For those who are fans of the Rxton 3, there's a new version out now with blue and pink topsheet, - but don't be fooled: it's a Rxton 3 in name only.. and in my opinion it's pretty damn good - better than the original version certainly. The blue and pink versions of the Rxton 3 have a harder, thicker, heavier, stiffer and FAR tackier topsheet than the black and red versions. They also feature 'all new imported sponge'. ...Imported from where I don't know, but it's more like a traditional Chinese sponge at first glance - it's far harder than the previous orange Rxton 3 sponge with smaller pores If the orange sponge is a 45-47 degree hardness, then the new white sponge is closer to a 50. A side by side comparison with my regular H3 and 729 Battle 2 showed this new Rxton sponge was the hardest of the lot. (Why they would completely change both the top sheet AND the sponge on the new coloured versions of this rubber, yet still give it the same name, is frankly beyond me.) Build quality is excellent as always, but the topsheet has also gone 'full tacky' now, not just another semi tacky hybrid. The rxton3 black only lifts the ball momentarily, but with the blue I actually had to shake it to have it fall off! I tried this new rubber unboosted on one of my fastest off + all wood blades, with the blue version on the FH and a regular Rxton 3 black on my BH. Long story short, this new blue version is a beauty!! It's an absolute speed demon if you like spinny topspin drives, counter-hitting or full blooded fast forehand loops (which I do). IMO it is clearly both faster and spinner than the regular Battle 2 and H3 by a significant margin. Despite the hard sponge you still get a bit of a subtle catapult effect to the sponge...my H3 felt almost completely dead in comparison and the battle 2 (which I loved BTW) felt even worse. To get the best out of it, you need to hit hard with lots of blade speed and really engage the the sponge layer, but the rubber rewards you for doing so. The control I got at high speed was impressive - full-blooded drives still feel eminently controllable, and the enormous spin it generates (plus a lower than average throw angle) means that the ball stays very low and fast off the table with plenty of topspin kick... Maybe I imagined it, but the ball seemed to kick forwards at speed towards my opponent a lot more, rather than rise up off the table. Driving and smashing with this thing is extremely satisfying on a very deep level, being so hard it just refuses to bottom out. Serving, pushing and chop-pushing were pretty straight forward so it's short game doesn't suffer much. I don't block an awful lot so I can't comment there, but flat counter hits still have enough speed and control to be dangerous. I personally prefer the blue on FH but it is *almost* springy enough to work on BH IMO, assuming you like to hit hard there as well. After two weeks regular play the sponge has played in a bit, and the top sheet has lost a little tack, but otherwise it still performs brilliantly. If you like the B2, H3 or Mercury 2 for their spin and tackiness, and love full-blooded drives, loops and smashes, then this new blue Rxton 3 is really worth a try.