Product information
Weight: 69 grams uncut
Hardness: 47.5 degrees
Speed: OFF+
The Stiga DNA Pro M is the outright bouncy rubber among its variants at first hit when you are engaging the sponge with some depth. This has a cut weight of approximately 49 grams compared to the 51 grams cut version of the DNA Pro H version. This is the medium hard offensive rubber of the DNA Pro Series. The DNA Pro is an honest to goodness offensive rubber. If you do not prefer hard rubbers that will reach at 50 degrees then this is the rubber to consider. I know a lot of people will say we have already lots of similar rubbers in the market but I beg to disagree. Even if these rubbers are produced by ESN, companies such as Stiga still need to forward their specs for each particular rubberand produce the rubbers they think are worthy of releasing according to their own specifications.
Anyway, this is a another high quality rubber from Stiga and the topsheet is very grippy with almost no tacky feeling. I would put the speed of the DNA Pro M as slower than the Joola Rhyzer 48 by 1 or 2 levels but faster than Rasanter V47 more or less. It does not offer the wild throw and trajectory of the Rhyzer 48 wherein a lot of people including me find the Rhyzer 48 a bit too fast at first use. When I was using the Rhyzer 48 I had a hard time controlling it and until now I think it is still the fastest rubber among 47-48 degree category rubbers. At least the DNA
Pro M has a fairly good amount of control and despite the very high speed. It is good to know that the DNA Series has a good amount of control despite near the table. The DNA Pro M has a
medium to medium high level of arc when looping. The DNA Pro H has the highest arc at about 5-6inches above the net while the M version has about 4 inches of height from the net when I was doing forehand to forehand drive drills. I would agree that people would compare this with the MXP rubber since it is safe to say that the MXP is the bestselling rubber produced by ESN. All I can say is that MXP's topsheet seem a little less durable. Also, I noticed less shrinkage with the DNA M when I glued and removed it to several blades. For the record, I used the Dynasty blade, Rosewood V and another unknown limba 5 ply blade for this test.
How did it play? It was expected that it was very bouncy, no question about that but it has this good hitting feel when you start to engage the sponge. It has some softness upon impact with hard hits probably due to the medium soft topsheet that is very elastic. Looks like it has the same topsheet with the H version only on a softer sponge.It has more outright spring effect compared to the DNA H version having a slightly softer sponge. I looped with this rubber a lot of times whether looping against heavy underspin or counter looping against topspin balls. It is different compared to the H version because it has a more typical euro type feel when you loop with it. Its arc and height is just high enough to clear the net with fast and straight trajectory when landing on the table. The H version has a better kick the moment it lands on the table. At first the H version seem has less speed up to a certain contact on the ball but the moment the ball lands on the table, the H version has a certain strong kick for the table. The M version has sharper bounce but it seems to keep a uniform bounce with less extra kick compared to the DNA H version. Again this is made for at least middle distance due to its power and speed but it was surprisingly controllable near the table just like the H version. On stronger shots, the MXP may plateau on its power while the DNA M may give you some extra juice. Spinwise they are more or less equal. Of the 3 DNA rubbers, I think this is the version that will suit most players since it a lot of players can relate to its feel but with some added extra features compared to other German rubbers from ESN. I would place this as a forehand and backhand rubber but I used this more as a backhand rubber since I like the H version better. Advanced level players would love this on either side with not much adjustments on their playstyles.
Hardness: 47.5 degrees
Speed: OFF+
The Stiga DNA Pro M is the outright bouncy rubber among its variants at first hit when you are engaging the sponge with some depth. This has a cut weight of approximately 49 grams compared to the 51 grams cut version of the DNA Pro H version. This is the medium hard offensive rubber of the DNA Pro Series. The DNA Pro is an honest to goodness offensive rubber. If you do not prefer hard rubbers that will reach at 50 degrees then this is the rubber to consider. I know a lot of people will say we have already lots of similar rubbers in the market but I beg to disagree. Even if these rubbers are produced by ESN, companies such as Stiga still need to forward their specs for each particular rubberand produce the rubbers they think are worthy of releasing according to their own specifications.
Anyway, this is a another high quality rubber from Stiga and the topsheet is very grippy with almost no tacky feeling. I would put the speed of the DNA Pro M as slower than the Joola Rhyzer 48 by 1 or 2 levels but faster than Rasanter V47 more or less. It does not offer the wild throw and trajectory of the Rhyzer 48 wherein a lot of people including me find the Rhyzer 48 a bit too fast at first use. When I was using the Rhyzer 48 I had a hard time controlling it and until now I think it is still the fastest rubber among 47-48 degree category rubbers. At least the DNA
Pro M has a fairly good amount of control and despite the very high speed. It is good to know that the DNA Series has a good amount of control despite near the table. The DNA Pro M has a
medium to medium high level of arc when looping. The DNA Pro H has the highest arc at about 5-6inches above the net while the M version has about 4 inches of height from the net when I was doing forehand to forehand drive drills. I would agree that people would compare this with the MXP rubber since it is safe to say that the MXP is the bestselling rubber produced by ESN. All I can say is that MXP's topsheet seem a little less durable. Also, I noticed less shrinkage with the DNA M when I glued and removed it to several blades. For the record, I used the Dynasty blade, Rosewood V and another unknown limba 5 ply blade for this test.
How did it play? It was expected that it was very bouncy, no question about that but it has this good hitting feel when you start to engage the sponge. It has some softness upon impact with hard hits probably due to the medium soft topsheet that is very elastic. Looks like it has the same topsheet with the H version only on a softer sponge.It has more outright spring effect compared to the DNA H version having a slightly softer sponge. I looped with this rubber a lot of times whether looping against heavy underspin or counter looping against topspin balls. It is different compared to the H version because it has a more typical euro type feel when you loop with it. Its arc and height is just high enough to clear the net with fast and straight trajectory when landing on the table. The H version has a better kick the moment it lands on the table. At first the H version seem has less speed up to a certain contact on the ball but the moment the ball lands on the table, the H version has a certain strong kick for the table. The M version has sharper bounce but it seems to keep a uniform bounce with less extra kick compared to the DNA H version. Again this is made for at least middle distance due to its power and speed but it was surprisingly controllable near the table just like the H version. On stronger shots, the MXP may plateau on its power while the DNA M may give you some extra juice. Spinwise they are more or less equal. Of the 3 DNA rubbers, I think this is the version that will suit most players since it a lot of players can relate to its feel but with some added extra features compared to other German rubbers from ESN. I would place this as a forehand and backhand rubber but I used this more as a backhand rubber since I like the H version better. Advanced level players would love this on either side with not much adjustments on their playstyles.
