Weight
92g
Thickness
6.4mm
Plies
9-ply
Head Size
15.6x15.1
Handles
FL / ST
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Head-Heavy
Drunken Dragon
Palio Drunken Dragon is engineered for aggressive attackers seeking maximum power and a high-feel experience. Its unique construction, featuring a titanium mesh layer integrated with carbon and soft ayous wood, delivers exceptional stiffness and stability. This allows for high-speed play and powerful looping while maintaining surprisingly good control for its speed class. The outer limba veneer provides a crisp, direct response, making it a potent weapon for players who dominate close to the table with an offensive game.
The blade features a unique 9-ply construction combining wood, carbon fiber, and a central titanium mesh layer. The outer limba provides a crisp feel, while the carbon and titanium layers contribute to stiffness, speed, and stability. The inner ayous and spruce layers offer a balancing effect to the harder composite materials.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Designed for aggressive attackers, Palio Drunken Dragon delivers high speed from its composite construction. The synergy of titanium, carbon fiber, and a stiff wood core generates significant power, making it ideal for fast rallies and decisive offensive shots executed close to the table.
Despite its high-speed nature, Palio Drunken Dragon offers surprisingly good control. This is achieved through a carefully selected veneer structure that balances the inherent stiffness from the titanium and carbon layers, enabling stable blocking and controlled offensive play for players who can manage its power output.
The blade delivers a hard touch with high feel, characteristic of composite constructions with carbon or metal layers. This direct feedback allows players to sense the ball clearly, aiding in precise shot placement and confident power generation.
The speed-oriented construction and aggressive design philosophy suggest a medium-high throw angle, which is typical for blades engineered for powerful looping and attacking play styles.
The blade's pronounced stiffness and composite layers suggest a medium-short dwell time compared to all-wood blades. This characteristic favors players who engage the ball quickly and generate power through active, snappy strokes rather than relying on extended contact.
Palio Drunken Dragon is noted for its high stiffness with little to no flex. This characteristic is excellent for generating direct speed but requires proper technique to impart heavy spin, as the blade itself does not contribute much flex.
The combination of titanium and carbon layers creates a stiff blade with low vibration, contributing to a very direct feel and stable execution of powerful shots without excessive feedback.
Palio maintains rigorous quality control, particularly for products destined for international markets. This focus ensures consistent build quality and reliable performance, making the Drunken Dragon a dependable choice that meets its intended high-performance specifications.
Technology
Palio Drunken Dragon utilizes a distinctive multi-material construction that integrates a titanium mesh layer within its composite structure, alongside carbon fiber and multiple wood plies. This approach is engineered to enhance stiffness, stability, and speed while aiming to maintain a 'high feel' connection. The outer Limba veneer is chosen for its crisp responsiveness, complementing the power-generating capabilities of the core. This advanced layering is designed to provide aggressive attackers with maximum power and a direct, communicative touch on the ball.
Similar Blades
Palio Titanium King
Palio Titanium King represents another blade from Palio's Titanium series, sharing a similar construction philosophy focused on delivering power and speed for aggressive players, though with its own specific performance nuances.
DHS PG7
Players report that compared to the DHS PG7, the Palio Drunken Dragon is typically heavier, stiffer, and offers less flexibility. This suggests the DHS PG7 is a more all-round oriented blade with more inherent flex and a slightly lower speed ceiling.