Friendship battle 2 provincial vs fastarc g-1

[sky500]

Hi,

I would like to ask if anybody used both rubbers before and can give me a recommendation if fastarc g1 is playable for me instead of my current battle 2 blue sponge or if it is too different.

I have been originally looking for an alternative to h3 neo but without boosting. I like the control and tackiness of battle 2 blue sponge but the negative side is of course that the arc is quite low, lack of power away from the table and technique needs to be correct to create force.

I'm a bit afraid that I have gotten accustomed to the control of Chinese tacky rubbers and tensors might feel less controlable. But I also don't know what alternative to battle 2 blue sponge I can try because I don't think there are many similar rubbers.

 

[John_]

G1 is a completely different rubber, it's nothing like a classic tacky Chinese rubber. Maybe a hybrid could work for you. Try tibhar k3, donic a1, andro c55.

 

[banbekas]

G-1 is good, it's not that bouncy compared to other ESN rubbers. You don't need to worry much about it but you will miss some of the spin from chinese rubber.
B2 provincial is good too. If you say that it doesn't have enough power away from the table, just hit the gym more and get a faster blade. The rubber still has enough power from mid distance. It's usable and still great even without boosting.

 

[Lazer]

Hi,

I would like to ask if anybody used both rubbers before and can give me a recommendation if fastarc g1 is playable for me instead of my current battle 2 blue sponge or if it is too different.

I have been originally looking for an alternative to h3 neo but without boosting. I like the control and tackiness of battle 2 blue sponge but the negative side is of course that the arc is quite low, lack of power away from the table and technique needs to be correct to create force.

I'm a bit afraid that I have gotten accustomed to the control of Chinese tacky rubbers and tensors might feel less controlable. But I also don't know what alternative to battle 2 blue sponge I can try because I don't think there are many similar rubbers.

There is nothing that works as good as Chinese tacky in the short game and as good as an explosive Tensor from distance. With a hybrid you sacrifice characteristics at both ends…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[greenbeanmachine]

I usually use tacky Chinese rubbers but I really like Stiga Mantra XH. It has a similar feeling to Chinese rubbers but has some catapult. Based on the things you want (power far from the table, control, higher arc than Battle II) I think this might be just what you're looking for.

If you want to reduce the catapult effect, you can wait for the boost to wear off -- unwrap the rubber and leave it in open air for a few weeks, or just play with a faster rubber until the boost wears off. Once the boost wears off, Mantra Pro XH feels really nice. Something like a combination of Hurricane 3 and Mark V. Lasts forever, very good durability.

 

[Lazer]

I usually use tacky Chinese rubbers but I really like Stiga Mantra XH. It has a similar feeling to Chinese rubbers but has some catapult. Based on the things you want (power far from the table, control, higher arc than Battle II) I think this might be just what you're looking for.

If you want to reduce the catapult effect, you can wait for the boost to wear off -- unwrap the rubber and leave it in open air for a few weeks, or just play with a faster rubber until the boost wears off. Once the boost wears off, Mantra Pro XH feels really nice. Something like a combination of Hurricane 3 and Mark V. Lasts forever, very good durability.

I got turned off by the old Stiga Mantra, it was meh, didn’t last long and chipped too easily… I have given up on Stiga rubbers for now…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[sky500]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will just give it a try. My biggest problem with battle 2 is its low arc. If I don't have a good position, the ball just goes into the net. The first two month the tackiness and spin is kinda perfect but afterwards I hit the net more often. I don't know if it is normal because the tackiness wears off.

 

[banbekas]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will just give it a try. My biggest problem with battle 2 is its low arc. If I don't have a good position, the ball just goes into the net. The first two month the tackiness and spin is kinda perfect but afterwards I hit the net more often. I don't know if it is normal because the tackiness wears off.

Hit more through the sponge as you brush. That should give you enough safety for the ball to clear the net. Maybe you can also try to lift it up more as you brush. While it's true that B2 throw is a bit lower than that of H3, it's not that much of difference anyway.

 

[greenbeanmachine]

I got turned off by the old Stiga Mantra, it was meh, didn’t last long and chipped too easily… I have given up on Stiga rubbers for now…

Cheers
L-zr

Mantra Pro is better and more durable than the original Mantra. I've had a pair of Mantra Pro for 8 months, they're still smooth and grippy and no tears.

The boost wears off fairly quickly, if that's what you mean. But I like it like that.

 

[_ak]

Thanks for the replies. I think I will just give it a try. My biggest problem with battle 2 is its low arc. If I don't have a good position, the ball just goes into the net. The first two month the tackiness and spin is kinda perfect but afterwards I hit the net more often. I don't know if it is normal because the tackiness wears off.

Try Battle 3, perhaps 38d version first. It works well for both arched and more direct low over the net shots.

 

[Lazer]

Mantra Pro is better and more durable than the original Mantra. I've had a pair of Mantra Pro for 8 months, they're still smooth and grippy and no tears.

The boost wears off fairly quickly, if that's what you mean. But I like it like that.

I believe You, but since then I have found Chinese rubbbers. They work better for me than Tensor and Japanese…

Cheers
L-zr