Weight
89g
Thickness
5.75mm
Plies
5-ply
Head Size
158x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Virtuoso+
OSP Virtuoso+ is a meticulously handcrafted, 5-ply all-wood offensive blade designed for players seeking a blend of speed, control, and exceptional feel. It offers a harder touch and less flexibility than its predecessor, resulting in a more direct feel and a slightly faster pace, positioning it close to the performance of 7-ply blades. This blade excels in generating spin and provides a direct touch, making it suitable for aggressive play, particularly from mid-distance. Known for its high-quality construction and consistent performance, it's a favored choice for intermediate to advanced offensive players.
This 5-ply construction with Limba outer plies provides a harder touch and more direct feel compared to softer wood blades. The Ayous or Samba core contributes to a balanced feel and dwell time, enabling good spin generation and control for offensive play.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Virtuoso+ is considered a faster blade than its predecessor, offering a more direct and crisper feel. While not a speed-demon blade like carbon-infused options, it provides sufficient speed for offensive play, especially for direct shots, blocks, and smashes. Its speed is often compared to higher-rated offensive blades, making it suitable for players who generate their own power.
Despite its increased speed, the Virtuoso+ retains a high level of control, a hallmark of OSP blades. This control is evident in the short game, blocking, and controlled looping. The blade offers good feedback, allowing players to place the ball precisely and manage different types of shots effectively.
Virtuoso+ offers a harder and more direct feel compared to softer blades. This crisper sensation provides excellent feedback, allowing players to feel the ball's contact precisely. While it has a harder touch, it still maintains a good amount of dwell time for spin-oriented shots.
Virtuoso+ generally exhibits a medium-high to high throw angle, which is beneficial for generating spin on loops and drives, allowing the ball to clear the net with a good trajectory. This is consistent with its offensive capabilities.
The blade provides a good amount of dwell time, which is crucial for generating spin, especially on loops and active strokes. This allows players to 'feel' the ball and impart significant spin, even though the touch is described as harder and more direct.
Compared to its softer counterpart, the Virtuoso+ is less flexible, leaning towards a stiffer feel. This characteristic contributes to its increased speed and directness, particularly beneficial for powerful strokes and blocks.
Virtuoso+ offers a pleasing level of vibration that enhances feedback, allowing players to accurately gauge their contact with the ball. This controlled vibration contributes to the blade's feel and responsiveness without being overly harsh.
OSP blades are renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship, with the Virtuoso+ being no exception. Being handmade, each blade is built to a high standard, contributing to its durability and consistent performance. This quality is reflected in the feel and longevity of the blade.
Technology
OSP blades are known for their traditional, handcrafted approach, emphasizing quality wood selection and assembly. The Virtuoso+ exemplifies this by using carefully chosen wood plies, including Limba outer layers and an Ayous/Samba core. OSP offers customisation options for head size, handle type, and handle orientation, allowing players to tailor the blade to their specific preferences and playing style. This bespoke manufacturing process ensures a high level of consistency and a personalized feel, differentiating OSP blades from mass-produced alternatives.
Similar Blades
Butterfly Petr Korbel
The Petr Korbel shares a similar 5-ply Limba-Limba-Ayous-Limba-Limba construction to the Virtuoso+. It is often cited as a comparable blade in terms of feel and performance, though OSP blades are generally regarded as having superior craftsmanship. Many players find the Virtuoso+ to be faster and have a crisper feel than the Korbel.
Stiga Offensive Classic
Older generations of Stiga blades, like the Offensive Classic, are sometimes mentioned as having a similar 'big wood feeling' and touch to OSP blades. However, direct comparisons suggest that OSP blades, including the Virtuoso+, offer a more refined feel and build quality than many Stiga models, particularly when considering modern rubbers.