New Butterfly Rubber: Proudo44 P.I. (프라우드44 P.I.)

[doppelmoral]

I was browsing around on a few Korean websites, and found this. A new rubber from Butterfly, called "Proudo44 P.I.".
Apparently, this was created for the large ball. In this case, the "large ball" does not refer to the typical 40mm ball (2.7g), but to a 44mm ball (2.4g). These larger balls are thinner and also slower, so the idea behind it is that it will be easier for beginners to play and rally. I have seen Butterfly and Nittaku producing these 44mm balls.

Back to the rubber, the Proudo44 P.I is supposed to have the springe sponge technology with a hardness of 28 (on the Butterfly scale). It supposed to be very light and supports easier access to spin for both 40mm and 44mm balls. According to Butterfly's explanation, this is a key point, since the usual harder rubber that are popular nowadays do not harmonize well with the 44mm balls. So beginners can just use Proudo44 P.I. and swap back and forth between 40mm and 44mm balls without a problem.

Some stats (assuming play with the 44mm ball):
- Speed: 65
- Spin: 66
- Arc: 65
- Thickness: 2,1mm
- Price: 70000 Won (this is currently 46€ or 48$)

I attached some pictures as well.

Cheers

 

[Kopp]

Interesting!

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

It is good to see Tamasu Co. Ltd is targeting the kiddie pool. Getting them hook on spring sponge early is a good business decision.

 

[Scarfed Garchomp]

They'll probably only sell it in Japan and Korea, the only two regions that have any major interest in 44mm ball game. Its impossible to find any largeball specific equipment in the US because no one plays it here. I also doubt that 9 out of 10 clubgoers in the US even know about the 44mm ball. There is a whole smorgasbord of gear designed just for the largeball game but its essentially impossible to find outside of Japan in particular. Tt-Japan has a lot of 44/LB equipment which I have been wanting to try for a long time. Interesting that Proudo44PI is inverted because largeball game is normally played with short pips

 

[Lazer]

Never seen anyone use this in my country. I know some people are using special outdoors equipment but that’s it…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[igorponger]

Smooth topsheet is an outlaw to play with 44 mm balls. Just refer to the Japan Law Booklet.