My Personal Guide to Rubbers on Aliexpress

[Lazer]

I can see it as a fun diversion for people who already largely know what works for them, or people with money to burn and nothing better to do, or pros looking for that tiny extra edge. But I see threads here and elsewhere where people ask which rubbers to use for this or that specific purpose and they get 2 dozen different answers. It all leads to the confusing impression that equipment is the most important thing but there's no agreement on what's best and trying numerous rubbers is the only way to advance.

In ignorance,

Desertman

That should tell you there is no absolute right or wrong answers…

L-zr

 

[Grumms]

I can see it as a fun diversion for people who already largely know what works for them, or people with money to burn and nothing better to do, or pros looking for that tiny extra edge. But I see threads here and elsewhere where people ask which rubbers to use for this or that specific purpose and they get 2 dozen different answers. It all leads to the confusing impression that equipment is the most important thing but there's no agreement on what's best and trying numerous rubbers is the only way to advance.

In ignorance,

Desertman

Your W968 is worth 3 times everything I bought for my tests. I'm not sure I'm the one with money to burn.

Curiosity is what drove me, and my tests might prove useful for my club mates. I'll probably end up leaving my rackets there for people to try them.

 

[desertman]

Your W968 is worth 3 times everything I bought for my tests. I'm not sure I'm the one with money to burn.

Curiosity is what drove me, and my tests might prove useful for my club mates. I'll probably end up leaving my rackets there for people to try them.

Oh yeah, about that W968. I should probably change that but I don't see how. When I signed up it required me to put something and I just chose whatever I saw on the first post I looked at. I have no idea what a W968 even is, but I'm pretty sure I don't have one.

In ignorance,

Desertman

 

[JJ Ng]

Here is my opinion. My honest opinion.

I tried so many things on Aliexpress. I do not like Yinhe blades at all. I got 4 and none of them has rubbers on them so you don't I don't like it.

My Gambler blades suite me just fine.

I tried various cheap alternatives on Aliexpress: AK47 blue, Big Dipper (two sheets with two different sets of hardness), CJ something, Rxton 3 pink, etc. etc. None of them can replace either hurricane for my forehand or ESN rubber (like Fastarc C-1 or Xiom Vega Japan/Asia) for my backhand.

In other words, my exploration into Aliexpress has been a waste of money. But at least I know what I like.

So been there, done that. Not experimenting anymore for me.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Here is my opinion. My honest opinion.

I tried so many things on Aliexpress. I do not like Yinhe blades at all. I got 4 and none of them has rubbers on them so you don't I don't like it.

My Gambler blades suite me just fine.

I tried various cheap alternatives on Aliexpress: AK47 blue, Big Dipper (two sheets with two different sets of hardness), CJ something, Rxton 3 pink, etc. etc. None of them can replace either hurricane for my forehand or ESN rubber (like Fastarc C-1 or Xiom Vega Japan/Asia) for my backhand.

In other words, my exploration into Aliexpress has been a waste of money. But at least I know what I like.

So been there, done that. Not experimenting anymore for me.

That's too bad. I really like AK47, Big Dipper, Rxton Pink

 

[Grumms]

Here is my opinion. My honest opinion.

I tried so many things on Aliexpress. I do not like Yinhe blades at all. I got 4 and none of them has rubbers on them so you don't I don't like it.

My Gambler blades suite me just fine.

I tried various cheap alternatives on Aliexpress: AK47 blue, Big Dipper (two sheets with two different sets of hardness), CJ something, Rxton 3 pink, etc. etc. None of them can replace either hurricane for my forehand or ESN rubber (like Fastarc C-1 or Xiom Vega Japan/Asia) for my backhand.

In other words, my exploration into Aliexpress has been a waste of money. But at least I know what I like.

So been there, done that. Not experimenting anymore for me.

I will enjoy the discovery, the test process, and the probable disappointing conclusion. I'm already with a very very nice setup, and I don't expect any of those rubber to replace it permanently.

I'm a little more enthusiastic with the blades, I'm really eager to test them. And in order to prevent me from highjacking this thread, maybe you would be interested in a dedicated one?

 

[desertman]

Tell me there isn't really an AK47 rubber...

 

[TensorBackhand]

Tell me there isn't really an AK47 rubber...

why not? Sounds better than rubber HK1997.

Personally I think Blue Whale and Shark are cool rubber names.

 

[desertman]

Personally I think Blue Whale and Shark are cool rubber names.

