katekarin's Rubber Ratings
Back to katekarin's ProfileHere are katekarin's ratings and reviews. These ratings are useful because katekarin has his/her own standard and will rate and review the ping pong equipment accordingly, giving you accurate and useful ratings and reviews to aid you in your next online purchase.
Butterfly (2) 
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Butterfly Tenergy 05 Hard
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Review of Butterfly Tenergy 05 HardI play with hard, Chinese, tacky rubbers only. I find tensor rubbers too bouncy for the short game and unpredictable when I need to change the speed of my shots. T05H is very predictable and linear. Some adjustment is needed for the short game, but it plays a lot better than any other tensor rubber I have tried. It is fast when you hit hard. It ranks somewhere between T05 and Hurricane 3 Neo in terms of control, speed, forgiveness, the technique and the physical condition required. Suits soft or flexible blades. I tried it on a Viscaria and felt nice. Its grip is superb when brand new. There is a demand for hybrid rubbers and T05H does a very good in that respect.Dec 15, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Butterfly Dignics 05
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Review of Butterfly Dignics 05I played with Dignics and Tenergy 05 Hard on a Viscaria. Dignics felt harder than 05 hard. The spin Dignics can generate is phenomenal. I haven't seen that in any other rubber, not even the tacky chinese ones. But that's only when you grip/brush the ball hard with perfect technique and timing. The smallest mistakes are penalised with the ball flying off. Even the short game needs adjusting as the ball pops vertically up. The speed is much lower than the rating given here. The speed will come from the power of your arm/waist, the sponge is not doing much. My rating is 8.5. It feels like a more responsive, non-tacky, hard chinese rubber. It is very demanding physically. Footwork must be fast. Flat hitting is not an option. It felt uncomfortable on the Viscaria as the dwell time was really low. It suits softer, more flexible blades better. It doesn't have many gears. It was clearly designed for advanced players with above average technique, footwork and stamina who can utilise its phenomenal ability to generate spin. higher arc compared to the linear trajectory of the 05 Hard. Tenergy 05 Hard is more forgiving, with a slightly softer sponge which makes it easier to play with. I recommend starting with 05 Hard before moving to Dignics.Oct 07, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||
DHS (4)
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DHS NEO Hurricane 3
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Review of DHS NEO Hurricane 3Chinese rubbers are accused for being too slow. H3Neo has that extra power in it. Very slow in the short game, requires some effort and attention to detail. At the same time it allows you to take the initiative early by attacking short balls, place your shots with tremendous accuracy and create very awkward situations for your opponents. The harder you hit the faster it becomes as the sponge gets activated. The increase in speed is linear and the behavior consistent. Spin is very good. The disadvantages of this rubber are that it is sensitive to incoming spin and that it requires physical effort to generate speed. It is a great combination with slightly flexible blades. It is a versatile rubber that suits many styles of play, attacking and defending alike. After one year the sponge is much softer and, even though it is less spiny, I like it more.Sep 03, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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DHS Hurricane 8
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Review of DHS Hurricane 88 is different to Hurricane 3 Neo (H3N) in two ways. 1. My sheet lost a lot of its tackiness after a few hours while H3N’s tackiness lasts much longer. Hence, less spin than Hurricane 3 Neo. 2. It is a tiny bit faster close to the table than H3N, partially because of the lower tackiness, but is slower mid and far from the table. I do miss the extra gears the Neo sponge offers. Especially when I am far from the table and when I smash. Playing a rubber that has many gears has its disadvantages. When you hit hard the Neo sponge gets activated, makes the ball pop a bit faster than usual. While a rubber with less gears is more predictable/linear. This makes 8 a good rubber for those who boost their rubbers. For everyone else H3N is a better option.Oct 27, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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DHS H8-80
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Review of DHS H8-80I got the 38 degrees version in my forehand on a fast 5 ply all wood blade, Stiga Maplewood Nct V. I have always been playing with hard tacky rubbers in my forehand, mostly H3 Neo and Sanwei Target National. It is softer than Hurricane 8, 3, 3 Neo. The sponge is not like a tensor rubber but it's not dead either. I have tried many so-called, hybrid rubbers, but they all seemed closer to tensor rubbers rather than Chinese rubbers. H8-80 is a hybrid closer to hard rubbers, just up a notch faster than a typical Chinese rubber. It maintains all the other characteristics of a Chinese rubber, excellent short game, spiny loops, spiny serves. Just 10% faster. But that's enough to make my life a lot easier when opening up and countering. It is easier to increase the dwell time. Even flat hits or smashing are possible and a lot easier compared to H3 Neo. The fans of DHS forehand rubbers should definitely give it a try. I think it is the best DHS rubber so far.Aug 22, 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||
