Joola Tronix CMD - Short Review

[cruzctrl]

Specs:

Uncut weight of both red and black sheet at 2.0 mm were 62 grams. The topsheet and rubber are soft, but you can feel the high tension. Unlike Xiom Vega Europe, more similar to Andro R42. The surface is very grippy, and the topsheet is somewhat thin as you can see the pimples through it.

Playing:

Used on a Timo Boll ST handle 85 grams.

The feeling is similar to the Andro R42, which makes sense because they have the same ‘thickened sponge, thinned topsheet’ technology. It is lively/springy, but not necessarily fast or uncontrollable. It never feels dead, but it responds accordingly to the input so if you have good feeling and touch, it will feel extremely accurate and intuitive. The throw angle is not high, but not low, so medium. I never felt like a ball of mine should have gone over the net or onto the table, when I made it or missed it I knew exactly why.

Overall, I would say it’s a grippier version of the Andro R42, so it’s perfect for slower blades like the Timo Boll Spirit or Xiom ZL Pro. Solid choice for both backhand and forehand.

 

[PenHoldSandro]

Hi! I would first like to say that this is a great and concise review of the rubber. That being said, I do have some simple questions about the rubber.

What type of players do you recommend it for? How does it compare to Joola's other rubbers, like the rest of the Tronix series and Rhyzen? How does it compare to Chinese rubbers. Is it sticky, or just spinny?

These are some of the thoughts that popped up into my mind when reading your review. Thank you, and keep pinging, ponger!

 

[po-stit]

Calling Timo Boll Spirit a slow blade

 

[cruzctrl]

Calling Timo Boll Spirit a slow blade

Lol To me, the TBS has a 'holding' feeling that makes it feel slower than it actually is. Same with Xiom ZL Pro. Because those blades hold the ball so much, it doesn't feel as fast as a Viscaria or MK Carbon, in my opinion anyway!!

 

[cruzctrl]

Hi! I would first like to say that this is a great and concise review of the rubber. That being said, I do have some simple questions about the rubber.

What type of players do you recommend it for? How does it compare to Joola's other rubbers, like the rest of the Tronix series and Rhyzen? How does it compare to Chinese rubbers. Is it sticky, or just spinny?

These are some of the thoughts that popped up into my mind when reading your review. Thank you, and keep pinging, ponger!

Good questions!

• Recommended for intermediate beginners on either side, not complete beginners. Or advanced intermediates on the backhand side. I'm about 1600 USATT, and this feels fine on either side. I don't see a need to change at all, and my 1800+ friend agreed.
• Not sure about the rest of the Tronix series, but ACC should just be a slightly harder and faster version of this. Very similar to the Andro R47/R42 combo, but with more grip and they come in blue.
  • I have tried the Joola Rhyzen Ice and Fire before. Compared to both, CMD feels more lively and faster while also being significantly lighter. Rhyzen Ice at 2.0 mm was 64 grams, 68 in max. Fire was 68 grams at 2.0, not sure about max (probably 72 grams). Ice felt slow and mushy, with not many top gears, but it was great for control and had excellent spin. I would say the same characteristics for Fire, but it was faster.
    • Speed: Fire > CMD > Ice
    • Spin: Ice > CMD > Fire (softer rubbers were easier to spin with, but all three had great grip and spin)
    • Control: Ice > CMD > Fire (in terms of what went flying off the table, popped high, or dumped in the next)
• NOT sticky, just grippy. Entirely different feeling from Chinese rubbers as it is a tensor

I like to play controlled with a lot of blocks, short pushes, slow opening loops. Joola Ice was too mushy for blocks, but CMD provides just a bit more pop while still retaining plenty of grip for the slow openings and enough control for short touches. I love it, but it's all subjective!

 

[PenHoldSandro]

Good questions!

• Recommended for intermediate beginners on either side, not complete beginners. Or advanced intermediates on the backhand side. I'm about 1600 USATT, and this feels fine on either side. I don't see a need to change at all, and my 1800+ friend agreed.
• Not sure about the rest of the Tronix series, but ACC should just be a slightly harder and faster version of this. Very similar to the Andro R47/R42 combo, but with more grip and they come in blue.
  • I have tried the Joola Rhyzen Ice and Fire before. Compared to both, CMD feels more lively and faster while also being significantly lighter. Rhyzen Ice at 2.0 mm was 64 grams, 68 in max. Fire was 68 grams at 2.0, not sure about max (probably 72 grams). Ice felt slow and mushy, with not many top gears, but it was great for control and had excellent spin. I would say the same characteristics for Fire, but it was faster.
    • Speed: Fire > CMD > Ice
    • Spin: Ice > CMD > Fire (softer rubbers were easier to spin with, but all three had great grip and spin)
    • Control: Ice > CMD > Fire (in terms of what went flying off the table, popped high, or dumped in the next)
• NOT sticky, just grippy. Entirely different feeling from Chinese rubbers as it is a tensor

I like to play controlled with a lot of blocks, short pushes, slow opening loops. Joola Ice was too mushy for blocks, but CMD provides just a bit more pop while still retaining plenty of grip for the slow openings and enough control for short touches. I love it, but it's all subjective!

