The Top 10 Best Table Tennis Rubbers Review
One of the most important decisions you will make, if you play ping pong, is deciding on the rubber that goes on your ping pong paddle. It can change your experience of playing table tennis, dramatically! When we say change, we do not mean to improve.
A lot of people have made this error of buying the latest and the best table tennis rubbers available and their game has become only poorer, we'll explain everything today!
List of Best Ping Pong Rubbers
Butterfly Tenergy 05
DHS NEO Hurricane 3
Yasaka Rakza 7
Xiom Vega Pro
Butterfly Dignics 05
Yasaka Mark V
Tibhar Evolution MX-P
Joola Rhyzm P
Stiga Mantra M
Donic Bluefire M1
What is Ping Pong Rubber?
What is Table Tennis Rubber Made Of?
The Sponge
The Rubber Top Sheet
The Pips (Pips)
Ping Pong Rubber Types – Texture of the Paddle
Pips Out
Pips In or Inverted
Anti-Spin
Tacky Rubber
How to Choose Ping Pong Rubber? What to Look For?
ITTF Authorized
Fits Your Style
Thickness – Ideal Rubber Thickness
What is the Most Popular Table Tennis Rubber?
How to Increase Speed of Your Table Tennis Rubber?
What is the Fastest Table Tennis Rubber?
Before we move on to discussing ping pong paddle rubbers, we have compiled a list of the best ping pong rubbers in the market along with offering a bit of a review on each one!
The Butterfly Tenergy 05 is one of the best table tennis rubbers you can buy. We recommend it highly and there is a lot to like about it. It is highly endorsed by professionals and players all around the globe and for good reasons!
It uses the special "spring sponge" technology allowing the user to generate lots of spin. Favorable for topspin generation and forehand usage, the Tenergy 05 suits all players that have an offensive playing style. Butterfly has released the Tenergy 05 in multiple different variations such as the FX and the Hard.
The anti-Tenergy, DHS NEO Hurricane 3 is completely different when compared to the usual Tenergy 05. Class Chinese rubber, the DHS NEO Hurricane 3 operates well if you can attack with a lot of power and technique and rewards the user for being offensive.
The surface is very hard and tacky and the top-sheet might not be for everyone. It makes you work harder for your shots, but it is true to the user. If you play it slow, it will generate slower shots and vice versa. This is still a popular choice and one of the best table tennis rubbers in the market, especially if you are on a budget, and that is one of the major reasons why lots of professionals opt for it.
If you are looking for a decent all-rounder rubber, then you should take a look at the Yasaka Rakza 7. It is genuinely considered to be the jack of all trades and it lives up to this tag. From easy topspin generation to low pushes and blocking heavy topspin, you can play lots of different shots.
This makes a fantastic option for a backhand rubber, and it offers a wide range of control to defensive players, as well. Don't worry about changing gears with this beast, as it will allow you to turn defense into attack within a split second. The only questions are over its durability, but its affordability makes it a no-brainer.
For an affordable, durable, and all-rounder performance, you should opt for the Xiom Vega Pro. People usually overlook such rubbers because they do not belong to famous brands, but the Xiom Vega Pro is a superb option and one you should consider.
It suits intermediate players who are looking to take their game to the next level. The Vega Pro offers a lot of control and this is a big factor allowing youngsters and intermediate players to opt for such an option. However, at the same time, it offers a range of spin too, making it a decent all-rounder option.
An expensive and top-of-the-line option, the Butterfly Dignics 05 is not everyone's cup of tea. Until and unless you are a top professional, we do not recommend opting for this fiery rubber! The engineering of the Dignics 05 was done with a lot of precision and they used the same inverted pimples as the Tenergy 05, however, the difference was in the "advanced" spring sponge technology.
You experience the catapult effect to its maximum, with the Dignics 05, and it is ideal for players that like keeping their opponents on the backfoot by playing a range of attacking shots. The durability is one of our favorite features of the Dignics 05, as it will stay with you for a long, long time. If you have an offensive playing style and you can afford to spend big money on rubber, then it makes a lot of sense to buy the Dignics 05.
The Yasaka Mark V has been around for more than three decades, now. This does not mean that it has lost its value over time, if anything, it has only gained more accolades and positive reviews from all across the globe. Most beginners looking to make careers in ping pong opt for the Yasaka Mark V and it has been the starting point for many big players, today.
It is highly durable and perfect for beginners as it is not overly fast. However, you can buy the thicker version of the Mark V if you want attacking gameplay.
The MX-P is one of the models of the Tibhar Evolution series, and it is a quick ping pong rubber with offers control, as well. It is quite difficult to find that kind of combination, so we consider ourselves lucky that we managed to find a rubber that accommodates both strengths, making it a favorite of many players.
