Stiga Mantra Pro M/H Upgraded: Is the New Version Worth It?
This issue’s subject: Stiga Mantra Pro M/H — the popular upgrade.
Quick Take
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Stiga’s “Fan series” Mantra line has become one of the brand’s best-selling and most recognized products after years of market acceptance. This year Stiga upgraded the series to reinvigorate it, releasing three hardness variants: Mantra Pro M, H, and XH.
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The topsheet is non-tacky (tensor-style). Compared to the previous generation, the grain texture is more pronounced, which also addresses the color-consistency issues of the old Mantra M. The sponge is yellow and cake-like with good cell structure.
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Mantra M Pro weight is surprisingly variable — some sheets come in at 72 g, others at 67 g. My sample is 67 g, which I’ll call medium. Mantra H Pro is medium-heavy; Mantra XH Pro is on the heavier side. Retail price is around 180 RMB.
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I’ve sold several dozen sheets of the best-selling M Pro and the feedback has been almost universally positive. On my own setup — Harimoto H2 blade on the backhand — the M Pro feels a bit soft. The H2 is inherently soft with a dispersive sweet spot, so the Mantra M Pro comes across as softer overall than its predecessor, with modest power output (partly down to the blade and the lighter rubber). My recommendation: pair M Pro with a stiffer outer-carbon blade on the backhand. H works well on both forehand and backhand. Use XH with caution, and don’t chase low weight when building a setup.
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Overall, the Mantra Pro upgrade is well-considered and the modest price increase is justified. It retains the series’ signature deep dwell and consistent looping, stays easy to pick up, and earns a moderately positive recommendation.
Note: All content reflects my personal impressions. Individual rubber samples vary, and pairing with different blades will affect performance. Comments and corrections are welcome.