Customer review for Tibhar Samsonov Alpha

External Review for Tibhar Samsonov Alpha on November 5, 2012

This is an updated review, after several weeks of playing with the Alpha. Overall a good experience, 9/10:

Power-- I find the Alpha has good feel, works beautifully for controlled looping, pushing, and brings enough power to stay in rallies with 2100 USTTA players.

Varnish-- While I can't speak with the voice of an expert, I *think* my blade is varnished with a light polyurethane finish. I like it. That way, I don't worry about pulling splinters out of the veneer when I take the rubber off.

Control-- I find the blade very easy to control. It's a bit faster than my Avalox 550 was (an ALL+), and I feel a lot of touch but with less vibration than the Avalox had. The catalogs list the Alpha as an OFF- blade, and that seems accurate to me.

Head size-- I have heard that the new Alphas manufactured starting this year have a normal sized head. If this is true, mine is clearly not one of these. The head is a few millimeters shorter on every side than my Avalox. It's even smaller than the Timo Boll ALC head. I prefer this head size, though others may not like it. The smaller head size means less weight, and the balance feels magical to me. I have good hand/eye coordination, so hitting with a smaller surface area is not problematic.

Grip-- I am a grown man and have big hands, and I bought the FL Alpha. Yes, the FL handle is big, but it is a flat oval, narrow when you look at the blade from the edge side. I'm a lefty, and like many sinisters, I hold a pronounced palm-on-top SH grip (Google any picture of Mizutani Jun, Timo Boll, or Michael Maze hitting a forehand and look at their grips to see what I'm talking about; the butt of the handle sits in the bottom inside of their hands, less toward the center of the palm, and they hold the bat more with their fingers, less curled into the palm). Also, the handle is LONG, I'd say a half inch longer than most others. I suggest you hold the Alpha before buying. The handle works well for my hands and grip, but others may find it awkward.

Durability-- The only issue I've noticed is that my blade seems to be fragile. I've bumped it on the table twice in the last two weeks or so. I'm careful with my equipment and didn't hit it hard, but the first time the spot I bumped just disintegrated, leaving a small divot in the side. The second time, it took a chip the size of a nickel out of the top veneer, which I was able to repair with carpenter wood glue and clamps. This blade seems less sturdy than any I've owned. If you are hard on your equipment, this blade may not last you long.

In sum, a great blade for me and one I prefer above others three times as expensive. But I suggest you try out the handle before buying and consider that, if yours is anything like mine, you must treat it with care.

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