Cheap tensor like rubbers?

[ChaserHUN]

Hey!

I want start playing TT again after 4 years. I was using a Xiom Offensive S with Xiom Vega X 1,8 rubbers wich I pretty much liked.

I've assembled a new racket because I didn't really like the anatomic handle of my Xiom blade. I've bougth a Sanwei Fextra 7 with straight handle, wich according to reviews is pretty similar to my Xiom blade. The blade on its own seemed pretty fast, I've put on Reactor Tornado V5 rubbers. I've only just tested here at home but man it is really slow compared to the Xiom Vega X and I bet it is the Reactors. They are pretty tacky compared to the Xioms.

My Xioms aren't in good shape tbh and I didn't want to pay a fortune for a new racket. Are there any cheap rubbers that have similar speed and feeling to the Xiom Vega X? Do any chinese rubbers have that catapult effect?

 

[Tyce]

How cheap do you need? First thing that comes to mind is AK47. It's a bouncy rubber even if it lacks in grip and durability, it can be used as a tensor substitute when you really want one.
Red is the hardest sponge, then yellow and blue is the softest variety.

 

[joshmak10]

Vega X is already pretty cheap…

 

[ChaserHUN]

How cheap do you need? First thing that comes to mind is AK47. It's a bouncy rubber even if it lacks in grip and durability, it can be used as a tensor substitute when you really want one.
Red is the hardest sponge, then yellow and blue is the softest variety.

Well the reactor were about 7,3 dollars, Vega X are about 42 dollars. I would say maximum 20 dollars? What could I get for that?
I don't want to spend that much because I'm an amature and going to play once maybe twice a week. I have martial arts in priorty now but I still do really love TT and want to play occasionally.

 

[Womble1066]

AK47 red. Ive used AK47 yellow on sanwei fextra before and found it too slow but the red should be better for it.

Make sure to use edge tape as the rubber is brittle and can break easily.

I found it rather spin sensitive though.

Guy in my local league uses it on his forehand and plays at a high level. Frequently beats someone who was ranked top 40 in England mens for years. Hes using it on a butterfly innerforce ALC with tenergy 05 on BH. I dont think he plays much competitions but I think if he played regularly, he would be top 20 in UK. Pretty sure he was national junior level in his country (he isnt british).

If its good enough for him, it is good enough for any amateur but will take adjustment.

 

[greenbeanmachine]

AK47 red or yellow sponge is the best cheap tensor imitation I've tried. If you add some Falco booster the spin will increase a lot.

Do any chinese rubbers have that catapult effect?

Some Chinese rubbers have a catapult effect, but they are also tacky and don't feel so similar to tensors. In this category the Loki Rxton rubbers are really good. Adding booster will help it feel more like a tensor.

 

[lodro]

Yinhe Mercury II, sold in a blue packet and with a white sponge. It caught me by surprise, i could not play with it because the catapult effect was too much for me . The ball had always jumped away before i was able to do anything with it.
That was a few years ago. It is still being sold dirt cheap but one can never guarantee that the rubber from yesterday will still be the same as the on you buy today

 

[mattlamperouge]

Well the reactor were about 7,3 dollars, Vega X are about 42 dollars. I would say maximum 20 dollars? What could I get for that?
I don't want to spend that much because I'm an amature and going to play once maybe twice a week. I have martial arts in priorty now but I still do really love TT and want to play occasionally.

Loki T3 carbon, arthur europe if found at a good price, Kirin K3, Telson 100 sometimes found around 22usd

 

[JJ Ng]

Vega X is already pretty cheap…

I concur, Vega X is pretty cheap already.

I have tried various chinese rubbers on my backhand including Yinhe Mercury II, AK 47 blue (I think blue is 38-40 degree sponge; I have never tried red or yellow), Palio CJ 8000, Rxton I, Rxton III, Rxton V, Rxton IX, Sanwei Target National and Hurricane commercial 37 and 39 degrees.

