・Blue Grip (tacky tension) 5 kinds ・Blue Storm 7 kinds ・Blue Fire 9 kinds ・Acuda Blue 4 kinds
There are 25 types of blue rubber! Among them, we will review DONIC’s new rubber, Blue Storm PRO, which was released in January 2022. Speaking of DONIC rubber, there are many rubbers that are blue. It also features a large lineup of the Blue Fire series with high spin performance, the Blue Storm series with speed performance and low trajectory, and the Blue Grip series with adhesive tension system for ease of handling and further rotation performance and habit. I think this brings the merit of being able to finely change the hardness and seat according to the skill of the player. The 2022 pamphlet does not include the Blue Fire JP series, but it does appear on the DONIC website in Japan. It may be out of print, but it seems that it is currently available. As a manufacturer, I think that it is a strategy that costs a lot for the company because it handles a lot of inventory, but I think that DONIC’s stance, which has a large lineup of hardness and sponge thickness in each series, is a user-first manufacturer. Let’s check out the hottest rubber, Blue Storm PRO, in DONIC’s latest work.
The performance of German-made rubber has improved considerably these days, and I expect that it will have the same or higher performance as the evolved Tenergy rubber. The Blue Storm PRO this time probably uses the same technology, and it seems that it has high rotation performance comparable to Tenergy.
It seems that Suzuki of Aikodai Meiden, who is a contract player of DONIC and one of the candidates for the Inter-High championship triple crown this year, also used Blue Storm PRO for a while, but now he is returning to Blue Storm Z1 Turbo. It has been done. It seems that he used blue grip rubber for a while, but he seems to be using the Blue Storm Z1 turbo in search of a habit ball that is drawn out by technology, not a habit of relying on rubber.
The information on DONIC’s homepage and pamphlets is as follows.
Professional select version.
The top sheet has been renewed, and the touch feeling, response, and spin of the ball have been greatly improved. Dynamic rubber with extraordinary ball popping out.
https://www.donic.jp/
In addition, Suzuki’s comment posted on “Table Tennis Goods 2022” is as follows.
In 2022, “Blue Storm PRO” was used for the back in all Japan. Personally, the shot feeling is soft and the bite is good, and I have the impression that it is a rubber that emphasizes rotation rather than speed. Fore uses “Blue Storm Z1 Turbo”, but “PRO” takes rotation even if hit lightly, and it was easier to use the opponent’s ball in blocks etc. I also tried “PRO” in the foreground, but I found it a little difficult to control with my feeling and how to hit. The image of “Z1 Turbo” is that you can make a strong rotation with your own swing, and “PRO” is that you can rotate naturally without being aware of it. I think “PRO” is suitable for players who play in the front team and players who are not good at spinning themselves.
From “Table Tennis Goods 2022”
In this blog, I will review the Blue Storm PRO and compare it with the Blue Storm Z1 Turbo.
Public performance value
Let’s compare the published performance values.
It is the default that it is difficult to refer to the rubber published value of DONIC. You can see that the latest Blue Storm PRO is well-balanced, but there is also an image that the Blue Storm Z1 turbo is better in speed performance, so it is still a little difficult to refer to. Next is the comparison of katsuo000 hardness testers.
When comparing the hardness, I feel that the characteristics of rubber come out. Among DONIC’s rubbers owned by katsuo000, it is lighter than the Blue Fire M1 Turbo and weighs almost the same as the Blue Storm Z1 Turbo. The Z1 turbo was a rubber that bites in very well and feels soft, but the PRO is a little harder, isn’t it? I think it will be about the same hardness as Tenergy 05. As mentioned in the previous reputation, PRO is a rubber with great expectations if it has the same spin performance as Tenergy 05
Blue Storm PRO sticking and weight
Recently, I put it on YASAKA’s Reinforce AC because it’s an inner.
Personally, it was not too hard, not too light, and it was a rubber that could be used by a wide range of players.
Blue Storm PRO
・Sponge Thickness: 2.0 mm, MAX
・Speed： 11+
・Spin：11
・Control：5+
・Sponge stiffness: 50.0°
・7,800 yen + tax
・72 g (before cut) → 50 g (after cut)
Three features of Blue Storm PRO
High spin performance! This is fantastic!
