1 Review for Gambler GXS

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External Review for Gambler GXS on December 20, 2018

It comes with a 35 degree sponge. The pips structure is identical to Bomb Hammer which is identical to RITC 802-40. I tried it on a fast, stiff blade with a hard surface; kevlar under the first layer of wood, balsa and carbon core. Even though this is a soft sponge it plays like a hard sponge Chinese pips. The hitting is vague and dead, and does not have a feeling of control. Some pips like Waran or Palio Flying Dragon have a feel where you feel the ball in contact and follow through. Chinese pips like 651/652 Kokutaku (with Chinese sponge) have a fast but dead hit with a very flat arc and rebound off the paddle very quickly. The hitting is neither Chinese flatter hitting not spinner hit-through like Waran or Japanese pips and is unstable and inconsistent. It rebounds off the paddle dead and fast, although if you graze spin it, you can smash/spin it back on the table from mid-distance. Blocking with a traditional PH BH is reasonably controled but also not as consistent as other pips such as 802 35 degree sponge. In blocking a series of loops, one would suddenly drop dead into the net. This all may be a function of the paddle. An overall idea I've come to believe based on testing a lot of pips, all of Chinese but some with Japanese sponge, a fast stiff paddle requires a softer sponge and a thin topsheet to gain control and feel. I can't recommend this with a stiff, fast wood. I tried my old 802 (that I put away after the changed to the new ball) and it is vastly superior, with my old Palio in second place with a softer, slightly slower, less aggressive play. GXS might work for choppers.

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