Let us just say none of them feel any "tensor" like. You can boost the heck out of these rubbers including Hurricane but it is not going to give you the catapult feeling you get with ESN tensor or with Butterfly Tenergy.

So if you like Vega X, consider strongly with sticking with Vega X.

Now, if you only play table tennis twice a week, with regular care, you can make your ESN rubber last for a long long time. Xiom Vega series is not known for its longevity. Plus the black cake sponge shrinks A LOT when you take it off so once you apply it to your blade, do not ever try to take it off and boost it again to transfer to another blade. It just does not work.

So if you want ESN rubber that has catapult effect, then get either Razka 7 or C-1. Both last like forever. Rakza 7 and C-1 are not crazy bouncy either.

Out of all the Chinese rubbers I have tried, I only like Hurricane 3 blue sponge 39-40 degree, Rxton 9 and Sanwei Target National blue sponge. And all of them are on my forehand. I cannot use any chinese rubber on my backhand no matter how much booster I put on them.

These are just my persona opinion. Yes, each Chinese rubber is cheap. But if you don't like it and waste 3-4 sheets, you might as well get one sheet of Rakza 7 or C-1 and use it for a year since you play only about twice a week.

 

[Tyce]

I concur, Vega X is pretty cheap already.

I have tried various chinese rubbers on my backhand including Yinhe Mercury II, AK 47 blue (I think blue is 38-40 degree sponge; I have never tried red or yellow), Palio CJ 8000, Rxton I, Rxton III, Rxton V, Rxton IX, Sanwei Target National and Hurricane commercial 37 and 39 degrees.

Let us just say none of them feel any "tensor" like. You can boost the heck out of these rubbers including Hurricane but it is not going to give you the catapult feeling you get with ESN tensor or with Butterfly Tenergy.

So if you like Vega X, consider strongly with sticking with Vega X.

Now, if you only play table tennis twice a week, with regular care, you can make your ESN rubber last for a long long time. Xiom Vega series is not known for its longevity. Plus the black cake sponge shrinks A LOT when you take it off so once you apply it to your blade, do not ever try to take it off and boost it again to transfer to another blade. It just does not work.

So if you want ESN rubber that has catapult effect, then get either Razka 7 or C-1. Both last like forever. Rakza 7 and C-1 are not crazy bouncy either.

Out of all the Chinese rubbers I have tried, I only like Hurricane 3 blue sponge 39-40 degree, Rxton 9 and Sanwei Target National blue sponge. And all of them are on my forehand. I cannot use any chinese rubber on my backhand no matter how much booster I put on them.

These are just my persona opinion. Yes, each Chinese rubber is cheap. But if you don't like it and waste 3-4 sheets, you might as well get one sheet of Rakza 7 or C-1 and use it for a year since you play only about twice a week.

I'd push C1 well over Rakza 7 here, because Rakza 7 is pretty heavy.
Also yeah I agree it's better to get a good rubber rather than a cheap substitute.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Hey!

I want start playing TT again after 4 years. I was using a Xiom Offensive S with Xiom Vega X 1,8 rubbers wich I pretty much liked.

I've assembled a new racket because I didn't really like the anatomic handle of my Xiom blade. I've bougth a Sanwei Fextra 7 with straight handle, wich according to reviews is pretty similar to my Xiom blade. The blade on its own seemed pretty fast, I've put on Reactor Tornado V5 rubbers. I've only just tested here at home but man it is really slow compared to the Xiom Vega X and I bet it is the Reactors. They are pretty tacky compared to the Xioms.

My Xioms aren't in good shape tbh and I didn't want to pay a fortune for a new racket. Are there any cheap rubbers that have similar speed and feeling to the Xiom Vega X? Do any chinese rubbers have that catapult effect?