I felt the outstanding rotation performance among the blue rubbers so far. Blue rubber with high rotation performance is Blue Fire M1 Turbo (Blue Fire M1 Turbo) and Blue Grip C1 (Blue Grip C1), but the overwhelming difference is the good biting. While other rubbers rotate with the hardness of the sponge, Blue Storm PRO is a rubber that makes it very easy to feel that it is rotating with a strong twitch while gripping the ball with the good bite of the sponge. did. I think that strong rotation performance is a condition of good rubber, so it is highly recommended.
Although the spin performance is high, the trajectory is low!
The interesting thing about this Blue Storm PRO is that it has a high trajectory but a low trajectory! A ball with a low trajectory that is close to the grain shape of 80 or 64 series will come out! The Blue Storm Z1 Turbo was also aggressive with a similar low trajectory arc, but the Blue Storm PRO has even higher rotational performance, and I felt that it was a rubber with unprecedented characteristics! I think that it is an interesting rubber that it is aggressive but has high rotation performance. Dignix 64 and Dignix 80 also show aggressive and high rotation performance, but I think that it is also a rubber that is a little difficult to rotate because the seat is hard. I felt that this Blue Storm PRO could be described as a rubber like the Tenergy 64 with the rotational performance of the Tenergy 05. Or is it Tenergy 19 that feels similar? Of course, it bears the name of Blue Storm, so I think PRO is more aggressive than Tenergy 19.
It’s not as sticky, but it’s easy to do on the table!
Since the rotation performance is high, it is easy to do on the table! Of course, it is not as easy to stop as adhesive rubber, but I felt that I was able to stop the ball by rotating it. The seat of the Blue Storm Z1 Turbo is hard, but I also felt that it was a little easy to float, so I felt that it was ant to use PRO for ease of use on the table. The price is a little high, but I think it’s a highly recommended rubber!
Each technical review
Forehand
Light hit It’s a 50 ° rubber, but I didn’t feel its hardness.
Drive on long balls and rallies It was very nice to be able to hit a drive that can be applied when you want to apply rotation, and when you want to apply speed, you can apply pressure due to speed with a low trajectory. This slowness may be exactly the difference from the Blue Storm Z1 turbo. With Blue Storm PRO, I think it’s very easy to shoot a chance ball by shaking it with the amount of rotation of the drive!
Top spin (loop) drive against back spin Even though I could hit such an aggressive drive, I was able to hit a fairly satisfying loop drive. This is highly rated!
Speed drive against back spin The weight of the ball may be reduced, but a good ball was hit. It was good to feel the stretch like a spin tension rubber.
Curve / shoot drive Since it has high rotation performance, it will bend considerably if you take the plunge. You will be able to hit a characteristic curve and shoot drive compared to the rubber with high speed performance so far.
Block Compared to the Blue Storm Z1 Turbo, it is the PRO who feels that the entire rubber is soft. Therefore, PRO is a little more susceptible to the influence of the opponent’s rotation. However, because the arc line is low, there were more net mistakes than I expected. PRO is recommended if you want to rotate and stabilize the block!
Counter drive The arc line is lower than I expected, so it was surprisingly easy to do counter drive! This was surprising!
Stop & Push I think it can be stopped enough. I felt that it was possible to attack aggressively with a deep push.
Serve Since the spin performance is high, I was able to give a satisfactory serve!
Backhand
Light hit It feels soft enough so I felt it could be used in the back.
Drive on long balls and rallies It’s very good. I felt that I could aim for the course with grip power even if I was late for swinging because I could wait for my pocket with confidence because the bite was good.
Top spin (loop) drive against back spin It was easy to do and the rotation performance was sufficient!
Speed drive against back spin It’s easy to bite in, so it’s easy to do! I want to use it if I don’t have Dignics!
Block I was surprised that there were more net mistakes than I expected. It may be due to the grain shape.
Stop & push It was easier to do than the Z1 turbo.
Chiquita The bite is good, so I felt like I could go to Chiquita after waiting for the ball to the very limit. This is due to the good bite.
