Reviews by yogi_bear

Lighter version of the T-88 rubbers at 61 grams uncut. The topsheet is not your typical Chinese rubber which is shiny. The Taiji has a matted topsheet for both black and grey. The new, bright, pink sponge has bigger pores compared to the last version of T-88 which was a yellow sponge. The rubber is slow at all+ speed but very spinny.

The topsheet is slightly tacky even with the black version. Spin is high despite being slightly tacky and produces a medium to high arc.

Speed is only a bit faster than the T-88 light rubber. If compared to other rubbers, the speed of the Taiji is a little bit faster than LKT XP Pro or a little bit slower than Ritc 729 Higher. This is a beginner to intermediate level rubber. Take a bit of effort to spin and needs a proper technique to play with. It can chop defensively and push with high amount of spin.

It is not as spin sensitive like the PF-4 nor feels as hard as Hurricane 3.

The Nexy Rubicon is an amazing blade. Weighing at 84 grams, the blade feels light and not head heavy. The one is used for half an hour was with a Nexy Karis Hard on the forehand and a Stiga Airoc Astro on the backhand. The blade has a very good finish. In fact, it has the most comfortable flared handle among all the Nexy blades I have tested so far. The neck, the size and the smoothness all contributes to the comfort when gripping the handle. The surface is medium hard and the overall stiffness is medium stiff with some flex. The blade is fast, more or less teh level of a Startus power wood but the control is much better. When I tried the Karis H in the forehand, the set up seems very bouncy so for people who want soem control I would suggest not to use any medium hard or hard ESN rubbers. Probably a 38-39 degree dhs rubber would be perfect because it isn't not too bouncy. I would choose medium rubbers for this like Rakza 7 or Joola Rhyzm-P

A semi-light rubber at 64-65 grams uncut. Spin seems to be in the level of xiom vega europe but the speed of the R42 is much faster. it is very bouncy and easy to use especially in the backhand. It is easy to receive spinny serves and also spinny loops because it is not spin sensitive and also it is good for blocking. I might prefer this over the Xiom Vega Europe for the backhand because it has a more bouncy sponge and it seems durable enough. Think of it as almost the sme with Xiom Vega Europe but with a faster speed. Arc when spinning is medium to low.

The Eternity blade is a hardened Infinity VPS blade that has a more solid feel and faster speed. The speed of the Eternity is more or less equal to the Stratus Powerwood. The outer plies look like burned or colored limba. The blade is medium stiff with some flex that is still good for looping or simply smashing. It is a blade that attackers and all-around style players can enjoy. The weight seem to vary. Mine was 92-93 grams at legend flared while the other ones I knew who bought the blade have 87-88 grams. The Eternity has only one drawback-you need to seal the blade surface before you glue a rubber on just to protect the outer plies from splintering. The Eternity is a little more expensive than regular Stiga blades but it is a good attacking blade with good control.

Weight: 92-93 grams
Speed: Off+
Hardness: very stiff

The 245 is a high throw blade. Like the 45 and 145 predecessors, the 245 has also has a high throw. The 245 is a very stiff blade and also insanely fast. Only the weight is the drawback. It is like an innerforce blade on steroids. It is very bouncy and fast that you only need short strokes to produce fast attacks and returns. TYhis is not for a beginner and I would only recommend this for advanced and expert level players. Despite the speed and stiffness, the 245 has some control when it comes to attacking and also has some feel. It still has more feel compared to TAMCA 500 blades.

What are the differences between the 2 blades? There are quite a few differences that I have observed actually. The 290 has a lower throw or arc while the 245 has a high throw with the rubbers I have used for testing. The 245 easily clears the net when you are looping the ball and the height I have observed over the net would probably be 4-7 inches depending on your angle but you will not have any problems hitting the net. You need to adjust a little bit with the 245 because of the high arc and a long throw. First few minutes I had to adjust but not much of a problem. The 290 however is a bit unique. At first, you would be a bit nervous if your shots because you would think they would hit the net and you would miss your shots but no. The low throw and long arc of the 290 seem to be good in the long run. Yes, it has a low throw but it is consistent at about 1-2 inches above the net BUT you seldom miss with it. It is pretty consistent about its accuracy and height. When you loop with the 245 it is easier because the ball has some clearance when you loop it. The high throw of the 245 is more forgiving than the 290 but the 290’s consistency on its low height can be hard to block against with. The low but long trajectory of the 290 produces a very sharp flight pathway for the ball and it is faster too. The 290 is faster than the carbonado 245. People would mistake the ball going over the table with the 245 as the 245 being the faster of the 2 but it is actually the opposite. It is the 290 that is faster only that it has a lower throw and the 245 due to the height and long trajectory of the ball, makes you miss your placement sometimes.

