The selection of the best table tennis rubber needs time and expertise. There are two reasons behind it. First, there is a flood of table tennis rubbers from various brands available in the market. Secondly, you have to find out the rubber that suits your playing level and style.
Table tennis rubber is the cutest part of the racket that every player cares about most. On the other hand, we also tend to blame it for a bad result. “If I have a better rubber, the match would be turned on my side”, which is my usual reaction after defeat in a match.
Actually, ‘Best table tennis rubber’ is a relative word. A rubber that is best for me may give you the worst result. If you are an aggressive player, you need a very fast, spinny rubber whereas, for defensive players, control is the most dominant factor. Also, your playing level is an important consideration. If you are a beginner or an intermediate player, an all-around rubber that keeps parity between speed and control is the best choice.
Best Table Tennis Rubbers: At a Glance (Comparison Sheet)
Name | Rubber | Spin | Speed | Rating | Store |
Tenergy 05 |  | 115 | 130 | ||
Dignics 05 |  | 120 | 135 | ||
Tenergy 05 FX |  | 115 | 130 | ||
Tibhar MX-P |  | 117 | 116 | ||
Tenergy 64 |  | 105 | 135 | ||
Tenergy 19 |  | 117 | 132 | ||
Fastarc G-1 |  | 95 | 96 | ||
DHS HN 3 |  | 120 | 120 | ||
Rasanter R47 |  | 126 | 120 | ||
Tenergy 80 |  | 112 | 132 | ||
Rhyzm P |  | 120 | 121 | ||
Calibra LT |  | 91 | 96 | ||
Yasaka rakza 7 |  | 95 | 94 | ||
STIGA Mantra |  | 97 | 97 | ||
Vega Europe |  | 91 | 85 | ||
Bluefire M3 |  | 107 | 90 | ||
Rozena |  | 108 | 130 | ||
Yasaka Mark V |  | 90 | 90 |
Best Table Tennis Rubber: Buying Guide
In the game of table tennis, rubber is the most interesting part, though it is a little bit complex. The selection of proper rubber is very crucial and may bring a drastic change in your performance.
A rubber consists of two things, the outer part is the top sheet, whereas the inner part is the sponge. Each part has its characteristics, the combined effect of which fixes the performance of the rubber.
1. Sponge Hardness
It is the degree of hardness of a rubber that represents how hard the sponge is. Low hardness means the rubber has a soft sponge whereas high hardness refers to a denser sponge. The rubbers of lower hardness produce high spin at low speed. In reverse, the harder rubbers generate high spin at high speed.
Harder rubbers give you more speed but less control whereas the reverse is for softer rubbers. Though softer rubbers are good for control, they have a “bottom out” ( Bottom out is the phenomenon where there is a low energy output that makes the ball react with a low speed and trajectory) effect which decreases your efficiency.
| Type of Sponge Hardness | Hard | Medium-Hard | Soft | Extra Soft |
| Degree of Hardness | 47.5 – 60 | 42 – 47 | 37.5 – 41 | < 37 |
| Effect | High Speed Low Control | Balanced (Speed, Spin, & Control) | Ultimate Control Low Speed | Low speed Possibility of “Bottom out” |
For beginners, medium-hard rubber is a better option. The pro players (Except the European-style players who prefer soft rubbers) enjoy playing with rubbers with high hardness.
The combination of hard rubber and flexible blade gives you the best result and for soft rubbers, it is better to use stiff blades for superior performance.
2. Sponge Thickness
As per the ITTF rules, the maximum thickness of the sponge and top sheet cannot be greater than 4.0 mm.
A table tennis rubber is a combination of a sponge and a top sheet. As a thumb rule, thickness is proportional to speed and inversely proportional to control. Thicker rubber gives you more speed with the sacrifice of control. In reverse, thinner Rubber gives you more control, but less speed.
In the market, you will get rubbers of 1.5 mm, 1.8 mm, 2.0 mm, 2.1 mm, 2.2 mm, 2.3 mm, and 2.5 mm sponge thicknesses. A 2.5 mm Rubber gives you a high speed whereas a 1.5 mm Rubber is for better control.
