Loki RXTON 9 new sponge.

[Haito]

I did thr switch as mentioned above and tried it out for a bit. The Rxton 7 really feels more like a ESN-ized Chinese rubber, like how ESN hybrids feel like sinicized tensors. In that respect it's a lot like the LAC, except softer and a bit more like a Chinese rubber.

In contrast, the Rxton 9 series feel much more like pure Chinese rubbers, with the new OS version closer to a Hurricane feel than the old BS version. The new OS version has this really incredible catch and hold feeling when doing a more brushing counter. It's really something that even Hurricanes can't seem to match. When driving through the sponge it does feel different though, as it's a bit easier to hit into but doesn't continue to have that insane hold and release feeling of a BS hurricane. The old BS Rxton 9 doesn't quite have the dwell on either brush nor drive loops.

Overall, I just feel the new Rxton 9 is more special, it's really a fairly unique rubber. Very tacky, incredible dwell on brush counters which happen often on the BH side, and a bit more direct and easier to hit into than Hurricanes when driving which is more suitable for the BH than the FH at least with the way I play. I think it lends to a WCQ style BH. You know how when he gets into a BH rally his BH looks more brushy and doesn't typically have the cracking sound that most other people do? I think that's what this rubber will excel at.

So in the end, I'm gonna slap the Rxton 9 back on my S968, and I'm gonna stick to it for now regardless of results. I'm committing to a long term evaluation of it.

I am really mad at myself that I did not buy the R7 from @barusu at the Dusseldorf meetup. I have no more time for EJing, I ordered 5 sheets of R9, should last me till next year.

I played about 20hrs with the rubbers. All time they performed amazing. The top sheet has not a single sign of usage.

 

[dingyibvs]

I am really mad at myself that I did not buy the R7 from @barusu at the Dusseldorf meetup. I have no more time for EJing, I ordered 5 sheets of R9, should last me till next year.

I played about 20hrs with the rubbers. All time they performed amazing. The top sheet has not a single sign of usage.

Rxton 7 is definitely interesting, it's easier to use than the Rxton 9, has a more ESN feel but is still a very tacky rubber that's pretty linear. I think if you find the R9 or H3 too Chinese, the R7 might be a good choice for something more familiar.

So I glued the R9 back on my primary blade, and it feels great. Basically an easier to use H3 38 OS, and I'm very satisfied with it. By regluing it I found another similarity between it and H3 OS. It forms a reverse dome very, very rapidly. It's only been a week since I boosted it, but after taking it off it's already heavily reverse domed. The playing quality didn't change, but thought that was interesting. H3 OS does that as well, it really reverse domes when you take it off the blade. H3 BS doesn't though, it only forms a minor reverse dome. Of note, Rxton 9 BS doesn't reverse dome much either.

So now that I'm settled on the Rxton 9, I think I'll order a few more sheets. I'll probably order a black OS and a black BS (Neo) 40.5 as well just to play around with. It's hard to see myself going away from the H3 considering I've been using it for 2+ years now, but DHS's poor QC is really annoying the crap out of me so it's at least making me look.

 

[Archosaurus]

Can confirm the dome behavior is same for non-Neo as well, and I haven't noticed it affecting the play characteristics of H3 either. I'm not sensitive to speed though, so it could be 5% slower for all I know LOL.

 

[DBsystem78]

My 37’5 red is in boosting mode will try it monday night at practice will tell you more on tuesday how it play ( blade is w81 inner sadc) will be use on backhand of course ( rxton 9 bs 39 on forehand)

I will be able to compare it to big dipper v and rxton 7 37

 

[DBsystem78]

After testing for few hours the orange sponge Rxton 9 37.5 seems a slightly more powerfull Rxton 7 37 , i feel the potential is better , it has more spin / speed / blocking feels more stable and control about the same.

Compared to big dipper v it does everything better except the free speed as big dipper v has a little tensor effect that I don't feel in the Rxton 9 OS

This new rxton 9 37.5 will be my new backhand rubber for this season as the potential is very interesting with proper technique.

I boosted the 3 rubber with only 1 layer of seamoon regular , that is enough for my skill as i like to keep control

 

[Haito]

This new rxton 9 37.5 will be my new backhand rubber for this season as the potential is very interesting with proper technique.

I boosted the 3 rubber with only 1 layer of seamoon regular , that is enough for my skill as i like to keep control

Oh, when u hit it right it slaps. Worth trying to exercise to get it consistent.

 

[DBsystem78]

Oh, when u hit it right it slaps. Worth trying to exercise to get it consistent.

I can feel the reserve of power is there just a bit more than the rxton 7 when you hit it right its just beautiful , rxton 7 is more easy to use I think though

 

[Haito]

Update of how rubber look like after 50hrs or so.
I did not manage to get the Black one 100% clean of dirt near where the thumb rests, but I do not particularly care about that area. The hitting are needs to get cleaned regularly, but it stays quite good. C53 or Jekyll C55 would already have a wear spot by this time.

 

[Haito]

Mine 39 with metric ton of booster came to about 52g. Pardon the gluejob it looks bad on the picture.View attachment 43338View attachment 43337

My AI was analyzing this thread, and I realised I am an idiot who cannot do math. The weight of the 39 comes to 42g, not 52g. 74 of the rubber - 32g of the off cut, comes down to 42g.