Wt: 93 grams (master flared)
Hardness: Very Stiff
Composition: Limba+ textreme carbon + ayous
Speed: OFF+


The Stiga Carbonado 290 was designed for players who wanted a faster Stiga blade because Stiga has not had any off+ blades for a few years now except with the Intensity Carbon. The previous Carbonado 190 was only considered as OFF and not a true OFF+ blade. The Carbonado 90 was even slower like an OFF- blade even with a thin textreme carbon layer on it. At first inspection, the Carbonado 290 has the new metal logos on it – both at the side of the handle and the one that replaces the sticker that has been on the blade since the 70’s. The quality finish is very good. Stiga has been increasing the quality of their blades especially the newer ones. The 290 has a smooth finish on the limba top surface has some sort of a very thin varnish but I strongly recommend people to seal the blade before gluing any rubber in it.

On a bounce test against the blade having no rubber, the sound was a high pitched sound indicating it to be a stiff and fast blade. I tested the blade with a DHS Hurricane 3, Stiga Mantra H, S and M versions. The level of speed the Carbonado 290 has is in par with a Jun Mizutani ZLC blade. It is a true OFF+ blade and it is way faster than its predecessor the Carbonado 190. You can say it feels like a very stiff Innerforce blade and it is on steroids but it still has great feel hitting the ball.

Looping wise, the Carbonado 290 is above average but it is more suited for loop drives. The throw is very low and it is low that at first time using it I was afraid that my shots would hit the net because the throw was that low. Fortunately, even if the height of the ball while passing over the net was just about an inch or two it was pretty consistent especially with the Mantra H and M versions. The loop drives are long and sharp. It is safe to say despite the Carbonado 290’s very fast speed, it offers a fair amount of good control. At least in my part, I really like the low throw with the Mantra H.

Overall, this is a few steps above the usual Stiga blade. The 190 and 145 blades were not fast enough for some people before and this is Stiga’s answer to those clamor. The Carbonado 290 is currently the fastest modern blade Stiga has although the old Titanium blade that was produced more than 10 years ago was also fast but I could not remember which is faster between the two blades. The blade is good in almost all aspects of the game except for chopping with long pimples. Due to its speed, it is the only thing it will not be good at. Short strokes like flick or drop shots are good and easy to control despite the speed. Blocking is also one of its strengths. The Carbonado 290 is awesome to block with. With the Mantra H glued on it, blocking even very strong loop drives are a bit easy and it is so far the most stable and linear blade I have used. It can easily do what you want it to do except chopping. Only drawback for this balde is that it is on the heavier side where you might need to get the master flared version to have a lighter blade,

The spinniest Rasanter rubber having also the hardest sponge.The feel of the rubber is closer to the Joola Maxxx 500 and Gewo Hype Pro 50. Produces high amount of spin and it seems suited more for players who use Chinese rubbers. The speed is medium fast like that of an EL=S or EL-P. It is spinnier than the Andro Rasant Power Grip but still a notch shorter than MX-P or MX-S. Still, it is a good forehand and backhand rubber but specifically opted for a certain style like a looping style. Rubber is easier to control than the V or R47 versions. Sometimes, it feels like a faster Chinese rubber with no tack.

This is the 2nd fastest Rasanter rubber. This is slightly spinnier than the V47 version and has a higher arc. The topsheet grips the ball fairly good enough. This has a lesser spin compared to MX-P but better control. This is still very spinny. Also, the MX-P is still faster than this rubber but with a small difference. This is a good offensive rubber and I would prefer this over the V47 because of the amount of spin. The speed difference between the V47 and this is just a few notches so better to choose the version with more spin. This is definitely for advanced players. Almost similar to the Joola Rhyzm but a tad softer and Blue Fire M1.

The R42 is almost similar to the Joola Rhyzm 425 except that it feels softer. Sponge is medium soft and you can feel the ball sink into the sponge everytime you have a hit with it. It produces above average spin and a medium arc when looping the ball. The R42 is fast and bouncy and compared to the Xiom Vega Europe, it is marginally faster and also spinnier. Control is above average even for beginner and intermediate levels but I would recommend this more for an intermediate level player. Good smashing and hitting properties especially with counters and blocks near and far from the table.

