Stiga DNA Hybrid: Wen Ruibo's Secret Weapon for Victory
Stiga DNA Hybrid: Wen Ruibo’s Secret Weapon for Victory
Welcome to the Mogu Table Tennis Review Diary! Today, we delve into the Stiga DNA Hybrid rubber, which has recently gained attention after Wen Ruibo, a rising star in Chinese table tennis, used it alongside the Stiga Luma Hybrid Carbon blade to win the WTT regular season championship. This discovery piqued our interest, prompting us to test the rubber and share our thoughts.
About the Stiga DNA Hybrid Rubber
The DNA Hybrid series comes in three variations: M, H, and XH, corresponding to 47.5, 50, and 52.5 degrees of hardness, respectively. These hardness levels are comparable to the 37, 38, and 39 degrees of the popular DHS Hurricane 3 rubber. The ‘Hybrid M’ variant features a German-made tensor sponge with a thickness of 2.1mm and a weight of 64g before trimming, reducing to 44g after cutting.
The surface of the rubber is tacky and glossy, providing excellent grip and spin. Its lightweight nature makes it particularly suitable for players using the penhold grip with backhand play.
Test Configuration
- Blade: Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC
- Rubber: Stiga DNA Hybrid M (tacky backhand)
Review Highlights
Pros of the Hybrid M:
- Backhand Counterattack: The rubber offers a slightly elastic feel with good ball contact and a moderate speed that doesn’t feel sluggish.
- Close-to-table Backhand Looping: It boasts a high forgiveness rate, making it easy to execute with a good arc. The integration between the rubber surface and sponge provides a comfortable overall feel.
- Backhand Fast Block: The seamless fusion of the rubber surface and sponge delivers a smoothness comparable to the Butterfly Tenergy 05, making it a standout feature.
- Control: The rubber excels in close-to-table maneuvers like short pushes, chops, flicks, and flips, thanks to its excellent grip.
Cons of the Hybrid M:
- Backhand Smash: The softer sponge can cause the ball to drop short, making it easy to hit the net.
- Backhand Defense: The sponge’s softness limits its ability to block powerfully, often resulting in a loss of arc.
- Backhand Loop from Mid-distance: The sponge’s hardness restricts its supportive power, causing the ball to get ‘stuck’ and not release properly. If you find it too soft, consider opting for a harder version.
Final Verdict
For players rated below 1500 or those using the penhold grip with backhand play, the Stiga DNA Hybrid M is a solid choice. For those rated above 1500, the H or XH variants are recommended, which can also be used for forehand play or by advanced players for backhand.
Considering backhand use only, the Hybrid M scores 7-7.5, while the H variant scores 7.5-8, making both worthy of recommendation.
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Author | Mogu Table Tennis Header Design | Wang Kaiping