Loki RXTON 9 new sponge.

[Mumon]

Yes I read it, but can you elaborate how it feels after boosting.

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/loki-rxton-9-new-sponge.39898/post-592113

You did not developped much after boosting. How it feels on this trusted Hari SALC ?

Sure, it is uncanny how close this feels to a h3 neo nat. it has all he same qualities and of course the same weaknesses. Id say it is minimally faster and produces less spin on shots without much accelleration but more spin on well hit shots with high racket speed.

 

[Haito]

Sure, it is uncanny how close this feels to a h3 neo nat. it has all he same qualities and of course the same weaknesses. Id say it is minimally faster and produces less spin on shots without much accelleration but more spin on well hit shots with high racket speed.

It is also uncanny how sponge texture is similar to DHS Prov+

 

[DBsystem78]

How many play hours? Looks great

Around 20 so far for the backhand , the forehand 40 , this national is very solid was glue for the 3rd time on this blade

 

[Colestt]

I got a couple of the new rx9 with jike on the cover. The sponge is orange with the dhs fingerprint texture. Its curled like it was tuned but dried out, even though its a new product

 

[Haito]

I got a couple of the new rx9 with jike on the cover. The sponge is orange with the dhs fingerprint texture. Its curled like it was tuned but dried out, even though its a new product

With jike on the cover? Never saw those, mind sharing the cover?

 

[Grumms]

Here is the sponge of the R9 Neo, it's lightly striped, which was not the case of the former R9.

 

[Archosaurus]

Here is the sponge of the R9 Neo, it's lightly striped, which was not the case of the former R9. View attachment 43861

Looks like a sponge made by one of DHS's OEMs. At least the markings are the same. They're really great sponges, so it's positive in my book.

 

[Grumms]

Looks like a sponge made by one of DHS's OEMs. At least the markings are the same. They're really great sponges, so it's positive in my book.

Test tomorrow night.

 

[Kilogramme]

Thanks to our friend @Grumms I will test the normal R9 blue sponge. As my main rubber had longevity issue since an incident. I need to replace urgently (not necessary, but I don't like how the rubber evolves after the incident), so I will test and will be my main FH rubber. Hope it will be fine, until I can get my hands on NEO R9

 

[victormanriquey]

Looking forward to hearing more about the R9 Neo BS vs R9 New OS, both in 39/40, for forehand use, boosted and unboosted, planning to test myself but would be nice to hear latest thoughts!

 

[Wakkibatty]

Am I the only person here who misses the original R9 national (the factory boosted version)?

I honestly couldn't believe it when Loki told me it was being discontinued.... it was the best rubber they made IMO. Clearly the new R9 orange sponge has a lot of fans, but as I dont boost, I honestly don't see the appeal. I've tried the 38 degree red and 40.5 degree black and I can't deny they are spinny as hell, but for me personally I just can't get used to the unboosted hand feel.

I do have a sheet of R9 Neo blue sponge there waiting to be tried out, and one if these days I'll drag it out, boost it and use it (just to ensure I didn't waste my money on it), but I'll be doing it under protest.

Quick question: if I *were* to boost my remaining set of regular R9 orange sponge rubbers (again, under enormous protest) could I get away with just using baby oil? I don't boost enough to warrant buying any seamoon and really don't want to get into the habit of buying it and using it if it can be avoided.

 

[dingyibvs]

Am I the only person here who misses the original R9 national (the factory boosted version)?

I honestly couldn't believe it when Loki told me it was being discontinued.... it was the best rubber they made IMO. Clearly the new R9 orange sponge has a lot of fans, but as I dont boost, I honestly don't see the appeal. I've tried the 38 degree red and 40.5 degree black and I can't deny they are spinny as hell, but for me personally I just can't get used to the unboosted hand feel.

I do have a sheet of R9 Neo blue sponge there waiting to be tried out, and one if these days I'll drag it out, boost it and use it (just to ensure I didn't waste my money on it), but I'll be doing it under protest.

Quick question: if I *were* to boost my remaining set of regular R9 orange sponge rubbers (again, under enormous protest) could I get away with just using baby oil? I don't boost enough to warrant buying any seamoon and really don't want to get into the habit of buying it and using it if it can be avoided.

A bottle of Seamoon is like $15 or less on Aliexpress, and it stays good for years.

Also, I don't think Loki ever officially made red R9s before. I suspect it's due to the red topsheet being too translucent for the blue sponge just like for DHS. That's why it was never available on their official Alibaba page. What Loki has done is that they no longer make custom products bearing their logo. They're basically big enough now that they're more cognizant about controlling their brand image.

 

[Wakkibatty]

A bottle of Seamoon is like $15 or less on Aliexpress, and it stays good for years.