The softest Rasanter among the 6 variants and also the slowest. It is slower than the Rasant Beat and also has less spin. The Rasant Beat was softer but it offered more spin and grip on the ball and it was more bouncy. Even at max thickness this rubber can be controlled by intermediate level players. Good for smashing because of the control but spin is just above average. I would only recommend this as a backhand rubber because it blocks really well and it is easy to hablde spinny serves and loops when blocking.

The new Stiga 3 Star Perform ball is a great improvement over the the optimum 40+ before. This is already as good as Sanwei 40+ ABS polyballs. The consistency in bounce and roundness is very good and almost feels like a celluloid ball. Not sure about the price though. Probably made by Minkow Factory but not sure.

-slightly faster than commercial Hurricane 3 but with a notch or 2 less spin. It is a good alternative to commercial Hurricane 3 because it has a more consistent quality. The red one is tackier than the black one making the red one spinnier but slower. This has a blue sponge and is quite heavy. Medium arc when looping, excellent close to the table attacking style and also for an all around style.

A good Chinese rubber with a bouncy sponge. It is similar to the Tin Arc rubbers. The Rubber is made by DHS. It is medium fast and is very spinny on slow loops. High amount of control and excellent for close to the table type of play. Pushes and blocks well too.

A better 5 ply looping blade that Infinity VPS. It is composed of a new "Arctic wood" outer ply with inner spruce and ayous layers. Loops very well and is forgiving on difficult shots. Faster than VPS but still has a lot of flex. Slower than Tibhar SPW but faster than a Primorac Off= blade. A perfect balance of speed and control and very user-friendly. Ideal for all levels of playing from beginner to advanced levels. It is also not choosy with rubbers you glue on it. It is also a light blade for its kind. My legend flared version was only 85 grams.

more suited as a backhand rubber rather than a forehand rubber. this is more suited for players who are still developing their game and also for all around type of play where every stroke counts a a point earning stroke liek push chops and flicks. advanced players can use this more as a backhand rubber and just stick to Tenergy 05. Spin is much less compared to Tenergy 05 or MX-P.

STIGA Mantra Rubber: H
Weight: 65 grams uncut
Speed: OFF+
Spin: Very High

After waiting patiently the new Mantra rubbers are here. I finally got hold of each version S, M and H. To stop the rumors flying about that the Mantra rubber series was recalled due to a low durability. It was due to a factory enhancement with the rubber which I know but do not have the liberty to discuss.





I paired the Mantra H, alongside the Genesis Rubber on a DHS Hurricane 3 for the Carbonado 290 and 245 and the Celero Blade. Out of all 3 versions soft, medium and hard I preferred the hard. The medium version is 47 degrees in hardness. Between all 3 versions the pimple structure between the Soft, Medium and Hard are the exact same the only difference being the hardness of sponge.

The topsheet on the Mantra rubber is a huge update from the Airoc and a great improvement. The Japanese company that produced the rubber has surprised me with is new topsheet. It has a very grippy surface and it does not come with the plastic like texture.

Speed: The Mantra rubbers are fast with the hard version being the fastest. It has similar speeds to the Tibhar Evolution MX-P if not even faster! The Japanese rubbers never had a problem with speed it was that they needed more spin. The M is also fast but on similar speeds to a EL-S. The S is slow and soft, slower than a FX-P.

Spin: The Mantra rubbers are very grippy. This is the first time the Japanese company have produced such a topsheet for Stiga. The Airoc was spinny but not on the levels of the new Mantra rubbers. In comparison to other rubbers the topsheet feels closest to Haifu Shark 3 and Whale 3. They are grippy without the tackiness. The hard version has almost the same amount of spin as the Evolution MX-P but a sharper and longer trajectory. When used with the Carbonado 290 the throw was low but accurate enough to clear the net. The medium version is also very spinny. Both M and H versions of the Mantra are spinny enough that they could pass as ESN rubbers, its this trajectory that makes them different from ESN rubbers. The M produces a medium arc whereas the S has a medium to high arc. You need to hit through the sponge more with the S to produce more spin. The Genesis rubbers are initially more spinny but when you compress more on the sponge and when you do very strong attacks, that is where the Mantra H and M rubbers shine and you can feel the combination of the speed and spin.