It also comes in multiple variations that focus on greater spin or offer the chance to play with a stronger sponge. The MX-P makes for a fantastic investment and the only downside has been the durability factor, but one can overlook it, as long as you have a great experience playing with it.
This is one of our favorite replacements on the list because of the reviews it generated from our team. Some players playing with the Rhyzm-P were of the view that it is extremely fast. They were not wrong, but at the same time, others claimed that it offers better control and hence the Rhyzm-P can be considered a decent option for beginners. They were not wrong, either…
In addition to its raving reviews, the durability of the Rhyzm-P is amazing! We know that some players prefer buying from "famous" ping pong brands, and if you are a JOOLA user, this is one of the best table tennis rubbers out there!
Heaven for the offensive players, the STIGA Mantra M is a superb rubber that will take your attacking game to the next level. It brings about a spectacular catapult effect, and it makes for a decent purchase for people looking for the highest of quality in their shots and performances, alike.
It has a magnificent oxygen capsule system that magnifies speed and spin while keeping the stability and control optimum, as well. There are microscopic air bubbles present in the rubber that help in creating sponge tension.
Another great option for all-rounders is the Donic Bluefire M1. Using the new high-tech Formula FD3-technology, the Donic Bluefire M1 is best for players who want to practice and improve their skills and also want hard rubber bats. The quality and durability are extremely high in the Bluefire M1 making it a great option for all kinds of players, especially, amateurs.
Ping Pong rubbers are the rubber surface of your ping pong paddle. It is the segment of the bat that impacts the ball with every stroke you play. Initially used in 1901 on a racket, however, they were most commonly seen in the 1950s when players added a sheet of sponge between the rubber top sheet and the wood blade.
In the contemporary table tennis world, when we talk about ping pong rubber, we are often usually referring to the amalgamation of the sponge and the rubber top sheet. Mostly they are available already stuck together but if you want, you can purchase them separately.
The rubber leaves a great influence on the speed of the ball when you hit it. It either absorbs or reduces the ball's speed, slowing down your rival's attacks or even assisting you in going on the offensive side by introducing more power to play shots with speed.
Moreover, it also has a colossal impact on how many spins you can place on the ball. The improved stickiness (the tackiness) of the rubber allows the ball to maintain contact for a longer period (the dwell time). Consequently, this enables you to generate different kinds of spin.
In short, it is the kind of rubber you use that will determine how the table tennis ball is going to behave after you hit it.
There are two main parts of a ping pong rubber, however, there are multiple variations when it comes to thickness and tackiness or different types of pimples. We will break down each part for you and will see how it affects the ball and what kind of player should go for it.
When people talk about table tennis rubber, it is not only about the outer red and black top-sheet but also the sponge that is between the rubber and the blade. The most general rule in this regard is: thicker the sponge layer is, the faster and powerful the ball bounces. Similarly, if the sponge layer is thin, it will give you a controlled and slow bounce.
The ideal thickness of the sponge layer varies from 1mm to 2.5mm. Offensive players prefer playing with a thicker layer of sponge (over 2.0mm) as this gives them more power when it causes the ball to ping off the bat faster than ever.
On the other hand, defensive players opt for a thinner sponge to slow down the ball. For beginners or all-rounders, we would suggest using a bat with sponge thickness that varies from 1.5 to 1.9mm as it will give you increased control over your shots.
Laying on top of the sponge layer, we have the rubber top sheet. Usually, this comes in red or black hues, however, you can get it customized. It has got pimples on it.
All ping pong rubbers have pips (also known as pimples) on them. These are tiny nubs of rubber that are pointing outwards or inwards from the flat surface of the rubber background. Pimples allow the rubber to be more responsive while decreasing the surface area that comes in contact with the ball.
The texture of the paddle refers to the surface of the rubber that comes in contact with the ball. There are many different types of rubber textures, and all of them have a different impact on the gameplay.
You will notice that most of the rubber sheets have ratings of spin, speed, and control. A speed range below 50 indicates very good control. 50-70 is a decent all-around range and anything above 70 is considered fast for offensive play. Mostly, the preferred rubber top sheets are the ones that are smoothly inverted and sticky.
Pips out rubber indicate the little nubs on the surface of the rubber. Used mainly for greater control and defensive play, there are a couple of variants of the pips-out rubber:
1) Short Pips
The size of the pips out is short on these pips. These are ideally made for players that have close-to-the-table gameplay and base their game on the reactive approach. They also produce very little spin and can also absorb a lot of spin from the opponent, although it is not ideal for offensive players.
