THE STORY BEHIND CYBERSHAPE
When developing Cybershape, it was important that its shape would not negatively affect the feel of the blade. Since feel is very subjective and every player has their own preferences, we not only test our blades on professional players, but also study them in labs to obtain data that is independent of personal preference. We decided early on that Cybershape would be based on test results and an objective assessment, rather than subjective preference and taste.
Research and studies on Cybershape have been ongoing at our “blade lab”, in collaboration with KTH Royal institute of Technology and professional players that represent our brand. During the development process, we studied hundreds of shapes, each with a slight variation. We wanted to find the perfect shape for an improved sweet spot, while providing the player with a better feel of the vibrations from ball impact. One thing we found particularly interesting is that the new shape not only yielded a larger sweet spot, but that the sweet spot had moved 5 mm outwards on the blade. This means that the sweet spot now lies further out on the blade where the majority of players make their best strokes, and where the optimal hitting area is found both technically and objectively. When it comes to the feel of a blade, we are primarily referring to the noise and vibrations that occur as the ball is hit; the vibration is then relayed to the player’s index finger and hand. In terms of measurements, we not only looked at the appearance of the vibrations at the centre of the blade, but we also investigated how, when the ball is hit, the vibrations are transferred to the handle, to the outer area of the blade and to the side of the blade where the index finger is placed.
By combining these four measurements, we gained a better understanding of the particular feel a player has during play, and how STIGA’s Swedish-made blades with their carefully selected wood combinations, together with our unique production process, make us stand out from our competitors. In collaboration with KTH Royal Institute of Technology, we also tested the vibration properties of Cybershape, i.e. how the blade responds when it meets the ball. The tests showed that Cybershape has a larger sweet spot that lies further out on the blade when compared with a regular-shaped blade. The frequency response is also more linear, which means that the vibrations are transported differently to the handle and hand. For the player, this means a completely new and unique feel during play compared with a traditional blade.
