Donic BlueStar A1

Goma extremadamente rápida con mucho spin y buen control.

Esta goma es ideal para quienes prefieren un estilo de juego ofensivo. Ofrece un control excepcional, lo que permite colocar la pelota con precisión y potencia. También produce una enorme cantidad de giro, lo que dificulta que los oponentes devuelvan los golpes. En general, es una excelente opción para jugadores que buscan maximizar su potencial ofensivo.

Review of A1 Table Tennis Rubber

I highly recommend this rubber as a forehand replacement for C1. It provides a successful upgrade, resolving key issues while maintaining desirable characteristics.

The hardness of A1 is measured at 52.5 degrees, while C1 claims a 60-degree sponge. However, A1 feels slightly softer than C1 but harder than C2, making it an ideal substitute for those who find C1 too firm. Booster oil can soften C1’s sponge, but it does not address its excessive weight.

C1 is incredibly heavy at 90 grams uncut. When paired with a blade like the Stiga Cybershape Carbon (86 grams), the overall weight reaches an astonishing 195 grams.

In contrast, A1’s sticky top sheet, similar to C1/C2 and Chinese rubbers like DHS Hurricane 3, provides excellent grip and topspin capabilities. Its speed is slightly faster than C1, delivering a satisfying “crispy” feel during smashes.

In summary, A1 solves the substantial weight issue of C1 while preserving its grippy top sheet. Its slightly increased speed enhances offensive play. It is an excellent choice as a forehand rubber, particularly for those seeking an alternative to Hurricane 3.

Deep Heavy Angle:
On the backend of the table, this rubber provides excellent control for short game shots, allowing for good touch. It exhibits a notable catapult effect on powerful strokes yet maintains controllability during short pushes.

Linearity:
The rubber’s linear trajectory prevents it from diving down from the paddle, enabling high topspin strokes with a sense of security.

Recommendations:
Highly recommended for aggressive forehand topspin attacks. It offers a unique combination of properties, setting it apart from other rubbers. The player feels confident with all-out attacks on the forehand.

Comparison:
Comparable to Dignics 09c and boosted Hurricane 3, this rubber provides similar performance without the need for boosting. However, it is quite heavy.

Update (1/31/2023):
The rubber maintains its tackiness and powerful performance over time. It is predicted to gain popularity as its exceptional qualities become more widely recognized. The player considers it their current favorite forehand rubber and among their top three of all time.

Backhand Use:
On the backhand side, the initial impression suggests similarities to Hurricane Three, but with increased speed. It demands precise technique due to its hard sponge, rewarding good technique with power, spin, and kick. Incorrect contact leads to shots going long. Punches seem to perform well with this rubber.

Review Text:

This rubber is exceptionally fast, making it ideal for blocking, smashing, and hitting. However, it exhibits a peculiar behavior when looping the ball.

Despite generating significant spin, the trajectory of the ball remains remarkably straight. This characteristic may prove challenging for mid-aged amateurs and requires a skill level comparable to school team or higher to fully harness its potential.

While the throw angle is high, the ball’s trajectory lacks the desired curvature I prefer for looping, akin to Xu Xin’s technique. This straight trajectory presents difficulties in controlling the ball’s entry into the table.

While this rubber may align with modern preferences, it does not suit my personal style. Consequently, I have reverted to using Z1 Turbo, which better aligns with my desire for a more pronounced curve when looping.

Very fast rubber

The rubber is very fast, but the spin is not better than T05 (9.9 is not realistic!). The maximum red color weighs 50g. The spin and speed are excellent, and it behaves like EU rubber.

Control

The control is quite special because a flat touch leads to a slow block, but a block with a slight angle leads to a bouncy reaction. So it might take some time to adjust and benefit from such a capability observed on Presson WC89 (SZLC) with spruce as top wood.

Blade compatibility

It was too fast on this SZLC blade, too fast on TB ALC or Viscaria. I am trying to find an OFF- blade to handle this super-fast rubber. Maybe a blade with a speed of 8.5~8.7 might be better than a speed of >9.0.

Tianjin Hurricane 3 Neo National Blue Sponge

This rubber is comparable to the Hurricane 3. However, it requires more effort as it’s easy to shoot the ball out due to its speed and high throw angle. Caution is needed when blocking and countering.

Despite its grippy nature, the short game touch is not as good as the Hurricane 3 (national blue sponge, boosted). However, it still outperforms bouncy rubbers like Tenergy 05. This rubber falls between T05 and H3, resembling a Eurojap tensor designed to mimic the Chinese style of play with increased speed.

The tackiness rating in some reviews appears to be exaggerated. While the rubber is tacky, it is not enough to consistently lift the ball, though you can feel the stickiness.

Overall, this rubber is suitable for aggressive forehands, similar to the style of Ryu Seung Min.

Review:

This is an excellent rubber, offering both great speed and spin. However, it is not recommended for beginners or players with lazy strokes.

Due to its high speed and throw angle, you will need to close the bat more when driving, blocking, and counterlooping topspin. This will prevent you from setting up an easy smash or missing the table. On the other hand, looping and flicking backspin and deadballs will become easier.

I use this rubber on both my forehand and backhand. When used with proper technique, it is deadly. It provides all the speed and spin you could ever need. However, it is crucial to have solid technique to use this rubber effectively; otherwise, it can be difficult to control.