What Are Hybrid Table Tennis Rubbers and Why Are They So Popular Nowadays?

[victormanriquey]

If you prefer a lighter, more tensor-like feel with easy rebound, I would recommend the Target National.

If you’re looking for the power and heavy spin you get from really engaging your swing, more like a hybrid rubber, then I’d recommend the Volant Phoenix.

I still need to test target national but you would put target national in tensor hybrid @yodachi ? or more like pure hybrid with tensor taste?

 

[Archosaurus]

The Target Special Soft and Target Provincial I've used just feel like Chinese rubbers. Maybe something like Battle 2, slightly softer.

 

[victormanriquey]

The Target Special Soft and Target Provincial I've used just feel like Chinese rubbers. Maybe something like Battle 2, slightly softer.

Cool i ll check thanks! im planning on making a post somewhen soonish to talk about H3N alternatives in depth, and B2 and Target national are of course gonna be in there

 

[Archosaurus]

Cool i ll check thanks! im planning on making a post somewhen soonish to talk about H3N alternatives in depth, and B2 and Target national are of course gonna be in there

The best alternative for orange sponge is probably Loki Arthur China, and 729 Battle 3 for blue sponge.

LAC especially is pretty close to a commercial H3 and I've kept it in my drawer and I probably won't give it out.

 

[victormanriquey]

The best alternative for orange sponge is probably Loki Arthur China, and 729 Battle 3 for blue sponge.

LAC especially is pretty close to a commercial H3 and I've kept it in my drawer and I probably won't give it out.

I tested the LAC extensively 1.5y ago or so and indeed I found that when boosted it was similar to D09c, so also similar to H3N, but not sure yet if it is the best alternative. I really liked the Charged and dynamic of joola in this department as well. B3 I havent tested but will check it out one day

 

[Archosaurus]

I tested the LAC extensively 1.5y ago or so and indeed I found that when boosted it was similar to D09c, so also similar to H3N, but not sure yet if it is the best alternative. I really liked the Charged and dynamic of joola in this department as well. B3 I havent tested but will check it out one day

Best for me just means it needs the least adjustment and feels the most similar. It's not similar in performance in the higher power strokes.

Supposedly Dianchi D may be. I found Battle 3 very spinny as well. It measures quite hard, 55-56.

 

[jkugin]

Yes ofc just ask anything! Rakza Z is for me one of the perfect pure hybrid examples, fairly sticky when compared with other tensor hybrids, lasts a long time, and is very linear, for me one of the best pure hybrids for amateurs, still up to today

Thanks for the reply. Do you know of any Japanese or European hybrids that have less of a "catapult effect" than the Rakza Z? Coming from Chinese rubbers, it still feels like it has too much kick for me; if I swing just a little too hard, the ball flies way too far.

 

[euphrate]

If you prefer a lighter, more tensor-like feel with easy rebound, I would recommend the Target National.

If you’re looking for the power and heavy spin you get from really engaging your swing, more like a hybrid rubber, then I’d recommend the Volant Phoenix.

Oke thank you

 

[yodachi]

There’s a common perception that Chinese rubbers produce a lot of spin, but in reality, that might be more of a myth than anything else. Many Chinese rubbers don’t match modern hybrid rubbers in terms of spin, and they can also be more difficult to use. They are also clearly inferior when it comes to speed and rebound.

The Target National can feel a little lacking in spin, and it can slip when you make light contact with the ball. However, its speed and rebound are quite good for the price, especially when compared with hybrid rubbers.

The Double Fish rubbers offer excellent value for money and are more focused on spin. When you really hit through the ball, they can still produce plenty of speed.

 

[victormanriquey]

There’s a common perception that Chinese rubbers produce a lot of spin, but in reality, that might be more of a myth than anything else. Many Chinese rubbers don’t match modern hybrid rubbers in terms of spin, and they can also be more difficult to use. They are also clearly inferior when it comes to speed and rebound.

The Target National can feel a little lacking in spin, and it can slip when you make light contact with the ball. However, its speed and rebound are quite good for the price, especially when compared with hybrid rubbers.

The Double Fish rubbers offer excellent value for money and are more focused on spin. When you really hit through the ball, they can still produce plenty of speed.

Yes this can be true specially if you compare something like Rxton 5 with a (good) modern hybrid, I guess it just depends on the comparison, for me H3N boosted can still produce more spin than anything else, followed closely by the top notch hybrids (D09c and the likes), but H3N is tough to use, you need booster, degrades in performance after a little bit, etc. Its really a choice of tradeoffs, so every player can decide do where they want to win and where to let go

 

[victormanriquey]

Thanks for the reply. Do you know of any Japanese or European hybrids that have less of a "catapult effect" than the Rakza Z? Coming from Chinese rubbers, it still feels like it has too much kick for me; if I swing just a little too hard, the ball flies way too far.