As a beginner, you should more concentrate on control whereas advanced aggressive players prefer speed and spin to destroy their opponent. So a rubber with 1.5 – 1.8 mm would be better for your all-around ability. The advanced players would go for a higher thickness to get the required speed and spin.
| Sponge Thickness of Rubber | Rebound Speed | Style of Play |
| < 1.5 mm | Slow | Defensive |
| 1.5 mm – 1.9 mm | Medium | All-round |
| 2.0 mm – 2.1 mm | Fast | Topspin Attack |
| 2.2 mm – Max | Very Fast | Power Attack |
| Thick Sponge | Thin Sponge |
| Higher dwell time More spin More speed | Shorter dwell time Less spin Less speed |
To identify the authorized TT Rubber, check the ITTF logo on the Rubber.
3. Type of Top sheet
A top sheet is of three types.
- Pimples-in or Inverted
- Pimples-out (Short, Medium, and Long Pimples)
- Anti-spin
In a pimples-in type top sheet, pimples are facing inwards, i.e. towards the sponge. So the hitting surface is smooth and you can impart greater variety to your stroke.
For pimples-out, pimples are facing outwards. So, you have to hit the ball with the pimpled surface.
Anti-spin rubber is one kind of inverted rubber that has a much softer sponge. This type of rubber is less affected by the opponent’s spin.
The pimples-out and anti-spin rubbers are suited only for some particular style of play which is not very common. Pimples-in or inverted rubber is a normal rubber that is far more popular and best to use for beginners. In this article, the discussion is confined to only pimples-in rubbers.
4. Pimple Geometry
Pimple geometry determines how hard or soft the top sheet is. For shorter, wider pimples with less space between them, you get a harder feeling whereas narrow, long pimples with more space between them, give you a softer feeling.
5. Chemistry of Top sheet
There are different types of chemistry involved in manufacturing a top sheet. Some top sheets are made with natural rubber formula, like Butterfly which gives a soft and flexible feeling. Chinese rubber manufacturers use artificial formulas, the cheaper option gives you a hard feeling.
6. High-Tension Rubber (Tensor Rubber)
High-tension rubbers are those where the top sheet is stretched before gluing to the sponge during the manufacturing process. This creates higher tension in the top sheet which results in a higher bounce.
A good example is a high-tension rubber is the Butterfly Tenergy rubbers where the tension is increased by 300% to normal rubber.
7. Sponge Formula
In a normal table tennis rubber, the sponge eats the energy of the impact and the ball only gets the power of the player’s shot. But in some sponges, like Butterfly Tenergy series rubbers, smaller air bubbles are incorporated into the sponge. That drastically enhances the elasticity of the sponge and the sponge acts as a spring. The sponge stores more energy and releases the energy by springing off the ball with a higher speed and spin.
8. Tackiness
Tackiness is the gripping capacity that you will find in Chinese rubber. Tacky rubbers generate more spin but are vulnerable to the opponent’s spin.
9. Throw Angle
It is the angle of flight of the ball when it comes off the racket surface. Rubbers with a high throw angle throw the ball higher than the rubbers with a low throw angle.
Low throw rubbers are effective against topspin whereas high throw rubbers can handle backspin in a better way.
10. Gear
It is the amount of variety of speeds that rubber can produce. Generally higher the gear, the better the rubber. Attackers and defenders prefer a few gears of rubber.
18 Best Table Tennis Rubbers Reviews
Here are my top 17 pick-up among the table tennis rubbers for a better experience.
- Butterfly Tenergy 05
- Butterfly Dignics 05
- Tenergy 05 FX
- TIBHAR Evolution MX-P
- Butterfly Tenergy 64
- Butterfly Tenergy 19
- Nittaku Fastarc G-1
- DHS Hurricane 3 Neo
- Andro Rasanter R47
- JOOLA Rhyzm-P
- Butterfly Tenergy 80
- STIGA Calibra LT
- Yasaka RAKZA 7
- XIOM Vega Europe
- DONIC Bluefire M3
- STIGA Mantra H
- Butterfly Rozena
- Yasaka Mark V
1. Butterfly Tenergy 05/ Best Table Tennis Rubber
The Tenergy 05 is a result of the revolutionary technology of the world-famous brand, Butterfly, which features spring sponge technology, high-tension rubber, improved pimple structure, and a grippy surface. It is one of the best offensive rubbers (Especially mid-distance looping) that sets the benchmark with which other rubbers are often compared.
Butterfly uses a high-tension top sheet for Tenergy rubbers which is stretched to make it thinner before pasting on the sponge. This makes the penetration of the ball deeper into the sponge. The sponge acts like a spring to release the induced energy and springs off with a tremendous catapult that makes Tenergy 05 a perfect looping machine.
