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This blade is super fast, by far the fastest blade I have ever played with (and I had an OFF+ blade before).
The Catapult Effect is excellent.
I thought my previous blade was fast, but when I have done topspins with this blade, I understood what a fast blade is.The weight of my specific blade is 86 grams, which is not bad, but not extremely light.
The blade has excellent control, but because of its blazing speed, it can be a bit hard to control.
I am not a beginner, but it did take me about two weeks to control my strokes well again.
One thing that I haven't liked is the bottom of the blade.
The bottom edge of the (anatomic) handle is a bit sharp, not dangerously of course but in an annoying way.
I don't know if it is safe to file the handle, so I prefer not to take the risk.
If any of you know the answer please tell me because I will be really happy to know.
Filing the handle will be great because it is a bit fat and adds lots of weight to the blade.
Overall, that's an excellent blade for the advanced attacking player, definitely my favorite from all the blades I have tried.
Hope I helped someone!
Yours,
Secret

Cornilleau Target Pro GT Series with pro player Can Akkuzu
Weight: 70 grams uncut, 49 grams uncut
Sponge Hardness: 47°
Hardness: Medium/Hard
Speed: High
Spin: Medium/High
Blade used: Cornilleau Hinotec OFF
Location: French Table Tennis Club Amien


Written Review

Initial Inspection

Like all new rubbers the target pro is plastic ball ready and has been developed and made in Germany. Cornilleau partnered with Michelin to produce this series, with the help and feedback of Cornilleau’s professional players.

The rubber comes in 4 sponge harnesses 39, 43, 47 and 51 degrees. The softest being 39 and the hardest being 51. The only difference between the 4 versions are the sponge hardness. The pimple structure and top sheet are identical.



Out of the packaging the rubbers feel firm and grippy and have a porous sponge.

The weight of our Target Pro rubbers, when uncut, increased in weight as the sponge hardness went up. As you can see on the table below, the 39 being the lightest at 64 grams, 43 being 70 grams, 47 weighing 70 grams and the 51 being the heaviest at 71 grams.



Speed

Against all high class pro’s I’ve come across in the reviews, you can immediately feel the consistent crisp quality as they put the ball in the right place with the same spin and speed so you can easily get in a nice rhythm.

My first impression of the rubber was that It didn't require much effort from me, the rubber felt alive and has a great sound. During my topspins with the 47 I liked the amount of speed and control I had on the ball. We were both able to easily play fast and snappy shots with good consistency.

The rubber is very effective on the backhand side, the forgiveness helped me when playing at maximum effort whilst maintaining control.

Blocking

An attribute I enjoyed with this rubber was its control in the active blocking game.

Even though Can was hitting full power shots at me i was able to control the ball back with relative ease, with certain rubbers i've used in the past against pro’s it has been much harder to contain their power with the same level of consistency.

Control and Feeling

The rubber allows for great feeling due to the amount the ball soaks in, which really helps as the target pro 47 is fast rubber. This high level of feeling made the ball more controllable. Low incoming balls can be picked up with ease with the rubber which again adds to and helps maintain consistency and confidence in your strokes.

The main advantage with these rubbers is how easy it is to play with them, the balance of the sponge softness and medium to hard topsheet gives you good margin for error.

Spin

I could generate a good amount of spin, however the ease in which i was able to open up backspin balls was effortless. I could produce enough spin to follow up with a very strong attack which, when Can eased off a little bit, were outright winners or forced Can back from the table.

I had good confidence in my shots when opening up. This is really important as the first few balls in the modern attacking game are vital.

Flicks

As mentioned earlier this rubber works superbly well on the backhand side, this was especially noticeable when playing backhand flicks over the table. I was able to pick up balls really well and i had good bite even from Cans world class backspin serves and produced enough spin to set myself up for the following shot.

Punch shots

One area i really want to highlight is how well you can backhand punch with the Target Pro GT 47. You can hit right through weak balls with this lively rubber and get great feedback with a loud clicking sound when you time it well in front of the body.

Away from the table

The Target pro gave me a lot of accuracy even when playing at a high acceleration from away from the table, I could feel the ball sink into the sponge. Again this rubber worked well in top to top exchanges producing a medium to high throw.

