Soft vs Hard Hybrid Rubbers! | andro HY-Q 42 & 48 Review

[TableTennisDaily]

In this video, Dan and Tom test the new Andro HY-Q 42 and HY-Q 48 hybrid rubbers to find out how they perform and which version could suit your game best. We put both rubbers to the test and compared them directly with the NUZN 55 across serves, topspins, blocks, counters, and finally a match at the end.

Do you use hard or soft rubbers? Let us know in the comments:

 

[merlin el mago]

Thanks for the review, what about comparing HY-Q 48 vs NZUN 48 & NZUN 50?

 

[Airoc]

Comparisons can go a bit wild, because the positioning of the rubbers is totally different.

NUZN 55 is the current top of the range product while HY-Q rubbers are more like a Hexer-type series of rubbers, aimed at a completely different type of players. NUZN 50 is also more high level oriented.

A comparison between HY-Q 48 and NUZN 48 would however be "justified".
NUZN 48 with its reduced power due to a different setup and price (not only softer sponge "FX version" for the same price) is less sticky and more "Tensor-like". HY-Q is more "controlled" for a more classic close-to-the-table game.

With such different properties, the question is not only whether you play hard or soft, but which type of Hybrid rubber suits your game, if any. There´s also Rasanter C48, which is stickier than NUZN, but more aggressive than HY-Q, different target audience again.

And you could go even harder and more sticky with Chintac, which is so much more sticky than all the others, but that being a Chinese type rubber it would also cater to different needs.

 

[Metaxa]

I think they’re brilliant (I already owned a HY-Q 42_1.9 and a 2.1) Now, two new pairs (HY-Q 48_2.1 & HY-Q 42_2.1) are on their way to me. I’m not quite sure yet on which wood we’ll put them on – my Novacell OFF-S or my TP_Ligna all. Or perhaps on a W81 ADC...

 

[Airoc]

I think they’re brilliant

Yes, very good rubbers.

 

[jonol]

Comparisons can go a bit wild, because the positioning of the rubbers is totally different.

NUZN 55 is the current top of the range product while HY-Q rubbers are more like a Hexer-type series of rubbers, aimed at a completely different type of players. NUZN 50 is also more high level oriented.

A comparison between HY-Q 48 and NUZN 48 would however be "justified".
NUZN 48 with its reduced power due to a different setup and price (not only softer sponge "FX version" for the same price) is less sticky and more "Tensor-like". HY-Q is more "controlled" for a more classic close-to-the-table game.

With such different properties, the question is not only whether you play hard or soft, but which type of Hybrid rubber suits your game, if any. There´s also Rasanter C48, which is stickier than NUZN, but more aggressive than HY-Q, different target audience again.

And you could go even harder and more sticky with Chintac, which is so much more sticky than all the others, but that being a Chinese type rubber it would also cater to different needs.

I did think it was odd that they compared to Nuzn 55 and not something like Nuzn 48.

Bit of a derail, but where did you find the C48 sits compared to Nuzn and HY-Q? I used the C48 but it was quite a long time ago and found it hard to control, but I was a very different level at that time.

 

[Airoc]

Well, the C-Rasanter series was the Andro top product when the whole hybrid thing started. At the time, unlike anybody else, they didn´t even use the term hybrid, but with the sticky topsheet and Tensor sponge of course it was exactly that.

I think it´s a bit like the product descriptions imply. C-Rasanter is the counterspin rubber, which implies a certain type of game. They probably thought NUZN is even better at that, and the pro players agreed
HY-Q is aimed at a different type - and level - of player. The stickiness provides safety on the first ball contact, for players who base their game on controlled opening strokes.
For me, C-Rasanter is more aggressive than HY-Q and probably harder to control because of that, yet I think control is very subjective.

If you compare all the 48 degree versions, of course NUZN offers less stickiness and more Tensor feeling. If you like the sticky feeling you´d probably go for HY-Q if you´re playing predominantly close to the table in a "controlled offensive" way and C-Rasanter if you have a more aggressive game that also sees you away from the table more often.

That said, of course, you can do anything with everything and it´s always a matter of personal preference. You might think these rubbers are too close to each other, but C-Rasanter is from a different time, the whole hybrid thing has evolved so fast, and it still has its place. I gave HY-Q to a friend who plays 4th league and hardly drops a game, and she didn´t consider it too slow at all (but will stick stick to NUZN).
So HY-Q is really best described as a Hexer type hybrid. It will give many people exactly what they need if they can shut down the voice in their head that says "faster, more, more, more"

 

[Airoc]

I did think it was odd that they compared to Nuzn 55 and not something like Nuzn 48.

That would have been more of a direct rival or alternative, but they made it clear while many people follow the tendency to use harder rubbers, they´re not for everyone.

Around 5.30 in the video, they say that with the HY-Q it´s hard to miss an opening shot. Well put. These rubbers really provide safety and control due to stickiness and overall feeling.

This is why I keep returning to the Hexer analogy, but still prefer they didn´t call these Hexer Hybrid

 

[TTpastor]

I don't quite get if the HY-Q is completely without catapult.
What's the jury's verdict?

 

[wmsyap]

I am using Tibhar hybrid MK 2.0 on my BH, I like the control, slightly sticky and easy to open of the rubber, but for my the price does not judge, durability is poor. I am looking for a replacement. Do you think HYQ 48 is a good replacement?

 

[Airoc]

What's the jury's verdict?

Catapult is nicely dosed, which in combination with the sticky topsheet makes opening shots so safe and easy.

 

[Airoc]

Do you think HYQ 48 is a good replacement?

As a replacement for MK I´d rather recommend NUZN 48. The characteristics are more similar, and the durability is way better.

 

[wmsyap]

Does NUZN 48 feel relatively softer than rated 48 degrees like MK, or it feels harder? I am asking this because I also see NUZN 45 as an option, my priority is BH to BH drive ball placement accuracy, and decent easiness of opening loop. My opponents do not generate very heavy backspin in general so opening loop is not very demanding.

 

[Airoc]

Does NUZN 48 feel relatively softer than rated 48 degrees

I think it does, but this is of course very subjective. Also, I haven´t played with MK in a long time or on the same blade, and direct comparison from memory is not an option
But I guess they would´ve been compared in the corresponding NUZN thread maybe.

 

[Metaxa]

Around 5.30 in the video, they say that with the HY-Q it´s hard to miss an opening shot. Well put. These rubbers really provide safety and control due to stickiness and overall feeling.

This is why I keep returning to the Hexer analogy, but still prefer they didn´t call these Hexer Hybrid

I played with Rasant Beat and Rasant Grip a very long time ago. After that, we switched to Hexer Grip SFX (BH) and GEWO Hype XT 40° on FH.
It now seems like a logical step to move on to the HY-Q range, although we’ve been trying out also a NUZN 45° on my forehand and an HY-Q 42° on my backhand for a few months now. When the new ones arrive, we’ll see. We’re going to fit the HY-Q 48° to my forehand and the old NUZN 45° to my backhand. We’ll see how it goes.