality carbon fiber that provides tremendous stability and an excellent feel for the ball. The handle is also very comfortable and provides a secure grip, even during intense rallies.

Overall, this blade is an excellent choice for players of all levels, although it may be particularly suitable for intermediate and advanced players. The combination of its high-quality materials, excellent craftsmanship, and well-balanced design make it a great option for any table tennis enthusiast.

I have this blade (FL handle) with Xiom Vega Europe Black 2.0mm (FH) and Red Max (BH). It’s very fast and has very good control.

I’ve only had it for a week, but it has already become my main blade over my Boll ZLF with T-05 and Hurricane Neo2, which is also an awesome blade.

For all-round players: not too aggressive, not too defensive.

Pros: — A mid-distance blade — Speedy and spinny — Goes well with soft rubbers

Cons: — The handle is very thick.

For the speed rating, this blade has good control. It really shines from mid to far distances and near for flat drives off of mistakes from your opponent.