The pimple structure of Tenergy 05 is very refined which gives you a medium feel, not too hard or too soft, and natural rubber makes a very grippy top sheet.
It is medium-hard bouncy rubber with a bigger arc, which is rare to find. This improves your consistency in power loops away from the table.
Though it is a high-tension rubber, the durability is on the higher side with an average of 6-12 months.
The downside is that this rubber is very sensitive to incoming spin and due to its bouncy nature and high throw angle, it is hard to control. Beginners will face the difficulty of managing the opponent’s incoming spin, while the players with decent techniques definitely will enjoy the outcome of the best looping rubber ever.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Class: High-Tension Pimples-in
- Speed: 130
- Spin: 115
- Control: 69
- Weight: 68 grams (Medium-Heavy)
- Hardness: Medium Hard
- Throw angle: High
- Gears: Many Gears
- Durability: High
- Thickness: 1.7 mm, 1.9 mm, and 2.1 mm
- Made in Japan
Pros
- Exceptional Spin
- Excellent Speed
- Best looping rubber
- Durable
Cons
- Expensive
- Not for beginners
To know more, go through my detailed review of Tenergy 05.
2. Butterfly Dignics 05 Table Tennis Rubber
This is the latest innovation from Butterfly that is designed for aggressive players who prefer topspin play with better control than Tenergy 05. This rubber uses a new, improved Spring Sponge X technology with an advanced surface sheet and Code 05 pimples structure that provides an increased grip for holding the ball on impact. The grippy surface can generate the required spin for which this Dignics was designed.
The harder spring sponge gives a highly elastic and flexible surface for a strong catapult effect. This rubber is nearly equal to Tenergy 05 for topspin play with a lower throw angle for better control during blocking. The harder sponge with the improved top sheet increases the longevity of the Dignics.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Speed: 135
- Spin: 120
- Control: 68
- Sponge Hardness: Medium-Hard
- Throw Angle: Medium-high
- Gears: Above average
- Durability: High
- Thickness: 1.9 mm, 2.1 mm
- Made in Japan
Pros
- The high grippy surface can generate massive spin.
- Ideal for aggressive play with high speed, spin with high passive control of incoming spin
- Excellent for topspin play with better control than Tenergy 05
- You can play with Dignics 05 for a longer time. It is highly durable.
Cons
- Expensive rubber
3. Butterfly Tenergy 05 FX
The Tenergy 05 FX, a high-tension inverted table tennis rubber has the same top sheet as the parent T05 but with a softer sponge composition. It is regarded as the control version of the Butterfly Tenergy 05.
Pairing T05 FX with Timo Boll ALC gives me a very satisfying experience. It is fast but not super fast. It is very spinny, you will be delighted to find the amount of spins it can generate in your serves. Control is quite good for the extra dwell time due to the soft nature of the sponge.
Topspin is the area where the Tenergy is the monster. If you are an all-rounder and love to play looping more consistently than T05, the 05 FX is your best match.
Pros
- Massive Spin
- Great speed
- Good control
- Great for looping
- Excellent for backhand flick
- Durable
Cons
- Expensive
- Not for beginners
4. TIBHAR Evolution MX-P
This rubber from Tibhar is the best alternative to Butterfly Tenergy rubbers. But it costs 50% price of Tenergy rubbers. That’s Amazing.
Tibhar Evolution MX-P is the fastest and most popular out of all Evolution rubbers. This is a powerhouse among the table tennis rubbers.
The Evolution MX-P has a perfect adjustment of the pimple geometry that gives more flexibility for the extra energy to the attacking balls. Due to this unique feature, players can easily adopt this rubber with no sacrifice in speed and spin.
This is a fantastic rubber for topspin lovers, very close to Tenergy 05, but you have a decent technique to get the most out of it.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Speed: 116
- Spin: 117
- Control: 70
- Sponge Hardness: Medium-Hard
- Throw Angle: Medium-high
- Gears: Many gears
Pros
- Exceptional speed
- Fantastic spin
- Greater flexibility makes it easy to produce attacking shots consistently
- Longer dwell time helps generate topspin shots
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- The durability of the rubber is average.