This one is tough @jkugin because rakza Z is on its own quite slow and linear, so most of other hybrids have more tempo than it. Perhaps then you can look at chinese hybrids like 8-80 or similar

From the non-chinese hybrids I have tried, they all have a bit more bounce in most scenarios (except perhaps on low gear).

Maybe its a blade thingie, what blade do you use? And also, do you do 2.0 or max? 2.0 helps also to control it. And last question, why not consider chinese hybrids?

 

[jkugin]

This one is tough @jkugin because rakza Z is on its own quite slow and linear, so most of other hybrids have more tempo than it. Perhaps then you can look at chinese hybrids like 8-80 or similar

From the non-chinese hybrids I have tried, they all have a bit more bounce in most scenarios (except perhaps on low gear).

Maybe its a blade thingie, what blade do you use? And also, do you do 2.0 or max? 2.0 helps also to control it. And last question, why not consider chinese hybrids?

My idea was actually *not* to use Chinese rubbers. I played with 729 Origin for a long time. Then, a year ago, I put Yasaka Bolo Dragon on a Yasaka Extra Offensive blade. In the spring, I ordered a custom seven-ply blade and fitted it with Rakza Z (Max thickness). I’m still struggling to get used to it. Maybe the issue isn't the catapult effect itself, but the high throw angle—or perhaps the catapult kicks in too early. I'm still weighing my options.
One other detail added to my doubts: I was given a very old sheet of Dignics 09C, and on my blade, it isn't as fast as the Rakza. I also tried Stiga Helix 55, and that felt a bit slower too.
Thanks for the suggestion about reducing the thickness; somehow, I had overlooked that possibility. I play with a custom all-wood seven-ply blade featuring a hard outer layer of Makore.

 

[Archosaurus]

There’s a common perception that Chinese rubbers produce a lot of spin, but in reality, that might be more of a myth than anything else. Many Chinese rubbers don’t match modern hybrid rubbers in terms of spin, and they can also be more difficult to use. They are also clearly inferior when it comes to speed and rebound.

The Target National can feel a little lacking in spin, and it can slip when you make light contact with the ball. However, its speed and rebound are quite good for the price, especially when compared with hybrid rubbers.

The Double Fish rubbers offer excellent value for money and are more focused on spin. When you really hit through the ball, they can still produce plenty of speed.

It's really not a complicated function. The parameters are topsheet adhesion force, topsheet coefficient of friction slope in regards to load, sponge deflection compared to normal force. There's some stuff having to do with topsheet flexibility and pimple shear stiffness etc. but those are just details IMO and kinda scale with the topsheet stiffness.

Chinese rubbers have high adhesion, a mediocre-high coefficient of friction that doesn't reduce very much from load and the maximal sponge deflection happens at a high normal force. So they're spinny in brushed shots, spinny in strong shots, but quite mediocre in passive rallying shots.

"Euro" or "Japanese" rubbers have little or no adhesion, a high coefficient of friction that reduces more sharply from load and the maximal sponge deflection happens at a lower normal force. Their sponges are also more progressive.
They will be still quite spinny in brushed shots due to the high amount of sponge deflection, not as spinny in strong shots unless the sponge is extremely progressive (Tenergy, Dignics, maybe stuff like NUZN) and generally more spinny in passive rallying shots.

You can probably estimate that if a rubber is more durable it has a lower coefficient of friction baseline, but sometimes you get both due to advancements in the technology. I'm sure modern hybrids have objectively more base friction than even the best Chinese rubbers, but their load sensitivity is probably worse as it tends to be in softer compounds. EDIT: Or you know you can just measure this and find that they're objectively worse at high load EXCEPT during the first hour or two where they're very good.

 

[ZSQ]

Good blog, Victor,
I’ve also been looking for rubbers that better suit my style recently. Your blog is very helpful.
I’d like to know what you think of the setup Viscaria + Glayzer 09C (FH) + Glayzer (BH). Can the Viscaria make up for the Glayzer 09C’s lack of speed? Due to personal preference, I probably won’t use boosters.

 

[victormanriquey]

My idea was actually *not* to use Chinese rubbers. I played with 729 Origin for a long time. Then, a year ago, I put Yasaka Bolo Dragon on a Yasaka Extra Offensive blade. In the spring, I ordered a custom seven-ply blade and fitted it with Rakza Z (Max thickness). I’m still struggling to get used to it. Maybe the issue isn't the catapult effect itself, but the high throw angle—or perhaps the catapult kicks in too early. I'm still weighing my options.
One other detail added to my doubts: I was given a very old sheet of Dignics 09C, and on my blade, it isn't as fast as the Rakza. I also tried Stiga Helix 55, and that felt a bit slower too.
Thanks for the suggestion about reducing the thickness; somehow, I had overlooked that possibility. I play with a custom all-wood seven-ply blade featuring a hard outer layer of Makore.

