“Designed for players who demand a strong touch and superior handling…” - Oxdog.net
Razor fills the final spot of the “older generation” trio alongside Block and Avox. Since its arrival, Razor has found a solid foothold in the floorball market with lots of users from the professional leagues all the way to the juniors. Paradoxically, this blade was marketed as a passer’s dream, but some of the world’s best shooters (Kainulainen and Lastikka to name a few) seem to gravitate toward this blade. For transparency reasons, you should know that this is my blade of choice.
In terms of size, Razor is on the larger side. It is also the heaviest option in Oxdog’s catalogue at 76 grams. As stated in Oxdog’s sales pitch, Razor is indeed the ultimate choice for strong touch. Razor’s size makes receiving the ball comfortable, and the softest touch available in an Oxdog product ensures that you can feel even the tiniest of adjustments when controlling the ball. Unlike in other Oxdog products, Razor carbon inserts are located closer to the heel of the blade. I find it a bit odd that the ligher Oxdog blades have not implemented this too, as it does work wonderfully in Razor.
There are some known issues too. Some of my teammates who enjoyed playing with a bigger hook have issues with Razor’s material. Somehow, the blade seems to have increased friction with both the ball and the floor. This sometimes causes the ball to spin way more than it should, making it hard to control. The stickiness also restricts how well you can floor zorro with this blade. Razor seems to have a more glossy finish than other Oxdog’s MBC blades, which probably means that the material is slightly different. Keep in mind that this is completely my own speculation and Oxdog has not confirmed this to me. The material is also what gives Razor it’s unique feel that you will not find in any other Oxdog product. I personally noticed that I had to modify my drag shot technique a bit to shoot well with Razor, but it only took a couple training sessions to get comfortable with it. Razor’s material is something players seem to either hate or love, and it can be a deal-breaker to some players.
Razor is not only physically large but it is a hefty one too. If you switch from a light blade to Razor, there will naturally be some growing pains. You might feel a bit sluggish, but it mostly does not transfer to the in-game performance. Remember the formula for kinetic energy? Moving a heavier object a bit slower than a lighter object can still have the same energy. Shooting with Razor will inevitably be a bit slower than with the likes of Optilight, but you definitely pack a punch. Combine Razor with a 25 or 23 flex shaft and you will get the floorball equivalent of Thor’s hammer. Be strong enough to wield it and you will shoot like a cannon.
Some blades can beat Razor in a specific area, but none can reach the overall performance. This blade is like Block on steroids. The only case where I would not recommend this blade is if you are looking for pure goal-scoring ability and nothing else. For every center and defender this is, in my opinion, the optimal choice as Razor shines in the positions where reliable ball control and quality passing is required. This is a blade for players who have the luxury of working in larger spaces. If you are a forward and find yourself often in situations where quick snapshots are required, Razor is probably not for you. The weight of Razor still remains an elephant in the room. An improved version of Razor with less weight is long overdue, but sadly it is unlikely to happen. The current trend is to move away from big Razor-esque blades, and with time, we are surely going to see Razor being phased out of Oxdog’s catalogue. For the time being though, this one-of-a-kind gem should be on everybody’s radar.