representative player of English Men’s National Team. This model is based on ‘ZX-Gear Out’ which had been released in 2019. ‘ZX-Gear Out’ is the blade of outer-fiber construction whose artificial material is Z Carbon (= Zxion Carbon). After testing two versions – inner and outer – of ‘ZX-Gear’ series, Liam Pitchford finally selected outer-fiber version – ‘ZX-Gear Out’, and asked Victas to suppress vibration transmitted to the hand and increase the elasticity. Victas adjusted ‘ZX-Gear Out’ for one year to make the blade that fits for Liam Pitchford, and ‘Liam Pitchford’ is the result. ‘Liam Pitchford’ is a stiff and very elastic blade, but it also provides the feeling of firmly catching the ball. So, it fits for both of powerful topspin and fast attack of high pitch.

The new C.I. of Victas has been applied to ‘Liam Pitchford’, like ‘ZX-Gear Out’ which is the base model of it. The ‘splitting’ image is printed at the middle of the foreside of head. And, the name of product is printed above that splitting graphic. Below that splitting graphic, elasticity level and the information of construction are printed. The design of handle is based on those of existing ‘Swat’, but the color combination is exclusive to ‘Liam Pitchford’. A very consistent graphic design is the characteristics of Victas blades.

The blade construction of ‘Liam Pitchford’ is based on that of ‘ZX-Gear Out’, but the middle layer is replaced by different wood. Z Carbon which is woven from Zxion fiber and Carbon fiber is placed directly under the top layer. The top layer is Limba. The middle layer is a unknown hard wood which looks like Mahogany. The center layer is Ayous. It is an unusual case that the center layer of an outer fiber blade isn’t Kiri but Ayous. Overall thickness is around 5.8mm.

The size of head is around 157mm x 150mm.

Same concept of the printing on the foreside of head is common to almost all Victas blades. The consistency is so strong that you can easily tell it’s a Victas blade at first glance. However, to distinguish individual products, you must check the product name. it is difficult to distinguish individual products. To distinguish individual products, you must look at their names.

The name of blade and the signature of Liam Pitchford are printed over the splitting image, and the plywood construction (5-ply + outer Z Carbon) are printed under the splitting image respectively.

‘Dyna-shell’ logo and speed sign is shown under the right side of the splitting image. ‘Dyna-shell’ is the name used by Victas to indicate outer fiber construction. (Inner Fiber construction is called as ‘Dyna-core’.)

Nothing is printed on the backside of head. But, on the backside of handle there is a transparent plastic lens that indicates the name of blade.

The width of FL (flared) handle is around 26mm (at head side) ~ 27mm (at bulge) ~ 26mm (at narrowest point) ~ 34mm (at the end). And, the thickness of FL handle is around 23mm (at thumb) ~ 24mm (at the end). The FL handle isn’t a wide handle, and it is somewhat thinner than ordinary FL handles. But, the stability of grip is good because the surfaces are relatively flat.

The size of ST (straight) handle is around 28mm (width) x 22mm (thickness). Its surfaces are also relatively flat, but not completely flat as the ST handles of ‘Firefall’ series.

One of the characteristics of Victas blades is that the second lens is applied on the backside of handle. The size of the backside lens is same as that of foreside lens, and the name of the blade – ‘Liam Pitchford’ – is written in the backside lens.

Small aluminum plate that includes engraved Victas logo mark is applied at the end of handle. This logo mark symbolizes the image of splitting V.

‘Liam Pitchford’ is the outer-fiber blade based on ‘ZX-Gear Out’ but the middle layer is replaced by different wood. All the layers are different from those of the standard outer fiber blades with Koto top layer release by many other makers.

Left is ‘ZX-Gear Out’ and right is ‘Liam Pitchford’. ‘ZX-Gear Out’ is the base model of ‘Liam Pitchford’. Although the design and the coloring of handle are somewhat different, strong consistency of design is being maintained.

Left is ‘ZX-Gear Out’ and right is ‘Liam Pitchford’. We can see the difference in the wood of middle layer.

The design of ‘Liam Pitchford’ is a bit distinguished from that of ‘ZX-Gear Out’ which is its base model. However, the consistency of design is being maintained. The strong consistency of the design of Victas blades is intended to promote the name of the new ‘Victas’ brand rather than individual products.

Following are the performance indices of Victas Liam Pitchford (avg.weight = 89.2g) :

– Ep = 2.25

– Ec = 1.82 (Ec/Ep = 0.81)

– Vp = 1.28

– Vl = 1.50 (Vl/Vp = 1.18)

Please note that above are average values and can be updated by further measurement.

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