Weight
88.5g
Thickness
6.35mm
Plies
7-ply
Head Size
157x150
Handles
FL / ST
Material
AllWood
Head Shape
Standard
Balance
Balanced
Solo
Xiom Solo is a 7-ply all-wood blade crafted for offensive, all-round topspin players. It delivers exceptional stability and predictability, making it accessible across skill levels. Despite its 7-ply build, the Solo provides a softer, milder feel than typical 7-ply blades, enhancing control and delivering a pleasant playing sensation. This blade excels at generating spin on topspins, offers safe and powerful smashes, and allows for secure, varied blocks. Its balanced nature supports continuous topspin strategies and general offensive play, giving players confidence for a more powerful and versatile game.
The 7-ply all-wood construction, with Koto outer plies and Ayous inner plies, contributes to the blade's blend of speed, stiffness, and a softer, controlled feel. This symmetrical combination allows for good feedback and predictability across all strokes.
TT Sensei Ratings
✦Our expert analysis of this blade's performance characteristics
Xiom Solo is classified as an OFF blade, offering good speed for offensive play, particularly for topspins and smashes. While described as fast, it consistently retains excellent control, positioning it at the higher end of OFF- to the lower end of OFF category. This makes it suitable for players who want offensive capability without sacrificing manageability.
Control is a standout feature of the Xiom Solo. Players frequently highlight its excellent control, soft touch, and high predictability, making it very forgiving and easy to handle for various strokes. This stability allows for confident shot-making and consistency during rallies.
Xiom Solo delivers a soft, mild, and pleasant feel, distinguishing it from typical harder 7-ply blades. This allows for great ball feedback and a soulful playing experience, even during powerful shots, making it comfortable and responsive.
The combination of good dwell time, spin-friendly nature, and offensive capabilities suggests a medium to medium-high throw angle. This is suitable for looping and generating aggressive, arcing shots over the net.
The dwell time is considered good, allowing for ample ball contact to generate spin on topspin shots. While not excessively long, it provides enough time for the rubber to grip the ball effectively, contributing to its spin-friendly nature and controlled offensive play.
The blade offers a medium level of flexibility. It remains relatively stiff for direct power shots but exhibits noticeable flex during more powerful strokes, which aids in spin generation and creates a dynamic, responsive playing experience.
Xiom Solo is characterized by low to medium vibration. It offers good feedback without transmitting excessive jarring sensations to the hand, contributing to a comfortable and controlled feel during play.
Xiom Solo is praised for its good build quality and aesthetics. Our testing shows flawless ply choices, good finishing, and an overall premium feel, especially considering its price point. While some note potential minor chipping on edges, the overall construction and appearance are rated highly.
Technology
Xiom Solo is a classic 7-ply all-wood blade construction. Its design emphasizes a balance between offensive power and control, achieved through careful selection of wood plies. The outer Koto plies provide a slight boost in speed and stiffness compared to traditional all-wood blades, while the inner Ayous plies contribute to the blade's soft feel and stability. This construction aims to offer a predictable and forgiving playing experience, making it suitable for players developing their offensive techniques without overwhelming feedback.
Similar Blades
Stiga Clipper Wood
Xiom Solo is frequently compared to the Stiga Clipper Wood, another classic 7-ply offensive blade. However, the Solo is often described as having a slightly softer feel and potentially more control due to its Koto outer plies, while the Clipper Wood is perceived as a more traditional, powerful 7-ply option. Some players note the Solo may be thinner in construction.
Xiom Offensive S
Xiom Solo and Offensive S are often discussed together as comparable blades from Xiom. The Offensive S is a 5-ply blade described as medium feeling and more flexible when hitting hard. The Solo, being a 7-ply blade, is generally considered stiffer and softer in feel, offering slightly better performance in blocking and hitting due to its construction, while both are effective for looping.