5. Butterfly Tenergy 64
Tenergy 64 is the fastest among the Tenergy series. It is built on the same concept of spring sponge technology that incorporates air bubbles and high-tension top sheets. The difference is that Tenergy 64 has a wider distance between pimples than Tenergy 05. This gives a softer feeling to this rubber. The throw angle of Tenergy 64 is lower than Tenergy 05 which helps a lot in getting a better backhand loop. This highly flexible rubber is for those who prefer speed over spin and love to play from mid-distance.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Class: High-Tension Pimples-in
- Speed: 135
- Spin: 105
- Control: 67
- Hardness: Medium
- Throw angle: Medium High
- Gears: Many Gears
- Durability: High
- Thickness: 1.7 mm, 1.9 mm, and 2.1 mm
- Made in Japan
Pros
- Fastest attacking rubber of the Tenergy family
- High Spin
- Perfect for blocking and counterattacking
Cons
- Expensive
For details, you may check my full review of Butterfly Tenergy 64 here.
6. Butterfly Tenergy 19 Table Tennis Rubber
SPECIFICATIONS
- Class: High-Tension Pimples-in
- Speed: 132
- Spin: 117
- Hardness: Medium Hard
- Throw angle: Medium High
- Gears: Above Average Gears
- Durability: High
- Thickness: 1.7 mm, 1.9 mm, and 2.1 mm
- Made in Japan
The Tenergy 19, launched in 2021, is the newest entry of the Butterfly Tenergy series rubbers. It is an offensive rubber that has the same spring sponge technology as the Tenergy 05 but with a different top sheet geometry. The pimples of Tenergy 19 have a smaller diameter (1.5 mm) compared to Tenergy 05 and the pimples are densely packed.
When the ball strikes the rubber, there is less resistance from the thinner pimples and for this, the ball dips more on this rubber. As a result, pimples are pressed more, and also due to the dense nature, more pimples come into action resulting in more springing action.
The area where this rubber shines is the control. As the ball stays longer on the rubber surface, it is easier to counter the incoming spin. So for passive shots, T19 is easier to handle than T05 and has a higher margin of error. The grippy top sheet feels softer and gives you a high amount of spin in soft strokes like serve. T19 is also superb in the backhand area. The high dwell time gives you easy access to go through your shots in the backhand flick.
For topspin, it gives a higher arc but a shorter trajectory than the Tenergy 05. That’s why, though for T19, the ball hits the table on more occasions, it does not give the lethal speed of Tenergy 05.
Overall, it is an excellent offensive rubber for intermediate and advanced players, which not only gives massive spin but also has enough speed with higher consistency.
7. Nittaku Fastarc G-1
SPECIFICATIONS
- Class: Pimples-in/ Smooth
- Speed: 95
- Spin: 96
- Control: 68
- Hardness: Medium Hard
- Throw angle: Medium High
- Gears: Many Gears
- Durability: Very High
- Thickness: 1.4, 1.8, 2.0 mm, and Max
- Made in Japan
Nittaku Fastarc G-1, Japan’s best-selling rubber, has a grippy topsheet with a medium hard sponge. The rubber is slightly heavy and socks a lot of glue during pasting. It is a fast rubber with excellent spin and commendable control. The rubber is very linear, you will not get the catapult effect of T05. So blocking is very easy with the Fastarc G-1, you need not do the wrist adjustment like the T05. Another good thing is the insensitivity of the incoming spin which helps you to control the ball for precise placement.
Nittaku Fastarc G-1 is an excellent choice for those who prefer spin over speed. Though it is not as fast as the MX-P, it gives you enough speed in your smashes or spinny loops. In a nutshell, the Fastarc G-1 is an excellent all-round offensive rubber with great value for money.
Pros
- Excellent spin
- Great control
- Good speed
- Durable
- Value for money
Cons
- Not for beginners
- Careful handling is necessary to ensure longevity
8. DHS Hurricane 3 Neo
It’s a unique Chinese rubber with a combination of a powerful NEO sponge and Hurricane 3 rubber. The new, powerful Neo sponge gives the Hurricane 3 rubber an additional rebound without losing spin and control. The extreme tackiness of the top sheet and hard sponge generate maximum spin.
Because of its tackiness, the rubber is quite slow, so you need to increase the power to generate more speed. Most of the players use the forehand side to create more spin than the backhand side. DHS Hurricane 3 Neo works well with the forehand side, not with the backhand.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Speed: 120
- Spin: 120
- Control: 100
- Sponge Hardness: Medium-Hard
- Throw Angle: Medium-high
- Gears: Many gears
Pros
- Ideal for creating maximum spin strokes
- Cheaper compared to other rubbers
- Great for forehand shots for a massive spin with more power
- Great for looping shots
Cons
- It needs extra effort for high speed.
