What is the best ESN Hybrid rubber for FH?

[TensorBackhand]

Yes, and I can´t explain why. The harder A1 sponge works so much better with the Bluestar topsheet. A2 and A3 are Ok but nothing special. Bluestar A1 isnthe best Donic rubber in a long time.

I mean is A1 so much better than K3? Is that so noticeable?

 

[TensorBackhand]

The porous sponge is quite bouncy while the topsheet makes a curve like D09c so I don't really need to brush the ball I can hit quite forward and it clears the net and it's fast too.
It's really easy to use I don't know if I would say it's better than D09c but I felt like it's much easier to use and in difficult situations that is important. K3 is also light, compared to other C touch rubbers. Cut on a BTY head I remember about 49g so that's very good for a 53deg rubber. The Xiom Omega Chinas and Joola Dynaryz ZGR are much heavier.
I don't wanna praise it much as the durability is truly shit, but I will say every C touch rubber's durability is unacceptable.

I wish Chinese companies could make a good hybrid. I prefer the Chinese topsheets, but most rubbers without booster are just a no go. Sure LAC is pretty good but durability again...

I wonder how Xu Xin's rubber fares. Even the "special" version at 40USD is a pretty good deal if it is bouncy enough.

Is K3 so much better than say C53 or Joola ZGX?

 

[Zwill]

Is K3 so much better than say C53 or Joola ZGX?

I haven't tried C53 nor ZGX but I would assume the C53 is the equivalent in Andro. ZGX might be somewhat different.
But where I am I can get the K3 a lot cheaper than C53 and about the same as ZGX so... I don't particularly have an ESN brand loyality so I just look at the pricing lol
I am not much of an ESN fan to begin with. Sure they have some good rubbers but probably I could count on one hand what I actually like and would recommend from them and they have a gazillion rubbers.

 

[IB66]

best for who?? !!!
It wouldn’t surprise me if the Brands, that use ESN, Stiga, Andro, Donic etc all get together and have a deal up.
So they all get the a latest Gen rubber in rotation, and when the Next Gen rubber is ready the company next on rota gets to release it 1st, and the Previous Gen rubber is made available to the other Brands!!
Makes business sense, split payment for the research, design and production. The more made the cheaper = agree a large quantities, more than 1 brand needs, then farm out the remained to the other brands!!
Of course this is total speculation and fantasy!!

 

[blahness]

I tested the Xuperman Black and Red for the first time yesterday.
I would actually rate these as one of the best hybrids out there (and with its price, it isn't bad)

I was expecting more DHS H3/Skyline feel, the Red is however cake sponge, so that makes it even closer towards hybrid
while black is blue dense sponge, but without booster, is already hybrid like.
I would likely only be able to test again next week (with booster)

Could you post a thread with longer review? Is it stable under hard hitting? How does it compare with D09c? How durable is it? How is the spin generation compared to D09c or Hurricane?

 

[Haraold]

i tried the A1 and it plays not harder than a Hammond z2,i really love this rubber,but only a few sessions in.
Cant compare to Mk or K3 but its really expensive.
Hope it lasts,tested it on a Hexshape from Sdc and the Butterfly Kiso Hinoki V.

 

[vanjr]

No.
This thread proves the point.
The word "best" would be best banned from all table tennis boards imo.

 

[TensorBackhand]

No.
This thread proves the point.
The word "best" would be best banned from all table tennis boards imo.

No to what?

Are you saying all the ESN hybrids are more or less equivalent?

Or are you saying each rubber has different strength? if so, what are those strengths in your opinion?

 

[Der_Echte]

Van the Man is on board !!!

 

[Der_Echte]

IB66 is downright SALTY today... and that may be very good policy.

 

[AMonteiro]

Tried some..

K3, Tronix ZGR, Rhyzen ZGR, Dynaryz ZGR, Dynaryz ZGX, Rakza Z, Bluegrip C2, Golden Tango PS and PK Sieger..

For me, the best overall was Tronix ZGR.

Better balance between speed, spin and weight. Also I found very easy to use, not very hard but not too soft and mushy..

 

[Attitude]

For me the best was actually K2 that matches your desires. More to the harder, linear end but really powerfull with enough strength and technique to back it up.
Lower throw than K3 but not as low as STN for example and decent quality overall.

 

[vvk1]

For me the best was actually K2 that matches your desires. More to the harder, linear end but really powerfull with enough strength and technique to back it up.
Lower throw than K3 but not as low as STN for example and decent quality overall.

Pretty much same here - K2 is the best for me. Playing with it since at least 2019. I've tried to switch to K3 a couple of times and each time went back to K2. Last time played with K3 from Nov 2023 till late Feb 2024.

No complains about K3's durability (keeping under a sticky protective film when not playing). But sometimes when countering with K3 the ball just slips and the ball goes down ... Does not seem to happen so much with K2. I realize it's 100% my technique but it's too late for change. And I did not feel it was so much better than K2 in any other aspects to justify paying 2x the price of K2.