Also, I don't think Loki ever officially made red R9s before. I suspect it's due to the red topsheet being too translucent for the blue sponge just like for DHS. That's why it was never available on their official Alibaba page. What Loki has done is that they no longer make custom products bearing their logo. They're basically big enough now that they're more cognizant about controlling their brand image.

It's more the time and trouble of boosting rather than the cost. I'm so busy nowadays I have to schedule time out weeks in advance just to scratch my bum. 😂 I used to play three to four times a week, but that's now down to one training session a week and boy do I hate it.

I've always used grippy rubbers on my BH in the past so I was never fussed much by the lack of a red R9, and still use the Telson 100 on occasion ( I refuse to pay Butterfly prices, no matter how much I love the D09c).

It's more the loss of the R9 National completely that ticks me off -- I always hate it when I spend ages adjusting my game to a rubber, only for it's maker to shit-can it entirely 6 months later.

I'll try boosting the black R9 OC to see if i can get that R9N feeling back... but if it's not happening then I think I'll just forget about Loki and switch to japanese grippy rubbers on my FH. Their QA is heaps better than Loki's and the more popular rubbers aren't going to be cancelled on me later.

 

[Haito]

It's more the loss of the R9 National completely that ticks me off -- I always hate it when I spend ages adjusting my game to a rubber, only for it's maker to shit-can it entirely 6 months later.

I'll try boosting the black R9 OC to see if i can get that R9N feeling back... but if it's not happening then I think I'll just forget about Loki and switch to japanese grippy rubbers on my FH. Their QA is heaps better than Loki's and the more popular rubbers aren't going to be cancelled on me later.

Welp, a lot people complained a bit. I am happy with the OS, and never tried the old blue. I think you might want ro try that Neo sheet u have laying around.

 

[Haito]

I did not confirm that, but my best guess is that the NEO they introduced had similar name to H3 Neo, and performed the same role, it apparently plays super similar to it, and sponge looks similar as well. IMHO they just killed of the R9 because their new R9 Neo had same role, and they MIGHT have wanted to shrink down their offering pool. I really want to test the R9 Neo, but that might happen next year. I already bought the backups of Orange sponge 🤣

 

[lodro]

Very interesting haha. It confuses me on what to go for but ok 😅

.....and you are in very good company. This thread lives because Loki brings out 10 new rubbers every month and when one adds to this the crappy quality control and the big difference with every new batch
it is too much of a gamble to trust in Loki rubbers.

 

[Kilogramme]

.....and you are in very good company. This thread lives because Loki brings out 10 new rubbers every month and when one adds to this the crappy quality control and the big difference with every new batch
it is too much of a gamble to trust in Loki rubbers.

I am not sure the QC of Loki product is that bad. They have many different model for different level of player. ofc a Rxton 1 to 5 might not be top QC, because they are targeting young developping amateur. I expect New R9 to have better QC, as they target the same playerbase as H3s, which goes from amateur to pro's. Ofc, like DHS, pro's might have a "pro"/"national" version of it. I expect R9 to be somewhat similar to a prov H3 QC. Let's wait for @Haito to confirm between all the sheets he boughts

 

[Haito]

I am not sure the QC of Loki product is that bad. They have many different model for different level of player. ofc a Rxton 1 to 5 might not be top QC, because they are targeting young developping amateur. I expect New R9 to have better QC, as they target the same playerbase as H3s, which goes from amateur to pro's. Ofc, like DHS, pro's might have a "pro"/"national" version of it. I expect R9 to be somewhat similar to a prov H3 QC. Let's wait for @Haito to confirm between all the sheets he boughts

Welp, the issue is that they are from single batch. Loki German claimed that about 10% of the rubbers he got are defective or need some correction. I think he messaged that he tore glue from one batch of Neo. You can browse through his live streams with muscle pong (https://www.youtube.com/@musclepong/streams). If my memory serves me right one of the LAC batches had the top sheet falling off the sponge. I've had 3 sheets so far from them (LAC, R9x2) and they in fact have been good.

 

[Kilogramme]

Welp, the issue is that they are from single batch. Loki German claimed that about 10% of the rubbers he got are defective or need some correction. I think he messaged that he tore glue from one batch of Neo. You can browse through his live streams with muscle pong (https://www.youtube.com/@musclepong/streams). If my memory serves me right one of the LAC batches had the top sheet falling off the sponge. I've had 3 sheets so far from them (LAC, R9x2) and they in fact have been good.

Thanks for your insight. Maybe the first batches of NEO were having manufacturing issue, let's hope that way.

 

[Haito]

Thanks for your insight. Maybe the first batches of NEO were having manufacturing issue, let's hope that way.

I don't really care about those particular issues, since I would take the glue off to boost.