2) Long Pips
As the same suggests, the nubs on the surface of the long pips are bigger and offer a greater defensive playing style. You can use it for reversing the spin of the opponent and can bring about a lot of unpredictability in the spin generation as a result. This is a superb option for players that prefer control over speed and spin, and consequently, it is not the weapon of choice for attack-minded players.
Pips in rubbers are also called inverted rubbers and they are the most commonly used rubber in the world of table tennis. They are most used for attacking gameplay because of their smooth surface allowing for the maximum generation of spin, as well. It is considered to be the modern rubber of today's tennis, as the game has changed considerably.
There is another form of surface rubber that is a little too smooth. It is known as the anti-spin rubber which as its name suggests, cancels out spin. While the anti-spin is not as effective as long pips, it is quite easy to use. Anti-spin is generally used as a defensive rubber to slow down the pace and spin of play.
Tackiness is the characteristic of the "stickiness" of a rubber. The tackier the rubber is, the slower your shots will be and vice-versa. There is a large variety of tacky and similarly, non-tacky rubbers to choose from.
While we have taken a detailed look into all the different kinds of rubbers available, we should also mention some of the things you need to look for, before buying a rubber.
To buy the best ping pong rubber for your game, you should look at these things:
If you regularly play in tournaments, and you are looking for something by-the-book, we prefer buying rubbers that are ITTF approved. The approval of ITTF can make for a standard quality of rubber and that can improve your game in the long run. You will also not be allowed to participate in an ITTF tournament if you do not have an ITTF approved rubber.
Some players opt for pips-out for more direct and faster shots. While others may choose long pips on one side which results in imparting the knuckleball effect and reversing the opponent's spin. A tiny percentage of players choose an anti-spin rubber for defense which also results in reversing the opponent's spin. Anti-spin and long pips are usually used for access control against spinning serves and loops.
This shows the importance of buying the rubber that suits your playing style, so make sure your decision is clever and well-calculated!
Colors are only used to distinguish the two different sides of the paddle. Since 1986, the official rules have been changed to ensure fair play, by forcing all players to have one of the sides of the rubber be bright red and the other one be black.
A lot of people, before this rule was introduced, were using the same color on both sides and using different kinds of rubber materials, which made it very tough to predict the shot. So, this rule was introduced and the rubber was supposed to be black on one side and red on the other.
As of 2019, though, ITTF has changed the rule slightly. The new rule states that one side of the paddle has to be black, while the other one does not have to be bright red, it can be any color, as long as it is also bright.
As discussed above, sponge thickness is responsible for overall rubber speed and control, so your decision on the choice of the rubber needs to consider the thickness of the rubber, as well. Thinner the sponge, the more control you have, and the thicker the sponge, the faster it is. However, the thickness of the sponge cannot be more than 4mm or 0.16 inches, as per the regulations.
Do you want a rubber that generates more speed, or do you want a rubber that will slow the game down? Some players prefer control over speed, others believe that speed is the answer to everything. Beginners are advised to start with slower rubbers to maximize control over their shots.
This is another important consideration because a highly-attacking player will struggle if he chooses a relatively slower rubber. Similarly, someone who banks on reactive shots and plays defensive, will not benefit from a rubber generating greater speed.
We take a shot at some of the burning questions that people have regarding ping pong rubbers.
The most commonly used table tennis rubber of the past was the Butterfly Sriver. Recently, however, the Tibhar Evolution MX-P has been a players' favorite, along with the DHS Hurricane 3. Top of the list, and by far the most popular ping pong rubber has to be the Butterfly Tenergy 05.
One of the best ways of increasing the speed of your table tennis rubber is using speed glue. However, you should be aware that speed glue was banned by ITTF in 2007 so if you want tips for a professional tournament, then this will not do you any good.
Apart from that, you can try a thicker sponge or use inverted rubbers.
This is down to preference and interpretations of players. There can be no definitive answer to this question, so I will list down some of the fastest table tennis rubbers.
The Tibhar Evolution MX-P generates an insane amount of speed. Similarly, the Donic Bluestorm Turbo Z1 is another beast! Recently, the JOOLA DYNARYZ AGR was reviewed by many fans and professionals and they believe it is the fastest rubber of all time. The Fortissimo by Killerspin is another decent shout!
The rubber influences and has the potential to change the game, quite a bit. You should do a lot of research and read plenty of reviews, and if you have the budget, buy a couple of options, practice with them, before settling on a ping pong rubber. There are so many options out there, that it becomes tough to identify the best table tennis rubber possible.
Our biggest advice would be to buy the rubber that suits your gameplay in the best manner. Play to your strengths rather than focusing on your opponents' weaknesses!