Advantages tacky hybird rubbers

Hi guys,

what are the advantages of a tacky topsheet?

what is the diffrence between a tacky hybird rubber vs a europeen slightly tacky rubber?

For an example Rakza Z vs El-p

Originally Posted by thomas.pong

Hey again,

First off, traditional Euro/Japanese rubbers are not even slightly tacky since they don't stick, but they are grippy thanks to their porous sponge and tensioned topsheet.

The main advantage of tacky rubbers, especially the traditional Chinese ones, is the spin potential. They're also great for serves, serve receives and the short game. They have very good control for the most part, and are more predictable (what you do is what you get). Finally, Euro/Japanese rubbers bottom out, meaning that there's a limit to how much speed and spin they can produce, whereas with Chinese rubbers, the more you put in, the more the output (the only limits being your fitness and technique).

An hybrid rubber combines a Euro/Japanese porous-type sponge with a a "tacky" topsheet (usually a lot less tacky than Chinese rubbers). It will be springy like regular rubbers, usually a bit less fast than it's non "tacky" conterparts, but will have better serve and short game potential. It's an in-between type rubber between Euro/Japanese and Chinese rubbers, averaging out the qualities of both but not really reaching the peaks of either.

Chinese hard tacky rubbers need much much much much more input than hybrids or euro/jap.

Originally Posted by Kuba Hajto

Chinese hard tacky rubbers need much much much much more input than hybrids or euro/jap.

For sure, I'm not saying the contrary. But he asked for the advantages, not the drawbacks! 😉

Originally Posted by thomas.pong

For sure, I'm not saying the contrary. But he asked for the advantages, not the drawbacks! 😉

It is an advantage, helps to develop stroke strength, and acceleration. Unless you do it properly are not going to generate speed and spin.

Maybe a bit off topic, but I remember in the early 90s I played with a Donic hybrid rubber called "Shangri La". The topsheet was just as tacky as any Chinese rubber I have tested in recent years. You could pick up a ball with it for several seconds. I can't remember what the sponge was like, but probably very soft.

Originally Posted by Kuba Hajto

It is an advantage, helps to develop stroke strength, and acceleration. Unless you do it properly are not going to generate speed and spin.

True that! That's he way I see it to and why I switched to it, but many non-Chinese players don't see it that way and just find it slow and odd.

Also Chinese tacky rubbers have an unpleasant bounce against pips users.

I've played tacky hybrid rubbers before. I play K1, K1 plus and Golden Tango. They are much easier to play than H3 boosted. I am emphasise that boosted H3 is not that hard to play at all.

But still, hybrid rubber requires less effort to attack. Due to the porous sponge, they are also lighter than boosted H3.

After all, I still went back to H3, still the best rubber for FH loop.

Tacky rubbers are good for brushing because the coefficient of friction is higher. The ball doesn't need to penetrate the sponge for the tacky top sheet to grip the ball. However, if you don't brush then don't bother. Brushing required very good timing. If the timing is off you can miss the ball or hit it with the leading edge of the paddle.

thanks for the information guys. I just ordered a Rakza Z for my forehand, I am curious about the playing feeling!

before i have always played with rubbers such as mx p, tenergy 80/05 and El p.

Are there hybrid rubbers with 47,5 degree sponge?

If i remember correctly all of them have 50 degree and more. I guess this is to hard for me that’s why i asking for a softer one.

Originally Posted by Kinay

Are there hybrid rubbers with 47,5 degree sponge?

If i remember correctly all of them have 50 degree and more. I guess this is to hard for me that’s why i asking for a softer one.

Not to my knowledge, but maybe.

I've got to say that regular Rakza Z (50 deg) didn't really feel much harder than Rakza 7 (47.5) to me.

Originally Posted by Kinay

Are there hybrid rubbers with 47,5 degree sponge?

If i remember correctly all of them have 50 degree and more. I guess this is to hard for me that’s why i asking for a softer one.

Not to my knowledge, but maybe.

I've got to say that regular Rakza Z (50 deg) didn't really feel much harder than Rakza 7 (47.5) to me.

Are al the hybird rubbers hard sponges?

They don't give a 'softer feeling' because of the tacky topsheet?

Originally Posted by CamperBel

Are al the hybird rubbers hard sponges?

They don't give a 'softer feeling' because of the tacky topsheet?

Yup. Why anyone would want a soft tacky rubber 😉 Soft sponges are usually quite springy which is usually the opposite of what you want with tacky rubber. I often do use mostly top sheet when brushing, so a soft sponge does ruin the feel (Golden Tango PS).

Not soft like vega europe. but a little easier to play than 50 degree.
What of the rubbers above has the softest feeling or is the easiest to use of them?

Originally Posted by Kinay

Are there hybrid rubbers with 47,5 degree sponge?

If i remember correctly all of them have 50 degree and more. I guess this is to hard for me that’s why i asking for a softer one.

Yasaka Rising Dragon and Shining Dragon are hybrids with softer sponges. I don't have precise numbers but I think Rising Dragon is around 48 and Shining Dragon around 46. I played with Rising shortly, it has big spin potential.

Don't worry about the hardness only. I was often told that it is the harder rubbers that are harder to control, because they are faster. And ultimately, I think it's correct. But it so happened, that the different people who told it to me, didn't distinguish much between bouncy sponges and less or non-bouncy sponges. So, I could say e.g. Razanter R53 is too hard for me, but I should say, it is too bouncy or advanced for me to control. But e.g. Bluegrip C1/C2, which are harder on paper (ESN 60/55) were not.

Originally Posted by MK73

Maybe a bit off topic, but I remember in the early 90s I played with a Donic hybrid rubber called "Shangri La". The topsheet was just as tacky as any Chinese rubber I have tested in recent years. You could pick up a ball with it for several seconds. I can't remember what the sponge was like, but probably very soft.

Yep ! as also other brands like Tibhar's Dang ! or Banco's China Spin, I used both as a developing offensive player. Yasaka DO too.