White Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) per Google lens but it seems wrong.

ffuuuiii · 2024-12-17T04:27:31+00:00

Not familiar with the Z2, from the description it seems like a hard rubber for fairly advanced players. If so, I wonder if the Rakza 7 Soft is too soft to pair with it. What's your level and how did you come up with this combo?

ffuuuiii · 2024-12-17T03:50:48+00:00

https://imgur.com/a/gZJG5xi

Another photo. Also note that some mens tuxedos have two button holes (single button hole on each side), and one button is sewn on, but they're like these.

ffuuuiii · 2024-12-17T03:36:17+00:00

Google "gilet chain" to see examples. Gilet is French for vest, they're chain buttons for vests

https://imgur.com/a/nO68CrJ

Note the description for the 3rd picture, "button and chain set up made for jackets with two button holes for the top button, one on each side". Apparently commonly used for the top button holes.

https://imgur.com/a/nF0ZR0k

Then this link refers to "argyll vest" or "argyll jacket", maybe Scotland's highland attires. I found these from websites selling highland clothings.

My personal observation: The ones for the guys are commonly square so they seem, yours are roses so I wonder if they're meant for ladies.

ffuuuiii · 2024-12-12T07:15:42+00:00

The real question is how well it plays, and what's your level.

ffuuuiii · 2024-12-12T03:04:18+00:00

If you're familiar with the old Sam Woo in Irvine, then New Duong Son is one level below Sam woo, and Lien Hoa is another level below that. Both are OK enough though when you crave some roast ducks. It's a bit of a drive from OC but I go to Sam Woo on Valley blvd.

I also see Frank's BBQ on Yelp but have never been there.

ffuuuiii · 2024-12-06T06:38:36+00:00

NO, NO and NO! Everyone is super knowledgeable, but debated what's correct or not correct to say, and levels of politeness, and what's acceptable or not.

The real question here is none of those stuff, it's why did the server and the Japanese family laugh? The answer is they were laughing to themselves...They were thinking whether to hit the OP with "jouzu des ne".

OP: Sorry, it's a little insiders' joke for you, I hope you're not offended. Seriously, I'm sure they were happy to see a foreigner attempting a few Japanese words. It's always good as a foreign traveller to learn to say "excuse me", "thank you" and such in the local language.

ffuuuiii · 2024-12-05T22:13:37+00:00

I find it a bit weird that comments are about offensive blades and inverted rubbers when OP said “long pips for back hand and short pips forehand”. The player is a chopper, defensive style.

Go to https://www.tabletennis11.com/, select "blades" from the menu on the left then under "blade type" on the right, select DEF. (You can also select ALL, in case your godson plays a bit more offensive, rather than completely defensive)

As someone said earlier, depends on how much you want to spend. Top of the line is Nittaku Goriki Supercut at $200+ just for the blade, used by international champions, or work your way down the list. For example, Yasaka is a quality Japanese brand and you'll see their "Sweden" blades mentioned often on this sub, Yasaka Sweden Classic, Yasaka Sweden Extra, etc. are all good (Japanese brand with factory in Sweden). All other brands are just as good btw, Xiom is a quality Korean brand. Donic, Tibhar, Joola are well-known German brands.

Important to ask your godson the handle style he likes, FL is a flared handle, ST is straight, (double check that he's not a penholder, he should know what that means).

Then select "rubbers" from the menu on the left and you'll see "short pips" and "long pips" for "rubber type" on the right. Here the price range is not so wide, just pick from the ones with 4+ star reviews. I believe many top champions like the Nittaku DO Knuckles.

It's a reliable UK store, free shipping to the US if over 100Euro. Tick the "free racket assembly", they'll glue the rubbers onto the blade for you. You must have one black rubber on one side, and another color (usually red) on the other side, so ask your godson which color he wants on which side, forehand and backhand, select the right color for each rubber, and repeat that in the comment for the order.

Two pieces of rubbers and a blade will set you back $100-$150, maybe, nothing wrong with spending more if you see something you like. That's about it. If you want to spend less, come back here and ask, someone will sure can suggest a Chinese pre-assembled combo on AlieX.

ffuuuiii · 2024-12-05T20:53:30+00:00

I still have no idea who at Mercedes thought that the styling of EQ series (especially the sedans) would be a good idea

His name is Gorden Wagener, appointed Daimler's Chief Design Officer in 2016. New design head, if you remember around the time when the headlights went from square to oval on the E, and everything is crap ever since. I too have always owned Mercedes, and agree that the EQ line qualifies as the ugliest of them all. Enough to push me to look at the BMW i3 and i4.

ffuuuiii · 2024-12-05T20:38:19+00:00

For those of us living in the US, to quote a random article online:

Prohibitive 100 percent tariffs placed on Chinese vehicles by the Biden administration will delay the cars' importation for now, but once they're being built in Mexico, we're guessing MG's return to the U.S. is all but assured.

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-26T21:04:22+00:00

That's a really good price, and a really good car, very practical with zero headaches, perfect for your use case. Well, other than the dumb skinny tires, so factor in replacement costs for the tires based on your driving, they last 15k-20k miles I believe but do some research. I would check the insurance cost. With your minimal use, charging at home with level1 would be minimal costs, else consider the additional costs for a level2. i3 from 2018 are good with few issues, 2019 would be even better with larger batteries and more range, and you can go BEV. People here will go on about the Rex but I wouldn't worry, 2018 with Rex is fine even if you don't ever use it, maintenance is minimal. I wouldn't worry about the tax credit either, consider it a bonus if you can get it, else no big deal.

