Friendship 2-in-1 new sponge?

[_ak]

Butterfly? Another koto alc blade with famous player name xd

Dignics with Spring Sponge X2 for $120

 

[AndySmith]

They have arrived. Came in a sealed package, quite smelly once released from their plastic prison. I have Red 37/39 and Black 39/37, both weigh 69g uncut,164mm x 164mm.

Topsheets are tacky, you can see from the images that the "layers" of sponge aren't evenly distributed (although I have picked the worst example of that on the red rubber, which seems to be bad in that corner).

Not sure why they've got a picture of LWS in each package...

 

[zeio]

LWS is the brand image spokesperson for 729.

As for the sponge, the one on KTL Golden Star looks really well-made by comparison, which was said to be improved on in later models (more flexible combinations of thickness, color, hardness, and pore radius, as well as being more durable when removing from blade).

https://ooakforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=213528#p213528
https://www.guoqiuhui.net/Home/Goods/details/goods_id/2172
https://www.guoqiuhui.net/Home/Goods/details/goods_id/2173

http://www.dku51.com/article-2363.html

KTL 海绵戏法

　　KTL创始人李光祖可谓匠心独具，设计海绵如同戏法，让人感叹凡事还真就有想不到的。在金星系列双层异质海绵后，KTL在两方面改进了工艺。一是双层海绵的厚度、颜色、硬度、孔径搭配更加自如，即将有新搭配的产品上市。二是加强海绵牢度，避免撕胶容易损坏海绵的现象，更有怎么扯都扯不断的海绵出现，推出扯不断的套胶——猎鹰。

 

[KenTT]

They have arrived. Came in a sealed package, quite smelly once released from their plastic prison. I have Red 37/39 and Black 39/37, both weigh 69g uncut,164mm x 164mm.

View attachment 30943

View attachment 30944

View attachment 30945

Topsheets are tacky, you can see from the images that the "layers" of sponge aren't evenly distributed (although I have picked the worst example of that on the red rubber, which seems to be bad in that corner).

Not sure why they've got a picture of LWS in each package...

Have you tried the Battle Tai Chi? Any comment/review?

 

[longle]

Played a session with it today. Mine is 39in 37 out - topsheet is super sticky, equal to H3 prov neo. I played it unboosted, feeling a bit slow, and the throw angle is higher than H3 that I had a bit trouble blocking. Far from table was good, easier to engage the sponge than H3, but the high end speed was a bit lacking.

One more notice, this rubber is heavy af, 54g cut compare to 48gr cut of H3

 

[Zwill]

Played a session with it today. Mine is 39in 37 out - topsheet is super sticky, equal to H3 prov neo. I played it unboosted, feeling a bit slow, and the throw angle is higher than H3 that I had a bit trouble blocking. Far from table was good, easier to engage the sponge than H3, but the high end speed was a bit lacking.

One more notice, this rubber is heavy af, 54g cut compare to 48gr cut of H3

View attachment 31054

The pretty lady on the insert is good, should be outside to sell more (lizard brain is working)
Sounds like it's not too bad maybe a bit like H8 since there is more stick and higher release angle.
Interestingly, the speed was lacking but it's OK from far away from the table. I guess it's stable and has a good speed up when the ball hits the opponent's side (good 2nd bounce) of the table. Or the high spin carries the ball far with OK speed? Glad BB is not reading what I am saying or he'd have a "Biden brainmelt" for sure.

54g for RPB cut is just no! Maybe booster doesn't increase the weight much since you cut off more but 54g RPB is a lot. That shit is like 60g territory for shakehand and at that point, you can just get the Nittaku H3 Turbo blue and skip boosting... Or Xu Xin Powerplay-X or Pinyi Fangcui... options are endless.

But could be feasible with SP, LP or anti on backhand side like previously mentioned rubbers.

B3 still sounds better since it has decent speed, easy stick release and boosted 48-50g Cybershape weight. B3 topsheet is probably better than anything out there and I mean D09c or H3.

But the concept is really interesting and I wonder why BTY didn't experiment with it. BTY released some truly horrible rubbers so this might not damage them too much even if they fail.

 

[longle]

The pretty lady on the insert is good, should be outside to sell more (lizard brain is working)
Sounds like it's not too bad maybe a bit like H8 since there is more stick and higher release angle.
Interestingly, the speed was lacking but it's OK from far away from the table. I guess it's stable and has a good speed up when the ball hits the opponent's side (good 2nd bounce) of the table. Or the high spin carries the ball far with OK speed? Glad BB is not reading what I am saying or he'd have a "Biden brainmelt" for sure.

54g for RPB cut is just no! Maybe booster doesn't increase the weight much since you cut off more but 54g RPB is a lot. That shit is like 60g territory for shakehand and at that point, you can just get the Nittaku H3 Turbo blue and skip boosting... Or Xu Xin Powerplay-X or Pinyi Fangcui... options are endless.

But could be feasible with SP, LP or anti on backhand side like previously mentioned rubbers.

B3 still sounds better since it has decent speed, easy stick release and boosted 48-50g Cybershape weight. B3 topsheet is probably better than anything out there and I mean D09c or H3.

But the concept is really interesting and I wonder why BTY didn't experiment with it. BTY released some truly horrible rubbers so this might not damage them too much even if they fail.

Taichi's trajectory is a bit funny, it does not have tremendous penetrating power but the ball curves high then drop at the end of the table (like a falling leaf).

