Modern Butterfly path forward for intermediate players

[Bubblebobble]

I wonder, which Butterly rubber is recommend, if you have mastered Butterfly Rozena, which is a wonderful rubber for beginners and early intermediates. But on some point you will miss the punch and speed with the Rozena and then you will want to move forward. I was never happy with Tenergy05, because of it’s very high catapult jumpyness, it makes it hard to control when blocking and in the short game. So I personally switched to other brands, searched my path forward by using Yasaka Rakza7, Tibhar Evolution MX-P, Gewo Nexxus Select 48 and finally I ended up using Victas V20 Extra.
But for many players Butterfly is the ultimate best brand. I am wondering, would you nowadays still recommend to go for Tenergy (05 or 19 or other) or would you completely skip Tenergy and directly go to Dignics (05 or 80). I have one time compared Dignics 80 with the Victas V20 Extra and have found the Victas better for me, this was in a time when I have never used one of this two rubbers before.
What are your recommendations, which path forward did you choose?

 

[piligrim]

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/which-rubber-to-choose-after-the-butterfly-rozena.33700/

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/what-rubber-should-i-consider-after-playing-with-rozena.38803/

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/advice-on-replacement-for-rozena.19336/

 

[Bubblebobble]

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/which-rubber-to-choose-after-the-butterfly-rozena.33700/

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/what-rubber-should-i-consider-after-playing-with-rozena.38803/

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/advice-on-replacement-for-rozena.19336/

Thanks for these threads, I have read them.

I would like to figure out, if nowadays, there is still any reason to step from Rozena to Tenergy. Or skip Tenergy, because it was not intended for the plastic ball. And go directly to Dignics.

 

[zeio]

The official Butterfly "upgrade" path is Rozena -> Glayzer -> Tenergy -> Dignics -> Zyre.

バタフライ2026カタログ
https://www.butterfly.co.jp/catalog/2026ss/#page=15

 

[piligrim]

Thanks for these threads, I have read them.

I would like to figure out, if nowadays, there is still any reason to step from Rozena to Tenergy. Or skip Tenergy, because it was not intended for the plastic ball. And go directly to Dignics.

Why create new thread with same subject if already exist 3 same threads

 

[jonol]

Very roughly speaking, I would play Rozena and then go to Tenergy 05/80/19 on a wood blade if you wanted more from it (imo, Rozena behaves closest to Tenergy 80 of the 3).

On a carbon blade I'd go with Glayzer then move to preference of Dignics 05/80 after a couple of years if you feel ready for it or if you are landing basically all your attacks and have extra in the tank to get more quality on them.

Glayzer feels pretty decent on my Clipper Wood, but a little bit dead. Blades with more automatic kick make it come alive more. Feels really nice on the FZD ALC for example - I think the ceiling for the Glayzer + most typical outer carbon blades is high enough for 99% of players.

 

[NextLevel]

The upgrade path is a path, ultimately what you need to get a feel for is how fast/powerfully you swing and then given that, what rubbers suit that swing speed and contact depth and then try out those rubbers. While as an EJ I have used a lot of rubbers, the most importabt thing ultimately is the time spent playing and training with the rubber.

When I started working with my new coach (who unlike me got significant training as a child and is significantly stronger than I am), he asked me what rubber I used and we both use the same rubber on different blades. And then he asked how I felt using it and we spoke about how rough the transition was initially but how now, it is so natural we just enjoy it even with some of the pains (I still need to train much more against no spin players).

My main point is that the most important thing is not the upgrade path but how fast you swing and whether your training hours let you get confidence with the rubber and its quirks given your instincts. All the major Butterfly rubbers from T05 to Z03 all appeal to largely the same kind of player with nuances here and there based on how you really like to score points or defend points. My playing level wouldn't change much with any of them, but how I feel and the shots I would attempt would be affected by each because they can make shots feel subtly different and make someone mlre confident playing a certain with one vs another on certain shot selection opportunities but not to the point where you are not the same player. Of course the blade matters as well, but ultimately, just pick whatever you want to commit to a use it. I know kids with offensive offensive styles who started playing after me (and are better players now) who still use T05. My last coach was on the Swedish national team hierarchy before retiring to face a regular job and he used T05 when he last played because he preferred the way came off his paddle to Dignics 05, even though he could clearly use either.