Which version do I prefer of the Mantra series? I was really biased with the H version but lately I also like the M version a lot. Let me explain why.

The Mantra H is the most stable rubber of the 3 in terms of attacking and blocking. The H version was placed on a Carbonado 290 which is a very fast attacking blade, a OFF+. I didnt have any problem with blocking the ball. It produced a low return when blocking

Mantra H version is one of the most stable rubber I have tried in terms of attacking and blocking. Take note that the H version was placed on a Carbonado 290 and the said blade is an off+ very fast attacking blade. I had no problem blocking with it. It produced a low return when blocking just an inch higher than the net which is sometimes hard for opponents to attack back. Both the M and H are really easy to block with. The M is a tamed version of the H and is easier to control. The H versions very low throw often upset my opponents with its unique attacking properties. The players who tried it were using the Donic P-Series and MX-P series. The guys using the Donic P-series all said the Mantra H was a more vicious and better rubber in attacking. The guys using the MX-P were very impressed by its good spin capabilities and sharp low arc.

The M version is the tamed version of the Mantra H. It can do everything the M version can but on a more tamed attack and easier to control. The 3 rubbers are never spin sensitive but they spin great with serves and pushes aside from loops. The S version, I would recommend it really for a backhand rubber or for developing players mostly. The H and M versions are really the rubbers to buy.

STIGA Mantra: M
Weight: 63 grams uncut
Speed: OFF
Spin: Very High

After waiting patiently the new Mantra rubbers are here. I finally got hold of each version S, M and H. To stop the rumors flying about that the Mantra rubber series was recalled due to a low durability. It was due to a factory enhancement with the rubber which I know but do not have the liberty to discuss.







I paired the Mantra M, alongside the Genesis Rubber on a DHS Hurricane 3 for the Carbonado 290 and 245 and the Celero Blade. Out of all 3 versions soft, medium and hard I preferred the hard. The medium version is 45 degrees in hardness. Between all 3 versions the pimple structure between the Soft, Medium and Hard are the exact same the only difference being the hardness of sponge.

The topsheet on the Mantra rubber is a huge update from the Airoc and a great improvement. The Japanese company that produced the rubber has surprised me with is new topsheet. It has a very grippy surface and it does not come with the plastic like texture.

Speed: The Mantra rubbers are fast with the hard version being the fastest. It has similar speeds to the Tibhar Evolution MX-P if not even faster! The Japanese rubbers never had a problem with speed in the past it was that they needed more spin. The M is also fast but on similar speeds to a EL-S. The S is slow and soft, slower than a FX-P.

Spin: The Mantra rubbers are very grippy. This is the first time the Japanese company have produced such a topsheet for Stiga. The Airoc was spinny but not on the levels of the new Mantra rubbers. In comparison to other rubbers the topsheet feels closest to Haifu Shark 3 and Whale 3. They are grippy without the tackiness. The hard version has almost the same amount of spin as the Evolution MX-P but a sharper and longer trajectory. When used with the Carbonado 290 the throw was low but accurate enough to clear the net. The medium version is also very spinny. Both M and H versions of the Mantra are spinny enough that they could pass as ESN rubbers, its this trajectory that makes them different from ESN rubbers. The M produces a medium arc whereas the S has a medium to high arc. You need to hit through the sponge more with the S to produce more spin. The Genesis rubbers are initially more spinny but when you compress more on the sponge and when you do very strong attacks, that is where the Mantra H and M rubbers shine and you can feel the combination of the speed and spin.

Which version do I prefer of the Mantra series? I was really biased with the H version but lately I also like the M version a lot. Let me explain why.

The Mantra H is the most stable rubber of the 3 in terms of attacking and blocking. The H version was placed on a Carbonado 290 which is a very fast attacking blade, a OFF+. I didnt have any problem with blocking the ball. It produced a low return when blocking


Mantra H version is one of the most stable rubber I have tried in terms of attacking and blocking. Take note that the H version was placed on a Carbonado 290 and the said blade is an off+ very fast attacking blade. I had no problem blocking with it. It produced a low return when blocking just an inch higher than the net which is sometimes hard for opponents to attack back. Both the M and H are really easy to block with. The M is a tamed version of the H and is easier to control. The H versions very low throw often upset my opponents with its unique attacking properties. The players who tried it were using the Donic P-Series and MX-P series. The guys using the Donic P-series all said the Mantra H was a more vicious and better rubber in attacking. The guys using the MX-P were very impressed by its good spin capabilities and sharp low arc.

