Rubber Review 16: Loki Arthur Asia — The Hardest Arthur in the Lineup

Originally published 2023-12-01 · Translated and republished by UltraSpin with permission

Rubber Review 16 / Mushroom Field Guide: Loki Arthur Asia

Test blades: Sanwei Blue Marlin Pro, GEWO Creator all-wood

Quick Overview

1. The Arthur Asia belongs to Loki’s flagship Arthur series. Hardness 41 degrees, bare weight around 66.3 g — but feels lighter than that number suggests. Retail price around 120 RMB.

2. Tacky surface with the black “Kunlun” energy sponge (though in my honest assessment, the Arthur Asia is only mildly tacky — the Arthur China is the truly super-tacky one).

3. This is a high-hardness “fast-attack loop” forehand rubber with a vibe somewhat like the Platinum V. The sponge is firm with limited dwell feel — only marginally better than the Platinum V. But the rebound response is strong, delivering a “high and penetrating” arc with solid spin and power.

4. It carries the Arthur series signature metallic sound on full swings. High hardness produces loop quality that’s genuinely good — but that same hardness gives the rubber a “carbon blade” kind of feel in hand, meaning the feedback isn’t particularly faithful. At partial power the feel is average; at full swing the power surges.

5. My recommendation is to pair the Arthur Asia on an all-wood blade — you get more controlled feel while still leveraging the high-hardness sponge’s power. Paired with a fast-release outer carbon blade, it demands very compact and precise stroke mechanics from the player. Overall recommendation: moderate — worth a try.

Note: All content in the Mushroom Field Guide reflects the author’s subjective impressions. Rubbers vary between individual units, and pairing choices will affect results. Comments and corrections are welcome.