Tuttle POSITIVE ENERGY - Asian Edition -

Tuttle has now released an "Asian Edition" of its "Positive Energy" rubber. A version featuring a blue sponge, in "Medium" hardness and "Max. Thickness", is available on AliExpress. On the German market (via SCHÜTT-Tabletennis), there is a version with a pink sponge (available in 1.5, 1.8, and 2 mm thicknesses for 8€!) while the packaging also labels it as "Medium hard," Schütt specifies its hardness as 38–40 degrees on the ESN scale!!! I recently bought this rubber (from Schütt). Its topsheet is tacky enough to hold the ball firmly for a few seconds! My red rubber with a pink sponge (1.8 mm) weighs 95.4 g in the original packaging and 68.4 g uncut, including the plastic film. (... my black rubber from AliExpress, with a BLUE sponge in max thickness, weighed 96 g in the original packaging and 69 g uncut, including the plastic film!!!) CONCLUSION: Cut to 157 x 150 mm, my 1.8 mm rubber ultimately weighs 48 grams; for that sponge thickness, it is significantly heavier than any other 1.8 mm rubber I have played with so far. Its spin generation is in the upper-mid range, though the speed is too low for my liking compared to other 1.8 mm rubbers! Control is very solid, and the stated sponge hardness seems realistic. —I could see this rubber working well for the backhand. Addendum: The performance of the rubber with the blue sponge is very similar to that of the version with the pink sponge! However, due to its maximum thickness, and presumably also a higher sponge hardness, this rubber is faster and generates slightly more spin. ... making it suitable for the forehand as well.