So I've been trying around FH rubbers, Rakza Z EH, Tibhar K3, Donic C2, Pinyi Fengcui, etc etc
I am of the conclusion that backhand rubbers that have great sponge compression are not that suitable. Sure K3 is probably the greatest from the listed rubbers I mentioned but I feel that the sponge is porous so it compresses, but at the same time the blade is soft and flexible and together the two add up and it becomes way too soft and unbouncy. These rubbers I would pair with Super Viscaria type hard blades, like the Joola Zhou Qihao Super ALC and they work much better with that.
So I went back to my initial FH rubber the Young Shine Dingtian which has a non-pored DHS blue sponge-like sponge. (My first impression did not lie to me, I felt this combo has magic)
It is a hard sponge, it is unyielding, however, if I hit it with a big force it does eat the ball and it pings it out very-very fast too so this rubber is super elastic unlike porous sponged rubbers. Its unyielding nature is not a problem on this blade since the blade itself does what pored sponges do on a hard and stiff blade. The porous sponge compresses and gives a bit more contact time and rubber sheet stretch. With the Dingtian and H3 BS like sponges I feel like the sponge transmits the force to the blade so the blade can deform and flex and since the blade is more elastic it gives more kick and more stability. On very high impacts the sponge is also compressed somewhat and it uncompresses much faster and stronger than pored sponges so if you are a hard hitter you will feel this rubber gives more speed to you on high impact shots while porous sponges hold you back. So with the Dingtian rubber, the W968 is very crisp, very fast, and very spinny.
Initially, I had issues with keeping the ball low with the Dingtian rubber since it's so fast with W968, but now I get how it works, I need to make the racket angle more vertical (almost totally vertical) and pull downwards like that.
Also, this rubber is very spin insensitive, it is great for over-the-table countering. I think it is much better at it than D09c or anything for that matter. I am not joking that it is truly an amazing and easy to use rubber. It is so easy to use that you will do stuff you think is unnatural from past experience.
Safe open-up loops are a bit hard with it I have to say, but I think it is manageable. H3 BS, or other hybrid rubbers don't particularly excel at this either. But at the same time fast attack...... dayumn, this is a fast-attack monster with this blade. I am getting Tibhar K2 levels of fast attack possibility, if not even better. Fast attack is better than H3 BS and rating it this rubber K2 and H3BS on fast attack is not a joke.
Wait, I have more.
I only managed to get it without factory boost or glue layer so far. (I saw versions which had factory boost and glue on the sponge, but I can't get it) It is mandatory to boost it. But I will say this much about boosting, I used 2 normal layers of Falco Tempo Long in the middle of December. That was about 9 weeks ago. Since then I reglued the rubber 2 times, since initially I glues it to my Zhou Qihao S-ALC blade, then reglued it to my W968 blade, and took it off like a month ago and it was airing for a month and now I just glued it back and no performance change since December.
Sure FTL should last about 10-12 weeks, I am sure this will be fine even after. Also no bubbles, I don't even see any wear marks on the topsheet. Guys, okay I have maybe like 60-70 hours of use in this rubber, but no marks and I have been smashing the shit out of it with fast attacks.
Also regarding fast attacks. Just a few notes also it applies to over the table countering. I feel like if I totally loosen up and just loosely swing my arm for both type of attacks I get more power and stability than if I try to force more impact in the shot by more "muscle". I can't say this about most ESN rubbers, with Rakza Z EH I was better off forcing more muscle into the shot. This one I can do it super loosie-goosie and the more loose and more loose body and leg I have the better quality I achieve.
Damn I have so much things to write but these feel important.
I have a stupid habit of starting my swing from low, and with this rubber and actually, with some other Chinese rubbers this is not a good thing. I can and should just start my swing from waist height and it just works better. It's safer, I have more time, I have more options etc. It is important that during fast attack one must not try to close the racket angle on the ball. That will be either a net ball or just low quality. As I said it is an unnatural rubber to use and super easy at the same time.
Another thing that plugs in with not lowering your arm much, when one is a bit back from the table and in a counter loop rally the rubber is acting like your motion. If you imagine and pull your arm upwards the ball will be high and possibly too long, if you imagine you pull the ball but you move your arm forward to make a more aggressive arc the ball hit the table and will have a more flat and fast arc. So you don't need to correct it for characteristics of sponge compression or topsheet grip loss or topsheet catapult etc. Very analog to use, which is not very analog for us humans since we're conditioned to correcting the defects (characteristics) of ESN and Jap rubbers.
However I have been very satisfied with G-1 on the backhand. It is fairly light, spinny, good arc, very good speed, good control, durable, good in colder conditions. I don't have much fault with it to be honest. But it does have ESN characteristics that need constant adjusting to. From ESN probably I like it the most from all they have. But I have played in the past with Yasaka Hovering Dragon, which has a kinda similar material topsheet as the Dingtian. It's not sticky, but it just has a very similar plasticky feel. It was very insensitive to spin and I had very similar impression with it on BH. It is also about 3-4g lighter cut than G-1. So that is something I am going to look into.