XIOM C55 Impressions and Comparison with H3N

[WingTT]

Had a session with C55 vs LAC yesterday.The LAC I have now seems to be less lively and crispy than the one I've used before so there seems to be variance in LACs but the C55 is definitely faster than the LAC I have right now. At warm up pace the LAC is linear and controlled while the C55 seemed to be shooting the ball off wildly. When hitting harder the C55 is also deadlier and has that crispy crack even more than I remember the LAC having. The C55 was on my brand new backup blade so there may be some some influence there.

During this particular match the reduced low speed control was not an issue and I have no complains about the rubber and managed to pull off an impressive loop against long push that came out spicier than I normally could do. It had that cracking forward momentum, and not just spin. I will need to keep trying that. I had to adjust all my forehand serves however and could not serve short to my opponents backhand as that kept getting killed.

 

[Wrighty67]

Played with my sheet again last night and was able to compare it to my H3 against some heavy long pips chops and I was surprised how much better the H3 still was at countering very heavy backspin - I think that the C55 is very good but it doesn’t perform better than boosted H3 for me.

 

[kevin.c]

PSA: Before you give all your money to TT11, read this. K3 Pro and C55 appear to have exactly the same topsheet and very similar sponge.

I've been playing with K2 since 2019, and now that it is discontinued, decided to find an alternative for the next 5 years

Below you will find two photos - one of just over a month old K3 Pro (21 x 2 hour practice sessions + 2 tournaments) and another of a 1 week old C55 (3 x 2 hour practice sessions). Tested on the same HL5.

Neither topsheet was as sticky as a K2/GT topsheet, let alone H3, after unpacking nor after several playing sessions. Both top sheets have been cleaned with plain tap water after each practice session and kept under a sticky protective film when not playing. As you can see, the marks on the topsheets are pretty much the same. However, this visual wear-and-tear does not seem to affect playing characteristics of either rubber at all. K3 Pro/C55 are very very playable - both are very spinny (and easily faster than K2/GT/boosted H3 by quite a bit). I will likely be playing with one of the two for a very long time. But still, IMO, Tibhar K2/Joola GT still remain the closest to a boosted H3. Too bad both have been discontinued ..

The small-pore sponges of K3 Pro/C55 are also very similar, at least visually (except one is cream and the other black ). If it wasn't for the sponge colour, I'd really struggle to tell the difference between the two new rubbers in a test.

View attachment 31596

High-res photo

If you were to choose one between K3 pro and C55, which would you pick?
Any difference on the weight of the 2 rubbers?

 

[vvk1]

If you were to choose one between K3 pro and C55, which would you pick?
Any difference on the weight of the 2 rubbers?

The cheapest I could find on sale Honestly, the performance of these two rubbers seems very similar to me, and I cannot find anything one of these does vastly better than the other. I've got each on a pair of HL5s and the only thing I notice is the more polished handle on my main bat when switching between them during a practice session.

Tibhar/Lebrun/Darko fans - > K3 Pro
Xiom/Hugo fans -> C55.

 

[kevin.c]

The cheapest I could find on sale Honestly, the performance of these two rubbers seems very similar to me, and I cannot find anything one of these does vastly better than the other. I've got each on a pair of HL5s and the only thing I notice is the more polished handle on my main bat when switching between them during a practice session.

Tibhar/Lebrun/Darko fans - > K3 Pro
Xiom/Hugo fans -> C55.

Awesome reply

I've got Xiom blade and Xiom bh rubber with omega 7 pro. C55 completes it. Lol

Guess the only difference is the >4 euros where k3 pro is slightly cheaper on tt11.

 

[TheProfessor]

The cheapest I could find on sale Honestly, the performance of these two rubbers seems very similar to me, and I cannot find anything one of these does vastly better than the other. I've got each on a pair of HL5s and the only thing I notice is the more polished handle on my main bat when switching between them during a practice session.

Tibhar/Lebrun/Darko fans - > K3 Pro
Xiom/Hugo fans -> C55.

so essentially they're just the same thing?

 

[vvk1]

so essentially they're just the same thing?

That's is basically my conjecture.

 

[Magic_M]

Played with my sheet again last night and was able to compare it to my H3 against some heavy long pips chops and I was surprised how much better the H3 still was at countering very heavy backspin - I think that the C55 is very good but it doesn’t perform better than boosted H3 for me.

Maybe you should compare your boosted H3 with a boosted C55.