Thanks for the more in depth review on the rubber, this helps me when I'm deciding on rubbers when I'm more advanced.

Do you think you will use it in the future as your main setup? Why or why not?

 

[golden_son]

Thanks for the review! Hope you'll come back in a bit with thoughts on durability. I loved the Rasanter rubbers on BH but while the topsheet keeps its grip for a long time the sponges die quickly. I've found a decent replacement in Vega Korea but I always have my eye out for other mid-hard rubbers to try.

 

[Matt Hetherington]

Thanks for reviewing! Not so often Joola get people doing reviews for rubbers, it’s appreciated 😄

 

[cruzctrl]

Thanks for the more in depth review on the rubber, this helps me when I'm deciding on rubbers when I'm more advanced.

Do you think you will use it in the future as your main setup? Why or why not?

Sure! My TBS with this rubber feels perfect. I haven’t had a single thought about changing it. It’s lightweight, grippy, and the input feels equal to the output. I do plan on using this long term!
Again it’s all subjective, so it feels great for me but others may not agree 🤷‍♂️

 

[cruzctrl]

Thanks for the review! Hope you'll come back in a bit with thoughts on durability. I loved the Rasanter rubbers on BH but while the topsheet keeps its grip for a long time the sponges die quickly. I've found a decent replacement in Vega Korea but I always have my eye out for other mid-hard rubbers to try.

Hmm, I’ll get back to you all in about 1 month, then 3, then 6, then 1 year.
Tronix did not have a bowing upon opening the packaging, so I don’t think it was really all that factory boosted. After about a week of play, it still feels new out of the box!

 

[cruzctrl]

Thanks for reviewing! Not so often Joola get people doing reviews for rubbers, it’s appreciated 😄

I’ve noticed that, very odd considering the quality. I’ve tried Joola Ice, Fire, and now Tronix CMD. Great price, performance, and color options. But the reviews are SPARSE. I’ve tried to write good reviews for all 3 to help!

PS - The One Piece is real

 

[Matt Hetherington]

I’ve noticed that, very odd considering the quality. I’ve tried Joola Ice, Fire, and now Tronix CMD. Great price, performance, and color options. But the reviews are SPARSE. I’ve tried to write good reviews for all 3 to help!

PS - The One Piece is real

I’ll see if I can work on that in the near future 😇

🏴‍☠️

 

[Haito]

I love the ZGR and ACC, I will make a review after I kill them. For now I can only say they are too expensive in comparison to other options.I buy them on promo for 30€ or so. And I think that is the appropriate price for them. For 50€ I will take Jekyll C and MXP every time (they are same price in my region).

 

[Matt Hetherington]

I love the ZGR and ACC, I will make a review after I kill them. For now I can only say they are too expensive in comparison to other options.I buy them on promo for 30€ or so. And I think that is the appropriate price for them. For 50€ I will take Jekyll C and MXP every time (they are same price in my region).

Damn 30 euro is pretty good!

 

[piligrim]

I love the ZGR and ACC, I will make a review after I kill them. For now I can only say they are too expensive in comparison to other options.I buy them on promo for 30€ or so. And I think that is the appropriate price for them. For 50€ I will take Jekyll C and MXP every time (they are same price in my region).

someone here said MXP die after 3 weeks. So doesn't looks good option

 

[Haito]

Damn 30 euro is pretty good!

it was for 2 weeks on joola.de

 

[Haito]

someone here said MXP die after 3 weeks. So doesn't looks good option

They used to last me about 6 months. I don't mind speed drop off. For me it was from "ludicrous" to "fast".

 

[piligrim]

Damn 30 euro is pretty good!

TTD members should get discount for joola stuff )

 

[Matt Hetherington]

TTD members should get discount for joola stuff )

Unfortunately it’s all separated so I only have discount for the US 🥲

 

[piligrim]

Unfortunately it’s all separated so I only have discount for the US 🥲

Soon all america will be US ))