Easier rubber than Donic Bluestorm PRO

[Dayel]

Hello everybody,

I play as a modern defender, and I recently upgraded my blade from a Defplay Classic Senso v3 to a Nittaku Violoncello (ALL+ def blade), which is great for my LP backhand game, but the same Bluestorm Pro 2.0mm is too tough for me to handle on the faster setup, and I tend to lose confidence and make mistakes.

I consider myself as a low intermediate player, and I play an all-round spin-oriented game on the FH, but I do not chop. What I need from a forehand rubber is:

• Impart lots of spin on my serves, as that is one of my strongest points
• Provide me with good amount of control, as my footwork is far from amazing, plus I sometimes twiddle to play surprise attacks from the backhand, but they often fly out of the table
• Allow me to flat smash easy balls I manage to set up with my deceptive game
• Give me the possibility to play forehand shots from mid distance when needed
• Be a tensor rubber, as I would like to stick to the same type of rubber I am used to

Few potential rubbers I checked out could be:

• Bluestorm PRO AM (too similar to the PRO?)
• Bluestorm Z2/Z3/M2
• Nittaku Factive (too mushy to be played on the FH?)

Any advice on how would these rubber play out for me, or any other rubber you would recommend, is most welcome.
Thank you in advance.

 

[Zwill]

Fastarc G1?

 

[tzifos]

Fastarc G1?

^^ Also Rakza 7, Stiga Mantra Pro M (medium). Fastarc G1 @ 2.0mm is the less catapulty (that is, more control) from these and might be the better option.

 

[TackyForehand]

Bluestorm PRO AM would probably suit you. It is slow.

 

[Dayel]

^^ Also Rakza 7, Stiga Mantra Pro M (medium). Fastarc G1 @ 2.0mm is the less catapulty (that is, more control) from these and might be the better option.

Fastarc G1?

Thank you for suggesting the Fastarc G1.

How difficult do you think it would be to step from 3 years of a high catapult effect rubber like Bluestorm PRO to a very little "catapulty" one like Fastarc G1?

Moreover, I read that it has good control, but some players said that it might not be ideal for short game, and that you need to put more effort in the stroke to produce a good shot, in comparison with higher catapult rubber, which "support" your strokes more. Does this make sense to you?

 

[Dayel]

Bluestorm PRO AM would probably suit you. It is slow.

Thank you for the reply.

Would you be able to compare it to the likes of Bluestorm Z2 or M2 in terms of speed, control and catapult effect?

 

[tzifos]

Thank you for suggesting the Fastarc G1.

How difficult do you think it would be to step from 3 years of a high catapult effect rubber like Bluestorm PRO to a very little "catapulty" one like Fastarc G1?

Moreover, I read that it has good control, but some players said that it might not be ideal for short game, and that you need to put more effort in the stroke to produce a good shot, in comparison with higher catapult rubber, which "support" your strokes more. Does this make sense to you?

I play with a similar in speed (if not faster) blade and never had problems in pushing (long or short, with or not heavy down-spin) using fastarc G1. Maybe these users that report problem in short game are not using a defensive blade, but a faster blade. I changed G1 to Stiga Mantra Pro M as the later is a lot easier with FH chopping away from table, without loosing much speed in FH spin. Stiga Mantra Pro M is good at pushes too.

 

[Dayel]

I play with a similar in speed (if not faster) blade and never had problems in pushing (long or short, with or not heavy down-spin) using fastarc G1. Maybe these users that report problem in short game are not using a defensive blade, but a faster blade. I changed G1 to Stiga Mantra Pro M as the later is a lot easier with FH chopping away from table, without loosing much speed in FH spin. Stiga Mantra Pro M is good at pushes too.

Thank you for your reply.

Your reasoning about you using a slower blade and finding it alright makes total sense. I seize the chance to ask you, if you played it with a similar setup compared to mine, is how does it behave when shots are half-hearted/not fully committed, as I read that lacking catapult effect one needs a high amount of arm swing and effort to generate speed and activate the rubber.

 

[tzifos]

You need good technique, not on a pro/semi-pro level but it should be good. This rubber helped me develop my FH drive, spin and top-spin (spin on heavy down-spin balls).

 

[Der_Echte]

No rubber on the market will do 100 out of 100 on the items OP mentioned... but there are some rubbers that will do 95 out of 100 on that long list.

A lot of them will be soft sponged modern dynamic rubbers.

Aurus Soft will surprise you. So will T05FX (now that there are 2 generations of rubbers from BTY out maybe Tenergy series will get less expensive). Z3 is another one doing well in most areas.

 

[Dayel]

You need good technique, not on a pro/semi-pro level but it should be good. This rubber helped me develop my FH drive, spin and top-spin (spin on heavy down-spin balls).

All clear, your feedback was very valuable.

No rubber on the market will do 100 out of 100 on the items OP mentioned... but there are some rubbers that will do 95 out of 100 on that long list.

A lot of them will be soft sponged modern dynamic rubbers.

Aurus Soft will surprise you. So will T05FX (now that there are 2 generations of rubbers from BTY out maybe Tenergy series will get less expensive). Z3 is another one doing well in most areas.

Thank you, I'll check out the Aurus Soft.

Have you ever tried the Z2, as I fear that the Z3 may be lacking power on an ALL+ defensive blade? Unfortunately Tenergy is still incredibly expensive, so it's out of the picture.

 

[Der_Echte]

All clear, your feedback was very valuable.

Thank you, I'll check out the Aurus Soft.

Have you ever tried the Z2, as I fear that the Z3 may be lacking power on an ALL+ defensive blade? Unfortunately Tenergy is still incredibly expensive, so it's out of the picture.

Yes, have used it... my BH is very dynamic and can use literally any inverted rubber, but certain soft sponeged old school and modern dynamic rubbers let me land 2 or 3 out of 100 more on the table... I will not fight against percentages like that.

Z3 is maybe my 3rd favorite BH rubber. Does everything reasonable easy to do (that is definition of control)