Conclusion

We would like to thank Cornilleau and Can in giving us a chance to test the Target pro gt series. The Target Pro GT gives you a lot of control and speed to your game. It’s ease of use will help developing players who want more bite in their shots whilst keeping the control. This series definitely has been designed with speed in mind and you are able to put a lot of propulsion on the ball.

The spin production is also very good with the Target Pro GT. It packs enough spin to put your opponent under pressure.

I especially liked this rubber when playing against backspin, the dwell gave me a lot of time to play my complete stroke whilst thinking about the direction and placement. My two favourite rubbers within the series are the 43 and 47.

Both rubbers are have a medium hardness and give you lots of confidence when playing all strokes. The 51 was a bit too hard for me, however pro player Can loved the 51 as he could get even more power in his shots. The 39 is a very soft rubber and is quite notably different to the rest of the series. It works well for spin based players who want to play with more variation in their game. The 47 and 51 are quite a lot quicker than the 39 and 43.

As noted previously i found punching with this rubber particularly easy and effective, and works really well when playing aggressive shots over the table.

How do these rubbers compare to others on the market? They feel quite similar to the Rhyzm and Tenzone series which we have reviewed. Solid rubbers with good speed, spin and control capabilities. I am very impressed with the topsheet on the Target Pro GT series, it feels grippy and helps when imparting spin on the ball during serves, flicks and push returns.

One of the most great chinese rubber. Here is my video review

The ABS balls are a great improvement. I haven't tested long enough but from what I did try I noticed more of a XuShaoFa feeling. The balls had a crisp bounce a good improvement from Stiga's last plastic balls.

My friend had this rubber so I tried it. He was using it with a petr korbel blade. It had a different feeling to any rubber I have ever tried, I really liked it. It felt closer to an esn rubber than to Tenergy. I would still choose Tenergy over the rozena although rozena had more hit power and would be easier against awkward players.

The pro with this rubber is if you want to use a Butterfly rubber using the Rozena will not set you back as much as purchasing two sheets of Tenergy.

I've been a fan of Donic rubber during my playing career. Beginning with Acuda S2/3, then the M2/3 series, I had to give the Z a whirl. I bought a black sheet in Max+ that will replace my shrunken M3 on the forehand. Comparing the physical aspects of the 2, the Z3 sponge looks the same thickness as the max M3. The top sheet is noticeably thinner and feels softer and more supple than the M. Playing, the two are very similar. I vaguely recall the M3 being quite bouncy and slightly unpredictable catapult when fresh out of the package. I didn't get that sensation at all with the Z3, it plays like a broken in M3. Twiddling between the two, I could tell a difference in feeling. The Z3 feels softer when looping, the top sheet seems to grab the ball a little better and catapult it out at a medium high arc while creating a loud crack sensation. I could get very good rotation on the ball, as most loops cleared the net by 8-12" and dove downward sharply a few inches short of the baseline. The rubber reminds me a lot of Stiga Airoc Astro S with higher throw and more spin. I have no cons about this rubber and plan to replace my BH T05 with a sheet of Z3 in due time.

I'm a 2 winged loop, Allround offensive minded player just shy of 1800 (USATT). The Evolution started out as a gift for my 12 y/o daughter. I sanded the wings, handle and face, then finished it off with a thin coat of sealant. At which time I thought I'd hit with it for a session, gluing on a couple old sheets of Tenergy 05 and taking it to the club. That's when I was hooked. This blade has many gears! I feel confident reaching in for a surprise drop shot or stepping back and driving the ball down the sideline. The throw angle is medium high. The blade isn't stiff, but doesn't flex much either. This feature helps in passive play when I'm out of position, just trying to get the ball back on the table. Whereas the Nittaku Violin or Butterfly Grubba, both of which flex a bunch, a simple block or out of position stretched out return is likely to go long off the table due to its catapult like nature. With the Evolution, it's easier for me to get back on the offensive and out loop my opponents. I don't chop, so won't comment on that, but my main practice partner does play a modern defensive style with his backhand. He wanted to try out the Donic Z3 on my blade and he seemed to get good rotation and variation with the combo. I've tried Tenergy, Donic M2, M3 and Z3 on the blade and it worked well with each. Double T05 was a bit heavy for my liking, but played decent. Boosted Skyline Neo didn't play so well for me. I'd say the blade pairs well with med-soft to med-firm rubbers. This blade has really surprised me in how well I play while using it. Who knew a cheap $40 blade would put several high end blades back on the shelf!?!?!

