2021 seems to provide a few very interesting new rubbers other than all the hybrids after all.
TIBHAR Evolution MX-D should by all means appear as a fixed star on many forehands when the halls re-open and the leagues are in full swing again.
And andro presents Rasanter R45, a rubber to provide new options for many players on backhand particularly, but not necessarily only there.
I am no professional player, but most my training partners are, means they consider me good enough for sparring and the quality of their game lets me shine a little, too. What you read in the following combines impressions from different skill levels up to Bundesliga in Germany.
At the end of 2 days of intensive testing, I arrived at a surprising conclusion: this new rubber is able to fit the needs of three different types of players.
Players who use soft rubbers (around 42,5 degree sponge hardness), but want more power
Players who use medium rubbers (aorund 45 degrees), but always miss „something“ while it´s hard to pin down what that „something“ is
Players who use medium/hard rubbers (around the 47,5 degree mark) who are looking for more control without sacrifing too much power
R45 vs. soft rubbers
I am no expert for soft rubbers, most of them just feel to mushy overall. I know only one 42,5 degree rubber that I really like, and I prefer a Tibhar Evolution FX-P to all the others I know, just because it feels more compact.
R45 is of course harder, but I am sure most players could handle that as the next step. It offers more power and more spin than its close relative R42, which has an identical top sheet.
R45 vs. other "around 45 degree" rubbers
With andro´s new ENERGY CELL sponge, the rubbers feel softer than you´d expect especially on topspin, not softer overall. An R53 does not play like a 50 degree rubber, an R48 does not play like a 45 degree rubber (if somebody could pin down what „a“ 45 degree rubber is, given that there are so many).
I can best compare R45 to two TIBHAR rubbers (Aurus Select and EL-S) and Hexer Grip.
I like Aurus Prime, but Aurus Select always felt just „nice“, for lack of better word. It does everything, nothing too well, nothing really bad. R45 has way more punch and spin than that, and I´d say it also outclasses EL-S in terms of spin. It is more linear than the latter, which i soften described as giving too much catapult after the first topspin in open rallyes. R45 is stable. As for spin, I think it also out-performs t05fx.
You would expect R45 to be superior to Hexer Grip in terms of spin and speed, and it is. But where would you benefit most? Actually, where you probably don´t dare to go too often with a medium rubber, away from the table.
With Hexer Grip, you´d loop from way down with an open rubber, to put balls on the table, yet not very dangerous balls. With R45 you can still put pressure on your opponent with power spins. There are boundaries of course, but the range most of us mere mortals have is well covered.
R45 vs. harder rubbers
I felt the biggest surprise when comparing R45 to its bigger siblings R47 and R48, as well as a Rhyzer 2.0 (R45 ultramax).
The overall balance of its properties makes R45 a real alternative for this segment, too – if you are looking to gain some control while not loosing too much performance.
Maybe if you play with a 47,5 degree rubber with stiff topsheet you´ll play a few strokes and say „too soft“. One of my training partners said that non-surprisingly, coming from R53. But another, who normally uses Friendship Battle 2, would prefer R45 to R48, and she tested on blades that are not too far apart.
If you play with a rubber that has a soft topsheet you may find that R45 is a great alternative.
I am as surprised as convinced and do not regret testing this rubber. It´s a keeper.