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DHS Hurricane 8-80
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Review of DHS Hurricane 8-80The ratings are not accurate. I use Hurricane 8-80 (38 degrees) on my forehand with a flexible blade. It is a true hybrid between European and Chinese rubbers. While the sponge is softer than others in the Hurricane series, the topsheet is equally tacky. It is faster than most Hurricane rubbers and very forgiving. In fact, it is one of the few hard Chinese rubbers you can comfortably smash with.The short game remains identical to other Hurricane rubbers, but in lower gears, the H8-80 is more versatile. It truly shines in higher gears. Unlike Butterfly's Dignics 09c, which drops the ball in slow gears if you do not grip it properly, the H8-80 does not. As it ages, it becomes even softer and the dwell time increases. It is soft enough out of the box to not require boosting. Jul 10, 2026 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Friendship/729 (1)
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Friendship/729 Super FX
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Review of Friendship/729 Super FXI stopped using it after a week. Its hard topsheet and hard sponge on a hard blade made the dwell time practically zero. No spin, no grip. The ball was falling off the blade. Very low throw angle. Only good for blocking. It might work better with a flexible blade. I might got a fake one. Bad rubber even for beginners. If you are on a budget, try Yinhe or Palio rubbers insteadSep 03, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||
Kokutaku (1)
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Kokutaku Tuple 007 Tacky
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Review of Kokutaku Tuple 007 TackyI am learning how to play penhold so I put it on both sides on a cheap, all-around, penhold blade with soft-outer wood. It is the perfect combination to improve fast. It is softer than Hurricane 3 but not too soft, around 37degrees (DHS scale) or even lower. Good gears, spin and very high control. It is better as a backhand rubber, as I prefer hard Chinese rubbers for my fh. It helped my development a lot, in the penhold but mainly in my shakehand game as well. I totally recommend it as a backhand rubber on a beginner's blade.Oct 07, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Nittaku (2)
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Nittaku Hurricane Pro III Turbo Orange
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Review of Nittaku Hurricane Pro III Turbo OrangeIt is a softer, higher quality version of Hurricane 3. This makes it a bit more versatile than H3. The sponge reacts in a more predictable way than the sponge of H3 Neo when you hit hard. It is slightly faster than H3 but not a lot. The sponge is closer to the Provincial version of H3. But the top sheet of HP3TO is giving you a better grip. I would give it a try before buying the provincial or national versions of Hurricane rubbers.Nov 28, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Nittaku Fastarc G-1
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Review of Nittaku Fastarc G-1Some say it is a hybrid between Chinese and Tensor rubbers. I would say it is slower and more predictable than tensors but a lot faster and less predictable than hard Chinese rubbers. It's great advantage is it can used close and far away from the table. The short game is easier than it is with tensors. Smashing is very powerful. I was tempted to hit flat to finish the point, hindering the development of my technique, so I went back to the hard Chinese rubbers I have been using all my table tennis life. I recommend it to those who are tired loosing points because their tensor rubber is too bouncy and too fast to control.Dec 04, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Palio (3)
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Palio CJ8000
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Review of Palio CJ8000I use the 2.1mm version of these rubbers in my fh and Palio Amigo for my bh. They are pretty bouncy but I think it needs an offensive blade to show its true speed. The spin and control is where this rubber excels. I use them 3-4 times a week for the last 5 months and clean them after each session and they still feel like new. If you are on a low budget you should definitely give it a tryMar 21, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||
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Palio Amigo
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Review of Palio AmigoIt is able to generate great spin with the right technique and is brilliant at blocking. I am using it on my bh with an OFF++ blade . Initially, I was using the Friendship 729 Super FX for my bh but I decided to go back to my Palio Amigo. Amigo has similar characteristics to the Super FX since it is an equally cheap, Chinese, hard sponge rubber but is more versatile and a bit better in every aspect than the Friendship rubber.Dec 04, 2015 | |||||||||||||||||