 

[Wrighty67]

Maybe you should compare your boosted H3 with a boosted C55.

Maybe so, but the only real reason for me to try C55 was to get H3 boosted performance without boosting

 

[latej]

Darn. I really dont understand why Xiom has 2 hybrid 55d rubbers. Unless Xiom clearly tells us the difference, it feels confusing and unnecessary.

Omega china is legitimately really good as a hybrid.

Really dont know what C55 does differently

Fwiw, I've tried the Xiom Omega 7 China Guang (O7CG) yesterday shortly. The sponge looks visually pretty similar to the C55, hard to see diffs. without magnifier, so the O7CG sponge is also rather dense, either equally or almost as dense as the C55 sponge. It was on friend's blade, the Meister Basaltec Outer, also a great blade, and the rubber was kind of used, he'll replace before the season starts. So the blade differs and my C55 is new and his 07CG is not. It seems the pimples are closer to each other on the C55 than on the O7CG. Feelings-wise the O7CG feels a bit faster on low impacts (we say C55 is slightly more linear), and when hitting top-spins the O7CG seems slightly lower throw. But this is hard to say due to diffs. in blades. If I had to choose, I prefer the C55, coming from H3 like rubbers, but O7CG is not that far away... Anyway, the O7CG is for me closer to C55 than say RZEH (all similar hardness)...

 

[Manto76]

Personally, I find Xiom's current product range/positioning pretty unclear, even a bit confusing. It's turned me off the brand. For example, these are Xiom's own ratings and "technology" descriptions of their four current very-hard-rubber offerings:

Comparing the two 52.5 degree rubbers, for example, is J&H H52.5 really faster than O7A, and does it really produce less spin? That's not consistent with what many (most?) reviewers seem to think. As far as I can tell, most reviewers seem to think the exact opposite.

More importantly, who are these two rubbers intended for? What type/level of player? Likewise between the J&H C55 and the O7CG? And, apparently, one or two more rubbers of similar hardness are coming soon in the Omega 8 range.

Unclear, confusing, and too expensive to test all of them to try discern the different intentions of all four.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Personally, I find Xiom's current product range/positioning pretty unclear, even a bit confusing. It's turned me off the brand. For example, these are Xiom's own ratings and "technology" descriptions of their four current very-hard-rubber offerings:

View attachment 31765

Comparing the two 52.5 degree rubbers, for example, is J&H H52.5 really faster than O7A, and does it really produce less spin? That's not consistent with what many (most?) reviewers seem to think. As far as I can tell, most reviewers seem to think the exact opposite.

More importantly, who are these two rubbers intended for? What type/level of player? Likewise between the J&H C55 and the O7CG? And, apparently, one or two more rubbers of similar hardness are coming soon in the Omega 8 range.

Unclear, confusing, and too expensive to test all of them to try discern the different intentions of all four.

Yeah i hate this aspect of TT brands. There's a reason Toyota and Honda have kept the Camry and Accord going for decades, the consumer understand what it market position it is filling.

With TT rubbers, I never know the intended position of the rubber.

 

[latej]

Personally, I find Xiom's current product range/positioning pretty unclear, even a bit confusing. It's turned me off the brand. For example, these are Xiom's own ratings and "technology" descriptions of their four current very-hard-rubber offerings:

View attachment 31765

You're right, but we know why it is as it is. Honestly, it doesn't even put me off. I don't consider these ratings. Either I try the rubber on someone else's blade or I get enough probability from AnatomicEdge, TTD or other forums, and buy. I do make mistakes, e.g. the Z52.5 went off the blade after 1 training, in retrospect, I could use it on the BH, but not on the FH.

Comparing the two 52.5 degree rubbers, for example, is J&H H52.5 really faster than O7A, and does it really produce less spin? That's not consistent with what many (most?) reviewers seem to think. As far as I can tell, most reviewers seem to think the exact opposite.

The friend I mentioned above uses O7A on the BH and on paper, if you compare with O7P it should be much harder, but it is not at all. It's like a sensible upgrade. I think very good option for the BH, but I'd just not guess it from the marketing. The H52.5 I didn't try.

More importantly, who are these two rubbers intended for? What type/level of player? Likewise between the J&H C55 and the O7CG? And, apparently, one or two more rubbers of similar hardness are coming soon in the Omega 8 range.

Unclear, confusing, and too expensive to test all of them to try discern the different intentions of all four.