The main issue is using rubbers that are too hard to accommodate how you usually like to swing or too soft to let you maximize your swing speed and feeling. If that is a concern, try before you buy as much as possible. This is more important than some official Butterfly path.

 

[Bubblebobble]

Very roughly speaking, I would play Rozena and then go to Tenergy 05/80/19 on a wood blade if you wanted more from it (imo, Rozena behaves closest to Tenergy 80 of the 3).

On a carbon blade I'd go with Glayzer then move to preference of Dignics 05/80 after a couple of years if you feel ready for it or if you are landing basically all your attacks and have extra in the tank to get more quality on them.

Glayzer feels pretty decent on my Clipper Wood, but a little bit dead. Blades with more automatic kick make it come alive more. Feels really nice on the FZD ALC for example - I think the ceiling for the Glayzer + most typical outer carbon blades is high enough for 99% of players.

Thanks for your response. I was always afraid that Glayzer would be to slow, having just to less end speed, similar to the Rozena. Not because of own experience, just telling the values of the butterfly rubber matrix.

 

[Bubblebobble]

The upgrade path is a path, ultimately what you need to get a feel for is how fast/powerfully you swing and then given that, what rubbers suit that swing speed and contact depth and then try out those rubbers. While as an EJ I have used a lot of rubbers, the most importabt thing ultimately is the time spent playing and training with the rubber.

When I started working with my new coach (who unlike me got significant training as a child and is significantly stronger than I am), he asked me what rubber I used and we both use the same rubber on different blades. And then he asked how I felt using it and we spoke about how rough the transition was initially but how now, it is so natural we just enjoy it even with some of the pains (I still need to train much more against no spin players).

My main point is that the most important thing is not the upgrade path but how fast you swing and whether your training hours let you get confidence with the rubber and its quirks given your instincts. All the major Butterfly rubbers from T05 to Z03 all appeal to largely the same kind of player with nuances here and there based on how you really like to score points or defend points. My playing level wouldn't change much with any of them, but how I feel and the shots I would attempt would be affected by each because they can make shots feel subtly different and make someone mlre confident playing a certain with one vs another on certain shot selection opportunities but not to the point where you are not the same player. Of course the blade matters as well, but ultimately, just pick whatever you want to commit to a use it. I know kids with offensive offensive styles who started playing after me (and are better players now) who still use T05. My last coach was on the Swedish national team hierarchy before retiring to face a regular job and he used T05 when he last played because he preferred the way came off his paddle to Dignics 05, even though he could clearly use either.

The main issue is using rubbers that are too hard to accommodate how you usually like to swing or too soft to let you maximize your swing speed and feeling. If that is a concern, try before you buy as much as possible. This is more important than some official Butterfly path.

I am totally understanding your general statement, that everything ist relative and depends on the player and feeling and training. And I can see the similar facts in my surrounding. Man people use T05, because they have used it for decades. And the same people recommend this rubber to their fellows. And here my question comes in. Would these people nowadays really recommend to use T05, if they would not have used it for decades?

 

[Bubblebobble]

Why create new thread with same subject if already exist 3 same threads

I think my question wants to point out a different thing. And I am always a little bit afraid to hijack threads of other people.

 

[NextLevel]

I am totally understanding your general statement, that everything ist relative and depends on the player and feeling and training. And I can see the similar facts in my surrounding. Man people use T05, because they have used it for decades. And the same people recommend this rubber to their fellows. And here my question comes in. Would these people nowadays really recommend to use T05, if they would not have used it for decades?

Using it for decades leads to a style and ball feeling. But some people do switch because after trying the new ball, they think they prefer what Dignics or Zyre does. Conversely some people don't because they don't see the point. There is definitely a benefit to using what players and coaches around you use because it helps you understand how they play better and vice versa. Regardless, the training hours spent with the rubber are the most important thing as well as your swing speed.