What table tennis rubbers & blade do you use?

[Spookytone]

Got a new setup now:
FH: Stiga Calibra LT 2.0mm (Black)
Blade: Stiga Clipper CC 88g
BH: Xiom Vega Europe 1.8mm (Red)

Can't wait to play it *.*

Calibra LT is the most wonderful rubber iv'e played with. Using it on my backhand atm, but im ripping of the Spin version (FH) very soon in order to double up on the LT-original. Would be nice to hear your verdict and comparison on the Xiom.

 

[Abakus]

Calibra LT is the most wonderful rubber iv'e played with. Using it on my backhand atm, but im ripping of the Spin version (FH) very soon in order to double up on the LT-original. Would be nice to hear your verdict and comparison on the Xiom.

It definitely is!
I actually have both as test rubbers in 2.0mm on my clipper cc and must say these rubber are really great.
The XVE sponge is softer than the CLT sponge, but it looks better (xiom's black carbo sponge ftw). The CLT creates more spin especially when serving due to its tackier topsheet and it is also a bit faster than the XVE. I would say the throw angle of both rubbers are quite similiar, maybe the CLT's is slightly higher, but both are in the medium (-high) area. When you have a look at the sound, the XVE is the best I have ever heard. If you hit the ball hard and at the sweetspot is just like "PENG" and everyone in the hall can hear it. Short-short play works great with both rubbers, just like topspin-topspin and blocks. Also the trampoline effect is quite great, so you can play explosive balls from far off the table.
OK, now I can't say anything more because I don't know anything more, sorry about that, but the XVE is definitely a great BH rubber. I hoped this helped you but keep in mind that the comparison is based on my subjective impressions.

 

[daen]

I play the Butterfly Keyshot light, and on bouth sides Tibhar Genius.

 

[poltery]

Blade : DONIC blackthunder senso v1
FH: DHS SKYLINE 2 national version (blue sponge) 2.15 black
BH:donic desto f2 2.0 RED
spare:
Blade : DONIC CARBOSYSTEM OFF+ FLARED
FH: DHS SKYLINE 2 2.0 RED
BH: Donic COPPA TENERO 2.0 RED
spare:
Blade : Dhs blade thingy
FH: stiga mendo energy 2.0 RED
BH: Dhs pimples thingy... black
and other hobby bats

 

[WiWa]

Got a new setup now:
FH: Stiga Calibra LT 2.0mm (Black)
Blade: Stiga Clipper CC 88g
BH: Xiom Vega Europe 1.8mm (Red)

Can't wait to play it *.*

Could you tell us if you prefer the Calibra over the Xiom Vega or not? I never tried Stiga rubbers, but many people recommend them here. Are they very different from Xiom's series?

 

[Abakus]

Could you tell us if you prefer the Calibra over the Xiom Vega or not? I never tried Stiga rubbers, but many people recommend them here. Are they very different from Xiom's series?

Yes, I prefer the Calibra LT over the Xiom Vegas, for my forehand at least.
As you may know, I played a Xiom Vega Elite before, but it got too soft and slow for my forehand. So I wanted to have a rubber with a harder sponge. The Vega Europe is harder than the Elite, but it is still soft (medium-soft) and the Pro and Asia have a hard sponge. What is missing in the Vega series is a rubber with a medium-hard sponge.
The Stiga Calibra Series has one with a medium-hard sponge, the Calibra LT. It also has rubbers with a soft (Sound), a medium-soft (Spin) and a hard (Plus) sponge, so you have a wider pallete of sponge hardness. What I don't recommend is the Boost series, especially when you are playing in a hall with high air humidity (they will lose grip).
What you also should mind is the price. The Stiga rubbers are about 10€ more expensive than the Xiom Vega rubbers.
In my opinion I would say that the Calibra and the Vega series are pretty similiar, but I cannot really compare because a played the softer rubbers (Elite and Europe) of the Vega series and the harder rubbers of the Calibra series (LT and LT Plus).
Now I hope I cleared up your question, if not, just ask xD

Btw: the long trajectory ad from the Calibra series somehow seems to work^^

 

[phillypong]

i tried calibra lt sound in red 2 mm , very very fast and rather low throw angle, but not enough spin , very difficult to do a SHORT push , also not enough spin when pushing with heavy backspin, very little control , only for pure attack, indeed long ball trajectory

nice sound though ! almost as if speed glued

overall ONLY suited for pure attackers

 

[Abakus]

i tried calibra lt sound in red 2 mm , very very fast and rather low throw angle, but not enough spin , very difficult to do a SHORT push , also not enough spin when pushing with heavy backspin, very little control , only for pure attack, indeed long ball trajectory

nice sound though ! almost as if speed glued

overall ONLY suited for pure attackers

On which blade have you tried it? Maybe the lack of control is not caused by the rubber

 

[WiWa]

Yes, I prefer the Calibra LT over the Xiom Vegas, for my forehand at least.
As you may know, I played a Xiom Vega Elite before, but it got too soft and slow for my forehand. So I wanted to have a rubber with a harder sponge. The Vega Europe is harder than the Elite, but it is still soft (medium-soft) and the Pro and Asia have a hard sponge. What is missing in the Vega series is a rubber with a medium-hard sponge.
The Stiga Calibra Series has one with a medium-hard sponge, the Calibra LT. It also has rubbers with a soft (Sound), a medium-soft (Spin) and a hard (Plus) sponge, so you have a wider pallete of sponge hardness. What I don't recommend is the Boost series, especially when you are playing in a hall with high air humidity (they will lose grip).
What you also should mind is the price. The Stiga rubbers are about 10€ more expensive than the Xiom Vega rubbers.
In my opinion I would say that the Calibra and the Vega series are pretty similiar, but I cannot really compare because a played the softer rubbers (Elite and Europe) of the Vega series and the harder rubbers of the Calibra series (LT and LT Plus).
Now I hope I cleared up your question, if not, just ask xD

Btw: the long trajectory ad from the Calibra series somehow seems to work^^

That's great info, thanks alot

 

[phillypong]

On which blade have you tried it? Maybe the lack of control is not caused by the rubber

I tried it on a Donic Waldner senso carbon, which has normally a good control, then i tried it on my Stiga Tube Allround and then on an older Donic Persson Powerplay and it was always the same problem of really no feeling of control and not enough spin.