Much better than a killing machine

 

[Grumms]

I received the 802-40. I measured the hardness with my durometer and I find... 55°, which seems quite high. I might not use it properly but I can't figure what I'm doing wrong. User manual say to put the Durometer gently on the rubber, but if I do so, I measure nothing, and I have to push hard enough for the bottom plate to touch the foam.

Edit : I think I bought the wrong type of Durometer (Shure C), being mislead by the Amazon description. I'm ordering a Shure A that I will receive tomorrow.

 

[Grumms]

I received half of what I ordered. Here are my hardness measurements (Shure C Durometer, 6-10 measurement points on each rubber, all measured the same way). You'll be surprised :
Yinhe Big Dipper 38 : 47°
AK47 Yellow : 42°
Presto Max Speed : 41°
Loki Rxton 5 : 42°

My 2 Gewo EL Nexxus 43 are 38° (but they are far from new).

About the blades, after sealant application :
Stuor Long 5 : 87gr
Stuor Zhang Jike : 84gr
Yinhe MC-4 : 91gr
729 KLC Rosewood : 92gr

I tried the following setup yesterday => Stuor Long 5 + FH:Big Dipper + BH:Gewo Nexxus 43

The first thing I noticed is the amazing control of the blade. I was already satisfied with my usual Dicon, but the Stuor is above. The downside is that I lose the amazing touch and feeling I have with the Dicon. Every stroke feel stiffer, "dryer", probably because of the carbon.

It's my first try of a chinese and sticky rubber, and it's a very weird feeling. I almost don't feel the ball. Moreover, there was a big inconsistancy from the rubber response depending on where I was hitting, like if I did not glue it right. I removed the rubber after my training to glue it again for tomorrow, just to check. Anyway, I played well. It took me some time to get used to the stiffness and dryness, but it went well. Biggest difference is in FH, in the short play and the counterloops (for which I'm far from a specialist). Flicks were almost consistant. I'm eager to test that against stronger opponents.

 

[Grumms]

Friendship Bloom Power - Bought for $11, but price has risen to $17 now. This is my favorite rubber and has great speed and great spin, but also feels controlled. It is very tacky, and can pick up a ball for a few moments. Unlike many Chinese rubbers, this does not have that dead feeling, and it is bouncy and fast. While being fast, it still feels like a Chinese rubber. It doesn’t suffer at all in the short game. Also, the purple sponge looks very nice. Overall, outstanding rubber that I cannot praise enough. [/p

Did you boost it ? I tried the 45° Bloom Power. Measured hardness is... 57,5°. And I never played a rubber with such a dead feeling. I vastly prefer the Big Dipper. Bloom Power is hardly playable as it is, and I'll probably try to boost it.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Did you boost it ? I tried the 45° Bloom Power. Measured hardness is... 57,5°. And I never played a rubber with such a dead feeling. I vastly prefer the Big Dipper. Bloom Power is hardly playable as it is, and I'll probably try to boost it.

I played it unboosted at first and loved it. Later i added booster, but didnt change much

 

[Grumms]

On which blade did you use it ? I played with the Stuor Harimoto. Please note that, just by seeing the ball bouncing on the rubber, one of my teammate joked about how it seemed dead.

Our opposite feelings with this rubber is confusing, and I wonder if it's because of :
- quality control issues
- difference of habits with rubbers
- difference of glue (I used sueke n°2)

What's your playing style ? I'm a blocker at the table, and rarely go top spin with my FH.

 

[TensorBackhand]

On which blade did you use it ? I played with the Stuor Harimoto. Please note that, just by seeing the ball bouncing on the rubber, one of my teammate joked about how it seemed dead.

Our opposite feelings with this rubber is confusing, and I wonder if it's because of :
- quality control issues
- difference of habits with rubbers
- difference of glue (I used sueke n°2)

What's your playing style ? I'm a blocker at the table, and rarely go top spin with my FH.

Umm, well this is really a FH looping rubber. If you never do a fh loop, maybe this isn't the rubber for you.

 

[Grumms]

Yeah, that's probably the case. And I totally understand the difference of benefits it can have to you or me. Nevertheless, I wonder how, for you, "this does not have that dead feeling", whereas, for me, it's the most dead rubber of all the rubbers I ordered from AliExpress.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Yeah, that's probably the case. And I totally understand the difference of benefits it can have to you or me. Nevertheless, I wonder how, for you, "this does not have that dead feeling", whereas, for me, it's the most dead rubber of all the rubbers I ordered from AliExpress.

Well it is quite tacky. If you dont hit at all, it may stick to the rubber.

But definitely not dead, its very alive.