These are quite different rubbers. The pip alignment on AX is horizontal, plain SP is vertical. With the AX you can play inverted strokes and make decent spin. My coach and training partner said I should keep it for this reason. The downside is I was basically playing with a crappy inverted. All the nastiness of SP was lost. I felt less control, hits were not as effective, and blocks were *very much less* trouble for my opponents.
Patrick is a far more accomplished player than me in rating and SP experience. But I am a decent 1900+ usatt player with quite a bit of time in using SP. Your results may depend on whether you are closer in SP level to me or to him.
Yeah, as I described in my review, the SP AX is a different kettle of fish. It is a rather unique short pimpled rubber and it will not be everybody's cup of tea. As a fairly recent short pip convert (~4.5 years and counting), I probably still have retained some inverted BH technique, which is why I was able to adapt relatively quickly to the rubber. In contrast, long-time 'real' SP players might very well loathe this rubber. As with so many things, it comes down to style (more than level, I think). The appeal of the SP AX is its light weight and the ability to land shots from mid-distance. Unfortunately, once the booster effect wears off after 2-3 months, it becomes a somewhat different rubber altogether again - more mushy and uncontrollable. My line of thinking is the following: if I use the Nittaku Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Blue (extremely heavy) on my FH, I will use the SP AX in my BH; if I use the H3 40-degree blue sponge in my FH, I'd rather use Waran 2 in my BH. The combo of HP3TB and Waran 2 (a heavy short pip), is simply too heavy for me (approaching 195-200 g).
Give the normal Moristo SP a chance before you go to long pips. It is so much better than Spectol red or moristo AX.Spectol Red is so bad, if I can't get what I want with SP AX I am going to go fully all out onto long pimples with HP3TB. I still have a bit of inverted stroke so SP AX might suit me, but they will be useless if they just play like a less spinny inverted!!
Patrick I have read loads of your reviews and I know you like Waran and Waran 2, but I have never seen you review either anywhere? Do you have a review of Waran 2 anywhere?