Custom blade, nice @jkugin ❤️

Right so from waht you say, it is very plausible that coming from chinese rubbers, the throw angle + the max is the issue, I play with rakza z often too, and i dont like max, but i love 2.0, the trick is to play much more forward, and not so much upwards, so you can be more aggresive, but takes time to get used to, same as with dignics 09c

Btw, speaking on D09c, it is much faster than rakza z and has much more catapult, but only on the higher gears, initially in the lower gear is similar controlled, specially on the 1.9mm. So if you hit harder or receive a hard power loop, you will feel the difference!

Also last thought: makore is a hard wood so i would not put a very hard rubber on it, hard on hard usually has too much rebound and low dwell, but ofc it depends on how the rest of the blade is made, it can have a harder outer but a much softer rest, so that would change my thoughts.

So maybe try rakza z 2.0 and play more forward, or we can see together other options

Ps. Helix 55 should be pretty fast as its a tensor, or did you try the hybrid helix?

 

[victormanriquey]

Good blog, Victor,
I’ve also been looking for rubbers that better suit my style recently. Your blog is very helpful.
I’d like to know what you think of the setup Viscaria + Glayzer 09C (FH) + Glayzer (BH). Can the Viscaria make up for the Glayzer 09C’s lack of speed? Due to personal preference, I probably won’t use boosters.

Thanks @ZSQ !

As always it depends on maaany factors, your level, gear taste, gear history, your technique, etc

So its hard to say without knowing more, but sure, in theory a viscaria can certainly compensate for the slow tempo of glayzer 09c and it wil also tame the blade a bit. No need to use boosters here indeed.

But the more important question is what your game needs right now and what you want to achieve, if you start there first, choosing the right gear is easier

Let me know and I can see if I can give some initial orientation thoughts!

 

[merlin el mago]

I'm using NUZN 50 so now I understand the popularity of hybrid rubbers: you can smash with a very good control (here I'm very surprised because I associate sticky Chinese rubbers aren't good to smash), you can spin with a lot of power no loosing control of course no problem looping backspin, very good short game, very good serves, all due to the stickiness of the rubber.

Before I tried D09C but didn't liked the feeling because was very hard for me no matter the blade used.

H3 and Chinese rubbers in general aren't good to smash but smash, counters & serves are a very important skills of my game.

 

[victormanriquey]

I'm using NUZN 50 so now I understand the popularity of hybrid rubbers: you can smash with a very good control (here I'm very surprised because I associate sticky Chinese rubbers aren't good to smash), you can spin with a lot of power no loosing control of course no problem looping backspin, very good short game, very good serves, all due to the stickiness of the rubber.

Before I tried D09C but didn't liked the feeling because was very hard for me no matter the blade used.

H3 and Chinese rubbers in general aren't good to smash but smash, counters & serves are a very important skills of my game.

Yeah correct, and nuzn is a tensor hybrid so basically gets a good tensor and adds more linearity, so for people coming from tensors is in my opinion a win win. And for people coming from Chinese, the easier activation makes it more forgiving on both the technique and condition (which is welcome on the legs), you trade off speed and spin given the correct technique but for us amateurs that's often less important

 

[ZSQ]

Thanks @ZSQ !

As always it depends on maaany factors, your level, gear taste, gear history, your technique, etc

So its hard to say without knowing more, but sure, in theory a viscaria can certainly compensate for the slow tempo of glayzer 09c and it wil also tame the blade a bit. No need to use boosters here indeed.

But the more important question is what your game needs right now and what you want to achieve, if you start there first, choosing the right gear is easier

Let me know and I can see if I can give some initial orientation thoughts!

Thanks in advance for your help,
I’ve read some of your articles, and I absolutely believe that you are an expert when it comes to equipment. Very few people specialize in so many different brands, models, and types of equipment—even in my country.
As you suggested, I should first describe my situation. I played table tennis from age 10 to 15, and picked up this hobby again two years ago. You can consider my level to be that of an adult who has trained with a coach at a club for two years. I use my BH more than FH. My coach thinks my arc, power, and short-game control are all pretty good.
On the FH, I’ve used Loki Arthur China and Rxton 3. On the BH, I’ve used Loki Kirin K5/K1. Paired with an all-wood blade. Half a year ago, I started using a Viscaria FL as my main blade, with Tibhar K1 Plus (FH) and Stiga Mantra Pro M (BH); this is still my current setup. The Mantra Pro suits me very well, but the FH rubber is a bit lacking for me now. I don’t think I’m at the level where I can fully exploit the performance of D09C/D05. So I chose G09C/Glayzer so that I can better progress to the Dignics series in the future. That is also why I originally asked for your opinion on this setup.
Thanks again.

 

[merlin el mago]

I have skills to play with H3Nat or Prov & D09C with fast blade like Viscaria or similars but I'm 67 years old & handicaped with a prosthesis on the left knee so not in good shape to play with this kind of rubbers & blades so the reason is physically, I loved the low arc & fast power topspin & first class serves of a good H3 boosted but got 2 problems: quality consistency of H3 & my bad shape also loved how easy made the counters the D09C and having more speed than the H3.

For my age, my shape, my way of playing is far better for me NUZN 50 than D09C.