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

[jk1980]

I just received two (red/orange sticky) Loki Arthur China *2.1mm & H40.
Out of the box the black one on a W968 was feeling "more dead" than the red one on the Nittaku Acoustic, but both are really having these chinese dampening features for the short game.
What was surprising is that to me it seemed like the LAC had an even higher throw than the Rakza Z on the same blade. Especially apparent for me when backhand looping and short touch play.

What i totally like is the thick contact feeling i get on spinning, like hitting something with a heavy car tire. This is what i always disliked when playing the 729 Battle 3, which felt like wet newspaper to me, even though the playing characteristics i did digg totally.

 

[turbozed]

I just received two (red/orange sticky) Loki Arthur China *2.1mm & H40.
Out of the box the black one on a W968 was feeling "more dead" than the red one on the Nittaku Acoustic, but both are really having these chinese dampening features for the short game.
What was surprising is that to me it seemed like the LAC had an even higher throw than the Rakza Z on the same blade. Especially apparent for me when backhand looping and short touch play.

What i totally like is the thick contact feeling i get on spinning, like hitting something with a heavy car tire. This is what i always disliked when playing the 729 Battle 3, which felt like wet newspaper to me, even though the playing characteristics i did digg totally.

You perfectly described what I like about LAC. That 'thick contact' feeling just feels way more natural to me. When the rubber behaves and feels how you expect it to, it sure makes for a more comfortable playing experience. That's something that I assume is personal to everyone, and it's not something that's represented in rating sites that discuss speed, tackiness, catapult, hardness, etc.

 

[mattlamperouge]

I received the T3 w81. But I wonder why I ordered it, hard sponge and non sticky, it will be useless for my FH and my BH.

I'm gonna buy a Arthur Asia instead, I wonder what's the difference for the FH compared to the Arthur China. It says more speed/less control, but with a harder sponge, how could it have less control ?

I know you wont use it but i would love to heard differences with Telson100 if you test it. Normal T3 had decent spin but topsheet wasnt that grippy. Arthur Europe diamond has great grip but not that much catapult like Telson 100.

 

[TensorBackhand]

I know you wont use it but i would love to heard differences with Telson100 if you test it. Normal T3 had decent spin but topsheet wasnt that grippy. Arthur Europe diamond has great grip but not that much catapult like Telson 100.

I ordered T3, K1, and K3. I hope i dont regret it..., but i probably will

 

[mattlamperouge]

I ordered T3, K1, and K3. I hope i dont regret it..., but i probably will

K1 and k3 im pleased with, they are quite good for the price but for beginners/advanced beginners. I dont think they will surprise you that much. T3 you already know right? Or will you test T3w81? That would be cool for comparisons

 

[jk1980]

after the first session with real opponents, i feel that the rubber has a too high throw (when played on a Nittaku Acoustic) or too much speed when activated. I mean a hardness of 40° is quite hard compared the the Rakza Z that i am used to. if i was only looping from the half distance the LAC would be a great choice, but close to the table loops are going that tiny bit too long and i don't have the enthusiasm to retrain for a different throw angle right now. What was interesting is that it fit me better on the backhand now and it was nice to be able to have that nice thick contact looping backhand.
I guess the LAC with one or two degrees softer sponge would be closer to me sweet spot

 

[TensorBackhand]

K1 and k3 im pleased with, they are quite good for the price but for beginners/advanced beginners. I dont think they will surprise you that much. T3 you already know right? Or will you test T3w81? That would be cool for comparisons

I just got the T3 on a whim since it is quite cheap...i really dont need it.

I like it for punching and blocking, its pretty fun there. But its hard to loop well with it

 

[kase]

I tried the Kirin K3 rubber. My first impression is: It's spinless rubbish. Stick to Telson.

 

[TensorBackhand]

I tried the Kirin K3 rubber. My first impression is: It's spinless rubbish. Stick to Telson.

Hows the speed

 

[kase]

It's difficult to judge, more or less the same as Telson maybe. It just didn't work well with my blade. It did come in individually wrapped airtight packages and had a smell when opened (unlike the Telson).