Also tried Donic A1 a few times, on someone else's BTY ZJK ZLC/ALC blades. Does not feel that much different to K3 to be honest.

 

[NextLevel]

Pretty much same here - K2 is the best for me. Playing with it since at least 2019. I've tried to switch to K3 a couple of times and each time went back to K2. Last time played with K3 from Nov 2023 till late Feb 2024.

No complains about K3's durability (keeping under a sticky protective film when not playing). But sometimes when countering with K3 the ball just slips and the ball goes down ... Does not seem to happen so much with K2. I realize it's 100% my technique but it's too late for change. And I did not feel it was so much better than K2 in any other aspects to justify paying 2x the price of K2.

Also tried Donic A1 a few times, on someone else's BTY ZJK ZLC/ALC blades. Does not feel that much different to K3 to be honest.

It's pretty depressing that K2 isn't easily available and that Golden Tango is being discontinued. Makes me wonder how long K2 has before it disappears as well despite the fact that Jorgic is using it. And no, I find Golden Tango/K2 much better for how I play compared to K3. I am even finally beginning to appreciate its relative directness and lower arc than Rakza Z and Rakza Z EH.

 

[The_TT_Bat_Guy]

The porous sponge is quite bouncy while the topsheet makes a curve like D09c so I don't really need to brush the ball I can hit quite forward and it clears the net and it's fast too.
It's really easy to use I don't know if I would say it's better than D09c but I felt like it's much easier to use and in difficult situations that is important. K3 is also light, compared to other C touch rubbers. Cut on a BTY head I remember about 49g so that's very good for a 53deg rubber. The Xiom Omega Chinas and Joola Dynaryz ZGR are much heavier.
I don't wanna praise it much as the durability is truly shit, but I will say every C touch rubber's durability is unacceptable.

I wish Chinese companies could make a good hybrid. I prefer the Chinese topsheets, but most rubbers without booster are just a no go. Sure LAC is pretty good but durability again...

I wonder how Xu Xin's rubber fares. Even the "special" version at 40USD is a pretty good deal if it is bouncy enough.

I still rate the Sanwei Gear Hyper very highly and the Sanwei Target National is also a very good hybrid (that I switched too many years back from Tenergy 25). The Gear Hyper is bouncier than the STN without feeling like you're playing with a trampoline in your hand while the STN is much tackier. Topsheet durability for both rubbers is fantastic - the STN in particular still retains many of it's playing characteristics even if the topsheet gets horribly marked from normal play

No booster needed for either rubber but I also don't play competitively.

 

[The_TT_Bat_Guy]

Is there a best ESN hybrid rubber for FH? I've been testing Dragon Grip and Omega China Guang on FH. They seem largely similar to each other. Both are fast, and quite spinny.

I've also tested Andro C53 and Joola Dynaryz ZGX. Both are good, but I think the extra bit of hardness at 55d is nice.

Does anybody else think that ESN hybrids are basically just the same? or do you feel a real difference? If so, which is the best and why?

I'm now a fan of the Tibhar Hybrid MX on the FH. Great spin capabilities and power without too much of the catapult effect. I'll soon try Stiga's DNA Hybrid M

Not sure about there ever being a best rubber for anything though!

 

[Zwill]

It's pretty depressing that K2 isn't easily available and that Golden Tango is being discontinued. Makes me wonder how long K2 has before it disappears as well despite the fact that Jorgic is using it. And no, I find Golden Tango/K2 much better for how I play compared to K3. I am even finally beginning to appreciate its relative directness and lower arc than Rakza Z and Rakza Z EH.

The Gewo Codexx 54 looks pretty much like Golden Tango and K2. The Gewo is realtively new so that might stick around for a while.

 

[NextLevel]

The Gewo Codexx 54 looks pretty much like Golden Tango and K2. The Gewo is realtively new so that might stick around for a while.

Will give it a try then, when you play close to the table, you need to be able to take balls off the bounce without sending them long and this feeling is easier with Tango.

 

[Zwill]

I still rate the Sanwei Gear Hyper very highly and the Sanwei Target National is also a very good hybrid (that I switched too many years back from Tenergy 25). The Gear Hyper is bouncier than the STN without feeling like you're playing with a trampoline in your hand while the STN is much tackier. Topsheet durability for both rubbers is fantastic - the STN in particular still retains many of it's playing characteristics even if the topsheet gets horribly marked from normal play

No booster needed for either rubber but I also don't play competitively.

I have tried the Sanwei Gear Hyper, it's not really tacky at all but it's fine. I tried it in 39deg and it's not particularly better than a H8-80 at 38deg so... Actually I wish there was like a H3-80 or just H8-80 around 40degs... DHS WTF!!!!!!

 

[NextLevel]

The Gewo Codexx 54 looks pretty much like Golden Tango and K2. The Gewo is realtively new so that might stick around for a while.

Do you mean Gewo Codexx EF Pro 54?