Comparison with other rubbers (personal impressions)
Max spin amount Dignics05 ＞ Q5 ≧ DNA Platinum XH ≧ Target Pro XD-52.5 ≧ Rasanter R53 ＞ Blue Storm PRO ＞ Fastarc G-1 max ＞ Rasanter R48 ≧ Evolution MX-D > Tenergy 05
Speed Dignics 05 ≧ Evolution MX-D ＞ Blue Stom PRO ＞Rasanter R53 ≧ Q5 ≧ Rasanter R48 ＞ Target Pro XD-52.5 ＞ DNA Platinum XH ＞ Fastarc G-1 Max
Martin AC（マーティンAC） アラミドカーボンアウター仕様のラケットです。最新のラインアップで、まだWRMで取り扱いはありません。アウターカーボン、板厚5.8 mm、上板リンバのラケットになります。非常にスタンダードなブレードの厚さですが上板Limba（リンバ）なので、張継科ALCや林高遠ALCよりも柔らかくて球持ちを感じるはずです。打球感が近そうなラケットはフレイタスALCになりますが、フレイタスALCはブレード厚さが6.0 mで、マーティンACの方が薄いので飛距離も抑えられておさまりが良いと思います。水谷隼ZLCシリーズも上板がリンバなので、打球感は似ているかもしれません。
Martin Pro（マーティンプロ） 7枚合板なのに珍しい板厚6.0 mm、上板リンバのラケットです。上板リンバは、例えばミズノのフォルティウスFT REなどが挙げられるますが、板厚6.0 mmはフォルティウスFT Reの6.1 mmよりも薄いので注目しています。7枚合板の力強さと、飛距離が抑えられたラケットではないかと想像します。
Vario AC＋（ヴァリオAC+） 最新のOSPラケットで、片面は上板コト材にアラミドカーボンアウター、もう片面は上板リンバにインナーアラミドカーボンという、男心をくすぐる一本ですね。片方は攻撃的に、もう片方は球持ちを重視するという構成になっています。合板構成も芯材から非対称となるラケットはあまり一般的ではなく中途半端になりやすいと言われますが、一般層でフォアもバックも同じレベルでスイングできるレベルの人は少ないわけで、こういったラケットの需要は少なからずあるのではないかと想像します。自分が持っているラケットではPro-13Sという中国製のラケットが近いと思いますが染色剤を上板に使用していてやや硬めのイメージです。OSP製のVario AC+の方が球持ちを抜群に感じられるのではないかと想像します。
We would like to review TIBHAR’s attention rubber, Evolution EL-S. Speaking of TIBHAR, even if we retire, we will be a German manufacturer contracted by our legendary Belarusian giant Vladimir Samsonov. Recently, G.C. Foerster, who sells TIBHAR on You Tube after working as a private coach for former Dutch representative Jun Mizutani, and Bernadette Szocs, a beautiful Romanian player, are also Tiber contract players. Darko Jorgic of Slovenia, who made Tomokazu Harimoto stand out with a full set at the Tokyo Olympics, is also a contract player of Tiber!
I will review one of Tiber’s rubber, Evolution EL-S. The rubber used by many contract players as a high-end rubber is the Evolution series. Currently, the Evolution series has the latest and highest performance MX-D, 3 types of hardness x 2 types of sheets = 6 types, and 50 ° of MX-P, totaling 8 types of rubber are on sale. The latest MX-D released in 2021 is clearly a rubber that sets it apart from other Evolution series rubbers. We have a review about that, so please take a look there. Review of Evolution MX-D (Evolution Maximum Dynamic) : https://katsuo000.com/review_evolution_mx_d/ Returning to the Evolution series, the three types of hardness are MX (maximum = approx. 47.5 °), EL (elastic = approx. 43 °), and FX (flexible = approx. 40 °). And the two types of sheets are P (power) and S (spin, slightly adhesive sheet). This page reviews EL (elastic) with a hardness of about 43 °, that is, EL-S (elastic spin), which is a combination of a medium hardness sponge and a slightly adhesive sheet. EL-S is a hit rubber, and TIBHAR also put out a color advertisement in the magazine Table Tennis Kingdom for the first time in 11 years. Now that the plastic balls have become harder and the rubber with medium hardness is often attached to the back side, I think that the most suitable rubber for the back side rubber will be EL-S. Let’s check the EL-S information posted on TIBHAR’s homepage.
