Cheaper Rakza Z EH alternative

[antedeguemon]

I am using a Rakza Z EH for quite some time and it isn't the same feeling and power from when it was new but because of financial conditions i don't really have space to buy a new rakza Z so there is a cheaper alternative to it? It's quite hard to find a good mix of chinese and european rubber as good as rakza Z and as durable too

 

[Magic_M]

As you are playing with Double Fish Volant Phoenix on your backhand, you could test the new Dragon Shadow 218 Spin from Double Fish on your forehand. Price is round about 20€ here in Germany and the first reviews sound good.

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[Egon]

I played with 218 Spin 40. It is very similar to the regular Phoenix1, but has a slightly softer topsheet. The sponge feels the same as on the Phoenix1. So it is not an alternative of the Rakza Z Extra Hard.
If You like RZEH, then stick with it. It is better to be patient and save up money for a new rubber than to spend the same or maybe more money on finding analogues and not finding anything to like.
A completely different matter is EJ, but this should be a parallel process

 

[vanjr]

If you were in the US, I would recommend gambler X3 gold label (25 US dollars vs 55 for Rakza Z EH). I know table tennis 11 has good deals at times and I assume you don't have to fight tariffs like we do in the US-you may could by a sheet or two when it goes on sale.
I don't think X3 is quite as good as RZ, but it is pretty good.

 

[antedeguemon]

As you are playing with Double Fish Volant Phoenix on your backhand, you could test the new Dragon Shadow 218 Spin from Double Fish on your forehand. Price is round about 20€ here in Germany and the first reviews sound good.

I had a new VP but i had to change because it was glued to my old blade and it was smaller than the new one and rubber was too hard to stretch so it wasn't covering my entire blade, and i had a tournament so i just got a old boosted VP and its strange, its soft but it isnt easier to engage the sponge and its not tacky anymore it can't even lift a ball when, i get a newer one i will give a try but i heard the black one is different than the red one

 

[antedeguemon]

I played with 218 Spin 40. It is very similar to the regular Phoenix1, but has a slightly softer topsheet. The sponge feels the same as on the Phoenix1. So it is not an alternative of the Rakza Z Extra Hard.
If You like RZEH, then stick with it. It is better to be patient and save up money for a new rubber than to spend the same or maybe more money on finding analogues and not finding anything to like.
A completely different matter is EJ, but this should be a parallel process

I agree with you, but rubber prices in Brazil are much higher. Rakza Z costs around $50–55 abroad, while the cheapest in Brazil is about $65 (R$340), which is expensive, especially since I don't spend much and it's already hard to save due to the high cost of everything else.

 

[jk1980]

It really depends on what you get the rubbers for. RZ EH is quite cheap in the EU.
If you get Friendship Battle 3 '39 or Battle 2 Gold Provincial (in red) for a good price, they are similar in performance to RZEH

 

[TTL]

I agree with you, but rubber prices in Brazil are much higher. Rakza Z costs around $50–55 abroad, while the cheapest in Brazil is about $65 (R$340), which is expensive, especially since I don't spend much and it's already hard to save due to the high cost of everything else.

You can try H8-80 38, nice spin, speed, high thow e and has a little catapult too, dont need booster. Buy on Aliexpress its almost US$ 30 (R$150) with taxes. Or if you dont bother with low throw, Jupiter 3 Asia 38 or 39 but i advice to use booster here and you need more effort to engage than Rakza Z.

 

[Egon]

You can try H8-80 38, nice spin, speed, high thow e and has a little catapult too, dont need booster. Buy on Aliexpress its almost US$ 30 (R$150) with taxes. Or if you dont bother with low throw, Jupiter 3 Asia 38 or 39 but i advice to use booster here and you need more effort to engage than Rakza Z.

From me + what about Jupiter 3 38 in red. Good rubber. Very grippy and durable. Red Jupiters are much more durable than black ones.

 

[PhantomCSS]

Yasaka Psych Dragon or Bold/Bolo Dragon should be pretty close

 

[antedeguemon]

You can try H8-80 38, nice spin, speed, high thow e and has a little catapult too, dont need booster. Buy on Aliexpress its almost US$ 30 (R$150) with taxes. Or if you dont bother with low throw, Jupiter 3 Asia 38 or 39 but i advice to use booster here and you need more effort to engage than Rakza Z.

I think h8-80 38 it's still too soft for forehand even tho its a tacky rubber with a more dynamic sponge, the only instance i liked a soft chinese rubber it was on backhand but its was a 37 H3Neo i tested others but none were really like H3Neo

From me + what about Jupiter 3 38 in red. Good rubber. Very grippy and durable. Red Jupiters are much more durable than black ones.

i don't think much highly from jupiter 3 because most reviews i got to see it was better unboosted on back or boosted on fore, i am not really fond of using a full chinese rubber on forehand unless its bouncy it doesnt really stick with me

Yasaka Psych Dragon or Bold/Bolo Dragon should be pretty close

before i made this post i saw a french guy review about it, and he said that psych dragon is a good one for intermediate players but it lacks control and the bold dragon its probably tackier than H3N Nat, i guess i am stuck between 218 spin and bold dragon, i think i would choose bold dragon because i like counterattacks and a tacky rubber is better for counter-attacking, but counter-attacking it varies a lot from rubber to rubber

 

[MOJOJOJO-74]

@antedeguemon Here are good prices for the rubbers you're interested in, and they ship almost everywhere. I usually get rubbers within a few weeks, but Xuperman products have taken much longer. Ordered multiple times in the US, but not too sure how it is for Brazil.

Yasaka Bold Dragon

Double Fish Dragon Shadow 218

 

[navuzor]

If you can find the old version of Xiom Vega China, the new version is barely tacky at all, it could be a similarish feel at a much lower price.