Weight
82g
Thickness
6.2mm
Plies
7-ply
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
L-3 (Hao Shuai)
Friendship L-3 (Hao Shuai) is a professional-grade offensive blade designed for players who thrive on a loop-driven, fast-attack style. Named after the renowned Chinese player, it masterfully blends speed, spin, and control through a hybrid wood and composite construction. This blade delivers a responsive, crisp feel and powerful output, making it a top choice for intermediate to advanced competitors seeking to dominate with aggressive play. Its quality craftsmanship ensures reliability in high-stakes matches.
The 7-ply construction follows a symmetrical pattern with Koto outer layers, inner Carbon Arylate fiber, and wood core plies. This arrangement enhances speed and stiffness while the Koto contributes to a crisp feel and spin capability. The hybrid design aims to provide a larger sweet spot and increased power for aggressive shots.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
With an OFF+ to OFF++ rating, the L-3 delivers high-level speed perfect for fast attacks and powerful loops. The 7-ply construction with inner Carbon Arylate layers provides the stiffness and snap needed for explosive acceleration. Players report it feels medium-fast, offering plenty of pace for offensive shots without becoming uncontrollable.
Despite its high speed, the L-3 maintains exceptional control. This is achieved through a balanced construction where the wood plies provide a predictable, connected feel. The blade allows for precise placement and confident touch shots, giving players the consistency needed to maintain pressure during extended rallies.
The L-3 delivers a good, connected feeling with a medium-hard character. The hybrid construction with Carbon Arylate creates a more direct and slightly stiffer response compared to all-wood blades, resulting in efficient power transfer and crisp feedback on impact.
The L-3 produces a medium-high throw angle that's ideal for aggressive play. This trajectory helps generate powerful, deep attacking shots—particularly effective for creating heavy, arcing loops that challenge opponents.
Dwell time is moderate on this blade. The Carbon Arylate layers provide stiffness that can shorten contact compared to all-wood designs, but the Koto outer plies and wood construction still offer enough grip for effective spin generation during the ball's brief stay on the rubber.
The blade shows moderate flexibility. While the Carbon Arylate layers add stiffness for speed, the multiple wood plies in the construction allow for enough give to benefit looping techniques and help absorb incoming power from opponents' shots.
Vibration levels are moderate, offering a crisp playing sensation without excessive harshness. The hybrid construction filters out some of the raw feedback of pure wood while still providing enough tactile information for shot control.
Friendship blades associated with professional players are known for their solid build quality and durability. The L-3 follows this tradition, featuring craftsmanship suitable for the rigors of competitive play. While specific ratings are limited, the general consensus points to a well-constructed, reliable blade that holds up over time.
Technology
Friendship L-3 utilizes a sophisticated hybrid construction that integrates Carbon Arylate fiber layers within a 7-ply wood structure. This engineering optimizes the balance between speed, spin, and control. The Carbon Arylate enhances stiffness and power for explosive attacks, while the outer Koto plies and inner wood layers provide excellent feel and spin generation. This design creates a larger sweet spot and delivers a more direct, responsive playing experience tailored for aggressive attacking styles, distinguishing it from traditional all-wood blades.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Hao Shuai
Hao Shuai, the highly ranked Chinese professional who reached world number 7, has his name directly associated with Friendship blades including the L-3. These models are designed to support his aggressive, fast-attack playing style characterized by powerful loops and direct hitting. His career success with multiple Pro Tour wins and Asian Championship titles demonstrates the high-level offensive capabilities these blades are engineered to enable.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Viscaria
The outer Koto layer on the L-3 allows for blocking characteristics similar to the Butterfly Viscaria. Both blades are renowned for their offensive capabilities and often share similar material philosophies with Koto outer plies and inner composite layers, aiming to deliver that ideal blend of speed and spin for aggressive play.
Stiga CL (Carbonado)
While the L-3 is a distinct model, related Hao Shuai blades like the L-5 share structural similarities with the Stiga CL series. This comparison suggests Friendship's professional blades aim for a comparable performance profile—delivering that sought-after combination of speed and spin that makes these offensive blades so popular.