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Palio AK 47 Red
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Review of Palio AK 47 RedI used it for 2 months in my backhand to give me the extra power to finish the point and it does that very well. Very fast and controllable in the topspin game. Very good opening loops, drives, flicks, smashes. It is one of the most bouncy rubbers I have played with and that makes it very uncontrollable in the backspin game. The ball pops up when you try to add backspin. Pushing softly with precision is hard. Chopping is impossible. Its bounciness urges you to hit flat, which is a very bad habit. It takes a while before you will be able to brush the ball well. It generates a lot of spin. Low sensitivity to incoming spin. Great build quality, nothing like the older Palio rubbers. Only suitable for those who can attack every backspin ball and take the game to a topspin rally.Mar 29, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Reactor (1)
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Reactor Corbor
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Review of Reactor CorborThe perfect solution for a beginner who is serious about table tennis. Put a hard rubber like this on an all around, all wood blade and it will teach you how to feel, brush and spin the ball. You will learn how to play the strokes correctly otherwise they will end on the net or off the table.Oct 14, 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||
Sanwei (1)
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Sanwei Target National
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Review of Sanwei Target NationalSTN is a Hurricane 3 Neo with lower throw and a more lively sponge. Like a boosted Hurricane 3 Provincial, blue sponge. It is tacky out of the pack but the tackiness goes away fast. It remains very grippy and spinny. Almost as spinny as Hurricane 3 Neo and Hurricane 8. The sponge feels hard in the short game but once activated produces higher speeds than the previous two rubbers without compromise on control. It has the most linear behaviour I have come across. The more power you put the higher the speed you get with very smooth transition between gears. The throw is a bit lower than H3N and H8 which makes it perfect for countering close and far away from the table. The last two features make STN a great rubber. My opponents think they hit a loop-kill winner and then they are surprised to see me attacking it instead of just blocking it. It is a physically demanding rubber for high level play based on power and footwork. It is for intermediate and advanced players who practice regularly, with solid technique, footwork and timing. On the other hand, H3N and H8 are slower, not bouncy at all, harder, easier to operate, all around rubbers. So, it comes down to your level and game style.Apr 25, 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||
Stiga (2)
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Stiga Genesis M
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Review of Stiga Genesis MI was looking for a hybrid rubber to substitute Hurricane 3 Neo and have partially found it. It loses its tackiness fast but remains grippy for a while. Average durability. Not very sensitive to incoming spin. It is faster than H3N, but not as fast as a tensor rubber. It is not bouncy, until you hit hard. Less spin in serves but very spiny when looping. It is less predictable than H3N but much more predictable than tensors. I am losing a point here and there because of this. I don't have this problem with H3N. I still need the hip rotation and forward arm motion to make it work but requires significantly less effort to play. I am now using it in my backhand on a flexible blade, Stiga Maplewood Nct V. It gives me the extra power without loss of control. It feels more uncontrollable and bouncy on carbon blades. Great at counter looping. Players who are inconsistent with tensor rubbers should consider it, either as a forehand or backhand rubber.Dec 07, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Stiga Calibra Tour H
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Review of Stiga Calibra Tour HNon-tacky but grippy. It can generate a lot of spin when using a thick contact, light spin on light contact. Slow with light contact, fast with thick contact, no middle ground. Too bouncy, hence no dwell time, and uncontrollable on hard carbon blades. Easier to use on softer, flexible all-wood blades. I use it in my backhand, on a Stiga Maplewood Nct V to give me the extra power and it does that well. For someone who hates bouncy rubbers, this one seems to be just ok. Short, soft touches are easy. This is the first time I use a non-Chinese rubber in my backhand and I didn't have to do any adjustments. The throw is medium low which helps when countering. I have to spin every ball since hitting flat makes the sponge explode. Not suitable for flat hitters or beginners. Not having the middle gears is a limitation though.Dec 25, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Yasaka (2)
