Review: Sanwei Target National - Player Edition (Gordanga)

[PhoenixTT]

Dr. Neubauer and Sauer & Troger has a few.
Tibhar = Tibor Harangozó if it counts.
I guess Butterfly could be counted since Tamasu Co is named after the founder who was a player. 🌚

I'm sure there are many more, just a few I could think besides Xuperman and this Sanwei rubber.

Those are companies named after people? I mean, there's no rubber called 'Tamasu' or Tibhar or Yasaka as such.

 

[Zwill]

Those are companies named after people? I mean, there's no rubber called 'Tamasu' or Tibhar or Yasaka as such.

Well technically Xuperman is the brand name, not the rubber name. If you look at an old Sriver it says Tamasu Co Ltd on it. That is actually Butterfly's founder name. Japanese players to this day call it Tamasu more often than Butterfly.

Dr Neubauer, Sauer & Troger are companies created by the named players I think. Same for Tibhar, like I said Tibor Harangozó. All are real and good players.

But I'm just posting this out of fun, not really too important.

 

[PhoenixTT]

But I'm just posting this out of fun, not really too important.

LOL. Yes.

 

[Reaper]

let's not forget about the pioneer players Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde back in the 1800s

 

[The_TT_Bat_Guy]

Well technically Xuperman is the brand name, not the rubber name. If you look at an old Sriver it says Tamasu Co Ltd on it. That is actually Butterfly's founder name. Japanese players to this day call it Tamasu more often than Butterfly.

Dr Neubauer, Sauer & Troger are companies created by the named players I think. Same for Tibhar, like I said Tibor Harangozó. All are real and good players.

But I'm just posting this out of fun, not really too important.

Well, it's excellent fun!

 

[The_TT_Bat_Guy]

Very interesting rubber. However in a world were pretty much every rubber is quite nice, what i am interested in formost is its durability. it can be an awesome rubber, however if it only lasts like 1-2 months or so, i wont use it regardless.

how does it last in comparison to lets say fastarc G1/C1?

also i am just getting some redflags? not sure if its the correct word for it, but i really dislike those marketing BS claims like sanwei writes on their website: ''With its explosive energy release and precise touch, the Target National – Player Edition has quickly become the top choice for professional players around the world. Whether on the international stage''

ah i see... this rubber quickly become the TOP CHOICE FOR PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS...

then why is it when i watch professional tournaments, literally everyone is playing Dignics or Zyre then? if its the top choice, why dont players dumb those rubbers? i mean... its the top choice overall right? top choice means by definition, there is no better choice over it. therefore, why isnt Ma Long and others using this rubber instead?

who ARE those ''professional players'' this rubber took by storm and now everyone is using it as a top pick? i mean serious question. If i ask in my club how they like the new sanwei rubber... literally noone ever heard about it at all. nor do i know any professional player using sanwei rubbers or blades.

i mean i dont want to bash you here. i m sure the rubber is prob really nice, but i just dont like marketing i guess lol. if you create pretty cool products with a nice price to performance ratio that targeted toward enthusiast amateurs and league players... thats super cool.

but making it sound like the entire world of top professional table tennis players is going crazy after sanwei rubbers or blades, is just plain false advertising. Cant you just create a solid affordable product without wild claims like this?

Target National rubbers seem to last forever in my experience, even if they're heavily marked....! I definitely take feedback on reusing the marketing phrases from companies about their products though worth noting that Sanwei has different brand name recognition in different places. Since the Sanwei ABS ball was the official ball for Table Tennis England competitions for a couple of years, there's some brand name recognition in England. I think there's decent recognition in Germany too.

This rubber is really good for enthusiast amateurs (a large majority of whom shouldn't be using high tension, high speed rubbers anyway). I see Sanwei's expanding their range for that group of players too with their new Surge series (more on one of those blades later this month).

 

[Reaper]

STN is at the top of my shopping cart queue (i've 2 other rubbers still on my stash), since the gordanga is half sticky i'll cross it off the list.

There's so many packages it's disorienting.

i've narrowed down to 3 options, the shiny purple, the shiny grey and a white (special soft) packaging. anyone knows which one would be the stickiest?

 

[Andrea Jiang]

STN is at the top of my shopping cart queue (i've 2 other rubbers still on my stash), since the gordanga is half sticky i'll cross it off the list.

There's so many packages it's disorienting.

i've narrowed down to 3 options, the shiny purple, the shiny grey and a white (special soft) packaging. anyone knows which one would be the stickiest?

Hello sir,

This is not marketing, I just want to say the Target Gordanga's grey sponge is super good, I make it my 1st configuration now.

I love it so.

You could see that the edge of the rubber is broken, and I boosted it the third time, reluctant to replace it.

For myself, I really love it.

 

[zzzRobbanzzz]

Hello sir,

This is not marketing, I just want to say the Target Gordanga's grey sponge is super good, I make it my 1st configuration now.

I love it so.View attachment 38647

You could see that the edge of the rubber is broken, and I boosted it the third time, reluctant to replace it.

For myself, I really love it.

How much do you boost it? What are the pros on this rubber? Are you boosting the 39* or 37* sponge?

I play with the new Sanwei National blue sponge and love it. Have tried boosting but dont find I really need it on that rubber.

My son uses the Gordanga 37* on both sides, and I too am interesed to give it a try.

Great rubbers and if you havent tried try the Verdi Inner. awsome!

 

[Andrea Jiang]

How much do you boost it? What are the pros on this rubber? Are you boosting the 39* or 37* sponge?

I play with the new Sanwei National blue sponge and love it. Have tried boosting but dont find I really need it on that rubber.

My son uses the Gordanga 37* on both sides, and I too am interesed to give it a try.