9. Andro Rasanter R47/ Best Table Tennis Rubber for the Money
Andro, a passionate German table tennis brand, manufactures this Rasanter series rubber for offensive topspin play at a higher speed. This new generation rubber has a massive 2.3 mm thick sponge. To match the guideline of the maximum limit of rubber thickness (4.0 mm), ANDRO has made the top sheet thinner.
The Rasanter R47 has a perfect balance between speed and spin. It has high speed and it’s very spinny. During looping, it produces a medium arc.
- Rasanter = Extra speed
- R = Rotation
- 47 = Sponge density
This rubber is for spin-driven high-level players. The 47° microstructure sponge hardness gives the full advantage for extra power and speed in your topspin strokes.
- Speed: 120
- Spin: 126
- Control: 85
- Sponge Hardness: Medium-hard
- Gears: Many gears
- Throw Angle: Medium-high
Pros
- Perfect balance between speed and spin
- High speed
- Very spinny rubber
- Great for topspin attack
- It can produce an extremely curved trajectory even at a moderate speed
Cons
- Effective for advanced players as it needs few skills to control
10. Butterfly Tenergy 80
Butterfly Tenergy 80 is the most balanced rubber in the Tenergy series, it has everything, spin is nearly equal to Tenergy 05, Speed is next to Tenergy 64, and touch is almost equal to Tenergy 25.
The Tenergy 80 is very good for spin and looping is just brilliant. The topsheet is very grippy which gives the feel of Tenergy 05. Tenergy 80 has slightly wider pimples than Tenergy 05. This adds more flexibility to this rubber. Due to this, Tenergy 80 holds the ball for a long time which makes this rubber the best in control among the Tenergy rubbers.
Like all Tenergy rubbers, this Tenergy 80 is also superfast. It is faster than Tenergy 05 and sits just behind Tenergy 64.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Class: High-Tension Pimples-in
- Speed: 132
- Spin: 112
- Control: 69
- Hardness: Medium
- Throw angle: Medium High
- Gears: Many Gears
- Durability: High
- Thickness: 1.7 mm, 1.9 mm, and 2.1 mm
- Made in Japan
Pros
- High Speed and Spin
- Good Control
- Spinny serve
- Best for backhand
Cons
- Slightly less durability than Tenergy rubbers
11. JOOLA Rhyzm-P Table Tennis Rubber
JOOLA Rhyzm-P is one of the most popular ESN rubbers that uses the Geo-grip power technology to bring more friction to the surface. This high-friction surface grips the ball more and propels it with an increased spin and control.
JOOLA Rhyzm-p is a medium-hard sponge with large pores that have a softer feeling. In terms of speed, It is very close to the original Rhyzm with a slightly higher throw angle.
This fast, spinny is best for aggressive players who love to play from middle to far distances.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Speed: 121
- Spin: 120
- Control: 80
- Sponge Hardness: Medium (45°)
- Gears: Many gears
- Throw Angle: Medium-high
Pros
- Offensive rubber with a balanced approach
- High Spin
- Durable
Cons
- Not beginner-friendly
12. STIGA Calibra LT
The Calibra LT, from STIGA, is a medium-hard rubber that reminds us of the effect of speed glue. It is built with a TransTension Sponge to maximize the power of your stroke. In terms of speed, it is faster than Tenergy 05 and similar to Tenergy 64. It’s a rubber of long trajectory (LT = Long Trajectory) that suits the needs of modern table tennis.
Calibra LT has a grippy surface and is very good for spins, slightly less than Tenergy 05. The throw angle is also somewhat lower than Tenergy 05. Due to the low throw angle and insensitivity against incoming spin, this rubber is good for blocking. Calibra Lt is lightweight, fast, and spinny and requires sufficient skills to manage.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Speed: 96
- Spin: 91
- Control: 70
- Sponge Hardness: Medium-hard
- Gears: Many gears
- Throw Angle: Medium-high
Pros
- High speed
- High Spin
- Good for blocking and driving
Cons
- Durability is average
13. Yasaka RAKZA 7 Table Tennis Rubber
This new-generation rubber from Yasaka uses the optimal pimple geometry for a perfect combination of spin, speed, and control.