I have to say that i first played with this Calibra LT Sound on a Donic Sawtec Baum Offensive blade and on this it was very explosive but with very good spin, this blade is VERY VERY stiff apparently and gave the Calibra LT Sound its real potential i have to say. It was really the combination which was the most like the old speed glue feel (sound and spin and speed). Still not suited to do short pushes but this was also the case with the old speedglue.

This experience made me buy a Calibra LT a few days later, it felt that good on this blade !

In the competition matches after this change i played with it but couldn't get enough spin in my service with it and also my topspins were just too often coming back (clearly more than normally , the opponents could just block them back too often).

I find it really really strange to hear that people talk about good control with this rubber. Even my Donic Coppa JO Gold , which has really a lot of speed and spin has a lot more control.

I am really disappointed in the Calibra LT Sound.

 

[slaplink_pat]

My current main setup(glued just 5 hours ago):

Blade: BTY Viscaria
FH: Yinhe Moon 41deg
BH: Adidas P3

 

[emfurtado]

Blade: DHS TG7 SP (China National Team)
FH Rubber: DHS TinArc (2.2mm)
BH Rubber: DHS TinArc 3 (2.2mm)

Blade: DHS Hurricane WL
FH Rubber: Skyline III National Team (blue sponge) (2.2mm)
BH Rubber: Hurricane III Neo (2.2mm)

Blade: Tibhar Ikarus ALX
FH Rubber: Tibhar Nianmor (2.0 mm)
BH Rubber: Tibhar Genius Optimum Sound (2.0mm)

 

[jens030]

Blade: Stiga All Evo
FH: Double Fish 815
BH: Friendship GeoSpin Tacky

 

[yogi_bear]

Adidas Challenge Speed FL (not yet in the market)
Adidas Tenzone fh
Adidas P7 bh (not yet released)

Stiga Ebenholz 7 FL
Adidas Tenzone fh
Donic Acuda S2

 

[GrumpyJoe]

Main:
Blade: Victas Koji Matsu****a FL
FH: Yasaka Rakza 7 2.0 Black
BH: TSP P1r Curl 1.0-1.3 Red

Backup:
Blade: Bty Defence II ST
FH: Joola Express 2 2.0 Black
BH: TSP P1r Curl 1.0-1.3 Red

 

[raga4ka]

I have two paddles :
The first is for modern defence /all - round play :
Blade:Matsu****a Pro
FH: DHS Hurricane 3 1.8 Red
BH: DHS Cloud and Fog 3 1.0 Black right now , but i sometimes switch it with Friendship 802-40 short pips .

Offence setup:
Blade: DHS Hurricane WL
FH: DHS Hurricane 2 Neo 2.2 Black
BH: DHS G555 2.2 Red

As you can see i am a big fan of DHS products as i think they are good value for money and so far i am not dissapointed . I especially love my offence setup since i recently switched from being a modern defender/all-round player to an all-out attacker . I read a lot on the forums that the combination of H-WL blade + Hurricane 2 NEO would be hard to manage , but i really fell in love with it and G555 is a really good backhand rubber . This setup is a little bit heavy and tires me out more quickly then when i play my defence setup , but i get better training and my strength and speed increases with it .

I have only one question :
The person who glued my rubbers on my offence setup used the old VOC glue since he didn't have a VOC free one . It felt amazing with the speed glue effect , it feels pretty good right now even without it . Should i reglue my rubbers with a VOC free glue since i don't plan on regularly reglueing it with the speed glue or stay with the VOC one as it is right now ?

 

[judah000]

Blade: Joola K1
FH: DHS Skyline 3
BH: LKT Torrent Gold

 

[azlan]

I have only one question :
The person who glued my rubbers on my offence setup used the old VOC glue since he didn't have a VOC free one . It felt amazing with the speed glue effect , it feels pretty good right now even without it . Should i reglue my rubbers with a VOC free glue since i don't plan on regularly reglueing it with the speed glue or stay with the VOC one as it is right now ?

There's nothing comparable to speed glue effect. The speed glue is banned, period. But if you're using the equipment for recreational play, it's okay. Though you may not reglue it for tournament purposes, if your opponent ask the match referee to check your blade, and you're found using speed glue, you may be disqualified.

 

[muzay]

BH : Joola X-Plode Sensitive
FH : Xiom Omega 4 Pro
blade : Avalox P700 FL

 

[raga4ka]

There's nothing comparable to speed glue effect. The speed glue is banned, period. But if you're using the equipment for recreational play, it's okay. Though you may not reglue it for tournament purposes, if your opponent ask the match referee to check your blade, and you're found using speed glue, you may be disqualified.

Well i never did want to use speed glue in the first place . It's just that at that moment there was no VOC free glue there and i ended up using it because i wanted to play . I don't like reglueing rubbers in the first place , because there is a chance at damaging my equipment as i did not varnish my blade . Is there any benefits of using a VOC free glue if i don't plan on reglueing my rubbers after that at all other then that i could get disqualified from some tournaments ?