Andro Hexer Powergrip

The rubber is very new in my testing phase. It works fabulously with an Andro Novacell OFF blade on the backhand. The spin and spin opening are outstanding. The first topspin mostly doesn’t come back from players of the same level, which is very surprising, especially with the polyball. Blocking, chopping, and smashing are also working well and are very controllable. Testing on other blades is still ongoing. Feedback and results against better skilled players will come next time.

Three years have passed and I’m still playing with Hexer Powergrip. I have tested G-1, Aurus Prime, XIOM Vega Pro, and X. These rubbers are quite as good, but I feel most comfortable with Powergrip on a Novacell OFF blade.

Utilizo esta goma en mi revés junto con un Donic Bluefire M2 en mi derecha, y me parecen un buen complemento. Me siento seguro realizando topspins para abrir el juego, y el control es bastante bueno, al igual que los arcos. Parece que la pelota se va fuera de la mesa, ¡pero no! La gran mayoría entra gracias al gran arco que genera.

No recomiendo jugar a media o larga distancia de la mesa porque pierde bastante su nivel. Sin embargo, su velocidad en un golpe rápido es bastante buena y te ayudará a liquidar puntos rápidamente.

Exactly what you’d expect from a 47.5 degree tensor rubber. It provides a great balance between speed and spin. I never find myself blaming this rubber for missed shots, which makes it a pleasure to play with. The tensor effect doesn’t kick in at random times like some tensor rubbers.

Compared to the Rasanter series, Hexer is more suited to amateur players, whereas Rasanter is tailored towards pros and semi-pros. I would recommend this rubber if you’re looking for a solid tensor rubber. The Hexer series has you covered for a range of sponge hardnesses (40-47.5).

I was encouraged to buy this rubber due to the generally positive reviews I’d read. However, my experiences have been somewhat mixed.

Initially, the rubber played as described, with fantastic spin and control. I found it easy to use, even when my technique was imperfect. The speed was also impressive, making it a joy to finish points with smashes. The throw angle was relatively low, but the sponge “opened up” noticeably with harder impacts, requiring some adjustment.

One issue I’ve encountered is the durability of the topsheet. Despite its grippy texture, it seems to be susceptible to damage, losing its grip and becoming matte. This has significantly affected ball control. I’ve also noticed visible shrinkage in the topsheet, which has made it slightly more difficult to play certain strokes.

Overall, while the rubber initially played well, its durability and shrinkage issues have been disappointing.

Review text:

Hexer Powergrip (HPG) on Tibhar Balsa Defence 25 Blade

• Backhand Rubber: Hexer Powergrip, black, max sponge
• Forehand Rubber: Tibhar R53

Overall Impression:

An excellent rubber with reasonable speed, great spin, control, and good feeling. The medium-hard sponge (47.5) is similar to Tibhar MXP and MXS, especially the MXS in terms of overall feel.

Comparison to Tibhar MXS:

I have switched from MXS on my backhand to HPG and find little noticeable difference between them. They play very similarly.

Differences from R53:

• Softer sponge provides more feel.
• Spin is equal to R53.
• Speed is slightly less but still sufficient.
• HPG is more forgiving than R53.

Performance Characteristics:

• Spin is good on serves, pushes, and chops, with excellent control.
• Blocking can be fast and positive or soft.
• Blocking heavy spinning loops requires good technique.
• Backhand loops/topspins are excellent, with good spin.
• Drives require caution as the catapult effect from the sponge can cause balls to go off the table if hit too hard.

Conclusion:

Andro has produced another great rubber that rivals MXP and MXS. If you were given blank sheets of MXP and HPG, it would be difficult to distinguish between them.

I used Powergrip on my forehand. It can produce a spinny serve and a medium throw angle when driving. The spin feels natural.

Although the spec sheet states that the sponge is 47.5 degrees, it feels softer than that.

The sponge has a feel like a 45-degree hardness, providing many gears and excellent dynamism. However, it does not generate significantly more spin compared to Vega Pro and has a lower trajectory. If you prioritize more gears and easier access to power, Powergrip is a suitable choice. On the other hand, if you prefer better spin and a more affordable option, Vega Pro remains a solid choice. That being said, Thua offers a fun playing experience with an enjoyable sound.