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Yasaka Mark V
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Review of Yasaka Mark VMark V is not as bouncy as a tensor rubber but it is not as hard/dead as Chinese rubbers either. It adds a bit of power to your strokes without totally messing up the control. This is why Mark V is famous for. It complements the feeling and control of your blade.It feels light so it is suitable for heavier blades. The spin and speed are decent but nothing special. Desinged for soft blades. On hard blades it becomes too bouncy. One disadvantage is its non linear behaviour. At higher speeds, when the balls goes deeper into the rubber, the throw is medium-high. At slow speeds the throw is medium/low. This means at higher speeds you have to close the racket angle and open it at lower speeds. The second disadvantage is its price. It definitely doesn't worth what you pay for it. I only recommend Mark V for beginners, or those who need the rubber to compensate for their low fitness level but find tensor rubbers uncontrollable. That's the majority of recreational players. Mark V is Not suitable for high level play where accuracy and consistency are crucial Nov 16, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Yasaka Rakza 7 Soft
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Review of Yasaka Rakza 7 SoftI am a beginner/intermediate looper. I was using Rakza on my forehand and Mark V on my backhand on a Timo Boll Spirit blade. Beginners should focus on feeling and brushing the ball. Rakza is too fast and too soft for this. It is only good for blocking and hitting flat. It increases the dwell time massively. When looping the ball is going too deep into the rubber and is then spat out at a random time without letting me add spin or place the ball where I want. In the short game, you have to be careful not to activate its springiness. On the positive side, its durability and spin are very good. Harder rubbers are better for beginners as they give you better feel and one less thing to worry about (the soft sponge’s behaviour). My forehand has improved a lot since I moved to a slower, hard Chinese rubber (Galaxy Mercury II, cost me 3.7£). My forehand wasn’t improving and now, 2 months with the new rubber, I can see that Rakza was the problem. I cannot recommend the soft version of Rakza I am afraid. Too expensive for what it offers. Try the soft version of Galaxy Mercury II if you are looking for a soft rubber.Mar 13, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||
Yinhe (Galaxy/Milkyway) (2)
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Yinhe Mercury II
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Review of Yinhe Mercury IIComes in soft (33-35degrees), medium (36-38 degrees) and hard (39-41 degrees) versions. The black loses its tackiness in 2-3 months but the red one lasts 3 times longer. The medium and hard versions suit soft and all wood blades best. The hard version is very close to DHS Hurricane 3 Neo. Mercury is a bit faster at slower speeds than the Hurricane but a bit slower at higher speeds when Hurricane’s Neo sponge gets activated. Control: The feel and control it adds to your blade is unreal. The lack of bounciness gives it superb precision, consistent behaviour, attacking and defensive capabilities. You can flick easier, block the fastest balls, change the pace during a rally and place the ball with precision wherever you want. Speed: Your arm will generate all the speed, so it takes a lot of effort to play with it. Spin: Less spinny and less sensitive to incoming spin than DHS Hurricane 3 Neo. Throw angle: Medium high. Produces very spinny, low arc loops. Easy to lift backspin balls. Some people have reported quality issues but when glued/cut/removed carefully they don't cause problems. I recommend the red, medium hard version to those who want to add control to their blade but don’t care losing some speed. Perfect for beginners developing their technique and advanced players who like spin and precision. You can't hit flat with it so it will force to learn to brush/spin the ball, add more forward motion to your arm and rotation to your hips. The soft version is much better than Yasaka Rakza 7 Soft in all aspects of play. See my review of the Rakza for details. Consistent behavior at all speeds! Equally good in the backspin and topspin game. Disadvantages: the effort required to play with them and the low durability of the black rubbers. Update: 2 years later I have progressed to the intermediate level and I have discovered a limitation. I can now hit harder bottoming out the sponge. It helps me counter my opponents spin but also limits the spin I can produceDec 31, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Yinhe Jupiter II
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Review of Yinhe Jupiter IISlightly faster and spinnier than Mercury II. Not bouncy. Many gears. You get more power when you hit harder. The harder version is a great forehand rubber. The softer version (39 degrees) is great for the backhand. The throw angle is high, so some adjustment is needed. Those looking a more lively Chinese rubber should give it a try.Nov 25, 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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