Weight
86g
Thickness
6.4mm
Plies
11-ply
Material
Hybrid
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Head-Heavy
APaQi X969
Xi Enting APaQi X969 is a high-performance hybrid blade built for aggressive offensive players. Its unique 11-ply construction, combining wood, carbon, and arylate layers, delivers a powerful blend of speed and control. Engineered with a stiff feel and a large sweet spot, it enables consistent power shots and rapid attacks from mid-distance. This blade excels in powerful drives, loops, and aggressive blocks, making it a formidable choice for players looking to dominate with dynamic, attacking play. Its advanced composite structure focuses on maximizing energy transfer for quick maneuvers.
The 11-ply construction features an inner core of 7 wood plies sandwiched between two layers of carbon and two layers of arylate, with outer Limba plies. This creates a stiff and fast composite blade designed to provide immense power and a large sweet spot for offensive play. The combination of carbon and arylate aims to offer powerful deformation energy storage, facilitating rapid maneuvers and all-round attacks.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
APaQi X969 is a very fast blade, consistently scoring high in speed assessments. Its composite construction, including carbon and arylate layers, is designed to generate significant power, making it suitable for aggressive attacking styles. Players report exceptional speed for powerful drives and fast attacks, aligning with its offensive focus.
While primarily speed-oriented, APaQi X969 also offers good control, especially considering its pace. The arylate layers help maintain touch and consistency, and the large sweet spot contributes to better control during offensive exchanges. This allows players to execute shots with confidence, even in fast-paced rallies.
APaQi X969 provides a stiff and hard feel, offering a direct and powerful sensation that lets players feel the ball's impact clearly. This is beneficial for executing powerful shots, though it may offer less feedback for delicate touch shots compared to softer, all-wood blades.
Given its fast and stiff nature, APaQi X969 likely produces a medium-high throw angle, especially when paired with fast rubbers. This is advantageous for offensive players looking to clear the net with loops and drives and execute powerful attacks from mid-distance.
Due to its stiffness and fast nature, dwell time is moderate. While it can generate spin, it's not optimized for the long dwell times needed for extreme spin in slow loops. However, the composite layers might offer slightly longer dwell than a pure carbon blade, aiding control in faster exchanges.
APaQi X969 is characterized by extreme stiffness, a direct result of its 11-ply construction with multiple carbon and arylate layers. This low flexibility is a key factor in its high speed and power, ideal for players who prefer a stiff blade for direct, powerful shots.
The inclusion of arylate layers helps dampen vibrations, making it less harsh than blades with only carbon layers. While some vibration is still present due to the stiff construction, this contributes to better control and comfort during intense rallies.
APaQi X969 is described as well-built with a stiff and hard feel, indicating quality materials and construction. Many players find its aesthetic appeal and solid feel impressive, and user feedback suggests consistent performance and durability. The blade's build supports its high-speed, offensive nature reliably.
Technology
Xi Enting APaQi X969 utilizes an advanced composite construction, integrating multiple layers of wood with carbon and arylate fibers. This design incorporates an innovative honeycomb structure in an apache configuration, aimed at enhancing energy storage and release for powerful deformation. The dual carbon and dual arylate layers, combined with a 7-wood core and Limba outer plies, are engineered to produce a blade that is both fast and offers a large sweet spot. This technology focuses on maximizing power and maneuverability for an aggressive, all-round attacking style.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Xi Enting
While the blade is named after the legendary Chinese player Xi Enting, there is no direct evidence that he personally used or endorsed this specific model during his playing career. Xi Enting was prominent in the 1970s, and this blade appears to be a more modern composite design, so his name is associated with the brand rather than confirmed usage of this particular blade.
Similar Blades
XVT Cannon Walnut
Some players suggest that XVT Cannon Walnut might be the same blade as Xi Enting APaQi X969, indicating a potential direct comparison or identical construction. This implies similar performance characteristics, particularly in terms of speed and stiffness, catering to an offensive playing style.
Dawei Wavestone
Players report considering Dawei Wavestone as an alternative, describing it as a 5-ply inexpensive Arylate-Carbon blade. The comparison suggests Wavestone might offer a softer feel and potentially better performance in the short game, contrasting with the stiffer and faster nature of APaQi X969.