The top sheet of RAKZA 7 is made from natural rubber gum. It enhances the gripping capacity and power of spin. The top sheet is combined with a newly developed power sponge. Their perfect synergy has produced the “Hybrid Energy” rubber, RAKZA-7.
Due to the high gripping capacity of the Razka 7, you can place the ball accurately. This rubber has everything, it is great for loop (medium throw angle), fantastic for blocking, and easy to vary spin in your serves. Moreover, this is a very durable rubber due to the use of natural gum.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Speed: 94
- Spin: 95
- Control: 67
- Sponge Hardness: Medium-hard
- Gears: Many gears
- Throw Angle: Medium-high
Pros
- Natural gum rubber gives the power to spin
- This “Hybrid Energy” rubber is a perfect combination of speed, spin, and control
- Easy to place short serve and sharp return
- Natural rubber enhances durability
Cons
- Frequent cleaning is a must for this rubber
14. XIOM Vega Europe
This popular rubber from XIOM is for intermediate players who want to dominate the game with nearly almighty control.
The 42.5° soft sponge sinks the ball for a longer dwell time. That gives more feedback to the ball and absorbs the spin of the incoming ball. Players also can adjust their shots for fewer mistakes.
The soft top sheet offers a great touch and players can easily control the game. VEGA is a mixture of two new technologies – HYPER ELASTO and CARBO SPONGE.
The HYPER ELASTO technology gives extreme spin with stability. This rubber also has the option to attack because of the high-level energy efficiency through the black TENSOR carbo sponge.
Vega Europe can act as per your requirement, from soft touch to fast attack. The transition from slow to fast is very smooth and linear. This helps build a trustworthy relationship with the players.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Speed: 85
- Spin: 91
- Control: 73
- Sponge Hardness: Soft
- Gears: Above-average gears
- Throw Angle: Medium
Pros
- Great control and ball feedback
- Able to produce fast shots
- Excellent spin with stability
- Nice feeling and smooth transition from slow to fast stroke
- Perfect for allrounders
Cons
- Not for top-level attackers
15. STIGA Mantra H Table Tennis Rubber
This is the latest development of STIGA with a more grippy top sheet. The specialty of Mantra H is the stability of your power shots. While it has a speed like MX P, it is also very good at blocking. The low throw of Mantra H helps the ball to pass an inch over the net which makes it difficult to attack. It can also give you a lot of spins, not like Tenergy 05, but the balance between speed and spin is superb. Mantra H is not sensitive to the incoming spin and is very good for counter-looping at mid-distance which produces a low sharp arc.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Speed: 97
- Spin: 97
- Control: 67
- Sponge Hardness: Hard
- Gears: Above-average gears
- Throw Angle: Low
Pros
- Equal balance for speed and spin with more safety
- Good for blocking as it is not sensitive to incoming spin
Cons
- Difficult to lift the low-height balls due to low throw angles
16. DONIC Bluefire M3
Donic has used the new FD3 technology for the production of this rubber. This rubber is a combination of a large pored sponge with an extremely spinny top sheet.
The soft sponge allows for a long dwell time for a strong topspin shot. The narrow and long pimpled structure of the top sheet gives flexibility and an exceptional ball feeling.
The amount of speed that it can generate with this soft sponge, is amazing. Thanks to its new innovative FD3 technology.
This rubber is for players who like a soft sponge for perfect control without sacrificing speed. It also offers incredible spin, exceptional ball feedback, and satisfying sound.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Speed: 90
- Spin: 107
- Control: 77
- Sponge Hardness: Soft
- Gears: Above-average gears
- Throw Angle: High
Pros
- Great spin with perfect control
- Exceptional ball feedback and feeling
- Satisfying sound with decent speed
- Perfect for topspin shots
Cons
- Not ideal for the players of the “OFF+” class
17. Butterfly Rozena
The new Rozena from Butterfly uses spring sponge technology and a high-tension rubber. With sufficient power and spin, Rozena gives a higher margin for errors. This rubber is for those who are aiming for the top with the aggressive nature of play but at the same time want stability in their shots.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Class: High Tension Pimples-in Rubber
- Speed: 130
- Spin: 108
- Control: 89
- Sponge Hardness: Medium
- Gears: Above average
- Throw Angle: Medium-high
- Thickness: 1.7 mm, 1.9 mm, 2.1 mm
- Durability: High
Pros
- Good balance of speed, spin, and control
- The higher margin for errors gives stability to your shots
- Less responsive to incoming spin
- Good for blocking, counter-hitting
- A good choice for developing players before trying Tenergy 05
Cons
- Speed and spin are less than top rubbers like Tenergy 05 or Evolution MX-P
18. Yasaka Mark V/ Best Table Tennis Rubber for Beginners
This Yasaka Mark V is one of the best-selling and most popular rubbers in the world by Yasaka Co. Ltd, a Japan-based company.
