Donic Bluefire M3

Product information

Brand
Donic
Category
Rubbers
Reviews
4
Rating
5.00 star(s) 4 ratings
Price
$60

User stats

Speed
7.7
Spin
9
Durability
8.7
Control
8.5

Reviews summary

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Overall rating
5.00 star(s) 4 ratings

Item details

Donic's new Bluefire is a completely new rubber development offering top speed The new high-tech generation of rubbers in the proven Formula FD3-technology has been developed as a result of the perfect combination of the large pored blue sponge with an extremely spinny top surface rubber.

Latest reviews

Pros
  • Loops
  • BH
  • Spin
Cons
  • not super fast
  • domes
I have used this rubber previously on three blades. The first was an Animus blade which was very stiff and fast and when paired with the M3s it became an uncontrollable rocket ship as the rubbers was also MAX thickness. After that I had it again on both sides on an Andro Ligna with 1.8 thickness. This combo was amazing in every way except I should have got the MAX because some loops weren't very powerful and spinny. I slapped the MAX ones on an Andro Kinetic Explorer OFF+ and that combo was also really good. Fast but with superb blocks, flicks loops. Most shots required little effort and mid to long distance was real good. This rubber has a relatively high throw angle and is better on the backhand for sure. I would say the best blades for this rubber are ones that are relatively hard, don't have high throw angles, and are at least OFF. The only disadvantages are the lack of speed if you use a slow blade and the great amount of doming that occurs when you glue the rubber. But other than that this is a solid rubber.
Speed
7.5
Spin
9.3
Durability
9.7
Control
9.3
So I was using some cheaper Chinese rubbers like Geospin and 729 and was trying to develop my loop into the game but struggling so I had a go with a cork handled blade fitted with Bluefire M2's and couldn't believe how the ball dipped and shot of the table with the same technique I had been using.

So I brought a couple of the slower M3 Max to try and they have really helped me develop my forehand and now backhand loop. I think they are a rubber that really rewards the proper technique, I would almost say they are a development rubber for people wanting to bring a loop into their game, they can save a lot of imperfect shots as they grab the ball well and generate a lot of spin but when you settle down and plant your feet you really can generate a lovely fast dipping shot.

Flicking and blocking are great also, flat hitting I find the forehand a little too bouncy (excuse my lack of technical terms) and chopping is ok but having used Chinese rubbers I found them a lot easier to chop with.

I am really happy with the M3 Max on my backhand but am now going to try the 2mm M2 on my forehand in the hope that I will produce a more penetrating ball flight with a bit more speed.

Just one more thing when I first used these rubbers they seemed to spring the ball everywhere almost to the point where I thought I had made a mistake but other people I spoke to said they were the same until they had been run in, apparently this is normal.

And they are heavy but I like that.
Speed
7
Spin
8.5
Durability
8.5
Control
8
Pros
  • Spinny
  • Loop
  • Fun
Cons
  • Durability
I used it on my forehand. The blue sponge is cool! This is the most flexible rubber I know of, When holding the fresh new sheet, it flexes so easily. It takes about a week to break in. I think this is a good softer, higher throw alternative to Tenergy 64-FX. I bought it at a discount.

It is awesome for looping. The ball is catapulted with good speed, spin and sound. The arc is pretty high indeed, so it is great for looping backspin. Looping is this rubber's strength, but it might be too bouncy for beginners to fully grip the ball. That being said, the topsheet is very grippy. It is one of the spinniest rubbers I have played with.

Serves are awesome too. My previous rubber was Hurricane 2 Neo. With the Bluefire, I developed my feeling of the ball sinking into the rubber. The serves are very spinny, when the ball sinks into the topsheet (maybe not the sponge, though) and gets catapulted. All kinds of serves work well.

Pushing and short game is a little bouncy. Flicking with the backhand is effortless, but the ball can go long, as it is a high throw and bouncy rubber.

Durability is not as good as the Sriver G2-FX. The grip goes away quicker. It died after a year. But it is still fine.

Overall, a very fun rubber to play with. It makes your shots POP with spin and effortlessly imparted speed, which allows for all kinds of crazy sidespin or slap hits. I would not recommend it to beginners, but to players who have some good touch already.
Speed
7.8
Spin
8.9
Durability
6.7
Control
6.7
Pros
  • Very durable
  • Good feeling
  • Both sides
The Bluefire series from Donic tries to be an alternative to the famous (and expensive) BF Tenergy. Well more or less Donic did the job.
My experience was the following.
M3 has a really good looping arc, huge. Most of my loops are neglected, because they will fly long, but at the final few seconds they fall to the table in an incredible arc. Smashing is quite nice. It is easy to control the spin amount of the ball and hit "empty" balls with loop like hits. Chopping and passive chopping, lifting is easy. Had to adjust dropping but it is easy now. Passive play is really good and the rubber is quite forgiving for little mistakes. The M series form bluefire has a sponge with uneven pore size. This results in a very speed glue like feeling. The rubber bites into the ball fast and creates a heavy spin. The JP series have uniform pore size sponges that produce a more linear bite effect. But I personally favour this M type sponge, because this little unlinear property of the sponge does not matter if you are looping all the lime and smashing, it only adds to the feeling of your game.
So to summerise pros: you can loop every ball and attack till midrange.


There is difference between the black and the red rubber surface after a year: black topsheet remains softer red is a bit harder. The rubber surface looks grainy when it is new, after some play when this surface comes off some of the soft grip is lost, so you have to hit the ball a bit harder to loop efficiently.
So to summerise hit it hard and everything will be just fine. Or get an OFF- blade and hit just a bit less hard.


Finally I have finished the testing of the rubber. After 300 hours of effective table tennis, including 3 training camps, 30+ competitions and 4 regluing all I can say that this rubber is good. The loss of the grip is quite little, you can easily adjust without noticing. The rubber plays good on OFF- stiff to spin-elastic blades. I Used int on my BH, dropping and opening loops were still awsome. Chiqita and smash hits were a bit harder with the rubber getting older.


The rubber should be still good to play or practice but my hand is really swetty and the topsheet of the rubber finally gave in, it melted at the top of my index finger.


The Rubber is very durable, the edges are intact, no tears on it. The surface is worn by many hits and loops, but the sponge is in quite good shape.
Speed
8.3
Spin
9.4
Durability
10
Control
9.9
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