Air Illumina X88

For the price, awsome rubbe. As many here already said great for backhand. But fh also very nice. No real weaknesses.

Very good rubber for that price (18 dollar)

I really hated this rubber the first night I tried. I screamed "I hate this rubber!" all night. Surprisingly, I managed to stay unbeaten in four matches that night. I paired the rubber with my carbon blade Galaxy T-2. The next day, I changed my blade to balsa blade TSP Versal ... It was like a gold apple on a silver bed. Everything felt right. Yeah, feeling is the most important attribute here. If it feels just right: speed, spin, and control can be easily produced or adjusted. Like shoes, when they feel right and comfortable, the owner can step, walk, dance, and run confidently. AIR Illumina x88 has glue sound, but a tad slower than most glued rubbers. It has taller pips or longer legs like most non-Chinese rubbers. Technically, taller pips (on both pips-out and inverted) mean the rubber is less reactive or less sensitive to opponent's spin. The pip pattern is also different from most inverted rubbers on the market. Its pip vertical spacing is longer than the horizontal spacing. AIR Illumina x88's top sheet is not tacky at all. However, its surface is firm and grippy. It looks like a "grainy" surface to me. Probably a sign of longevity? The sponge is and feels medium hard. The weight is between most Japanese and Chinese rubbers. Like Cole said, this rubber is very different. To me, it does feel and play very different in a good way. However, it pushes, loops, blocks, spins, and smashes more like a European than a Chinese rubber. It reminds me of glued Stiga Mendo. I have been playing with AIR Illumina x88 for almost a month now and all I can say is, this is my rubber. For now (at least until LA Open, September 2011).

Air illumina 41 deg red from coles tt. A dead-ish Chinese rubber with a soft slightly tacky topsheet and mid-soft sponge. Works well as both a forehand and backhand rubber on all wood blades. Works well on carbon blades as a forehand rubber. Definitely a rubber for boosting. Slightly boosted, it can generate a lot of spin. Strengths are pushing (short game), blocking and topspin rallies. A good option for players developing strokes or anyone wanting to try a chinese/hybrid/boosting rubber coming form a euro style rubber.

Excellent for straightforward, linear, aggressive shots just above the net. The blade must offer very high control (Andro Treiber Z). Forget the high angle of throw, wait for the right moment and peck like a snake..