AK47 is a good bet. Moon 12 too

 

[ChaserHUN]

Well yeah Vega X is cheap compared to Tenergy series, it is not compared to chinese rubbers and my wallet at the moment

Interesting it has been almost 12 hours since I have assembled the blade and just bouncing the ball on in it feels a hell of a lot faster than when I assembled it. Almost came close to my Xiom combo, not as bouny though but pretty close. I will test it out playing on Friday.

I've applied one layer of Revolution no 3 on the blade and 2 layers on the rubbers. Would it be faster with 3 layers on the rubber?

 

[Zwill]

Chinese don't really make such kind of tensor rubbers as Vega. Even their faster rubbers are playing differently, they are fast but not catapulty.

You can try Moon Speed or Moon 12 they are kinda like a tensor but not really. Yasaka Hovering Dragon is fast and good but not catapulty and is different in play.

AliExpress also has good price for Stiga Mantra pro, but not in the 20USD range, but I would recommend the Mantra pro M for sure.

Or if you want something a bit softer then the Victas Swat Spin.
The Vega X in Hungary has a very good price around 38USD, hard to compete even with its price let alone something that performs better and cheaper...

 

[latej]

+1 for Yinhe Mercury 2. You can take e.g. red soft and black medium, each for cca 6EUR, on Aliexpress, e.g. Playa PP store... Cheers.

 

[lodro]

I cannot use any chinese rubber on my backhand no matter how much booster I put on them.

maybe you are too good a player because I really suck a table tennis and I do really well with unboosted H3 commercial grade

 

[TT Lover]

Chinese don't really make such kind of tensor rubbers as Vega. Even their faster rubbers are playing differently, they are fast but not catapulty.

You can try Moon Speed or Moon 12 they are kinda like a tensor but not really. Yasaka Hovering Dragon is fast and good but not catapulty and is different in play.

AliExpress also has good price for Stiga Mantra pro, but not in the 20USD range, but I would recommend the Mantra pro M for sure.

Or if you want something a bit softer then the Victas Swat Spin.
The Vega X in Hungary has a very good price around 38USD, hard to compete even with its price let alone something that performs better and cheaper...

Good day to you sir.

What about the spin, hardness, and catapulty of Victas Swat Spin if comparable with Yasaka RAKZA 7 soft.

Thank you sir.
Best regards,

 

[Topspinslinger]

If you really want cheap and durable, Tibhar Aurus is €25/30 on aliexpress in sale.
Getting a quality rubber is good

 

[Zwill]

Good day to you sir.

What about the spin, hardness, and catapulty of Victas Swat Spin if comparable with Yasaka RAKZA 7 soft.

Thank you sir.
Best regards,

Rakza 7 soft I'm a bit familiar with since my girlfriend uses that on her BH, but still I only tried it not really played with it much. Swat Spin is fairly new but it's really good in fact reminds me a bit of the Mantra Pro.
Both have 42-3 deg hardness so not much in that, Swat spin topsheet is more elastic, I think it's less spin sensitive and can handle hard shots better. Actually even that soft rubber is quite capable in FH side. It wouldn't be my FH choice but I wouldn't cry too many rivers if I had to use it there. I think the topsheet difference is quite big in favor of the Swat.

With Rakza 7 I felt that it's not gripping the plastic ball so well. I guess it was designed for the cell ball so maybe that's why. I think Rakza 7 soft is pretty good too but I would take the Swat Spin. Swat Spin seems a little bit cheaper too, and really it can take really hard hits so well, usually such soft rubbers just don't work well with strong hits.

 

[igorponger]

"Tensor rubbers" are supposed to display over 40 units in the Schob resilience test. Not all of nominal "tensors" will provide a duly powerful performance.
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Be erudite of everything

 

[ChaserHUN]

BTW anyone tried the Revolution no 3 Extreme Booster? How long does it last? It is cheaper to use that with a cheaper rubber like with the Tornado V5 or buying a more expensive rubber?

I love how the Vega X feels and plays but tbh the top sheet wears out pretty fast.