I just reapplied my second set of Andro Hexer Duro rubber. I train on average of 12 to 16 hours a week. I used my first set for about 6 months and I loved every minute of it. They feel medium-soft which fits my style as I use a lot of spin, the speed is always there when I need it, but as a developing player my coach and I are focused more on control. I find that these rubbers have a wonderful balance of spin, speed and lots of control.

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.

Hi,

Let's start with my playstyle : Modern attacker, forehand oriented, I loop with power and/or spin long balls with my forehand. With the backhand I can loop too but I'm more passive, usually pushing, blocking and waiting for an opportunity to attack with my forehand. Sometimes i also like to let the opponent take the initiative and just block his attacks. Changing the gameplay is something I can easily do with this blade (except maybe Joo-Sae-Hyuk's type of defense but I never tried it and I'm noob with it anyway).

I bought this rubber 6 months ago (previously played with Rhyzm on both sides). 2,1mm on forehand, 1,9mm on backhand, I use it with a Timo Boll Spirit.

My first impression : I can generate lots of spin on loops, services, pushes, and my feeling in the short game really improved. BUT, driving the ball and blocking passively wasn't so easy, especially with the 1,9mm on backhand I felt like I needed to brush the ball (even on topspins) if I wanted it to get past the net. 1 week later I was ok but I can say this is not a rubber for passive blockers. They will prefer T80 or T64.

If you have the speed and power in your topspins, but look for more variety and spin, this rubber is for you. You will be able to attack fast or slow with lots of spin.

For people who are looking to buy Tenergy and wan't to know the differences between the different type of rubbers, search "Tenergy" on YouTube. You will find the official videos which are a great help. Good luck !

Hi,

Let's start with my playstyle : Modern attacker, forehand oriented, I loop with power and/or spin long balls with my forehand. With the backhand I can loop too but I'm more passive, usually pushing and waiting for an opportunity to attack with my forehand. Sometimes i also like to let the opponent take the initiative and just block his attacks. Changing the gameplay is something I can easily do with this blade (except maybe Joo-Sae-Hyuk's type of defense but I never tried it and I'm noob with it anyway).

I bought this blade 2 years ago with 2 JOOLA Rhyzm 2,1mm on forehand and 1,9mm on backhand. Then I tried it with Tenergy 05 2,1mm on forehand and 1,9mm on backhand.
This blade was my first real big investment in TT material and I don't regret it.
The feeling is really great, I've never felt the ball as well as with a TBS. This gives me a really good control in all compartiments of the game. The speed is there if needed but I can also attack slowly with lots of spin if I want to change the pace. This blade is perfect for my playstyle and I won't change it for a long time.

I can honestly say that my TBS helped me to improve. But I had decent skills before buying it. So if you're a beginner or at a low level, don't bother buying such a blade as you need some skills already to feel the difference with more common blades. Go to train with a simple Banco Magic Light and once the skills are there, having this kind of blade is a NEED.

One last thing : take good care of it, if you damage it, even a little, you will probably feel little vibrations while hitting the ball and that's when you know it won't be the same anymore.

I bought these shoes a year ago and they survived the past season with 2 x training per week, plus championship games on the week-end.
The grip of these shoes is excellent. One the same level as Mizuno Wave Medal (older versions), which I consider a reference in this domain. The shoe has a low weight, which I consider a plus (although the rating shows it as yellow....).
If you rely on a good cushioning in the shoes, than the XIOM won't work for you. I'm the opposite. The more cushioning the shoes have, the more problems I get with the knees. This is why the XIOM Logan works for me.

Two things that I didn't like and found strange:
The short shoe strings (maybe it is because of the size 10 UK). Not that you are unable to make a knot, but still annoying. I already told XIOM about it, so I'm not sure if this is not fixed already, as I had a pair from the very first batches, they sold in Europe.

Second thing is the tongue of the shoes is not stabelized in the middle, so it tends to shift sideways in play. Not a real problem, but again annoying, if you are sensitive to this.

