We premiered in the section analyzing the ICE model that the brand of the 'crown', Black Crown, presents us by the hand of Marta Marrero, current number 3 of the Ranking World Pádel Tour and member of the couple number 2 in the world.
Padel World Press .- Tell them that we have had the ICE shovel at our disposal for a long time, so we have been able to train, play, heat and rally with it. As it is inevitable spending so much time with her in her hands, she has suffered the inclemency of the weather as well as scrapes, shocks between shovels and other situations that happen to all of us throughout our matches. The only thing we never do is hit the shovels against walls or against the ground intentionally under any circumstances ... That is something we do not do with our own shovel and, therefore, much less with the models that we test thoroughly.
To begin, we will detail the product in hand
Already at the beginning we have good expectations with the shovel as they present it to us in a cover that has details that we like. Increasingly, brands think of us and, in this case, includes the typical zip pocket to store personal items. In addition, it is padded to minimize the impacts that the shovel can receive in its transport and, if that were not enough, each model of the new collection of Black Crown brings its own custom case, which matches the color of the crown of the model chosen one…
The crown of ICE is blue because the cover is also blue, which will encourage us to continue wearing it because the aesthetic is very careful. I have to say that I have missed that the case is a 'thermo' type to maintain the temperature of the blade when stored and exposed to high or low environmental conditions but, on the other hand, is one of the few (and small) ' But that could be put to the product.
I wanted to highlight these details that a priori seem insignificant because not all brands offer them and from here we will always highlight this type of detail since with the price paid for some blades that less than its cover is also at least taken care of. Not all cases are like that, although the latter are less.
Once you open the zipper ... There it is! A shovel with an aesthetic that captivates instantly. Colors in brightness that mix the sobriety of black with a bright blue, in which you play with a background like carbon seen (one of the materials that constitutes the nucleus) as well as a handle of short size that to me, personally like. The shape of the blade is diamond and it was very elegant.
It has very elaborate aesthetic details such as, for example, the crown on the cap at the base of the handle and on the upper part of the frame.
As soon as you grasp it, you notice that the weight is slightly displaced upwards, nothing exaggerated and nothing is a shovel we can call 'bighead' ... In fact, the balance is practically neutral as soon as you add some overgrip. It is very agile, something that no doubt helps the size of the handle.
In our case, the test model weighed 365 grams and we did not notice that this could be its weight to the touch ... It seemed lighter and that is more remarkable in our case, because we have always preferred to choose low weights, 360 at most, for our Pallas. I reiterate that the ICE does not feel heavy. The grip is narrow, it is necessary to put some overgrip that in our case will be two and the rope is simple rope, another small 'but' because we like more bracelet grip ... But that is something that goes on tastes !!
It was time to enter the track
We started with the ball with balls in the background, where we already noticed that the touch of this blade is hard although it is not an exaggerated hardness. We would catalog it with a medium hardness, so the ball feels perfectly. Of course, if you are accustomed to a shovel of so-called 'soft' notareis more hardness, but nothing to see other shovels of the market that we would call 'tables' for their hardness, far from it.
In the warm-up we immediately noticed that we were facing a powerful model with a great ball output ... The ball comes out fast without just squeezing the ball, confirming what we already sensed by touch: the hit that the shovel invites you to is to hit it flat.
On the volleys and the trays is when we are going to notice that it is not aimed at low level players since control is not their strong point. Especially the volley is one of the blows that you will enjoy a lot with this shovel because its agility and power make you want to give more and more ... But be careful: in return you will be asked to make the hit decently.
Although the ball does not go out of control due to the extra power, it does require a bit of hand to bring control and subtlety to its characteristics. It is not at all difficult to handle since, as we said, the touch is truly agile and with a sweet spot of medium size. You will need a few balls to start controlling the ball exit, because in these facets the shovel does not give anything and it will not help you to direct it where your thoughts want it to go ... We have to pamper it a bit if you do not want the ball to go directly to the glass or grid when you are with the tension of the game.
Regarding the tray, as soon as you take the feeling you can ensure a deep tray ... Perform viper and similar effects will be a bit more complicated if you have not worked that beat. We insist that we are the ones who have to give control of the tempo to the shovel and, for that reason, it turns it into a model directed to a medium level onwards.
We come to the Smash, which is where the real juice is made from ICE. It is not an extra powerful shovel nor does it provide an exorbitant extra power, something that is appreciated for those who do not know how to control a shovel of these characteristics ... But it does have an added power 'per se', which helps the The ball comes out with optimal hardness and speed without having to add extra effort and physical strength that, throughout a game, we could miss as well as the health of the limb. Without a doubt, this blow is the favorite of the shovel. That said and as you may be imagining, hitting it with a high wall exit is together with the volley and the smash one of those blows that rhyme with this shovel, they make a perfect set. Avoid directing the ball to the opposite whenever you can, hahaha !!
As for the balloons, they come out very deep and with a little hand (as with almost all the blades) we will not have problems to make them of all possible types. One more blow.
And I have left for the end an aspect that perhaps is what MORE has surprised me about it.
No doubt, anyone can see that the ICE model is a manufactured blade, born and educated to attack without giving respite to the rival. It is a shovel of power and attack that will not result in an erupting volcano impossible to contain ... But in defense of the bottom of the track is where I was surprised by the unexpected. Thanks to the medium hard touch, the sweet point of medium size and, above all, its ball exit, it is a shovel that DOES give you in certain kind of defensive situations ...
We explain, the shovel assists us IN SOMETHING: help to get those balls committed at ground level, to boat soon or without letting bounce that so many times they need a skill of the player very high so that they arrive to surpass the network. It's fantastic how, on those occasions that you see yourself with serious difficulties, just put the shovel and add a little gesture the ball goes fast and passes to the other side of the net ... Of course, watch out for the ball blocks in the net since although in the background it helps with the exit of the ball, in the net, only with leaving the spade can easily leave the glass without going through the exit box.
In summary…
We have a shovel that we liked.
The aesthetic is very good and we can catalog it in the elegant section. Lovely.
Designed, manufactured and granted for a clearly ATACANTE player, in which the network is its natural habitat ... But it surprises us with some help in defense.
The smash, volleys and trays, well executed in the case of the last, will come out fast, with weight and deep, resulting in a real nuisance for our rival.
If power goes very well it will not be because everything is subtracted from it in control. It is not going to make things easier for us in terms of the direction we want to print on the ball but we are not facing an 'indomitable' gunship, so in a short time and even coming from a control blade we can do it. If we ask for things well, he will respond with all his affection.
In the few 'buts' that we observe are of aesthetic degree as well as banal details that are part of the search that every player has of 'the perfect shovel', that tells the legend that somewhere resting and waiting to be wielded by each one of us ... As for aesthetics, there are many tastes and we all have ours.
When talking about durability, for this test pad we have not used protector in the frame and had its contacts with crystals, net, floors and some collision with another blade of the partner ... I have to say that outside of those scratches that The painting, the frame and the compounds of the blade have continued to preserve their original structure. Without scratches, I would still be as good as new.
Nothing else, we hope you like it, help and, above all, we await your comments.
Hugo R.
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