Evolution EL-S ● Latest generation non-slip sheet ● Re-installed! Medium sponge with coarse bubbles that leads to increased elasticity The MX-S type sheet, which has a long ball holding, a large amount of rotation, and is durable, uses a sponge with coarse bubbles, which is the biggest feature of the series, which was not installed in the MX-S, with an intermediate hardness. As a result, it demonstrates the true nature of non-slip rubber, which is that the ball becomes heavier. We have created a rubber that can improve the quality of play widely in the front middle team. Experience “evolution” with EL-S.
http://www.tibhar.jp/rubber.htm
Evolution’s MX-P and MX-S have the same hardness as 45.7-47.7 °, but when you actually use it, you will feel that MX-S is harder because the sheet is harder. Similarly, when comparing EL-P and EL-S, the hardness is EL-P: 42.4-44.4 °, while EL-S: 43.8-45.8 °, which is the published hardness. I think you can feel the uniqueness of German spin tension rubber around here as well.
Performance value
Let’s compare the published performance values.
*Since the speed and spin performance of Evolution MX-P (Evolution MX-P) and Evolution MX-S (Evolution MX-S) are the same, they are plotted in the same place. EL-S is a rubber with higher spin performance than MX-S and MX-P, and among spin tension rubbers, it is the rubber with the highest spin performance next to MX-D. This is a very promising rubber! Next is a comparison of hardness with a hardness tester.
As it has an intermediate hardness, it is clearly softer than Tenergy 05, MX-P, and MX-S. The sheet feels stiff. As I will touch on in the future, I felt that this EL-S is quite close to rubber such as Joola’s Rhyzer Pro 45 and Rasanter R45. What these rubbers have in common is a sponge with a middle hardness, which makes the sheet a hard rubber.
EL-S pasting and weight
I pasted it on Zhang Jike ZLC as usual.
Evolution EL-S
Spin type tension OFF+
・Sponge Thickness：1.7/1.9/2.1 mm
・Speed：123
・Spin：122
・Control：85
・Sponge stiffness：43.8-45.8°
・6,000 yen + tax
・73 g (before cut) → 49 g (after cut)
The impression is that it is heavy for a rubber of medium hardness.
Three features of Evolution EL-S
Both the sheet and the sponge have a mess of balls!
Since the sheet is a slightly adhesive sheet, I do not feel it sticky to the touch, but I felt that the twitching was very good. Also, because it bites into the sponge very well, it was a rubber that I felt that the whole rubber would hold the ball firmly. If it is a hard rubber, the ball holding time is very short, so when you hit the drive, you will feel that the ball will come off quickly, but since the medium hardness rubber has a very long ball holding time as a whole, the ball holding time It was EL-S that made me feel the ball holding the ball as much as I could upset the timing of the opponent. Also, compared to R45 and Riser Pro 45, which are rubbers with similar intermediate hardness and hard sheet as mentioned above, EL-S was characterized by ball holding and arc line height. The R45 and Riser Pro 45 have the ease of meeting and the goodness of playing in the overall softness, but I felt that the EL-S is the rubber that is most conscious of ball holding and rotation performance. Also, because it is a rubber with this much ball holding, I felt that the amount of rotation was extremely high.
Rubber that can be recommended in the back or fore
I think that rubber with medium hardness is generally suitable for back. As usual, this EL-S was a rubber that was highly recommended for use in the back. Chiquita and back hand drive are weak and I felt that it was easy to lift up even with a slow swing and put it on the opponent’s court. Also, I felt that Tsuttsuki was hard to float because the grip of the seat was strong among other soft rubbers with intermediate hardness. This hit was also a good feeling. What I personally felt was that it could be used in the foreground. Compared to other R45 and Riser Pro 45, EL-S is a little hard and has a good ball holding, so I felt that it is a rubber that can be fully recommended even in the foreground. The point that I can recommend for the fore is that EL-S has the amount of rotation of the serve obtained from the good holding of the ball, the ease of driving, especially the ease of producing the arc line when the hitting point is dropped. It was good to be able to drive as I imagined even if I used it in the foreground. I felt that it was good to aim for a polite and rally-oriented table tennis that was easy to aim at the course.
