Donic Coppa Speed

While the rubber is pretty fast, it is not quite as fast as the Joola Express One.

Physical Properties:
I bought the black sheet in maximum thickness. The sponge is medium soft; without a durometer, I would estimate it to be either 42.5 or 45 degrees on the tensor scale. Interestingly, it has a peculiar smell—not the high notes of tensor rubbers nor the unpleasant odor typical of Chinese brands; in fact, it smells like licorice, no joke.

The topsheet appears to be of high quality and reminds me of the Roxon topsheet. It is completely non-tacky. It’s worth noting that this is a Donic rubber made in Japan, and it does not come with a tensor protector film. So far, I see no resemblance to Tenergy or any closely related rubber products with a spring sponge.

Speed:
The speed on slow strokes is quite fast, comparable to a quick first gear. However, this does not translate to an uncontrollable short game. As with all tensor rubbers, as long as you use only the topsheet for short game strokes, you will be fine; the moment the ball touches the sponge, you’ll see it soar an impressive nine meters in height.

Power loops with the Coppa Speed are incredibly fast. However, the problem lies in the throw angle. The angle increases as you hit harder, resulting in less generated spin (especially when compared to Chinese rubbers). Nonetheless, it is undeniably fast enough for me to finish off any shot that is Higher than the net.

Smashing with the Coppa Speed is effortless; simply contact the ball, and the rubber does all the work for you.

Spin:
Spin on slow loops is fairly low, and experienced blockers often find themselves dumping the ball into the net, misjudging based on my technique and mistakenly expecting huge spin—however, there is none.

The spin on medium-paced and fast loops is even less effective. There is just enough spin for the opponent to either block it nicely or counter it effectively. It’s not lacking enough to create problems, but it’s also not spinny enough to cause them to misjudge the shot.

The spin on serves is acceptable but certainly nothing special compared to Higher, which is my original forehand rubber. My serves are generally quite good, resulting in enough pop-ups for me to capitalize on and plenty of returns into the net.

Interestingly, the spin on pushes is impressive! Just like the Impuls Speed, if you softly graze the topsheet (as done in the short game), the pushes are loaded with spin! However, if you make even the slightest contact with the sponge, all the spin disappears, causing the ball to float. Coming from Chinese rubbers, the difference in feel is very apparent to me. If you can master this control, it will work exceptionally well for you; if not, the rubber might just take YOU for a spin, and you may find yourself frustrated as you pick up the ball.

Control:
Blocking with this rubber isn’t as solid as with Higher, so the feedback leaves something to be desired. Nevertheless, the blocks remain good and controllable, just lacking in that crucial feeling.

Pushing is easy as long as you manage how deeply you contact the rubber. Loop placements are significantly easier than with Chinese rubbers.

Other Playing Properties:
The throw angle is actually quite low and becomes progressively Higher as you hit harder. The rubber is not overly sensitive to incoming spin, making blocking a simple task. The “glue feel” is present but not as pronounced as with the Impuls Speed—perhaps comparable to applying a thin layer on a sheet of Bryce FX. The sound is there, but nothing remarkable. Surprisingly, the rubber is not too soft; it feels similar to the Plasma 430 but plays much firmer upon impact.

Other Comments:
The crispness on hits and softness on loops give it a tensor-like feel. If I played with this rubber without the logo, I might be left wondering which tensor I was using. It does not resemble Tenergy (not even the 64 version) in terms of feel or properties. So, for those searching for a cheaper alternative to Tenergy, you might want to look elsewhere, such as the Donic Baracuda rubber.

This is a very good alternative to Tenergy 05. The rubber is exceptionally spinny in every aspect, similar to the Stiga Boosts. It is also very dynamic and can easily compete with tensors regarding dynamics. Additionally, considering the speed it generates, this rubber is extremely controllable.