How to Use Japan's Top 10 Best-Selling Rubbers Well? Part 2
No. 3: Nittaku G-1
Times change, and views on rubber change. Six or seven years ago, if we discussed amateurs’ choices in the Nittaku Fastarc series, we would more often choose the light, transparent C-1 or S-1 on the backhand. We then felt the G-1 was a bit hard and hard to drive through for amateurs. But now, it is different. Many amateurs play the harder D05 and D09c on the backhand, let alone the G-1. Now playing the G-1 on the backhand, at least conceptually, is no problem. The G-1’s sales topped Japan’s charts for the past decade. Star effect plays a part — Kasumi Ishikawa and Mima Ito use it on the forehand, Mototsuna Morizono (now Sora Matsushima’s coach) and Jeoung Youngsik on the backhand. Using it now, it is good for both wings. Its mellow give-and-take feel is fairly similar to T05’s. The original thickest sponge was only 2.0mm, with absolute support less than T05. Later a Max thickness came, and at least the bottom power is stronger than the Evolution MX-P.
No. 4: T05
No need to say much. Especially when new, that feel really is great. And unlike D05, its demand on strokes and power is relatively high. T05 really lets all levels pick it up and play decently. Its problem is easy scaling. When I change it every two months, striking precision and error-tolerance are clearly better. Once past three months, the sponge’s give-and-take feels not smooth enough, and the surface friction drops, with quite a few more pointless errors.
No. 5: D05
Under compact small strokes, it has very good surface bite. When your stroke is a bit loose, say on the forehand, sometimes you cannot produce the spin you want, and may not drive through the blade. In my view, backhand strokes seem to more naturally suit the D05, while the forehand is relatively harder. Besides, Dignics rubbers like D05 and D09c, with their small-pore cake sponge, more need the blade’s direct support. So gluing them on outer blades, more than ordinary inner blades, more easily produces these two rubbers’ threat. The Tenergy line, with large-pore cake sponge, has lower demands — gluing on a soft blade is easy too.
No. 6: ZYRE-03
Maybe I need to get a custom Z03 to play and see whether the surface bite and spin ability surpass the retail Z03. For the current retail, in rallies you really can ramp up speed freely, but that spin variation and striking rhythm differ a bit from the Butterfly rubbers we used to play, so many players cannot get used to it, including that ball-grip feel — they feel it is not deep or grounded enough. This phenomenon is the same in Japan. Many mid-level amateurs raised their game with the Z03. But in the professional realm, views on the Z03 differ wildly. Some find it really easy, some find it not easy at all. But regardless, many who have not played it are willing to try.
No. 7: Blue V
Vega Europe. Nothing much to say. Just soft, transparent, cheap. Substitutes are too many.
No. 8: Nittaku C-1
As said above, if you want a relatively easier-to-drive backhand, choose the C-1 over the G-1. The C-1 is fairly linear, not falsely springy, not heavy, helpful for backhand stability.
No. 9: Glayzer 09c
I rate the tensor Glayzer above the slightly-tacky Glayzer 09c. But both Butterfly rubbers sell well in Japan. For the G09c, for us Chinese, on the forehand, the ball-grip depth or bite is not great. On the backhand, I do not feel it holds the ball better than the V15 Sticky or DNA Hybrid. But one type of player does decently — those technically mature, well-combining brush and hit, find it quite stable. And Butterfly rubber’s sponge built-in energy is relatively durable. But if this surface does not satisfy you, there is no help — it really has a gap from D09c’s friction.
No. 10: Yasaka Mark-V
The monster rubber born in 1969. I have not played it in 20 years, so I cannot describe its performance now.