says
Table tennis clown
Well-Known Member
View attachment 22526
Loki Arthur Europe.
View attachment 22527
Loki Arthur Asia.
Packaging was good quality, each rubber has a plastic film on the top sheet that was very satisfying to peel off!!! You could tell straight away that they were tacky!! There’s nothing like peeling a film off a tacky top sheet!!
On inspection the quality looked and felt very good, These rubbers are made in Germany for Loki and I would then think they are classed as a ‘Hybrid’ rubber, ESN sponge, Chinese style tacky top sheet.
Sponge thickness is 2.0mm
Both have Black sponge
Arthur Asia has a sticky top sheet, when I did the tackiness test, the ball was held by the top sheet for a couple of seconds. Which is about the same as the std sheet of H3 i have and longer than D09 C.
Arthur Europe was similar, so it appears that the top sheet may well be the same.
I have the Asia with a black top sheet and Red for the Europe version.
Sponges vary in hardness, this could be felt when the rubbers were pinched. On the packaging no specific degree of hardness were given.
The Asia version has a ‘very hard’ top sheet, diameter of pore - medium, density of pore - large
The Europe version has a ‘hard’ top sheet, diameter of pore - large, density of pore - medium
The difference could easily be seen, the Asia sponge surface was smoother, indicating the smaller pore size whereas the Europe sponge had a rougher / sort of grainy surface, due to the larger por diameter.
Both sheets were boosted with 2 coats of sea moon booster, the doming was minimal, another coat maybe needed to bring out a better dome and tensioning of the rubber, although I just wanted to soften them up a little!!
Rubbers were glued to a Dotec Ovtcharov Off blade, Asia on FH and Europe on BH.
So, due to the nature of the blade, which has specific BH / FH sides, review of general play, topspin, block, push,chop etc are specific to Asia on FH and Europe on BH.
Because my service grip does not really hold the handle, both Asia and Europe were used for FH serves.
View attachment 22529
Serving
Both rubbers performed very well, producing some very spin loaded serves. Good kick with side/topspin serves. A good amount of bend through the air as well with side, side/top and side/bottom serves.
I thought that the Europe version was slightly more ‘user friendly’ a little easier to serve with, although the level of spin was very good and similar between the two. Ghost (high backspin) serves were also good with nice acceleration back towards the net (when my technique allowed!!!)
General play (with robot)
As far as speed is concerned, the Asia version is probably a little quicker, although the Europe version makes you think it’s quicker because it’s sponge is slightly more springy. ( I think this is why I felt the Europe version was more user friendly for serves)
FH (Asia) very nice to topspin and loop with, high spin when looping very good dip/drag down of the ball onto the table and good kick. Also felt controlled.
pushing was controlled, good spin. Blocking was also good nice and crisp!! Chopping is okay, good spin, technique needs to be good(better than mine!!) Flatter hitting was better than I expected!!! Sensitivity to incoming spin is no different to other tacky rubbers I’ve used.
BH is really a repeat of the above !!!
Both rubbers are similar, a little more effort is needed with the Asia version. They are a good alternative worth considering.
Finally, this is my 1st purchase from Asia, and they were bought through Amazon’s US site, the seller being PingPong House which I believe is in Thailand. Hopefully these are legit !!! Fingers crossed!!!
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//////////Packaging was good quality, each rubber has a plastic film on the top sheet that was very satisfying to peel off!!! You could tell straight away that they were tacky!! There’s nothing like peeling a film off a tacky top sheet!! /////////
I got a RXTON 5 just to see what all the fuss is about and because e everybody says this on is sticky or tacky.
I also like the """"pull""" when i removed the protective film but OH dear !!!! It is the protective film that IS STICKY !!!!!
The actual Rubber NOT SO MUCH. Disappointing 😖