Doinc C2 or Xiom C55

[TG WANG]

Hi Community, I would like to ask if anyone has tried both these two rubbers, and what are the key differences between them.

From the information provided by the manufacturers, they have many similarities: both are ESN55°, and both are C-Touch type sticky rubber. But there are also objective differences between them: the sponge thickness specification of C2 is 2.0/max, while that of C55 is 2.1/max.

I found many reviews that only focused on one of the two, and there were strong similarities between the comments. For example, both rubbers have similar performance to D09C in terms of elasticity and rotation levels, but their feel is typically different from D09C. The main difference I could find in the reviews is the throw angle, the C55 seems to have a lower throw angle and therefore is more suited to a "power" style of play.

I am not sure whether my conclusions are reliable without empirical evidence.
If you have played with both these two rubbers, please share the differences between them. Thank you very much🙏🙏.

 

[latej]

It's been a long time since I played with C2, I think like 3 years. What I remember, and my oppinion is that both are good rubbers, rel. close to each other (because of the sponge hard-ness), but the C55 is response-feelings-wise closer to H3 like rubbers, I mean the sponge response (not the tackiness, C55 is lightly sticky, and some people say it differs very much from H3 like rubbers, but I'm speaking about sponge response, not the amount of tackiness), than the C2. C2 is not that far, but still different. Imo, C2 is actually closer to the Xiom China Guang. Like C2-Guang-C55, but Guang closer to C2 than to the C55. So C2 is like "more-hybridy", while C55 is like "more-H3", for me at least. Durability, for me clearly C2 has about 2x more the durability than C55, and I think C2's durability is not really very high ;-) I personally prefer the C55, very good rubber, but for sponsored players. So this is my recollection, can't provide more precise.

 

[TG WANG]

It's been a long time since I played with C2, I think like 3 years. What I remember, and my oppinion is that both are good rubbers, rel. close to each other (because of the sponge hard-ness), but the C55 is response-feelings-wise closer to H3 like rubbers, I mean the sponge response (not the tackiness, C55 is lightly sticky, and some people say it differs very much from H3 like rubbers, but I'm speaking about sponge response, not the amount of tackiness), than the C2. C2 is not that far, but still different. Imo, C2 is actually closer to the Xiom China Guang. Like C2-Guang-C55, but Guang closer to C2 than to the C55. So C2 is like "more-hybridy", while C55 is like "more-H3", for me at least. Durability, for me clearly C2 has about 2x more the durability than C55, and I think C2's durability is not really very high ;-) I personally prefer the C55, very good rubber, but for sponsored players. So this is my recollection, can't provide more precise.

Thanks for the info!
I think I understand what you mean by "response", which is probably describing the subjective touch feedback during different impact strengths. In some reviews written by Chinese users, they also mentioned that the C55 has a feel of "wrapping the ball", this is often used to describe boosted H3.

 

[latej]

Thanks for the info!
I think I understand what you mean by "response", which is probably describing the subjective touch feedback during different impact strengths. In some reviews written by Chinese users, they also mentioned that the C55 has a feel of "wrapping the ball", this is often used to describe boosted H3.

Yes, response in different strengths...

E.g. for me the H3 prov., C55 and Rxton9 give similar sponge response. Their top-sheets differs a bit, the Rxton9 is the most tacky, and I'd say this feeling of wrapping the ball is the strongest with Rxton9, of the three. But all are close to each other.

I play with these rubbers on the FH, and my team-player, a better player, who has no exp. with chinese rubbers, always objects that these rubbers are not for me, that the balls I produce with a lot of effort, are slow, and he can easily block them. Which is true, he can ;-) I really like the response of these rubbers, and I'm also aware that the rubbers I use have other benefits, like control, sometimes hard to guess amount of rotation, but he is right that they are really not fast. His arguments slowly drill some holes - I'm considering trying to use T05H on the FH ;-), which accidentally I see you're using... I'd also try D05H, if it existed, or was made available...

 

[latej]

So C55’s durability is atrocious?

Well, I've only used 1 sheet, could have been the sheet...

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/xiom-c55-impressions-and-comparison-with-h3n.34868/page-9#post-481959

 

[latej]

Eeeeeeew. I thought about buying it but no thanks now

;-) I don't want to discourage you... Other people, IIRC @vvk1, didn't report so dramatically ;-) But the Rxton9 I play since (also 5 weeks) really looks comparatively like new...

 

[vvk1]

;-) I don't want to discourage you... Other people, IIRC @vvk1, didn't report so dramatically ;-) But the Rxton9 I play since (also 5 weeks) really looks comparatively like new...

K3{Pro}/C55/A1-3/Codexx Pro Superselect/Stiga DNA Dragon Power - all of these are made using same ESN tech, IMO. Sponge colour and hardness varies, topsheet resistance to wear&tear is about the same. I don't feel the actual performance of the topsheet - in particular, ability to grip/spin the ball - changes in direct proportion to the visual deterioration of the topsheet's appearance, but it does change, like with any other rubber if you use it often enough.

However, the fortitude required to continue playing with a 2 month old topsheet that looks quite beaten up, and not attributing missed shots that slipped/went into the net to the looks of the topsheet, can definitely be too much to ask from some people

 

[OvrChkn]

For what it's worth, I've been using the C55 now for about 2 months consistently (roughly 15-20 hours a week w/ multi-ball lessons and practice) and it is a very good rubber. The booster effect seems to tamper down after 1 month for me, but I'm still having fun using it. I noticed that the rubber feels much softer now than when I started using it, but I'm still getting a lot of power and spin from my forehand loops and drives, so I'll keep using it for another 2 months and re-evaluate the performance then.

The very slight tackiness was nice to have and that was basically gone after a month. I have it in red, so it doesn't look that visibly scuffed.

I tried a boosted BS H3 and it felt pretty similar on my loops.