Like the rubber of TIBHAR, there is also a good meat and momentum!
It’s easy to spin, but when I hit it with a meat or a strong play, I felt that the flight distance would be longer than I expected. I felt that this area was like TIBHAR. Although it is easy to handle, the meat and playing are quite intense. However, it is not a butterfly rubber or adhesive rubber, so I felt that the amount of rotation would drop if I hit it with a meat type or a little playing. There is a feeling that it will fly away without being settled. However, once I get used to it, I think it’s easy to get around the no-touch ace like a TIBHAR player and decide the counter.
Each technical review
Forehand
Light hit I didn’t feel any discomfort.
Drive on long balls and rallies It was a little too soft and I felt an energy loss. I usually use rubber of 50 ° or more, so it may be natural. The ball is shallow and easy to enter. When using rubber with medium hardness, I feel that the energy loss will be reduced if the ball is attracted more carefully. Also, when I tried to hit the drive with all my might, I felt that the amount of rotation was low. However, since the speed is outstanding, I think that it is a rubber that makes inquiries and competition from the middle team fun. In addition, it is a rubber that can be attracted to the very limit and it is easy to make arch lines, so it may be a rubber that is easy to attack technically by driving, such as turning it upside down or dropping it on the net.
Drive with open face The first impression is that it bites too much, but thanks to the grip of the seat, it was easy to drive even if the surface was opened. I felt that the amount of rotation was very large and the ball could be sunk firmly.
Top spin (loop) drive against back spin I felt that it was easy to hit the ball with a sense of security and loop drive to drop it on the net. Even if the impact is strong, the ball does not pop out, so I felt that it was easy to do a fairly high quality loop drive. I think that this alone can be used as a Mazumazu weapon. This point was a pretty good feeling.
Speed drive against back spin I personally found it difficult to do. If you hit it yourself, you will speed up too much and the ball will not sink. I felt that I couldn’t put it in the opponent’s court stably unless I hit it with a little more open surface and hit it firmly. However, I think that this way of hitting will also cause energy loss, so I think that Evolution’s MX series high hardness sponge rubber (MX-P, MX-S, MX-D) can hit a better ball. increase. Also, I think there is a way to speed drive by rubbing because of the middle hardness. However, the maximum speed may drop.
Curve / shoot drive I think it’s easy to bend because it’s easy to control the ball shallowly.
Block This was relatively easy to do. However, I also felt that it was easily affected by the rotation of the other party. There seems to be a preference around here.
Counter drive Since it is a little good to bite in, it may be difficult to suppress it if you try to change the rotation. Meat type may be better.
Stop & Push It was easy to stop because of the seat. It was a good feeling that there was little popping out. I don’t think it’s inseparable. This is also hard to float, but the ball seemed a little light.
Serve It was good to be able to cut it firmly.
Backhand
Light hit It’s soft, so I thought it would be easy to hit it thickly and play it. This kind of thing is difficult for rubber with medium hardness, isn’t it?
Drive on long balls and rallies Compared to Dignics 05 and Tenergy 05, it is hard to get an arc, so I felt it would be difficult to go down. However, the swing speed is slower than that of hard rubber, and it is easy to drive even with a weak force, so I feel a sense of stability and security.
Top spin (loop) drive against back spin There was a sense of stability. I’m glad. However, the maximum amount of rotation may be low. This may be a lack of skill in your backhand drive. Personally, I felt that it was a nice point in the backhand to be able to attract the opponent’s ball to the last minute.
Speed drive against back spin I felt it was more difficult than the fore. I felt even more lacking in my arms here.
Block It was very easy to do. Meat balls are also easy to block.
Counter drive I felt it with Rhyzer Pro 45, but the meat-like counter was good.
Stop & Push It was easy to do without floating. I like the S type seat for the Evolution series. It’s not inseparable, but when I tried to cut it to the maximum, it was quite difficult. I think it’s easier to cut if you drop the hitting point like chopper.
Chiquita It’s easy to do. It’s easy to put in with a weak force. The power is low.
Comparison with other rubbers (personal impressions)
Spin amount Evolution MX-D ＞ Evolution EL-S ≧ Quantum X Pro
