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Hello everyone, I am KenKen! Today we are unboxing and reviewing the latest Anti-spin rubber from the German long pimples/anti authority, Sauer & Tröger —— the BLACKOUT.
Officially named "BLACKOUT," it implies leaving your opponent powerless and passive, as if the lights suddenly went out. To test the absolute limits of this rubber, I boldly attached it to a Harimoto Tomokazu Super ALC, an offensive blade. The result was shocking: even on such a bouncy blade, BLACKOUT could easily control the ball with short touches that didn't pop up or go long!
Who is BLACKOUT for?
📺 Watch the Full Review on YouTube:
If you enjoyed this review, please subscribe to my YouTube channel!
Officially named "BLACKOUT," it implies leaving your opponent powerless and passive, as if the lights suddenly went out. To test the absolute limits of this rubber, I boldly attached it to a Harimoto Tomokazu Super ALC, an offensive blade. The result was shocking: even on such a bouncy blade, BLACKOUT could easily control the ball with short touches that didn't pop up or go long!
Table of Contents
- Design Core: 85% Frictionless?
- Performance Test: The Peak of Forgiveness & Dampening
- The Ultimate Showdown: BLACKOUT vs. Super Glanti vs. TTR-KILLER
- Conclusion & Recommendations
1. Design Core: 85% Frictionless?
The most unique design feature of this rubber is that it is not completely slick (frictionless). Sauer & Tröger chose to remove about 85% of the surface friction, retaining a slight amount of grip. This design offers two significant advantages:- Drastically Increased Control & Attack Potential: Compared to fully frictionless Anti rubbers, this 15% remaining friction allows you to control placement more easily when blocking, pushing, or even hitting/smashing. You won't experience those "slipping" errors where the ball slides off the bat uncontrollably.
- Low and Tricky Second Bounce: BLACKOUT features a taller pimple structure, creating distance between the topsheet and the sponge. Paired with a super soft Dampening Sponge, the ball's trajectory after the bounce is extremely low and short, making it very difficult for opponents to borrow power or find a comfortable contact point.
2. Performance Test: The Peak of Forgiveness & Dampening
What amazed me most during this test wasn't just how "tricky" it was, but how "stable" it felt. Even though I was using the Harimoto Super ALC blade, BLACKOUT's pace-absorbing effect was incredible.- Defense: With just a gentle block, the ball is absorbed and drops short near the net. Even for someone like me who isn't a specialist chopper, when I tried chopping away from the table, the return was low and flat with almost no arc.
- Forgiveness: The barrier to entry is extremely low. If you are currently using a soft Anti and want to try a harder feel, or if you are a medium pimples player looking to transition, this rubber allows for an almost painless transition.
3. The Ultimate Showdown: BLACKOUT vs. Super Glanti vs. TTR-KILLER
To clarify BLACKOUT's position in the Anti family, we compared it side-by-side with two other popular rubbers: the Super Glanti Blue Edition (known for extreme reversal) and the TTR-KILLER (focused on offensive speed).| Comparison | S&T BLACKOUT | Super Glanti (Blue) | TTR-KILLER |
| Friction | Low (Retains ~15%) | Zero (Frictionless) | Slight (Some Grip) |
| Sponge | Soft Dampening (High Forgiveness) | Shock Absorbing (Hard Feel) | High Tech (Fast/Bouncy) |
| Spin Reversal | Med-High (Stable yet Tricky) | Very High (Max Disturbance) | Medium (Speed Focused) |
| Difficulty | Easy (Very Accessible) | Hard (Requires Technique) | Medium (Good for Transition) |
| Tactical Role | Control + Counter Attack | Pure Defense + Reversal | Active Attack + Pressure |
4. Conclusion & Recommendations
In conclusion, BLACKOUT is a rubber with a "very high floor" (meaning it's safe and easy to perform well with). It might not have the despair-inducing extreme reversal of Super Glanti, nor the explosive speed of TTR-KILLER, but it provides what you need most: Control.Who is BLACKOUT for?
- Players who find fully frictionless Anti too slippery to control but still want some reversal effect.
- Players transitioning from Middle Pimples or Long Pimples to Anti.
- Tactical players who like to manipulate opponents through rhythm changes (short blocks, aggressive pushes).
📺 Watch the Full Review on YouTube:
If you enjoyed this review, please subscribe to my YouTube channel!