Even though the sponge is meant to be the same (I think) it's black instead of the red that Telson has.

The Kirin doesn't seem to grab the rubber with the topsheet, so it's not as high throw as Telson. It relies on the sponge instead of the topsheet for spin, which it doesn't seem to do very well. The Telson spins very well because the topsheet grabs the ball well.

YMMV as I had it on quite a thick fast blade.

 

[TensorBackhand]

It's difficult to judge, more or less the same as Telson maybe. It just didn't work well with my blade. It did come in individually wrapped airtight packages and had a smell when opened (unlike the Telson).

Even though the sponge is meant to be the same (I think) it's black instead of the red that Telson has.

The Kirin doesn't seem to grab the rubber with the topsheet, so it's not as high throw as Telson. It relies on the sponge instead of the topsheet for spin, which it doesn't seem to do very well. The Telson spins very well because the topsheet grabs the ball well.

YMMV as I had it on quite a thick fast blade.

That sounds right to me. I dont like loki topsheets

 

[Grumms]

after the first session with real opponents, i feel that the rubber has a too high throw (when played on a Nittaku Acoustic) or too much speed when activated. I mean a hardness of 40° is quite hard compared the the Rakza Z that i am used to. if i was only looping from the half distance the LAC would be a great choice, but close to the table loops are going that tiny bit too long and i don't have the enthusiasm to retrain for a different throw angle right now. What was interesting is that it fit me better on the backhand now and it was nice to be able to have that nice thick contact looping backhand.
I guess the LAC with one or two degrees softer sponge would be closer to me sweet spot

Rxton VII then ! Have you boosted the LAC ?

 

[jk1980]

Rxton VII then ! Have you boosted the LAC ?

No, i did not boost it. I did not even here about there being a Rexton VII. I think the european site only shows 3 and 5

 

[Grumms]

No, i did not boost it. I did not even here about there being a Rexton VII. I think the european site only shows 3 and 5

Rxton VII 37º feels like a LAC made for the BH. But since you would like LAC to be softer, this might suit you.

 

[jk1980]

Rxton VII 37º feels like a LAC made for the BH. But since you would like LAC to be softer, this might suit you.

Thank you, i just ordered the 37°, the 39° and the 40° version and i will try the 39° version first.

 

[mattlamperouge]

It's difficult to judge, more or less the same as Telson maybe. It just didn't work well with my blade. It did come in individually wrapped airtight packages and had a smell when opened (unlike the Telson).

Even though the sponge is meant to be the same (I think) it's black instead of the red that Telson has.

The Kirin doesn't seem to grab the rubber with the topsheet, so it's not as high throw as Telson. It relies on the sponge instead of the topsheet for spin, which it doesn't seem to do very well. The Telson spins very well because the topsheet grabs the ball well.

YMMV as I had it on quite a thick fast blade.

K3 not even close to Telson but its fine they are supposed to be for completly different players. The one i pasted to a student feels softer than my telson, grip much lower but spin tolerance is great. He can hit quite fast and safe BH hits already with a Kirin k2 blade. Control is great, he even started lifting backspin and following drives+punchs.
TELSON 100 grip its really good. It feels like high quality materials, seem to be quite durable. Sponge is harder to engage but can get great topend speed.

 

[Grumms]

Telson 100 is really good, but it's dedicated, at least on the BH, to players that spin all their strokes ( I guess players that are a lot better than me), or players that need a low arc.

 

[banbekas]

What's the difference between Loki W81 and Telson Series, either Speed or China? Price is about the same.

 

[Grumms]

What's the difference between Loki W81 and Telson Series, either Speed or China? Price is about the same.

Telson China and Speed are with "Telson Carbon" instead of KLC for the inner and ALC for the outer w81.

 

[banbekas]

Telson China and Speed are with "Telson Carbon" instead of KLC for the inner and ALC for the outer w81.

Is it any different though? It looks like regular ALC and KLC, cosmetic wise.