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Hi everyone,
I wanted to write a dedicated post about Tenergy 19. There are some comparisons out there, but not many proper reviews, so hopefully this can help people who are curious about this rubber.
Released in 2021, after the Dignics series, Tenergy 19 came out during lockdown. At that time, Dignics rubbers were heavily praised for their grip and modern feel, and it felt like the classic Tenergy series was slowly being pushed aside. In my opinion, that was a mistake.
I was previously using Rakza Z on the backhand of my DHS Golden Hurricane Long V. I was looking for something softer, easier to engage, with high spin and good linearity.
That’s why I chose Tenergy 19.
It’s actually the first high-level Butterfly I’ve really played with. I did use Rozena when I was younger, but back then my backhand was nowhere near the level it is now, so it’s not really comparable.
The rubber is clearly softer than Rakza Z.
At first, I was a bit worried it might be too soft. I was afraid that on harder shots, especially compared to Rakza Z, the rubber might bottom out.
It doesn’t.
You can apply a lot of power, and it almost feels like the rubber changes hardness depending on impact. On small impacts, it feels soft and forgiving. The harder you hit, the more solid and stable it becomes.
This gives a lot of confidence in your shots.
Coming from a hybrid tacky rubber, I expected less spin and more speed-oriented behavior. In reality, I was pleasantly surprised.
I still generate a lot of spin, and opponents often comment on it. The absolute maximum spin is probably lower than a true tacky rubber, but you can reach a very high level of spin with relatively little effort.
I also expected the rubber to be more spin-sensitive, but it’s actually quite manageable.
Blocking — which is not my strongest shot — feels easy and controlled.
Chop blocks still require some adaptation, but they work well once you adjust.
Speed is always tricky to evaluate because my blade is OFF+ / OFF++, and a lot of the speed clearly comes from the blade itself.
That said, even though the setup is fast, it’s very controllable. The rubber is not overly bouncy. I don’t feel like I need to artificially slow down my strokes to keep the ball on the table.
When I miss long, I usually know why — and it doesn’t feel like the rubber is the main issue.
One important point: this combo allows me to play BH-to-BH rallies away from the table with surprisingly little effort.
This is always hard for me to judge on my backhand, but I’d say the throw angle is medium to high.
Compared to Rakza Z, it feels higher, especially when opening up against backspin. It’s easier to create arc and lift the ball safely.
The short game feels very solid.
The rubber is not too bouncy, which allows me to keep the ball short and low, even with a fast blade.
Flicks were fine, but here I’m clearly the limiting factor. I haven’t practiced them much recently.
I used to flick a lot, but my tactics evolved, and now I often prefer long pushes to set up a chop block or counter-topspin.
That said, the flicks I did attempt worked well. The rubber + blade combo felt quick — maybe even too quick — but only in this specific area.
As a backhand rubber, I mostly use it for backhand serves.
Serves felt spinny, short, and low, which is exactly what I want. Nothing negative to report here.
My goal for a backhand rubber was something:
Tenergy 19 delivered exactly that.
I have slightly less control than with a fully tacky rubber, but in exchange I can dictate play much more easily with my backhand. Rallies feel easier, less physically demanding, and my body stays more relaxed. I’m less tense, and my strokes feel more natural.
Players with a very powerful, aggressive backhand might find Tenergy 19 too soft.
I know players who use Tenergy 05 on the forehand — for me, that’s way too soft on FH. So I totally understand that someone with a stronger BH might feel the same about T19.
In my case, my backhand is more about control and setup, creating an easier ball to attack with my forehand. And for that role, Tenergy 19 works perfectly.
I’m honestly impressed by Butterfly.
The Tenergy series was originally developed after the speed glue ban almost 15 years ago, and it’s still completely relevant today. The sponge and topsheet have a very distinctive feel that I haven’t found in ESN rubbers.
I always thought Butterfly was overpriced and mostly about marketing. I was wrong.
Yes, it’s expensive — and honestly, the €10 delivery fee for a single rubber feels worse than the rubber price itself — but I now understand why they price it that way. You really get something you can’t find elsewhere.
For now, I see no reason to change my backhand rubber.
After years of searching, Tenergy 19 might finally be the one. My forehand rubber hasn’t changed in 5 years, so when I settle, I settle — I’m not an EJ.
Note:
I’m around 1800–2000 USATT equivalent in France.
Instead of a long playstyle description, imagine something close to Ma Long’s style: FH-dominant, controlled backhand, heavy focus on 3rd-ball attack.
Compared to Rakza Z, Tenergy 19 is softer, more dynamic, and easier to engage, especially on the first opening against backspin. Rakza Z offers more tacky-style grip and raw spin, and slightly better control in the short game, but it requires more commitment and precision to be effective.
Tenergy 19, on the other hand, feels more linear and forgiving, particularly in rallies and when you’re slightly late. It helps maintain quality without forcing full engagement on every shot, which reduces fatigue and increases consistency.
In short:
I wanted to write a dedicated post about Tenergy 19. There are some comparisons out there, but not many proper reviews, so hopefully this can help people who are curious about this rubber.
Released in 2021, after the Dignics series, Tenergy 19 came out during lockdown. At that time, Dignics rubbers were heavily praised for their grip and modern feel, and it felt like the classic Tenergy series was slowly being pushed aside. In my opinion, that was a mistake.
