Andro Roxon 450

The rubber is very similar to the Roxon 500, but it features a softer sponge. As a result, it offers less speed, less spin, and slightly better control. I tested it with MAX sponge on the Kinetic Suprime OFF and the Galaxy K-4, using it for both forehand (FH) and backhand (BH).

As a forehand rubber, it lacks penetration and finishing power, as well as spin. However, it performs well for backhand blocking.

I have this rubber on my forehand, and this is my second sheet; the first one was 2.0 mm, and now I have the max thickness. I am very happy with it.

I have tried a lot of other rubbers, including Bryce Speed FX, Hexer, Hexer+, Platin, and Platin Soft. My forehand preferences are Roxon 450 and Donic Platin, but Roxon offers better control and durability. Platin is only marginally better in terms of spin.

A highly offensive rubber that offers excellent spin and speed.

The hitting game is perfect. However, the spin game is somewhat lacking. On a positive note, the sound produced during play is delightful.

I have been using the same paddles with Butterfly T Energy 5 and Roxon 450. After playing with both for six months, I have noticed that Roxon 450 produces more spin, while the speed is quite similar. However, the surface of Roxon tends to wear down after only 1-2 weeks of intensive play, whereas T Energy 5 is much more durable.

In terms of gear performance, both rubbers are comparable. They can both achieve slow, low, and spiny loops, as well as powerful loops. However, I found that control when it comes to pushes is better with T Energy 5. Chops behind the table are about the same for both rubbers. That said, making loops from 6+ feet behind the table is easier with Roxon 450 due to its thicker sponge (2.3 mm compared to 2.1 mm for T Energy).

Overall, I would rate Roxon 450 at 9 or 9.5 as an average rating, but it would benefit from improved durability.

This rubber is very good for driving and blocking. However, it tends to lose its high speed and spin after about a month of use. Additionally, it is quite difficult to execute slow and spiny loops with this rubber.

A new generation of tensor rubbers aims to solve the problems associated with the previous generation, particularly issues with the short game and durability.

This rubber is among the most spinny when compared to other tensors, as it is very lightly tacky. I believe it is slightly spinnier than the Platin and about the same as the Zeta.

The new Roxon 450 features incredible speed, characteristic of tensors, along with a very good rebound effect. However, it offers less rebound than previous tensors for an improved short game. While it is slower than the Plasma, it is still very fast. The short game has seen improvements, but it’s still not as effective as classic rubbers, in my opinion.

Blocking with this rubber, when paired with the right blade (I believe any hard outer plied blade will suffice), is incredible, and this is arguably the best aspect of the rubber. Fast drives are also impressive. Other features are quite good, but nothing particularly special.

Despite improvements in durability that prevent the rubber sheet from tearing easily, the bounciness does noticeably decline over time, depending on the skill level of the user. While it remains playable for those who are still developing their skills, I would suggest a slower rubber for better short game performance for less experienced players.

If I had unlimited funds, this would be a great rubber to consider. In summary, it is almost a typical tensor, leaving it up to you to decide if it’s the right choice for your game.

This rubber is well suited for aggressive blocking and smashing. However, it has only a little grip, so you should not expect it to be very spinny.

Pushing with this rubber is ineffective, as it lacks the necessary grip, causing the ball to pop out easily. Therefore, you may want to consider trying other tensor rubbers instead.

The newer generation of tensors emphasizes the short game, and the Andro 450 really represents an improvement over previous models in this regard.

However, when it comes to counterlooping and similar techniques, the Plasma 470 excels, offering significantly better “glue feel,” spin, and speed.

Additionally, the 450 is not well-suited for thin contact brush loops, making it necessary to adopt a ‘Euro’ loop technique instead.

It’s worth noting that the 450 performs better on harder blades compared to softer ones.