It's funny XIOM quotes Miquel de Cervantes: "FACTS ARE THE ENEMY OF TRUTH" ;-) Anyway, I said elsewhere, the rubber should be allowed only if we know the facts, top-sheet thickness, pimple height, radius, distance, sponge density and hardness. It is elementary, yet we still don't have it ;-)

 

[General_Specific]

Personally, I find Xiom's current product range/positioning pretty unclear, even a bit confusing. It's turned me off the brand. For example, these are Xiom's own ratings and "technology" descriptions of their four current very-hard-rubber offerings:

View attachment 31765

Comparing the two 52.5 degree rubbers, for example, is J&H H52.5 really faster than O7A, and does it really produce less spin? That's not consistent with what many (most?) reviewers seem to think. As far as I can tell, most reviewers seem to think the exact opposite.

More importantly, who are these two rubbers intended for? What type/level of player? Likewise between the J&H C55 and the O7CG? And, apparently, one or two more rubbers of similar hardness are coming soon in the Omega 8 range.

Unclear, confusing, and too expensive to test all of them to try discern the different intentions of all four.

This isn't only an Xiom thing, it's every single table tennis company. Other than the sponge hardness, the rest of the ratings are useless. Many companies don't even give sponge hardness.

Sponge hardness is also not a comprehensive rating for how the rubber will feel and play. There are factors like topsheet hardness and elasticity, booster in the sponge, material of the sponge, any specific technologies or methods used, and many other factors that just aren't accounted for.

If these ratings turn you off from Xiom, they turn you off from all TT brands.

 

[Manto76]

This isn't only an Xiom thing, it's every single table tennis company. Other than the sponge hardness, the rest of the ratings are useless. Many companies don't even give sponge hardness.

Sponge hardness is also not a comprehensive rating for how the rubber will feel and play. There are factors like topsheet hardness and elasticity, booster in the sponge, material of the sponge, any specific technologies or methods used, and many other factors that just aren't accounted for.

If these ratings turn you off from Xiom, they turn you off from all TT brands.

Yes and no!

Certainly you're right that most TT brands are going down the same path, but not all.

Butterfly and Yasaka are still much easier to understand. To be honest, given how confusing many product ranges have become, and the prices they're charging, I see less and less reason to find alternatives to Butterfly.

 

[Lazer]

Yes and no!

Certainly you're right that most TT brands are going down the same path, but not all.

Butterfly and Yasaka are still much easier to understand. To be honest, given how confusing many product ranges have become, and the prices they're charging, I see less and less reason to find alternatives to Butterfly.

Donic is easy too whereas DHS is horrible except for the hardness.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Draycott old man]

Yes and no!

Certainly you're right that most TT brands are going down the same path, but not all.

Butterfly and Yasaka are still much easier to understand. To be honest, given how confusing many product ranges have become, and the prices they're charging, I see less and less reason to find alternatives to Butterfly.

The only reason is the price of Butterfly products,as over £70 for a rubber is way to high for most pockets so I'm always looking for a cheaper replacement? I'm finding C55 a brilliant rubber and got 2 sheets for just over £70 so well worth it!!!

 

[MrGeorge]

Update on C55. I tried it on BH but first thing to note that C55 is more catapult than 09c. D09c is more harder then c55. I like direct feel of 09c on bh which provide more aggressive blocks, also thanks to higher throw angle of 09c is opening on bh better for me.

 

[NextLevel]

This isn't only an Xiom thing, it's every single table tennis company. Other than the sponge hardness, the rest of the ratings are useless. Many companies don't even give sponge hardness.

Sponge hardness is also not a comprehensive rating for how the rubber will feel and play. There are factors like topsheet hardness and elasticity, booster in the sponge, material of the sponge, any specific technologies or methods used, and many other factors that just aren't accounted for.

If these ratings turn you off from Xiom, they turn you off from all TT brands.

I guess Butterfly doesn't count because of the prices. Their range make sense. Xiom for me is specially bad even amongst ESN. Joola and Tibhar do a much better job. Gewo is probably most similar to Xiom.

 

[Draycott old man]

Well my latest session was really interesting as my F.H was amazing the spin level was unbelievable.The Sponge seem not to bottom out and I was hitting my my F.H hard with high levels of speed and spin.I was shattered as I put so much effort in and I'm not as fit as I used to be,my F.H had been so consistent all night, I can't wait for Sunday to see if it was a fluke or not !!!