Experience with some other Loki rubbers - Arthur China, GTX Pro (inc)

[Zwill]

@Zwill he's gonna pay off his debt soon cuz I've just broken the 3rd LAC sheet on the 3rd day (the lifespan is getting shorter again). While I am waiting for the new sheet to arrive from the authorized shop.. I'll break this 4th and final sheet of that lzd store

I have this distinct feeling that I do not wish to get a right hook from you 🤕

Mine is so far holding on, and I have been giving it the beans. So good for 3rd ball kills and counters, I think probably those should be the type of shots that make it bubble but so far so good. This week I gave it like 30-40 hours of play...

 

[TensorBackhand]

Just got a new sheet of Rxton 5.

Its listed as H41, so in theory it should be quite hard. Its also kinda curved inward to the sponge, but why is that?

 

[fore.n.back]

View attachment 25853
Just got a new sheet of Rxton 5.

Its listed as H41, so in theory it should be quite hard. Its also kinda curved inward to the sponge, but why is that?

maybe it's because of the predilation sponge treatment thing they applied to the topsheet

 

[lodro]

View attachment 25853
Just got a new sheet of Rxton 5.

Its listed as H41, so in theory it should be quite hard. Its also kinda curved inward to the sponge, but why is that?

many rubbers come like that. My LAC too. The first thin coat of seamoon will flatten it out.
BTW> I am trying my LAC without any boosting in the moment with the robot and tomorrow at the club. So far it can't do anything that a Rxton5 can't do

 

[TensorBackhand]

maybe it's because of the predilation sponge treatment thing they applied to the topsheet

What is that treatment? Like a booster?

 

[TensorBackhand]

many rubbers come like that. My LAC too. The first thin coat of seamoon will flatten it out.
BTW> I am trying my LAC without any boosting in the moment with the robot and tomorrow at the club. So far it can't do anything that a Rxton5 can't do

Well rxton 5 is a pretty darn good rubber that has all the gears you need, so im not too surprised by that.

 

[fore.n.back]

What is that treatment? Like a booster?

I haven't dig into the technology they used, but they print that on the topsheet. Imo, I guess it's some sort of boosting

 

[TensorBackhand]

I have to say, this sheet of Rxton 5 doesn't seem the same as the first one I got.

The first sheet I had felt insanely hard to me at the time. I remember it being almost impossible to compress with my finger no matter how hard I pushed. Maybe I'm not remembering.

But this 2nd sheet, which is still listed as 41d, feels easy to push down. It doesn't seem anywhere near as hard as I remember. But maybe I'm just getting more used to hard sponges.

 

[TensorBackhand]

My Rxton 5 doesn't feel very hard despite being marked as 41 degrees, and I seem to have the new package. Brace yourself...

I must have got the same rubber you got. It's marked as 41d, but honestly feels less than 38d.

What hardness does yours feel like?

 

[TensorBackhand]

LOKI T3 - Table Tennis and Ping Pong

LOKI T3

ttnpp.com

Also noticed the new T3 is on sale already. but seems to be much more expensive than the old one

 

[hclnnkhg]

I must have got the same rubber you got. It's marked as 41d, but honestly feels less than 38d.

What hardness does yours feel like?

It feels slightly softer than Sanwei Target 3 Provincial 39 deg, but definitely harder than Jupiter 3 38 deg. I'd still consider Rxton 5 39 deg, its hardness feel closer to TP3 than J3. All unboosted.

 

[TensorBackhand]

It feels slightly softer than Sanwei Target 3 Provincial 39 deg, but definitely harder than Jupiter 3 38 deg. I'd still consider Rxton 5 39 deg, its hardness feel closer to TP3 than J3. All unboosted.

Did you also get yours from Aliexpress?

I'm gonna see if I can get a partial refund. I'm super disappointed with the new version of Rxton 5. The old one was way better.

 

[hclnnkhg]

Did you also get yours from Aliexpress?

I'm gonna see if I can get a partial refund. I'm super disappointed with the new version of Rxton 5. The old one was way better.

Yes, all three rubbers from Aliexpress.
Does the old one looks different e.g. different sponge colour/package?