Best forehand rubber I've ever used. I really like using this with softer blades as it allows me to activate the sponge more easily for softer strokes and the hardness of the rubber gives me the power if I want to hit a winner.

Firstly, it's extremely reliable. I've never been surprised by anything that this rubber does. Sometimes with other rubbers, the ball leaves the rubber in a way that leaves me scratching my head.

Pros:

1. Throw angle is very high so you can open up against backspin pretty easily if you have the technique.
2. Serves with good spin and catapult is quite low in the short game.
3. Lots of gears. The sponge allows you to open slow and spinny (my bread and butter) or do a hard opening.
4. Very precise for counter topspins if you have the technique


Cons:

1. You need power to activate the sponge. So it could be tricky on the backhand side and tricky overall if you are not positioned properly and have to play a shot under pressure
2. High throw angle makes blocking tricky on the backhand side as you really need to close the angle. I have no problems with blocking on the forehand side though.

Tried this rubber as a Tenergy substitution since many players I know used this already and when I played the rubber for the first time it was a insane feeling. Alot of grip on the surface and a hard sponge allows me to play really good in short-short game, because you have alot of feeling for it and the third ball attack is aswell strong. By the way in germany it costs only 27 euro´s, which is really cheap!

Ok, so the headline is provocative, but Aurus Select comes at least 10 Euros cheaper than Rozena over here and basically gives you the same.

It is a medium-hard, easy to play rubber with above average spin, not too fast, perfect for close to the table variable offensive game and enough power for casual away from the table counter topspins.

In max+ thickness its sponge (though 45 degrees) and topsheet (softer than that of Aurus Prime) give you the overall impression of a soft rubber, which I thought a tad too much. I guess the 2.1 version will work even better (and one can only imagine how an andro Rasanter R37 soft rubber may feel with an ultramax sponge ...)

Neither Prime nor Select are third ball attack rubbers, Prime gives tons of spin on opening shots and power in open game, while Select enables consistent "on the table" shots with good quality. A "killer" rubber it is not, but if your game relies on quality shots and placement, you might want to give it a try.

High-spin rubber with excellent feeling on impact, gives the impression of prolonged ball contact. Excels in open topspin game, but due to the stiff topsheet demands good timing. Less forgiving than Evolution MX-P with the same nominal sponge hardness. Feels harder, too. Good for short game, linear characteristic, medium catapult. Tested on Carbon and all wood, worked with both.

Concept of max+ thickness sponge works well with the new topsheet. Would be vary of stiff topsheet on thinner sponges, but may appeal to users of previous regular Aurus.

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.

I used this blade with Hrrricane 8, Tenergy 05 and Acuda S1 Turbo on my forehand. Hurricane 2 and Tibhar MX-P on my backhand.
This blade id definetly and OFF blade as it supplies good speed even when performing small strokes. What makes this blade great is the fact that the high speed does not remove it's high dwell time which allows the player to open-up well off a backspin ball and loop safely over the net with lots of spin.
I would not recommend this blade for using with hard chinese rubbers such as the Hurricane series, I will explain why later. On the other hand, using slightly softer tensor rubbers like the Acuda S1 Turbo and the Tibhar MX-P is recommended by me as that is what the blade was designed for. This type of combination will supply you with the most satisfaction out of the blade as the blade allows you to spin the ball well and attack the opponent with good placement for an offensive blade.
The downside of this blade is that it has a Disgusting feeling. Yes, this blade does not feel good for most people with a fairly average level of feeling for the ball. This is why the combiantion of a hard rubber like the Hurricane 8 and a hard stiff blade like the TB ZLC is not good. You can hardly feel what you are doing and the ball can very easily fly off the end during rallies.
Another downside to this blade is that it is very reactive to incomeing spin on serves which makes service return quite difficult, especially short touches as the speed of the blade and it's stifness make it hard to stop the ball flying long.
But it's ot all doom and gloom, if you do have a good hand and you have very good feeling (like Chris Doran for example - feel free to check out his game on youtube) you will easily be able to use this blade without any difficulties. However, even players like Timo Boll himself prefer the ALC version because it supplies the player with a greater amount of feeling and less reactivity to incoming spin. I would recommend this blade for professional players or good intermediate players with a lot of feeling.
P.S. I would rate this blade a 3/4 as the performance of the blade largely depends on the player that is using it
Mat