This Mark V rubber is for all-rounders with a great combination of speed, spin, and control. It also absorbs the incoming spin for a longer dwell time enhancing the ability to control the ball.
This rubber uses the blending of natural and synthetic rubber making it lightweight and easy to adopt. Also, it can be paired with most of the common blades. Mark V is widely recommended for beginners and intermediate-level players to improve their techniques.
SPECIFICATIONS
- Speed: 90
- Spin: 90
- Control: 78
- Sponge Hardness: Medium
- Gears: Above-average gears
- Throw Angle: Medium
- Thickness: 1.0, 1.5, 1.8, 2.0, Max
Pros
- Great combination of speed, spin, and control
- Perfect for beginner and intermediate players
- Durable
- Suitable for both forehand and backhand side
- Cheaper compared to other same-quality rubbers
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not recommended for very aggressive players
To know more, check my detailed review of Yasaka Mark V.
Which is the Best Backhand Table Tennis Rubber?
Concerning the forehand, the backhand stroke is shorter and quicker. The backhand stroke is taken in front of the body, so there is very little involvement of your body. Mainly your upper arm and wrist get involved for fast spinny returns. So it is tough to generate spin with hard fast rubber and if you use soft rubber, you will not be able to utilize the full efficiency.
Again in the backhand, your bat angle is more closed, so you need a rubber with a high throw angle.
The best option for backhand rubber is a bouncy medium-hard rubber. Here is the list of some top backhand table tennis rubbers.
Which is the Best Forehand Table Tennis Rubber?
In a forehand stroke, your total body is involved and the arc of racket movement is bigger than in a backhand stroke. Your racket angle is also more open, So you need a hard rubber with a lower throw angle. If you don’t use hard rubber, you will not be able to utilize your full energy.
But if you are a looper and love to play away from the table, then a medium-hard rubber with a high throw angle is a better option.
Frequently Asked Questions
The red-colored rubbers are a little bit more slippery than the black rubbers. Though it is a very minute difference, black rubbers generate more spin while red rubbers give more speed.
Chinese manufacturers use artificial rubber formula to make the top sheet which is a cheaper option than other reputed rubber manufacturers like Butterfly Company which uses the natural rubber formula.
ESN rubbers are the new generation rubbers, manufactured by a particular German-based company. Big companies like XIOM, Andro, Donic, etc. outsource rubbers from that company.
In terms of popularity, Yasaka Mark-V and Tenergy 05 are far ahead of the others.
These rubbers will give you the best effect of spin and speed.
Butterfly Tenergy 05
Butterfly Tenergy 80
JOOLA Rhyzm-P
Andro Rasanter R47
For the best combination of spin and control, you may try:
Nittaku Fastarc G-1
Yasaka Rakza 7
XIOM Vega Europe
The life of a table tennis rubber depends on its usage and durability. As described by Butterfly,
A Good Rule of Thumb:
[Number of days played/ week] = [Number of times to change/ year]
You have to clean your rubbers regularly, otherwise, the accumulated dust may spoil the rubber surface. You can simply clean the rubbers by wiping them down with a bit of water on a clean cloth.
Conclusion
I have tried to cover the top rubbers that have some unique characteristics to separate them from others.
The average life of a table tennis rubber is 50 – 90 hours (As per the manufacturer’s directive). But you may extend it up to 6 – 9 months (With average playing hours of 2 per day).
Properly do your research. Choose the TT rubbers that match your playing style. Consult with your coach and seniors and taste the rubbers during practice.
Make a comparative analysis to select the rubber that gives the best results and finally try out it in your match.
Your selection would be the decisive X factor in the match.
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FastArc G-1 is missing. Clearly one of the most popular and one of the best.
Thanks for your valuable suggestion. I have heard about it but have not tested the rubber yet. I am eagerly looking forward to using the rubber within a short span. Thanks once again.