 

[TensorBackhand]

Yes, all three rubbers from Aliexpress.
Does the old one looks different e.g. different sponge colour/package?

You got 3 sheets of Rxton 5?

The package looks different because its the new updated package. The sponge color looks similar, but maybe just slightly different.

But the overall rubber just looks different. The original had a more earthy, organic look. The new has a shinier look, and the rubber is more curved and supple. It looks like the rubber has been treated with some chemical.

I remember I had a Yinhe Mercury 3 that looked very similar to this new Rxton 5, with that treated/curvy look to the rubber.

 

[hclnnkhg]

You got 3 sheets of Rxton 5?

The package looks different because its the new updated package. The sponge color looks similar, but maybe just slightly different.

But the overall rubber just looks different. The original had a more earthy, organic look. The new has a shinier look, and the rubber is more curved and supple. It looks like the rubber has been treated with some chemical.

I remember I had a Yinhe Mercury 3 that looked very similar to this new Rxton 5, with that treated/curvy look to the rubber.

No I meant TP3, J3 and R5 are all from aliexpress
My R5 isn't shiny probably because it is in Red, but it is slightly curved out of the package (topsheet more stretched than sponge). Personally I like this version of R5, not a big fan of true classic Chinese rubber like TP3 or the rock-hard old R5 based on your description. I guess you can put this one on your backhand if you find it too soft.

 

[TensorBackhand]

No I meant TP3, J3 and R5 are all from aliexpress
My R5 isn't shiny probably because it is in Red, but it is slightly curved out of the package (topsheet more stretched than sponge). Personally I like this version of R5, not a big fan of true classic Chinese rubber like TP3 or the rock-hard old R5 based on your description. I guess you can put this one on your backhand if you find it too soft.

so which do you like best between Rxton 5, Jupiter 3, and Target Pro 3?

 

[hclnnkhg]

so which do you like best between Rxton 5, Jupiter 3, and Target Pro 3?

J3>~R5>TP3.

TP3 is too hard, heavy, tacky for me - it is rewarding for big swing, but I am rarely doing it. It is a good quality rubber for its price, but not for my taste. And I don't recommend putting it on wooden blade - I tried it on YEO first and that was difficult to use at intermediate gears.

J3 (38 deg) and R5 are close. I am currently using R5, it is good enough in all areas, good balance between tackiness and bounciness for me, but I would like to be able to engage the sponge with slightly less effort. J3 has the edge because it is factory tuned so it is livelier out of the package. J3 is also slightly less spin sensitive and better for flat drives, whilst having enough spin for serves and opening loops. They are equal in my book considering their price difference.

But I haven't tried J3 on my current blade (Rutis Revo) so these aren't conclusive yet.

 

[TensorBackhand]

@lodro

You've been a long time user of Rxton 5. Have you noticed the sudden and dramatic change in the Rxton 5 hardness??

Which version did you like?

 

[lodro]

@lodro

You've been a long time user of Rxton 5. Have you noticed the sudden and dramatic change in the Rxton 5 hardness??

Which version did you like?

The first "change" came quite early, when it was announced that they changed the packaging but claimed it was still the same rubber-------------------it was not the same anymore.
The change however was not in the sponge but in the top rubber. Less sticky and smoother finish.
I complained about it but was informed that this was simply a matter of mass production and this variations were normal and every series was a bit different.
That is when I decided to buy 12 sheets of Rxton 5, I still got 8 left and all have the hard sponge.

I do not know what Loki is trying to achieve by being so inconsistent with their products and by making so many different new rubbers but I don't like what they are doing.

So, i am still a Rxton 5-fan but not a Loki fan.

 

[lodro]

LOKI T3 - Table Tennis and Ping Pong

LOKI T3

ttnpp.com

Also noticed the new T3 is on sale already. but seems to be much more expensive than the old one

i just googled T3 an d followed 2 leads to ali express shops.
Shop one wanted 54 NZ $ but actually claimed that this rubber was discontinued.
Shop 2 had a version of T3 for sale at NZ$ 28
The confusion continues.😂