Double Fish samples has arrived - what is your opinions?

[hclnnkhg]

Today, I tested these 2 rackets:

1) Dragon Cpen
FH: Polestar P black 39 deg
BH: Volant 2 red 37 deg

2) Phoenix 2 (flared - and hold it as penhold)
FH 218 Spin black 39 deg
BH 218 Control red 39 deg

both unboosted, and both with 2 layers of #15 glue on rubber and 1 layer on blade.

feedback after few mins of testing (as my main test today was on balls)

- I never enjoyed ZLC blades, so maybe my view on the rubbers there isn't accurate.
- Polestar P, P stands for provincial, while S is standard version. It was pretty heavy uncut, but it was a larger sheet (largest I ever saw - wait for the video).
- the Volant 2 is considered hybrid. I like this alot.
both these rubbers, DF states its sticky, but it won't hold/stick the ball at all.
I enjoy the Volant 2 a lot more on both BH and FH (Cpen RPB player)

Phoenix 2 uses 3k carbon or what they also call, imitation carbon.
it is rated as an ALL blade, and I could feel it being slower than my preferred speed.

the 218 rubbers are surprising very good. I think if I had it on a 5+2 OFF blade or 7 ply Off blade, it would be a lot more enjoyable for my game.

Having said that ALL blades are designed more for developing players and 218 is very controllable and spinny rubbers.

218 cost more than Volant 2 (I thought it was the other way around, this making Volant a very good buy)
218 is still priced well, and it doesn't feel like Chinese rubbers at all, other than that the top sheet is more sticky than the other 2.
both 218 and Volant 2, didn't feel like Chinese rubbers, and QC felt really good.
218 Spin is recommended for FH and Control for BH according to DF.
For Volant 2, they suggest it for BH, as one would normally have a firmer rubber like H3 in the FH. Well, Volant 2 can be suited for both sides and I won't be surprised if users see my review and end up buying it and enjoy it. It is really good to use.

Whats next.
1) boost Polestar P and put it on ALC blade
2) try out Volant 1 and put it on ALC blade (Volant 1 is a FH rubber basically and firmer sponge)
3) put 218 on OFF blade

Blade craftsmanship:
VERY Good.
sanded throughout - no rough edges

I am surprised that DF blade and rubbers are not more commonly used around the world.
I'm hoping more people can comment on their experience on the blades and rubbers, as I'm also learning on this brand that has been around since the 50s

How bad is unboosted Polestar P? I was quite interested in it...

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

How bad is unboosted Polestar P? I was quite interested in it...

it isn't bad per se
if coming from a neutral standing point, it is better (allround) than big dipper by quite far (I was the first reviewer on BD in the English world a decade ago).

the Polestar P comes factory boosted.
But mine one, the topsheet was "bigger" than the sponge - aka, reverse dome.
This is evidence the boost has worn off, and you need to expand / boost the sponge again.
But I still wanted to feel out of the box feel so glued it onto the ZLC blade

The sponge is very fast/bouncing - I consider it a hybrid feel.
and it didn't make sense, due to the sponge possibly lost it boost with signs of reverse dome, but I still could feel the lively sponge.

I couldn't get the H3 topsheet spin/grip - of all brands I tested, this included Polestar P, only Rxton 9 gave me that feeling. But how much of that is due to ZLC, is also debatable.
But I feel it is pretty good and I need more time to test it on my ALC blades (which I prefer over ZLC)

I did give feedback to DF that the VP rubbers was really surprisingly good and my initial feeling there was it is better out of the box (unboosted) than Polestar P.

So maybe you can try both
PP is provincial for FH
PS is standard for FH
VP1 is for FH
VP2 is for BH (here the sponges are 35/37/39 etc)

I feel, VP2 would be a good medium/medium hard rubber for Euro/JPN style of play FH rubber.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Par 40+ better than nittaku premium in durability. I played par 40+ since it out . Very good ball, but same issue like all df ball the print....

I will make sure to past this message on.
I think this is easier problem to fix than having a bad ball

 

[BlueInGreen]

Today, I tested these 2 rackets:

1) Dragon Cpen
FH: Polestar P black 39 deg
BH: Volant 2 red 37 deg

2) Phoenix 2 (flared - and hold it as penhold)
FH 218 Spin black 39 deg
BH 218 Control red 39 deg

both unboosted, and both with 2 layers of #15 glue on rubber and 1 layer on blade.

feedback after few mins of testing (as my main test today was on balls)

- I never enjoyed ZLC blades, so maybe my view on the rubbers there isn't accurate.
- Polestar P, P stands for provincial, while S is standard version. It was pretty heavy uncut, but it was a larger sheet (largest I ever saw - wait for the video).
- the Volant 2 is considered hybrid. I like this alot.
both these rubbers, DF states its sticky, but it won't hold/stick the ball at all.
I enjoy the Volant 2 a lot more on both BH and FH (Cpen RPB player)

Phoenix 2 uses 3k carbon or what they also call, imitation carbon.
it is rated as an ALL blade, and I could feel it being slower than my preferred speed.

the 218 rubbers are surprising very good. I think if I had it on a 5+2 OFF blade or 7 ply Off blade, it would be a lot more enjoyable for my game.

Having said that ALL blades are designed more for developing players and 218 is very controllable and spinny rubbers.

218 cost more than Volant 2 (I thought it was the other way around, this making Volant a very good buy)
218 is still priced well, and it doesn't feel like Chinese rubbers at all, other than that the top sheet is more sticky than the other 2.
both 218 and Volant 2, didn't feel like Chinese rubbers, and QC felt really good.
218 Spin is recommended for FH and Control for BH according to DF.
For Volant 2, they suggest it for BH, as one would normally have a firmer rubber like H3 in the FH. Well, Volant 2 can be suited for both sides and I won't be surprised if users see my review and end up buying it and enjoy it. It is really good to use.