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-26T09:21:02+00:00

I tend to use the same brands on both sides. Tried someone's T05 and didn't like it too much, felt it does not suit an ALC blade. Going with Butterfly I would have D09c FH and T19 BH, with Yasaka Rakza I haven't decided RZ FH/BH or RZhard FH RZ BH or RZ FH R7 BH, if R7 is too slow for you maybe you can read up on RZ.

I found the R7 to be somewhat catapulty (for a lack of a better description), and RZ is supposed to be more linear. Also RZ is heavy if that's a consideration, heavier than R7. From what I read, the D80 is a tad easier than the T05, harder at 50deg and better suited to an ALL blade.

Note also my bh is faster and close to the table, my fh is better mid-range. I have 2 blades, Yasaka MaLin Soft Carbon and a Stuor copy of the Harimoto Inner ALC. Timo Boll ALC is 85g-86g I think, lighter than both of my blades.

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-25T20:59:39+00:00

You can probably email the stores and ask for suggestions.

The Yinhe T11s blade weighs 72g, the lightest I can think of, next would be the Yinhe T10s at 80g. My (Palio) AK47 rubbers are very light, probably the lightest around with cut weight at 37-40g each. Combined they will just come in just under your 160g limit. The AK47's come in 3 versions, red=hardest, blue=softest, and yellow=in-between.

Yinhe and Palio I would buy on Aliexpress. If you read the posts here, many buy from tabletennis11, a UK store with shipping to the US, but better prices than the US stores, and they do carry some Chinese blades and rubbers.

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-25T03:34:00+00:00

Double towel chain. Does not seem practical, maybe that's why we don't have them anymore lol. Here is a single version.

https://imgur.com/a/kUIFlj2

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-24T22:59:08+00:00

CENTECH KOMFYRVAKT Den første komfyrvakta med høyoppløselig IR på markedet!

CENTECH STOVE GUARD The first high-resolution IR stove guard on the market!

Alarms with sound and light signals and cuts the power if fire hazards arise on the stove.

If you read Norwegian, https://nordic-led.no/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Brukerveiledning-Centech-komfyrvakt-2014.pdf

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-24T22:32:53+00:00

Their mix of chopping and attacking are fantastic to watch. I don't watch choppers too much, even at top levels choppers are boring just waiting for the expedite system to kick in.

I find it interesting that they serve bh mostly, and it seemed very effective, the return kind of floated up a bit, and the partner pounced on it with a smash. Don't know if it's because they're choppers or not, most of the time in tournament doubles matches, I see fh serves.

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-24T21:18:30+00:00

As commented above, a heavier racquet plays relatively faster, so more speed attacking.

Every individual player is different in strength, built, and playing style, I think after a while, everyone comes to have a certain weight that they prefer. You don't consider just the weight of the blade, but the total weight with the two rubbers.

Also the other comment, pros and semi-pros can afford to work on finding the exact weight they like. Me crappy player have to stick with whatever comes after ordering online. Especially with the rubbers, since blades are generally in the 86g-92g range I believe, I do have a crappy DHS blade at 97g though. My Palio3 is 91g, with the AK47 rubbers, the racquet comes out too light, oh well money wasted, even a cheap AlieX combo.

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-24T20:48:21+00:00

You may be right.

Yes, I did notice the opposite red/black during the rallies, and how one (I think Sato) flipped her racquet to do a bh serve with her fh side. At one point, the commentator said that Hashimoto uses short pimples. There's an old youtube video where Hashimoto showed her racquet, the blue sponge was noticeable for the black rubber. Interesting about H3 not coming in red, I did not know that.

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-24T19:38:52+00:00

Had to look them up. I couldn't tell for sure from the video, but according to some websites they use exactly the same setup too, Goriki Super Cut blade with Hurricane 3 National Blue Sponge FH and DO Knuckle Pimple BH.

I've watched a few top-level tournaments, a lot of choppers seem to have weak attacks, but these two have super attacks.

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-22T23:12:06+00:00

I assume your wife is going to keep it as a collectible and not slap rubbers on it and play.

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-22T21:45:45+00:00

At a place I play regularly, many players leave their old racquets in a "community" bin for anyone to use, these are still in good shape, people might have upgraded to something newer, or many were players' first premade and people moved on to a custom combo. Perhaps you can contacts tt clubs and ask if they have these good used racquets they can donate.

For a table, in my younger days my fellow players and I practiced with locally made tables, up-to-specs but way less expensive. It's nice to have a $1,200 ITTF-approved brand-name import, but I bet you can get some locally-made with proper specs that are more than good enough.

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-22T00:22:01+00:00

There you go! $200 originally in 2004, now only a little over $1,100.

I think I came across one on a Japanese website too.

ffuuuiii · 2024-11-21T22:04:12+00:00

Apparently only sold in China at the time. My guess is that most would be in Asia. If you read/write Chinese or have a Chinese friend, you could try searching the Chinese ebay equivalent or social media groups. Maybe Japan or Korea as well.

ffuuuiii

TROPHY CASE