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This line of penhold rackets started with the CP548, and this is the third generation.
The first-gen CP548 (from the celluloid 38mm ball era) and the second-gen Routis (from the celluloid 40mm ball era) were both thin 3-ply blades with a paulownia core.
Naturally, I figured the maker would bring out a third generation that resists being pushed around, to handle the plastic ball... and that's exactly when this racket showed up.

Personally, I assumed that to adapt to the plastic ball they'd simply increase the thickness from the second generation, but instead they kept the thickness at a moderate 5.7mm and, surprisingly, changed the core material.
Going by eye, I'd guess the core of the Routis Revo is probably ayous.

Because of this, the ambivalence that was unique to this series in the first and second generations, where "the core holds the ball incredibly well, but the outer ply and carbon kick back incredibly hard," has been cut in half.
The feeling of the shock passing straight through on impact is also smaller now, and while it used to be "a racket that suits short pips and tacky rubber and makes it easy to transmit your own power," the third generation has become a fairly ordinary "somewhat peaky racket for intermediate-to-advanced players."

I really wonder whether existing users of the series will stick with this one.
Well, maybe that's not even what Nittaku is aiming for.

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This one's a real handful. It bounces a lot. But because it flexes so well, I can always drive consistently. The short game is difficult with it though.

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I originally used a square-shaped penhold blade, but maybe because of how the grip was carved, it felt unstable during my swing and serves were hard too, so I tried the round-shaped Routis Revo J instead. The short game is easy to play, and blocks are really easy too. You can switch between forehand and backhand quickly, which makes it easier to handle a fast-paced opponent. The weight is balanced more toward the handle, so topspin drives are a bit harder to hit, but I found smashes easy to pull off. I currently have Rozena (medium) on it, and the speed is fast too.

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