Whats next.
1) boost Polestar P and put it on ALC blade
2) try out Volant 1 and put it on ALC blade (Volant 1 is a FH rubber basically and firmer sponge)
3) put 218 on OFF blade

Blade craftsmanship:
VERY Good.
sanded throughout - no rough edges

I am surprised that DF blade and rubbers are not more commonly used around the world.
I'm hoping more people can comment on their experience on the blades and rubbers, as I'm also learning on this brand that has been around since the 50s

Hi Tony,

The Dragon Shadow 218 Spin H40 seems to be be available on TT11 for $22, the same price as Volant-Phoenix. I wonder how you would compare the two? Which one do you think plays closer to H3 BS on the FH side?

I recently got to briefly try Volant-Phoenix H40, and was pretty impressed with it — especially for a rubber that I can get for $13. It felt to me like a bouncier H3-style rubber with less tack. Interestingly enough, although its blue/purple sponge looks quite dense without visible pores, the texture almost feels like an ESN cake sponge. The sponge is pretty brittle actually, and is not like DHS #20/#22 sponge that one can always smoothly cut, even with an old scalpel.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Hi Tony,

The Dragon Shadow 218 Spin H40 seems to be be available on TT11 for $22, the same price as Volant-Phoenix. I wonder how you would compare the two? Which one do you think plays closer to H3 BS on the FH side?

Hi BlueInGreen
I like the VP and VP2 quite a lot.
I thought 218 was cheaper and tried it with a lower spec blade, and was quite amazed with its sped-spin and control ratio.
I don't really understand where 218 fits in, as its naming (one spec for FH and one spec for BH for example), made it sound like entry level.
But it is probably one up from there.

I recently got to briefly try Volant-Phoenix H40, and was pretty impressed with it — especially for a rubber that I can get for $13. It felt to me like a bouncier H3-style rubber with less tack. Interestingly enough, although its blue/purple sponge looks quite dense without visible pores, the texture almost feels like an ESN cake sponge. The sponge is pretty brittle actually, and is not like DHS #20/#22 sponge that one can always smoothly cut, even with an old scalpel.

The Polestar range is meant to be the H3, with P as Prov, and S as Standard (I thought S was soft, but it standard edition)

I like the VP2 out of the box better than the Polestar P.
I haven't used enough hours of it to really give it a comprehensive review, but I did recommend other people to try 218 and VP, VP2 out since the price is affordable.
218 actually costs more than VP in terms of true cost. So DF is probably looking to position it higher (this came to me as a surprised as I thought it was a lower spec, but price and performance is probably better than VP)

 

[VilligeMaster]

I bought 12 DoubleFish*** balls. Most of them were woobly. If the ball is round, plays very good. Unfortunely didn't anythink else from this company.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I bought 12 DoubleFish*** balls. Most of them were woobly. If the ball is round, plays very good. Unfortunely didn't anythink else from this company.

which balls did you buy and probably more importantly, where did you buy?

 

[Rinforzando]

Any review on the 218 spin ? Which one is the most powerful and spinniest ? Polestar P or 218 spin ? From my understanding the Polestar P is positionned as their best rubber right ?

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Any review on the 218 spin ? Which one is the most powerful and spinniest ? Polestar P or 218 spin ? From my understanding the Polestar P is positionned as their best rubber right ?

You are correct

The Polestars "P" stands for provincial version, while the S is standard version
so the Polestar P is there highest positioned rubber.
the 218 spin has great control, and balance spin/speed. Its a really good rubber for its price and not really like a Chinese rubber - it has decent bounce, etc.

The Polestar is more like Hurricane, firmer sponge etc.

 

[Rinforzando]

You are correct

The Polestars "P" stands for provincial version, while the S is standard version
so the Polestar P is there highest positioned rubber.
the 218 spin has great control, and balance spin/speed. Its a really good rubber for its price and not really like a Chinese rubber - it has decent bounce, etc.

The Polestar is more like Hurricane, firmer sponge etc.

thank you ! I bought one 218 spin, will see how it goes

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

thank you ! I bought one 218 spin, will see how it goes

you are welcome.
please let us know what you feel about it.

I told DF they should send samples to Yogibear, so he can do a much better review for all.
they agreed, but they haven't sent yet.
hopefully one day, we can see DF reviews from Yogibear

 

[TensorBackhand]

What is the difference between 218 and VP and Polestar? They all sound similar, Chinese-tacky topsheet with boosted sponge.

I tried VP H41, and I thought it was excellent. Really just a boosted Chinese-tacky rubber.

Where do 218 and Polestar fall relative to VP?

 

[TensorBackhand]

There also this rubber that also seems similar

https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKHMmGM

 

[turbozed]

Any review on the 218 spin ? Which one is the most powerful and spinniest ? Polestar P or 218 spin ? From my understanding the Polestar P is positionned as their best rubber right ?

Here's a Youtube review from a French dude who seems to like it.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Here's a Youtube review from a French dude who seems to like it.

I have the 218 and the Qiji and will test them sometime soon. If they are similar to Volant, then they should be good.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

new blades, new rubbers, new training balls samples due to be shipped out to me and @yogi_bear
stay tuned

 

[Table10Ice]

I ordered two new FH rubbers, Double Fish Dragon Shadow 218 Spin 40 and Hurricane 8-80 38 to make a transition from euro to chinese tacky rubbers. Which one is best to use first? Are they similar to each other? Should I boost them or not?

I also ordered Volant Phoenix 2 37 for BH. Is it much more demanding to use tacky rubbers on BH vs ESN rubbers?

These are my first tacky rubbers.