Which is impossible... The whole weighing must be messed up ://

 

[Mumon]

I have recieved the rubbers from Loki: 2x Rxton 9 neo black blue sponge 40,5 and 2x New Rxton 9 red 37,5
the ones I glued are as follows:

Which measured at 57deg hardness shore0 and:

which measured at 53deg hardness shore0.

Both came vacuum sealed. The blue sponge had a thin glue layer on it like the H3 neo, the orange one didn´t. They smell incredibly similar to new hurricane 3 neos...
I mounted these to a 92g W968 with two layers DHS No15 to each rubber and one layer to each blade side.

The setup came out to weigh 199,2g which is quite heavy.
As previously mentioned, I was talking to LOKI while ordering and they´ve assured me, I wouldn´t need to boost these rubbers...
After measuring and doing a bounce test with the plastic film removed, i have my doubts but we will see.
I also found that the hardness and subsequently the weight does not quite match the ones given on the package. I will know more, when I test the other two sheets.

Testing: Since I have a month break in our current season, on Mon I will have a multiball session with this racket and test its capabilities. If it is playable I will test it some more on tue when I have high level match practise. If its not playable I will disasemble it and boost each side with two layers of haifu nat black and go back to testing on tue.
This is it for today.

peace

 

[DBsystem78]

First competition Yesterday with the Rxton 9 orange sponge 37,5 backhand, amazing feeling very stable, it does everything I want (block / loop / powerfull attack / service) so far a very good rubber, little bit more power than the Rxton7 37.

I boosted it with 1 layer of regular Seamoon

 

[Haito]

This rubber in fact does curl. It just took 6 layers of Kailin to curl.

 

[Archosaurus]

This rubber in fact does curl. It just took 6 layers of Kailin to curl.

How thick is it now? 6mm? lol...

 

[Haito]

How thick is it now? 6mm? lol...

3.93mm

 

[Haito]

I think just Kailin does not have as high "efficiency" as national oils. I wonder how much Seamoon it would take...

 

[Archosaurus]

I think just Kailin does not have as high "efficiency" as national oils. I wonder how much Seamoon it would take...

Seamoon is pretty comparable to National versions IME.
You will still need 2 layers to get any real curl, be it with Seamoon or with National.
The National ones will give the slightest bit of dome with 1 layer, while Seamoon barely does.

 

[Grumms]

So, any test of the Rxton 9 Neo ? I have one sheet but I won't test it before December.

 

[Mumon]

I have recieved the rubbers from Loki: 2x Rxton 9 neo black blue sponge 40,5 and 2x New Rxton 9 red 37,5
the ones I glued are as follows:
View attachment 43759View attachment 43760

Which measured at 57deg hardness shore0 and:

View attachment 43761
View attachment 43762

which measured at 53deg hardness shore0.

Both came vacuum sealed. The blue sponge had a thin glue layer on it like the H3 neo, the orange one didn´t. They smell incredibly similar to new hurricane 3 neos...
I mounted these to a 92g W968 with two layers DHS No15 to each rubber and one layer to each blade side.
View attachment 43763

The setup came out to weigh 199,2g which is quite heavy.
As previously mentioned, I was talking to LOKI while ordering and they´ve assured me, I wouldn´t need to boost these rubbers...
After measuring and doing a bounce test with the plastic film removed, i have my doubts but we will see.
I also found that the hardness and subsequently the weight does not quite match the ones given on the package. I will know more, when I test the other two sheets.

Testing: Since I have a month break in our current season, on Mon I will have a multiball session with this racket and test its capabilities. If it is playable I will test it some more on tue when I have high level match practise. If its not playable I will disasemble it and boost each side with two layers of haifu nat black and go back to testing on tue.
This is it for today.

peace

I have concluded my first session with the setup and funny enough the rubbers are indeed playable without boosting, however not to a degree that is satisfactory to me. The red one is quite difficult to activate on a blade that´s not really designed for backhand. The Neo on the Forehand however is actually fully playable in every situation, just lacks that highend punch and sometimes drops if your position to the ball is not perfect. Spin generation is alsmost identical if not better than my current sheet of h3 neo nat.
Conclusion: The rubbers will be boosted with two layers of Haifu Black and tested again tmrw.

peace

 

[Archosaurus]

I have concluded my first session with the setup and funny enough the rubbers are indeed playable without boosting, however not to a degree that is satisfactory to me. The red one is quite difficult to activate on a blade that´s not really designed for backhand. The Neo on the Forehand however is actually fully playable in every situation, just lacks that highend punch and sometimes drops if your position to the ball is not perfect. Spin generation is alsmost identical if not better than my current sheet of h3 neo nat.
Conclusion: The rubbers will be boosted with two layers of Haifu Black and tested again tmrw.

peace

What's the shot quality like in the highest quality shots? You said it lacks punch, which would describe a lot of the H3 replacements I've tried.

 

[Mumon]

What's the shot quality like in the highest quality shots? You said it lacks punch, which would describe a lot of the H3 replacements I've tried.

The arc and second bounce are lethal, but speed is average. Even on full swing counters to open-ups it lacks tempo.