I’m using Hexer Powergrip (2.1mm) on my backhand now (previously using it on both sides–using Tenergy 05 on fh). It’s a really good rubber, and after playing with Rakza 7 for many years, it was a good upgrade.

It has easy access to spin on lower powered shots like ‘warming up’ or slow looping against backspin. It’s very stable on harder shots with good speed. It’s not a speed demon like the Rasanter R47 or Tenergy 05 (2.1mm). I would say it lacks a ‘top speed’ that comes from a “catapult effect” that R47 or Tenergy gives. So on counter looping close to the table or counter looping beyond mid-distance, Tenergy 05 is faster and has more spin. Tenergy 05 would have less access to “spin” on slower/more passive shots.

The topsheet is very grippy (not tacky), so serving and aggressive pushes are quite easy. But the topsheet is not as grippy as Tenergy 05, so I can get more spin even on short serves with T05. Perhaps I am just used to a sponge hardness that is around 47 degrees, but I find it quite easy to block with Powergrip. I find Powergrip to have more emphasis on spin than speed, so that makes it easier to control. The spin generated on normal looping does remind me of Tenergy. So this means it is more for looping rather than flat hitting.

One concern might be weight. It is just as heavy as Tenergy 05.

Review of Table Tennis Rubber

I have used this rubber with Treiber FO on my forehand for a month. If you find Rasanter R47 to be slightly hard or fast, this rubber may be a good option for you. It has a longer dwell time than the Rasanter series, possibly due to its natural rubber topsheet.

The rubber performs well in various strokes such as service, block, push, and topspin. However, its smash is just satisfactory. It requires precise execution and lacks some fault tolerance.

Where this rubber truly excels is in counter-topspin play. Its speed is not as fast as the Rasanter series, but it provides exceptional spin. The ball trajectories are beautiful arcs, allowing you to place the ball with great accuracy. The spin is immense, as Andro claims, resulting in remarkable control and precision.

Andro Hexer Grip

Andro Hexer Grip features a porous sponge with a hardness of 45 degrees, sporting a vibrant green color. My sample was a red square with a 1.9 mm sponge thickness and a weight of 66 grams.

Andro Hexer PowerGrip

As the stronger sibling of the Hexer Grip, Andro Hexer PowerGrip’s most notable difference is its harder sponge, rated at 47.5 degrees with smaller pores. It maintains the signature green color. I tested a black square with a 2.1 mm sponge and a weight of 70 grams.

Initial Impressions

Upon playing with these rubbers, I was met with positive results. Both rubbers exhibited excellent stability and balance. Their spin potential is remarkable. In terms of stiffness, the topsheet falls toward the lower end of medium hardness. It lacks stickiness but maintains good adherence.

Topspinning Performance

Topspins were effortless with these rubbers, instilling confidence in my opening topspins from the backhand. My confidence in the backhand topspin game overall significantly improved.

From the forehand side, topspins were consistent, while counter-topspins were highly reliable. The ideal playing space for me was closer to the table up to mid-range.

Short Play and Control

Adapting to short play was seamless due to the familiarity of these rubbers. The softer Hexer Grip offers slightly slower speed with excellent control and a higher arc, providing a greater margin for error. It is ideal for developing players seeking to boost their confidence.

The Hexer PowerGrip, in contrast, is faster and sharper with a slightly lower arc. It serves as the quicker counterpart to the Grip, with the two rubbers sharing close similarities.

Modern Substitution

In my opinion, these rubbers serve as exceptional replacements for older Hexers, incorporating modern elements that align well with today’s game style.

I used Hexer+ for some time on my backhand. It is a very good rubber, excellent for rpb. This Powergrip version is, for me, an upgrade of the Hexer+. It has outstanding grip on the ball as the game demands nowadays, a really nice speed to kill the point, and an incredible level of spin. All of this together gives an excellent feeling.