Tibhar Stratus Samsonov Carbon

A very good blade. however two things to consider before buying: 1. it is head-heavy! 2. the handle is optimized for looping, not for blocking

Its a 5 ply + 2 ply Kevlar Carbon (3rd layer). Limba - Ayous/Limba? - Kevlar Carbon - Kiri/Ayous Core?... Slow in passive play, fast in aggressive play. Has intermediate gears but not many. ST handle is Round SQ and larger than standard BTY ST handles, FL handle is similar to BTY TB ALC FL in terms of size, wish FL was bigger (I have large hands). Top ply has very nice finish and handle is very smooth. There isnt much vibration or flex due to Kevlar Carbon but the blade doesnt feel dead/hard due to two top plies being wood. I guess it can be compared to BTY Innerforce Layer ALC blade in terms of construction, but not identical. It is slower than my old TB ALC but faster than BTY Primorac and Korbel. Great intermediate between BTY ALC blades and a 5 ply all wood. My FL version is 79g, ST is 87g. Can be head heavy with heavy rubbers. Great blade under $80.

Its speed is awesome and his control too, just has a problem, it has a reduced sweet-spot compared with other blades. Flex touch very good for looping easily and blocking. High throw angle.

This is a control attacking blade. Is perfect for loopers, carbon sheets are located close to de central wood sheet. This provide a flexible touch but strong enough for "off" play. Blocks are reliable but not lethal.

It is excellent offensive, nicely controlable blade. It is quite head heavy. It generates spin quite easily, but not as much as Stratus Power Wood. It is, however, harder and more disciplined than Stratus Power Wood. Being basically an inner carbon variation on Stratus Power Wood, it is less flexible and stiffer. The feeling is more direct, it is more disciplined, which means more control and lesser speed. On the other hand, if hit more heavily, the stroke is quite pervasive and strong. So there is immense power in such a stroke. As someone wrote here, it has many gears, but not too many. And as was mentioned here too, its downside is relatively smaller sweet spot. Especialy in bh side, after hitting by outer sphere of the blade, one feels immediatelly in the hand that the stroke will be too long due to getting more catapult than normally. It is en excellent blade for topspin oriented attacking game close to the table and in mid distance too. Flat hitting with the blade is perfect too since the carbon gives it tremendously pervasive power despite the blade is rated as a slower one among inner carbons.