Yasaka Rakza 9 Review: The Fastest Rubber in the Rakza Hybrid Energy Line

By UltraSpin · 2026-07-13 · rubber

Rakza 9 is the speed-oriented member of Yasaka’s Hybrid Energy Rakza family, which began with Rakza 7. Yasaka’s own product page rates it Speed 91, Spin 85, and Control 60 out of 100, positioning it as the fastest sheet in the lineup and pitching it at technical offensive players who want to combine high speed with spin to win the point outright.

Performance

Compared with Rakza 7, Rakza 9 has a noticeably lower throw angle: aggressive strokes travel flatter and reach the table faster, which the manufacturer attributes to a medium-hard 42.5-degree sponge paired with a high-friction natural rubber topsheet. A MyTableTennis.net reviewer who tested a red Max sheet at 72 grams alongside a Rakza 7 for direct comparison estimated Rakza 9 is roughly 10 to 15 percent faster, with a longer but lower arc that suits mid-distance counter-looping and hard drives rather than close-to-table looping, where the softer Rakza 7 still has the edge on spin. On loops and serves, Megaspin buyers consistently describe Rakza 9 as very spinny, with several noting that opponents struggle to keep returns on the table once a loop is loaded up. One buyer’s sub-scores put spin at 9.3 out of 10 and speed at 9.7, but control only at 8.5 and durability at 5.2, and another reviewer said the rubber demands full use of the legs and waist to place the ball correctly, warning that loops sail long or dive into the net without that commitment. Blocking and receiving are comparatively forgiving: multiple reviewers, including the MyTableTennis.net tester, say the sheet has reduced sensitivity to incoming spin, so blocks and short backspin pushes stay controllable even against heavy serves. Blade pairing matters more than with a typical control rubber. The MyTableTennis.net reviewer found Rakza 9 felt slow on a thin, soft 7-ply all-wood blade and only came alive once switched to a stiffer blade, and explicitly recommended avoiding soft 5-ply all-wood blades. Most reviewers run it as a forehand weapon for looping and counter-hitting, though a few pair it on the backhand for extra pop on topspin drives.

What Reviewers Agree (and Disagree) On

All sources agree Rakza 9 is Yasaka’s fastest Hybrid Energy sheet and that it is genuinely spinny, not just fast. Where they diverge is on how it stacks up against Rakza 7 for spin: the MyTableTennis.net tester ranks Rakza 7 spinnier on close-to-table loops, while several Megaspin buyers call Rakza 9 itself very spinny with no direct Rakza 7 comparison. Reviewers also split on best side, with most treating it as a forehand rubber while some run it on the backhand for extra speed on topspin.

Who Should Buy It

Rakza 9 suits intermediate-to-advanced attacking players who already loop and counter-hit with a full stroke and want more raw speed than Rakza 7 without moving to a harder Chinese tensor. It pairs best with a stiff, offensive-rated blade. Beginners, players with a shorter or more passive swing, or anyone using a soft all-wood blade will likely find the 60 out of 100 control score and roughly 72-gram weight harder to manage than a softer Rakza 7 or Rakza 7 Soft.

FAQ

How does Rakza 9 compare to Rakza 7?

Rakza 9 is faster and has a lower, flatter throw angle - a MyTableTennis.net tester who compared both sheets side by side estimated Rakza 9 is roughly 10 to 15 percent faster, while Rakza 7 stays spinnier on slow, close-to-table loops and is generally easier to control.

What sponge hardness and weight does Rakza 9 use?

Yasaka lists the sponge as medium-hard, around 42.5 degrees. A tester who weighed an uncut red Max sheet measured it at 72 grams, heavier than tensors like Tenergy 05.

Is Rakza 9 better for forehand or backhand?

Most reviewers run Rakza 9 on the forehand for its speed and low arc, but it also works on the backhand - one Megaspin reviewer called it excellent in BH, and a MyTableTennis.net tester said receiving serves was easy on the backhand because the rubber has less sensitivity to incoming spin.

What blade pairs well with Rakza 9?

A stiffer, offensive-oriented blade suits it best. A MyTableTennis.net tester found Rakza 9 felt slow on a thin, soft 7-ply all-wood blade and recommended avoiding soft 5-ply all-wood blades, since the rubber only came alive once mounted on a stiffer blade.

Is the spin strong enough for heavy forehand loops?

Yes - Yasaka rates it 85 out of 100 for spin, and Megaspin buyers repeatedly describe it as very spinny on loops and serves, with several saying opponents have trouble keeping the return on the table. It is not quite as spinny as Rakza 7 on slow loops close to the table, but it is a genuine forehand loop rubber, not just a speed rubber.

How durable is Rakza 9?

Durability reviews are mixed. One detailed Megaspin reviewer scored durability only 5.2 out of 10, and another reported the topsheet separating from the blade after about a month, though most reviewers did not flag durability as a problem over normal use.