Great rubbers and if you havent tried try the Verdi Inner. awsome!

Hello bro,

I boosted it（39°） the third time, and put the booster on it three times.

It is beyond my level. The rubber gets so springy that I use my action like before, but the ball flies.
I need to improve my level to control it lol, but my friend, whose point is 1900, plays it very well.

The advantage of this rubber is super fast and spin.

Compared to Target National, it has greater flexibility, and the surface tack coating is less sticky, meaning you can execute faster cycles on a backhand.

Regards,

 

[DrBean]

I always liked the Xiom Tour packaging so I'm happy they're keeping it going.

 

[xavi]

I have gear hyper 37 on my penhold hinoki 1ply 9mm. I play single sided.
It goes amazing for block and play with low effect, return services... Also easy to do topspin from far away.
The only thing I do not like is when the ball comes with underspin and I am out of position, lift that ball is a bit tricky as it is difficult to put spin there in order to have more curve.

Do you recommend me to try gear hyper 38 or Sanwei Target National - Player Edition 37?

Thanks

I answer myself as today I tried Player Edition (Gordanga) 37 for the first time

Gear Hyper is good in the beginning, when the clicking sound is heard. I used one for 2.5 months (I play single sided) and the click was not heard anymore and the touch gets less reliable when I do a topspin (but still very good on block and cut). Last week I tried a new Gear Hyper and I heard the click again and it plays much nicer for topspin than the old one. Not sure when the rubber changes.

But today I tried Gordanga and it is much better for topspin. It's more spinny and reliable. Low trajectory but easy to catch the ball at any high so easy to make an horizontal topspin. Also VERY EASY to topspin any backspin ball. Even it is easy to countertopspin balls from close to the table (even with 37 hardness).

In Gordanga block is also good, and cut the ball is easy if you do correctly, but has less error margin than in Gear Hyper because the ball flies straight.

IMHO if you cut, block, hit: Gear Hyper is very good. You almost never fail.
If you are topspin oriented, then Player Edition (Gordanga) is MUCH better.

 

[1kaze]

I answer myself as today I tried Player Edition (Gordanga) 37 for the first time

Gear Hyper is good in the beginning, when the clicking sound is heard. I used one for 2.5 months (I play single sided) and the click was not heard anymore and the touch gets less reliable when I do a topspin (but still very good on block and cut). Last week I tried a new Gear Hyper and I heard the click again and it plays much nicer for topspin than the old one. Not sure when the rubber changes.

But today I tried Gordanga and it is much better for topspin. It's more spinny and reliable. Low trajectory but easy to catch the ball at any high so easy to make an horizontal topspin. Also VERY EASY to topspin any backspin ball. Even it is easy to countertopspin balls from close to the table (even with 37 hardness).

In Gordanga block is also good, and cut the ball is easy if you do correctly, but has less error margin than in Gear Hyper because the ball flies straight.

IMHO if you cut, block, hit: Gear Hyper is very good. You almost never fail.
If you are topspin oriented, then Player Edition (Gordanga) is MUCH better.

How's the durability - for both Gear Hyper and Gordanga. I have put in Gear Hyper on my Sanwei 75 Inner, and in a week the sides chopped off ( played roughly 10-12 hours in a week).

 

[xavi]

How's the durability - for both Gear Hyper and Gordanga. I have put in Gear Hyper on my Sanwei 75 Inner, and in a week the sides chopped off ( played roughly 10-12 hours in a week).

Not sure yet. On Gear Hyper what I noticed is before two months the "click" at play was gone and then it plays worst.

On Gordanga in one month (I play one sided) there is a visual wear off where I spin but it seem not affect to the rubber properties yet. So not sure about the durability in that sense. I bought two more because I am not sure when It will wear off. On other rubbers, when there is a visual wear off if you try to slip with the finger you see how it looses grip, but this does not happen in this rubber (yet), and the half stickiness continues. About the sides no problem at all.

On gear hyper I noticed (and another member of my club also) that the rubber expands a bit approx two/three weeks after glued, and then depending on your side tape it will take off a bit or maybe this is why it chopped for you. This does not happen in Gordanga.

Gear Hyper less oriented to topspin, Gordanga very topspin oriented. The are very different. Both very controllable.

For me Gordanga is like a C1 but on receive lot less bouncy. Instead of grippy is half grippy, half sticky, it plays a bit different. for close to the table is much better Gordanga. C1 is more durable, like G1. Topspin with Gordanga does not bounce high is difficult to counter attack.

 

[1kaze]

Not sure yet. On Gear Hyper what I noticed is before two months the "click" at play was gone and then it plays worst.

On Gordanga in one month (I play one sided) there is a visual wear off where I spin but it seem not affect to the rubber properties yet. So not sure about the durability in that sense. I bought two more because I am not sure when It will wear off. On other rubbers, when there is a visual wear off if you try to slip with the finger you see how it looses grip, but this does not happen in this rubber (yet), and the half stickiness continues. About the sides no problem at all.

On gear hyper I noticed (and another member of my club also) that the rubber expands a bit approx two/three weeks after glued, and then depending on your side tape it will take off a bit or maybe this is why it chopped for you. This does not happen in Gordanga.

Gear Hyper less oriented to topspin, Gordanga very topspin oriented. The are very different. Both very controllable.

For me Gordanga is like a C1 but on receive lot less bouncy. Instead of grippy is half grippy, half sticky, it plays a bit different. for close to the table is much better Gordanga. C1 is more durable, like G1. Topspin with Gordanga does not bounce high is difficult to counter attack.

Hmm, thank you for the observation. Maybe I will not put side tape next time and see what happens!