Btw I use it for FH, not RPB, and it increased my total combo weight to 188g

 

[AndySmith]

I've had a couple of sessions with these rubbers now, first on my regular Synteliac VCI, and then on the fastest blade I have - an outer ZLC. In each session the overriding impression I had was - very slow. There is a difference between the two versions - the hard-first sponge (i.e. closer to the topsheet) absolutely has a bit more immediate punch and feels harder, but beyond that lower-speed impact difference they just end up being a slow, tacky, allround experience. Spin is good, but it's too hard to get the ball moving for me, even on a very fast blade.

 

[netdriver]

I've had a couple of sessions with these rubbers now, first on my regular Synteliac VCI, and then on the fastest blade I have - an outer ZLC. In each session the overriding impression I had was - very slow. There is a difference between the two versions - the hard-first sponge (i.e. closer to the topsheet) absolutely has a bit more immediate punch and feels harder, but beyond that lower-speed impact difference they just end up being a slow, tacky, allround experience. Spin is good, but it's too hard to get the ball moving for me, even on a very fast blade.

big fan of ur reviews - always read ur posts back in mytabletennis

anyway yall should get to seamooning the rubbers and see how the 2 layered sponge reacts bc it would be interesting to find out how it plays

 

[AndySmith]

Yeah, I've accepted that there's no blade fast enough so I've slapped seamoon onto them now. I'll give them a try when boosted over the weekend.

 

[AutomaticBackhand]

 

[gospodindark]

Ilya said, that rubber with harder outer part is better for aggressive play. He said that rubber is OK for people, who looking chinese soft rubbers, not dead without booster.

 

[AndySmith]

I had a further session over the weekend with them. They do react well to booster and it made a noticeable difference, I could use either of them on the FH side now. They're too tacky for my BH side, I don't think any amount of booster would resolve that for me.

The soft-first definitely has more immediate grab and spin but doesn't bottom out easily. The hard-first has more immediate punch but the arc flattens out on harder shots. The difference between the two is definitely there, I've chosen the softer variants which might be magnifying some aspects of this. I quite liked the hard-first because it gave me some classic chinese characteristics over the table but harder drives feel more euro-hybrid. The "transition" between the two sponges doesn't feel super abrupt or confusing either, so that's nice in comparison with the KTL days. And they haven't fallen apart after multiple blade removals.

They're a fun experiment for sure. Of course, are they double-illegal now they have two sponges and have been boosted? Does the double-illegality cancel out and they're legal again?

 

[Fantastic_Muffin_D]

Mine is in 40 out 37. I think I'm feeling good with this rubber on my FH. I overboosted my H3 last week so decided to give this thing a try with no booster on it. All the technique can be done easily with this rubber, the trajectory is safe even for power loops, the speed lacking is not that tremendous, I found it has enough speed to do whatever I want. Spin loops is really good also, caught a lot of people off-guard. Counter-spin is OK, short touch like chinese rubber as always.

 

[netdriver]

I had a further session over the weekend with them. They do react well to booster and it made a noticeable difference, I could use either of them on the FH side now. They're too tacky for my BH side, I don't think any amount of booster would resolve that for me.

The soft-first definitely has more immediate grab and spin but doesn't bottom out easily. The hard-first has more immediate punch but the arc flattens out on harder shots. The difference between the two is definitely there, I've chosen the softer variants which might be magnifying some aspects of this. I quite liked the hard-first because it gave me some classic chinese characteristics over the table but harder drives feel more euro-hybrid. The "transition" between the two sponges doesn't feel super abrupt or confusing either, so that's nice in comparison with the KTL days. And they haven't fallen apart after multiple blade removals.

They're a fun experiment for sure. Of course, are they double-illegal now they have two sponges and have been boosted? Does the double-illegality cancel out and they're legal again?

is the soft-first worse than the hard-first over the table?

 

[AndySmith]

is the soft-first worse than the hard-first over the table?

Depends on your own personal preference I think. I like soft outer on bh, hard outer on fh, when close in. But I've always preferred softer rubbers on my bh side so that makes sense (or became a self fulfilling prophecy).

 

[mocker88]

I've tried this in 37/40 on my forehand for a couple of months now on my Sanwei - Verdi Inner blade. It's lightly boosted with Haifu Seamoon, and this is actually one of the best FH rubbers I've tried so far. I can't just put the finger on what it is, but the spin properties are up there with the best and I feel more control in the short game and brush loops as well. I guess that having the 37deg sponge closest to the top sheet improves spin, especially in slower strokes.

 

[longle]

I've tried this in 37/40 on my forehand for a couple of months now on my Sanwei - Verdi Inner blade. It's lightly boosted with Haifu Seamoon, and this is actually one of the best FH rubbers I've tried so far. I can't just put the finger on what it is, but the spin properties are up there with the best and I feel more control in the short game and brush loops as well. I guess that having the 37deg sponge closest to the top sheet improves spin, especially in slower strokes.

I've tried both 37/40 and 40/37. The 40/37 has a bit more speed but harder to impact power, and they seem well suited to outer ALC blades, putting them on inner ALC doesn't feel as good.

 

[igorponger]

One more bastard creature born illicitly by a China rubber manufacture, sorry.

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[igorponger]

ITTF M4 document states as follows

-- 5.2.2.1 More than one layer of sponge is not permitted, even if the layers are of the same material.
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Be erudite of everything