The M version is the tamed version of the Mantra H. It can do everything the M version can but on a more tamed attack and easier to control. The 3 rubbers are never spin sensitive but they spin great with serves and pushes aside from loops. The S version, I would recommend it really for a backhand rubber or for developing players mostly. The H and M versions are really the rubbers to buy.

Mantra S
Weight: 62 grams uncut
Speed: Off-
Spin: High

After eagerly waiting several months for the new Mantra rubbers, I finally got hold of all 3 versions. Also to stop all the rumors that the Mantra rubber series needed to be recalled due to low durability is in correct. It was due to factory enhancement with the rubber which I know but do not have the liberty to discuss.









I paired the Mantra S, alongside the Genesis Rubber on a DHS Hurricane 3 for the Carbonado 290 and 245 and the Celero Blade. Out of all 3 versions soft, medium and hard I preferred the hard. The soft version is 42 degrees in hardness. Between all 3 versions the pimple structure between the Soft, Medium and Hard are the exact same the only difference being the hardness of sponge.

A Japanese company developed the Mantra and it is surprisingly different to what I expected especially with The topsheet. The new topsheet on this rubber is very grippy and not like the Airoc series whereby it has that plastic like texture. Lots of people have been asking what are so good about the Mantra's, is it just a marketing gimmick, I have asked myself the same questions. I also asked myself when I tried to place myself on other people’s shoes especially the doubtful ones and I do not blame them for being doubtful.

Between the 3 Mantra rubbers I found the soft version to be the slowest, slower than a Tibhar Evolution FX-P. The Medium version is faster and similar speeds to a EL-S. The Hard version was the fastest one, it matches similar speeds if not faster than a Tibhar Evolution MX-P. The Japanese rubbers didnt really have much problems with speed in the past it was that they needed more spin.

In terms of speed all 3 versions are very grippy, this is the first time that the Japanese company produced such a topsheet for STIGA. The Airoc series was spinny but not on the level of the Mantra rubbers.

The soft version reviewed here requires more hit through the sponge to produce spin. This rubber is for players who compress the sponge a lot when driving or top spinning.

The M version has a medium arc while the S version has a medium to high arc. The S version needs to be hit through the sponge to produce more spin. This rubber is designed for people who compress the sponge a lot when driving or looping. The Genesis rubbers are initially more spinny but when you compress more on the sponge and when you do very strong attacks, that is where the Mantra H and M rubbers shine and you can feel the combination of the speed and spin.

I have also posted a review on the Medium and Hard versions which I preferred more.

Xiom Vega Europe DF Rubber
Weight: 41 grams cut (151x157mm blade)
Sponge hardness: Soft
Speed: Off-

I have not used the Xiom Vega Europe for a while. In 2009 it was my favorite rubber when it first came out. I wanted to go back to XVE because I missed the feel and control plus spin I got when I started playing with the polyball. I contacted my local Xiom distributor in Philippines, www.pingpongonline.com, they sent me the new Vega Europe DF. The blade I used in the review was the STIGA Exclusive blade.

The Xiom Vega Europe DF feels very much like a 35-degree European hardness. When I pressed against the rubber it felt soft. When comparing side by side the original Vega Europe and Vega Europe DF the original felt a bit harder. The Vega Europe feels more of a 37 degree sponge hardness. The pimple structure looks identical between the two with the only difference it seems is the hardness. The Vega Elite is still the soften Vega Rubber in the series. When comparing all 3 rubbers in terms of hardness the Vega Europe DF is between the original Vega Europe and Vega Elite.

While testing the rubbers I used the Nexy 3* polyball, I felt right away that the original Xiom Vega Europe is slightly faster than the newer DF version. The speed of the DF felt between the Vega Elite and Vega Europe. The sound of the Vega Europe DF was very loud, the Vega Series is known for its sound, the DF was louder by a few notches. In terms of categorising the speed, the DF ranged from ALL+ to OFF- speed, but in general the speed on all of my strokes was OFF-.

I found the DF rubber to work well inside the table on shots such as short pushes, drop shots and serves.Serves in particular are very controllable and not too bouncy. The spin on my serves and sharp pushes seemed very high when you compress the ball onto the sponge.

The topsheet of the Xiom Vega Europe DF is very spinny and feels grippy, infact spinier than the original Xiom Vega Europe.

