Palio AK47 vs Yinhe Mercury II: Which Should You Buy?
| Palio AK47 | Yinhe Mercury II | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 7.8/10 | 8.2/10 |
| best_side | both | both |
| control | high (best on the softer Blue) | very high |
| speed | medium-high (Blue softer and more linear, Red fastest) | medium |
| spin | high | high |
| sponge_hardness | Blue around 38-40 deg, Yellow around 40-42 deg, Red around 45-47 deg (Euro scale) | medium to medium-soft (36-38 degrees Chinese scale) |
| type | non-tacky inverted tensor (offered in Blue, Yellow and Red sponges) | tacky inverted (budget Chinese) |
| weight_uncut_g | 67 | 60 |
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Both of these are budget rubbers aimed at developing players, but they target slightly different priorities. The Palio AK47 is a light, non-tacky tensor in three sponges, giving you a faster, springier ball and the option to tune control or speed by colour. The Yinhe Mercury II is a genuinely tacky Chinese rubber that costs only a few dollars and leans hard into control and grip.
The Mercury II offers very high control, an elastic forgiving sponge and serious tacky spin on serves, loops and chops, with Soft and Medium options for either wing. It is slower than German tensors, its medium throw keeps the ball low, and it can feel demanding for raw beginners on passive shots.
The AK47 is faster and more linear, especially on the harder sponges, and stays usable on both wings, though it is heavier at around 67 grams versus around 60 grams for the Mercury II and shows more sheet-to-sheet variation.
Go with the Mercury II if you are a beginner, chopper or control-and-spin all-rounder who wants tacky feel on a tiny budget. Go with the AK47 if you want a quicker non-tacky tensor with more attacking pace for your first custom racket.
FAQ
Which is cheaper?
The Yinhe Mercury II is the budget standout at around five dollars a sheet, while the Palio AK47 is also affordable but typically costs more.
Which has more control?
The Mercury II has very high control suited to beginners and defenders, while the AK47 still offers high control, best on its softer Blue sponge.
Which is better for choppers and defenders?
The tacky, forgiving Yinhe Mercury II is the stronger pick for choppers, defenders and control-oriented all-round players who want grip on serves and chops.
Which is faster?
The Palio AK47 is the quicker rubber, especially on the firmer Yellow and Red sponges, whereas the Mercury II is slower, particularly at distance.