Reviews by Ravil

Gewo Nanoflex FT 48 is a great backhand rubber. I flip most receives and FT48 is a breeze in that department. Even if I switch to a push, I get good depth and spin. The rubber excels in blocking game and has enough power away from the table to keep the rally going. Serves are spinny too. I feel this rubber has good power reserves if you want to smash. I haven't tried the new Nanoflex range, but I guess it would just be a minor improvement over the older rubbers. If you are looking for a punchy rubber on the backhand and have a good blocking game, FT48 is worth a try.

Stiga Mantra falls easily in my top three choice of rubbers. The top sheet is non-tacky but grippy, and makes it very easy to lift backspin balls or open up a rally. I use it on my forehand on the Xiom Zeta Offensive blade. Mantra M isn't an explosive rubber and it doesn't have speed and spin values of MX-P or MX-S. Instead, it is a very linear rubber, with adequate speed and spin, and that helps me maintain the tempo I want. I rarely overshoot the table with Mantra M. My counter game on the forehand has improved due to the consistency of the rubber. I will try the rubber on my backhand soon. I don't find it overly sensitive to incoming spin. One can adapt to this rubber very easily and I think it's a good option for players seeking more control in their game without compromising a great deal on speed and spin.

Zeta offensive is a superb 7-ply all-wood blade. It can generate decent spin, and has lovely control in blocks and drives. I have paired many rubbers with it and they all have worked well. El-S, Mantra, Gewo FT48 all suited well to the blade. The throw is medium-high and provides ample safety over the net. Despite that, you can still execute flicks and short pushes well. At 40 euros, I don't think there is a better all-wood blade in the market and it can help immensely if one wants to progress to a faster blade from a standard 5-ply one.