Comparing to Rasant Beat: The Vega Europe DF is spinier than the new andro Rasant Beat rubber, however the Beat is faster. The advantage with the DF is looping and spinning the ball.

The DF rubber produces a medium arc which I liked when looping or spinning the ball. When contacting the ball thin strokes were not the way to go with the DF version. Even with the plastic ball the DF rubber is very spinny. The rubber is not to sensitive to incoming spin and is highly controllable on blocks and controlling the heavy spin. I found the Europe DF more suited for the Forehand. This was because it is designed for close to the table producing lots of spin, at mid distance you need more effort because of the softness of the rubber. On the backhand I could have done with a bit more pace. If you are a player who likes to block, spin and drive on the backhand then the DF would suit you well. I think to make the rubber faster you need it on a faster blade like the Xiom Zetro Quad or the Stradivarius blade. This rubber would pair well with carbon blades as the spin and control would balance well.

Overall, the new Vega Europe DF rubber is a great all round attacking rubber designed for the plastic ball. The high control and forgiveness of this rubber would even be suitable for beginners. This rubber is excellent for learning the strokes because its very balanced between spin and control and a reasonable amount of speed.

Stiga Genesis M
Weight: 64 grams
Thickness: 2.0mm
Speed: Off

Throughout the review I will compare the Genesis M to the Genesis S and to similar rubbers that share the same characters as the Genesis series. The Genesis M feels fairly tacky however not to tacky like other Chinese/Tacky rubbers in the market. The topsheet on the Genesis could easily pass for a Euro style topsheet on first look however it is a Chinese topsheet. The Genesis M has the best topsheet I have seen for a Chinese rubber, very high quality, better than rubbers such as the Haifu which I have tested before. Someone has commented already that the rubbers have been produced by DHS and are similar to the Tin Arc series by DHS. I have tried the Tin Arc series previously and I think the Genesis is a few notches higher in performance and quality and definitely feels more responsive. The markings on the sponge as seen below are a giveaway on who made and produced the rubbers. The pores on the sponge are more porous and larger than DHS rubbers. Between the two Genesis rubbers the M version is 47 degrees whilst the S is 45 degrees. The topsheet on both the rubbers are medium to soft and not as hard as DHS Hurricane rubbers.

Speed

The Genesis M is fast and bouncy and feels similar to a Euro rubber instead of a traditional Chinese rubber. In comparison to other Stiga rubbers, the Genesis seems as fast as a Stiga Calibra LT Sound but with a more harder feeling. The Genesis M is definitely faster than the S and Calibra Spin. When comparing the Genesis against other brands in terms of speed the M is faster than DHS Tin Arc rubbers and has similar speeds to the Donic Acuda S2. The Genesis M is faster than the Acuda S2 however slower than the Airoc Astro or the Evolution series by Tibhar for example.

Spin

Over the last few years this is definitely the most spiniest Stiga rubber I have ever used. The spin on the M produces a high arc and long trajectory. I would say the Genesis M has slightly less spin than a Hurricane 3 or a Tenergy 05 however it is just as spinny as a MX-P by Tibhar or a Rhyzm rubber by Joola. The Genesis M is a notch spinier than the Tin Arc rubbers. The topsheet on the Genesis feels more 'grippy' than 'tacky'. The M only needs a minimal brush technique to produce a lot of spin. The Genesis series have a lesser sensitivity to spin in comparison to other Chinese and Euro rubbers.

Overall performance

Overall I think the move by Stiga to produce this type of rubber is excellent. The Genesis M is a fantastic rubber which works well on both an allwood or carbon blade. The Genesis M is my favorite between the S and M and is a well rounded attacking rubber which allows you to play all shots. The rubber works well in the serve and receive game as well as touch shots such as the drop shot. The rubber is a good alternative to Hurricane rubbers with players who struggle to adapt to the new plastic ball era. Players who struggle with the new ball may like the Genesis as the rubber offers increased speed and who do not want to change to a Euro or Japanese rubber. The M version works very well from mid distance and near to the table. In the near future I will review the Genesis M in 2.1mm to feel the fullest speed of the M version.

How does this rubber stack up against Tenergy 05?

If we compare the Genesis rubber to the Butterfly Tenergy 05 I would say, it's still a few notches below but the m version is already fast at 2.0mm. Spin is greater than some ESN rubbers but lower than T05. A superb rubber by Stiga.

Pictures from the Review: