Weight
98g
Thickness
10mm
Plies
1-ply
Head Size
163x135
Handles
FL
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Custom
Balance
Balanced
Athena RSM Gold
Xiom Athena RSM Gold is a premium single-ply Kiso Hinoki blade crafted for aggressive close-to-table play, especially favored by Chinese Penhold style players. It delivers exceptional speed and precise control, with a unique feel and distinct sound signature from its high-grade wood. The 10mm construction supports a powerful offensive and blocking strategy, enabling forceful topspin attacks and sharp counter-attacks. This blade is a formidable choice for players seeking a direct, high-performance weapon in fast-paced rallies.
This blade features a single ply of Kiso Hinoki wood. This traditional construction is known for providing a unique feel, sound, and speed, characteristic of high-quality Japanese wood blades.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Athena RSM Gold is highly regarded for its speed, especially for a single-ply Hinoki blade. Its 10mm thickness and premium Kiso Hinoki contribute to a fast, direct ball response, making it suitable for aggressive, close-to-table offensive play and powerful topspin shots.
Despite its high speed, Athena RSM Gold offers excellent control, a hallmark of quality single-ply Hinoki blades. This allows for precise placement during aggressive rallies, effective blocking, and controlled offensive maneuvers. Players report good control even when paired with fast rubbers.
Athena RSM Gold provides a direct yet comfortable feel upon ball contact, with a good balance of softness and firmness from the Kiso Hinoki. This allows for clear feedback during strokes, making it responsive for offensive play.
The combination of single-ply Kiso Hinoki and the blade's thickness generally results in a medium-high throw angle, which is beneficial for aggressive topspin shots and provides a good trajectory over the net.
Single-ply Hinoki blades, especially thicker ones like the Athena RSM Gold, tend to have a moderate dwell time. This allows for good spin generation and ball control during loops and strokes, without being excessively long.
As a thick, single-ply Hinoki blade, Athena RSM Gold is relatively stiff but not excessively so. It offers enough flex to generate spin and feel, but remains firm enough for powerful offensive strokes and effective blocking.
Players report minimal vibration with this blade, contributing to a solid and controlled feel even during powerful shots. This characteristic helps maintain consistency and precision in play.
The blade is constructed from premium, selected Kiso Hinoki wood, with specific mentions of 'Platinum' and 'Gold' grades indicating superior quality. This focus on material selection results in excellent build quality, a beautiful aesthetic, and a pleasant playing sensation.
Technology
Xiom Athena RSM Gold is crafted from a single ply of premium Kiso Hinoki wood, a highly prized material in table tennis blade manufacturing. This wood is known for its excellent combination of lightness, strength, and resonance, contributing to the blade's distinct sound and feel. The 'Gold' designation indicates a high quality of Kiso Hinoki, selected from a smaller percentage of the finest logs, ensuring superior density, grain uniformity, and playing characteristics. This mono-ply construction focuses on delivering raw speed and direct feedback, embodying a traditional yet high-performance approach to blade design.
Pro Players Using This Blade
Ryu Seung Min
Xiom Athena RSM Platinum and Gold series blades are named after and were associated with Ryu Seung Min, the 2004 Olympic Champion. While specific details about his use of the 'Gold' version are scarce, the blade's design and its connection to him suggest it was intended for his aggressive, close-to-table playing style, which emphasizes powerful topspin and sharp blocking.
Similar Blades
Xiom Athena Platinum RSM Special
The Platinum version is described as being of even higher quality than the Gold, using a more select cut of Kiso Hinoki wood. It is considered very similar in performance but with potentially enhanced aesthetics and feel.
Butterfly Special Make Single Ply Hinoki
Some players compare Athena RSM Gold to high-end single-ply Hinoki blades from Butterfly, noting that while the Athena offers excellent feel and power, certain Butterfly models might be preferred for specific aspects like blocking. This indicates a similar performance class and target player.