Weight
90.5g
Thickness
6.95mm
Plies
5-ply
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Black Carbon
Friendship Black Carbon is a 5-ply hybrid blade built for offensive players seeking a dynamic balance of speed and control. Its construction pairs crisp Spruce outer plies with internal 3K soft carbon layers and a Tungwood core, creating a distinct slingshot effect for powerful attacks and loops. This blade delivers a lively, responsive feel ideal for fast attacks, blocking, and continuous offensive rallies, though its medium-hard character and pronounced vibration offer a unique sensory feedback.
This 5-ply construction combines the stiffness and speed of carbon with the feel and power of wood. The outer Spruce plies provide a crisp contact, while the inner 3K soft carbon layers enhance speed and dwell time, and the Tungwood core offers a solid base for powerful strokes.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Friendship Black Carbon is rated highly for speed, attributed to its carbon layers and Spruce outer plies. This makes it adept at generating fast shots, crucial for offensive-minded players. It provides a snappy feeling upon impact, allowing for quick attacks and powerful drives.
While speed is a primary characteristic, the blade maintains a respectable level of control, particularly for offensive maneuvers. The combination of wood and carbon layers offers a noticeable slingshot effect, which can aid in controlled power shots. However, many players find its stiffness can make very fine control challenging, especially in passive play.
Friendship Black Carbon delivers a crisp and direct feel with a medium-hard to hard characteristic. The Spruce outer plies contribute to a harder sensation compared to blades with softer wood topsheets. This direct feedback is beneficial for aggressive players who want to feel the ball's impact clearly.
The combination of materials and construction tends to produce a medium-high throw angle, which is advantageous for offensive players looking to execute looping shots with good arc and depth.
Despite its speed and stiffness, the internal 3K soft carbon layers provide a moderate dwell time. This allows the ball to sink into the blade sufficiently for generating spin on loops, contributing to its effectiveness in offensive rallying.
Friendship Black Carbon is considered a relatively stiff blade, a common trait for hybrid carbon blades designed for speed. This stiffness aids in direct power transfer, crucial for attacking shots, but limits its flexibility for softer touch play or extreme spin variations that rely on blade flex.
This blade exhibits medium to high vibration. The carbon layers, combined with the stiffer Spruce outer plies, transmit more feedback to the hand. While this can enhance the feeling of power, players sensitive to vibration might find it pronounced.
The build quality is generally considered good for its price range. While it may not match the finish of high-end blades, the materials are functional, and the construction allows for solid performance. TTSensei experts note that sealing the wood is advisable to prevent potential splintering.
Technology
Friendship Black Carbon employs a hybrid construction, integrating two layers of 3K soft carbon fiber between three layers of wood, specifically Spruce outer plies and a Tungwood core. This design aims to leverage the benefits of both materials: the stiffness, speed, and responsiveness of carbon, combined with the feel, dwell time, and power generated by wood. The '3K soft carbon' suggests a specific weave intended to provide a balance between power and control, avoiding the extreme stiffness often associated with harder carbon materials. The Spruce outer ply is chosen for its crisp feel and contribution to speed.
Similar Blades
Stiga Allround Classic Carbon
This blade is often compared to Friendship Black Carbon due to its similar hybrid construction featuring wood and carbon layers. Both blades aim to provide an offensive boost over all-wood blades, with a focus on speed and spin. However, the Stiga Allround Classic Carbon might offer a slightly different feel due to its specific composition, potentially being a bit more balanced for allround play.
Butterfly Primorac Carbon
Our experts note a direct comparison between Friendship Black Carbon and Butterfly Primorac Carbon, highlighting their similar construction and playing characteristics. The Primorac Carbon often features an outer Hinoki ply, which tends to make it softer and potentially offer more dwell time than the Black Carbon's Spruce outer ply. Players report the Black Carbon is generally harder with more vibration.