OOAK Table Tennis Forum

What's the best Gambler rubber for offensive, looping players?

I think either volt T or volt M depending on if you like hard or medium sponge.



[url]https://www.zeropong.com/images/GamblerTT_Rubber_Chart.jpg[url]

Volt T is tacky, Volt M isn't. I think Volt T has the harder sponge (in accordance with Chinese practice, and like all the new tacky rubbers from ESN and Butterfly). In the Chinese context Volt T is supposed to be used on the forehand, Volt M on the backhand. Been wanting to try them myself but shipping from the US costs a lot.

If you're in the US get one of each, compare, and post about it here.. they're not all that expensive.

Speaking of tacky rubbers from ESN - I've been playing with a sheet of Rakza Z for several months now. Unlike other ESN rubbers I've tried this hasn't lost it's spin and become grotty after 2-3 months. And it's still extremely tacky, unlike Chinese sheets (which use a layer of glue to make the sheet tacky, which wears off rather quickly). I can pick a ball off the table, and it remains stuck to the bat.

Iskandar

The Volt T black slightly more tacky compared to Volt T red.

If not playing in tournaments boosting is an option.

According to them, boosting the Oh-Toro sponge actually makes it slower.

Iskandar

Yes boosting with Victory Tune a trade off between speed and spin.
Depends on swing speed and technique.

So it depends.

Gambler Mech Tek Oh-Toro.

At higher price point

Gambler X3 Diamond Gold
Initial impression sponge more dynamic than Oh-Toro sponge
Semi tacky topsheet. No idea how long tack will last.

Gambler Volt Speed Gold
Softer than X3 Diamond Gold
Grippy topsheet compared to X3 Diamond Gold

I'm trialing on Off-minus blade (older Butterfly Jonyer Hinoki). 2 training sessions.

Short game needs adjustment as more bounce compared to Oh-Toro.

Maybe too aggressive for my skill level.

I suspect the problem is actually the Off+ blade rather than the rubber.

I might bite the bullet and actually order a few sheets from the US, even with the $20 shipping. When you consider what European or Japanese sheets cost these days I might actually save a little money. Actually, maybe I'll give my shipping consolidator another try (I've used them to order cameras off eBay, never actually thought about using them for table tennis rubber.

Iskandar

My typo on blade speed :>
Using 80's off- Jonyer Hinoki blade for evaluation purposes.

My primary blade is All+.

Only 2 playing sessions into evaluation.

Just had a look at Gambler's web site - there have been some changes to their lineup since I looked last. Among the most expensive rubbers ($24.50) is now X3 Diamond Gold Label. "X3D Gold Label achieves extreme grip with a combination of mechanical and slight tack, culminating in our fastest rubber to date by far." Supposedly comparable to Dignics 05. Their X3 Diamond Oh-toro apparently doesn't have the "slight tack" (or at least, it's not mentioned) and costs $15. There are two other $24.50 rubbers - Volt Pro and Volt Speed. These share "Advanced Power Sponge" with X2 Diamond Gold Label and share the "slight tack" as well. Volt-M is joined by Volt-M Hard, and Volt T, these are $18. These have "best cut" Oh-Toro sponge. I assume the "Advanced Power Sponge" is better than Oh-toro sponge somehow...

Iskandar

I tried a club mates X3 Diamond Gold Label yesterday and it was pretty nice. I was using his blade which is faster than my 7 ply all wood set up, but the rubber has good speed and good spin. It was pretty new, but not first time used new. I think this rubber is a great deal for 25 USD!

I did have the Mech Tek with the special blue sponge (no longer available) on a Xiom Hayabusa ZXi and I loved that setup for the backhand. It was a softer feeling, which didn't quite play the way I wanted on the forehand. It played well for several weeks, almost daily with about 2-3 hours a session, before it lost most of its spin. When Oh-Toro came out, I was hoping it would play better on the forehand so I bought one and glued it on a Palio Energy 01. This setup was probably the worst feeling of all setups I've played. The blade is stiff and rated OFF- and even with the Mech Tek Oh-Toro, it played too slow. Maybe a different blade would have made a difference, but I still wasn't seeing anything good from the rubber. I ended up giving the setup to a friend.

I recently acquired two new rubbers from Gambler: Volt Pro Gold Label and X3 Diamond Gold Label. I'm waiting on my Sanwei CC Carbon to come in, which will be used to test out these rubbers. I'll be sure to report back.