I was previously using Rakza Z on the backhand of my DHS Golden Hurricane Long V. I was looking for something softer, easier to engage, with high spin and good linearity.
That’s why I chose Tenergy 19.
It’s actually the first high-level Butterfly I’ve really played with. I did use Rozena when I was younger, but back then my backhand was nowhere near the level it is now, so it’s not really comparable.
Setup
- Rubber: Tenergy 19 – red – 2.1 mm
- Blade: DHS Golden Hurricane Long V
- Construction: 5+2 inner ALC
(Limba / Ayous / ALC / Ayous / Limba) - Used on: Backhand
Feel / Touch
The rubber is clearly softer than Rakza Z.
At first, I was a bit worried it might be too soft. I was afraid that on harder shots, especially compared to Rakza Z, the rubber might bottom out.
It doesn’t.
You can apply a lot of power, and it almost feels like the rubber changes hardness depending on impact. On small impacts, it feels soft and forgiving. The harder you hit, the more solid and stable it becomes.
This gives a lot of confidence in your shots.
Spin
Coming from a hybrid tacky rubber, I expected less spin and more speed-oriented behavior. In reality, I was pleasantly surprised.
I still generate a lot of spin, and opponents often comment on it. The absolute maximum spin is probably lower than a true tacky rubber, but you can reach a very high level of spin with relatively little effort.
I also expected the rubber to be more spin-sensitive, but it’s actually quite manageable.
Blocking — which is not my strongest shot — feels easy and controlled.
Chop blocks still require some adaptation, but they work well once you adjust.
Speed
Speed is always tricky to evaluate because my blade is OFF+ / OFF++, and a lot of the speed clearly comes from the blade itself.
That said, even though the setup is fast, it’s very controllable. The rubber is not overly bouncy. I don’t feel like I need to artificially slow down my strokes to keep the ball on the table.
When I miss long, I usually know why — and it doesn’t feel like the rubber is the main issue.
One important point: this combo allows me to play BH-to-BH rallies away from the table with surprisingly little effort.
Throw Angle
This is always hard for me to judge on my backhand, but I’d say the throw angle is medium to high.
Compared to Rakza Z, it feels higher, especially when opening up against backspin. It’s easier to create arc and lift the ball safely.
Short Game
The short game feels very solid.
The rubber is not too bouncy, which allows me to keep the ball short and low, even with a fast blade.
Flicks were fine, but here I’m clearly the limiting factor. I haven’t practiced them much recently.
I used to flick a lot, but my tactics evolved, and now I often prefer long pushes to set up a chop block or counter-topspin.
That said, the flicks I did attempt worked well. The rubber + blade combo felt quick — maybe even too quick — but only in this specific area.
Serves
As a backhand rubber, I mostly use it for backhand serves.
Serves felt spinny, short, and low, which is exactly what I want. Nothing negative to report here.
Overall Impression
My goal for a backhand rubber was something:
- easy to open up with
- spinny
- controlled
- reliable in rallies
Tenergy 19 delivered exactly that.
I have slightly less control than with a fully tacky rubber, but in exchange I can dictate play much more easily with my backhand. Rallies feel easier, less physically demanding, and my body stays more relaxed. I’m less tense, and my strokes feel more natural.
Players with a very powerful, aggressive backhand might find Tenergy 19 too soft.
I know players who use Tenergy 05 on the forehand — for me, that’s way too soft on FH. So I totally understand that someone with a stronger BH might feel the same about T19.
In my case, my backhand is more about control and setup, creating an easier ball to attack with my forehand. And for that role, Tenergy 19 works perfectly.
I’m honestly impressed by Butterfly.
The Tenergy series was originally developed after the speed glue ban almost 15 years ago, and it’s still completely relevant today. The sponge and topsheet have a very distinctive feel that I haven’t found in ESN rubbers.
I always thought Butterfly was overpriced and mostly about marketing. I was wrong.
Yes, it’s expensive — and honestly, the €10 delivery fee for a single rubber feels worse than the rubber price itself — but I now understand why they price it that way. You really get something you can’t find elsewhere.
For now, I see no reason to change my backhand rubber.
After years of searching, Tenergy 19 might finally be the one. My forehand rubber hasn’t changed in 5 years, so when I settle, I settle — I’m not an EJ.
Note:
I’m around 1800–2000 USATT equivalent in France.
Instead of a long playstyle description, imagine something close to Ma Long’s style: FH-dominant, controlled backhand, heavy focus on 3rd-ball attack.
Quick comparison – Tenergy 19 vs Rakza Z (BH)
Compared to Rakza Z, Tenergy 19 is softer, more dynamic, and easier to engage, especially on the first opening against backspin. Rakza Z offers more tacky-style grip and raw spin, and slightly better control in the short game, but it requires more commitment and precision to be effective.
Tenergy 19, on the other hand, feels more linear and forgiving, particularly in rallies and when you’re slightly late. It helps maintain quality without forcing full engagement on every shot, which reduces fatigue and increases consistency.
In short:
- Rakza Z → more Chinese-style grip, heavier spin, more demanding
- Tenergy 19 → easier activation, smoother rallies, more confidence on BH
