I was scrolling through kokusai site and found 3 new (currently on pre-order) vega series rubbers, the vega O line, and I was wondering if anyone has any info about these rubbers
Lol, was just looking at the ITTF Rubber list 5 mins ago and saw them too.
Looking at the price those might be beginner versions just like the Victas Regular ɑ
How many new rubbers does Xiom need? They already have like 4 separate Vega lineups, classic Vegas like Asia and Euro, newage Vegas like Japan and China, Vega DF versions, and Vega Hybrid versions. They even have Vega Intro. Not only to mention they still have several Omega series still on sale, plus multiple variants of different series of Jekyll&Hyde, and 3 whole "new" Sigma rubbers that I don't think are even available in all markets and never seemed to make waves in the market.
How many new rubbers does Xiom need? They already have like 4 separate Vega lineups, classic Vegas like Asia and Euro, newage Vegas like Japan and China, Vega DF versions, and Vega Hybrid versions. They even have Vega Intro. Not only to mention they still have several Omega series still on sale, plus multiple variants of different series of Jekyll&Hyde, and 3 whole "new" Sigma rubbers that I don't think are even available in all markets and never seemed to make waves in the market.
Xiom's rubber naming isn't particularly helpful. I kind of get why everyone just buys the trustworthy and safe Vega series. And I am talking about local league players.
Vega X is priced usually super well, it's an easy sell. (other Vegas also priced well usually) Maybe some try to experiment with other Vega since there's now so many.
Even I have no clue what is the difference between Vega hybrid China or Vega China or Tau 2 or Tau 3 or Vega China+ , and if I think about the Omega Guang and Ying and Omega 8 China and J&H C series my head starts to spin.
According to this release, Vega O is the same sponge with different topsheets. Notice the three different LARC codes. It's a 45° sponge with a soft, medium, or hard topsheet.
As usual, Xiom's rating system is a little hard to parse. The ratings at the bottom of the image are from top to bottom, left to right.
HARD
Strong rebound force with emphasis on speed
This rubber series features a 45-degree sponge for ease of use, while each rubber features a unique pimple structure for distinctive features. The HARD rubber offers superior speed and feel.
MEDIUM
Excellent balance and comfortable feel
Three unique rubbers were created with different pimple structures and top sheets. Among them, the MID rubber combines the characteristics of HARD and SOFT to achieve the most balanced performance.
SOFT
Emphasis on spin and arc for an exhilarating feel
While pursuing ease of use, each product in this series has distinct characteristics. Among them, the SOFT offers the most stable spin and outstanding control.
It seems like Soft is the winner according to both their pro and amateur testers, and it isn't really clear what advantages Medium offers over Soft...
Here's the Google translation of the release:
Three Vega-esque rubbers that anyone can use with confidence
Starting November 13th, "Vega O" began arriving and sales began at table tennis shops across Japan.
While the "Vega" series has released numerous items to date, this latest release, "Vega O," marks a return to the roots.
All three items share the same medium-hardness sponge (45 degrees), but the top sheet structure changes to create different feel on impact.
The lineup offers clear choices for users: "Vega O Hard" for speed, "Vega O Mid" for balance, and "Vega O Soft" for stability. All are guaranteed to be easy to use.
And what's even more exciting is the price. At ¥4,300 (tax included), it's a rare and reasonable price.
If you're looking for a high-performance yet low-priced inverted rubber, head to the shop now!
I'll definitely be giving this a go since I like 45° rubbers on my BH, but it still feels like an odd niche for Xiom to drop new rubbers into.
looks like new beginner rubber to me. they share the same white sponge as the other beginner rubber in the vega line (intro & elite) i think that is a great idea, since most beginner rubber are a bit outdated. elite is too soft and intro too slow. i mostly advise for vega euro, but even that is a bit too soft nowadays. i also like the butterfly like approach by having different topsheets on same sponge, even if that is a bit against the beginners idea, where you just want one rubber to play on both sides and thats it.
but is it a special edition only for japanese market?
I wish that would also be the typical recommendation, whereas in reality people advise beginners to go thinner and/or slower on BH - passing their own preferences on to people who haven´t even found out what their stronger wing is and due to rubber choice will never do... "Your forehand is your active side, your backhand is more passive", can´t stand it anymore
When the Vega series was released in Japan 16 years ago, it was around $22.
Now it's up to around $34, but the Vega O is around $27.
It's still priced competitively like it was back then.
It seems to be targeted at beginner and intermediate players.
Which is a nice segment of the market that has been neglected for a long time. Development efforts predominantly went into high and ever more higher end rubbers, the came the hybrid trend. I think it´s good to see some stuff on the other end of the range (for example think andro BYPE as a dedicated step between beginner rubber and "serious" rubber).
