Weight
82g
Thickness
6.3mm
Plies
6-ply
Head Size
158x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Hao Shuai Champion Carbon
Friendship Hao Shuai Champion Carbon is a hybrid offensive blade built for players who demand power without sacrificing touch. Its unique asymmetrical construction places a carbon layer specifically on the forehand side, delivering explosive speed for loops and drives. Premium wood plies, including Hinoki and Ayous, create a surprisingly soft feel and a large sweet spot, providing excellent control for blocking and spin play. This design makes it a versatile weapon for aggressive, close-to-the-table attackers who also value consistency and feedback.
This unique 6-ply construction features five wood layers with a single carbon layer integrated asymmetrically, specifically on the forehand side. The sequence is Ayous outer, Hinoki, Carbon (forehand side), Hinoki, and Ayous outer. This design aims to boost forehand power while maintaining a more controlled, wood-dominant feel on the backhand.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
This blade delivers very high speed, a direct result of the carbon layer integrated into the forehand side. This construction significantly boosts offensive power, enabling explosive drives and fast attacking shots that can pressure opponents. The design prioritizes forward momentum, making it a potent weapon for players who like to dictate the pace of the rally.
For a hybrid blade with such speed, the Hao Shuai Champion Carbon offers a surprisingly high level of control. This is largely due to its wood composition and the generous sweet spot, which work together to provide consistent ball placement and reliable spin generation. Players find they can execute precise blocks and controlled loops with confidence, even during fast exchanges.
Despite the carbon layer, the blade provides a surprisingly soft and comfortable feel upon contact. It offers good feedback and a pleasant sensation during play, which contributes significantly to its versatility for both powerful loops and more controlled, spin-oriented attacks.
The combination of carbon and wood layers typically produces a medium-high throw angle. This is advantageous for generating aggressive, arcing loops, especially on the forehand side, allowing players to clear the net with safety while maintaining offensive pressure.
The carbon layer suggests a moderately reduced dwell time compared to all-wood blades, which prioritizes direct speed. However, the substantial wood plies still provide a decent amount of ball pocketing, allowing for effective spin generation on loops and slower strokes.
The blade exhibits moderate flexibility. This characteristic allows for good ball pocketing during looping strokes while maintaining enough underlying stiffness to translate energy efficiently for powerful drives and smashes.
Players report a low to medium level of vibration, indicating a solid and comfortable feel without excessive jarring. This contributes to better control and reduces fatigue during long training sessions or matches.
The blade is consistently praised for its high-quality construction. It utilizes premium materials and features clean, precise manufacturing with excellent finishing. Our experts note the workmanship often rivals that of more expensive brands, resulting in a durable and well-crafted product that feels solid in hand.
Technology
The Hao Shuai Champion Carbon's core technology is its asymmetrical construction. A single layer of high-grade carbon is strategically placed only on the forehand side of the blade, specifically engineered to enhance power and speed for primary attacking shots. This is integrated with a 5-ply wood structure that uses premium Hinoki for inner plies and Ayous for the outer layers. This layered approach aims to optimize performance by creating a large sweet spot and a desirable feel that balances the direct punch of carbon with the nuanced feedback of wood. The manufacturing process is noted for its high-quality execution and clean finishing.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Hao Shuai
The blade is named after Chinese professional Hao Shuai and was designed for his professional-level attacking style. A former world number 7 and winner of multiple Pro Tour events and the 2007 Asian Championships, his game relied on aggressive forehand power combined with strategic control. The blade's characteristics, such as its enhanced forehand speed and balanced feel, directly align with the playing philosophy of top Chinese offensive players like him.
Similar Blades
Friendship/729 L-5 Hao Shuai
The Friendship/729 L-5 Hao Shuai is another blade from the same series, sharing a focus on offensive play and spin generation. As a 7-ply all-wood construction, it offers a similar playing philosophy geared towards power and a balanced feel but without the carbon enhancement. It serves as a potential alternative within the same brand for players who prefer a pure wood feel with aggressive characteristics.
Butterfly Viscaria
Some players note that certain Hao Shuai series blades offer a comparable feel in aspects like blocking and aggressive forehand play to popular composite blades like the Butterfly Viscaria. While constructions differ, the Hao Shuai Champion Carbon's blend of wood and carbon may provide a similar balance of direct power and controlled feedback that appeals to players who enjoy the Viscaria's well-rounded offensive profile.