Donic Desto F3

I’ve grabbed a USED sheet of Desto F3 2 MM from ebay. The seller marked the rubber as 30% used and out of the Germany based TT club. So didn’t had high expectations as I’ve got this for about 15 bucks.

It sat for about 5 months before putting it on my DHS H301. Out right, started using on my backhand, feeling was soft, bouncy and overall felt very similar to Xiom Vega Euro. Infact, much better in flicks than Vega Euro. Masters in close to the table play and fishing is fun far away from the table.

Thoroughly satisfied for a used rubber and no doubt about durability. Pretty good for intermediate level players favoring spin based controlled game on backhand. Go for it!

This rubber has a really nice sound. It offers the best control I have ever found in a rubber, and the best feel ever. However, it lacks spin and speed. Overall, it’s a great rubber for a beginner player.

I like this rubber. As with all reviews, some rubbers feel right.

I use this as my standard rubber over Mark V.

It does not have the best control and can feel slick at times.

I’ve been playing with this rubber for many years, both in FH and BH. It’s a great choice for topspin-based attacking players. Control is quite good for an offensive rubber. Desto F3 isn’t the best at generating spin, but it’s not bad for a European rubber. It definitely has enough speed for efficient attacking/winning strokes.

It’s definitely my “base” rubber and I would recommend it to any topspin attacker.

Perfect for developing players transitioning from hitting to looping mechanics, the Friendship F3 provides a delicate and accurate grip. Its speed is not as slow as reviews suggest, particularly when using a 2.0mm version, which effectively transmits power between blade and ball. Most notably, its price is reasonable for beginners. I’d rate it 9+ for beginners specifically. (Prices may vary by region; in my country, F3 costs around 30 USD, similar to Mark V.)

I recommend F3 over Mark V, a popular beginner choice, due to its softer and more versatile nature. Mark V requires a harder/stiffer blade to penetrate, which demands greater skill, making it somewhat paradoxical for beginners, especially self-taught ones. (I initially paired Mark V with YE and struggled to understand its reputation for softness and bite.)

F3 acts as an honest mediator between you and your blade, allowing you to feel its characteristics and evaluate your own skills. Blades play a more significant role in shot quality than rubber, so focus on developing skills rather than chasing expensive, powerful rubbers.

Note that pairing a soft rubber like F3 (2.0mm) with a stiff/hard blade (e.g., Kinetic Supreme Off-) can lead to reduced control, affecting pushing and looping. A max version of F3 can mitigate this, trading vertical power & speed for improved grip, dwell, and feel. Generally, 2.0 is recommended for softer blades and max for harder blades.

Due to its softness, consider switching to a harder rubber if you experience excessive ball dispersion. In such cases, Sriver EL (max) would be a suitable alternative.

Currently, I use 2.0 F3 with my YE blade and max F3 with Temper Tech Off- BH, achieving excellent results.

I use this on my backhand. It performs well for pushing, soft looping, and decent blocking. It offers good control overall.

This rubber provides good spin and speed. However, its blocking capabilities are poor. On the other hand, it offers rather good control.

I’ve tried other rubbers on my backhand, but I keep coming back to this one. It has a decent inbuilt speed glue effect. Looping feels really good. Hitting is okay, but the rubber is a bit slow. However, it provides good dwell and catapult for flipping. Pushing is a bit bouncy, but I’ve gotten used to it.

Unfortunately, the rubber is not very durable. I like it best straight out of the package. After a couple of months, the sponge softens up significantly. It’s still very usable, but it has about a 0.5 point less speed.

I imagine the softness of the sponge makes this rubber too slow for higher-level players. I’m beginning to find that the rubber bottoms out on my harder loops and will probably move to 2.2mm soon.

See description for F2.

This has just a hair more glue effect, as typically softer versions of the same tensor rubbers will have more click. However, with use the F2 will become just as soft as the F3.

The Desto F3: An Under-rated Rubber for Intermediate Players

An intermediate player in his 40s highly recommends the Desto F3 rubber due to its underrated performance. He pairs the Desto F3 max with a Yinhe T8S blade on his forehand. The soft rubber provides excellent control while the elastic topsheet adds aggression. This combination results in smooth drives and allows him to prioritize control over excessive speed.

During practice, the Desto F3 proves to be a pleasant forehand rubber, allowing for a more controlled playstyle. The player acknowledges that more aggressive setups, such as the Butterfly Schlager Carbon and Donic BlueGrip V1, offer greater speed and spin, which can be advantageous in practice. However, in actual game scenarios, the Desto F3’s superior control becomes crucial, preventing opponents from exploiting weaknesses and ultimately resulting in victories.

Pros:

• Superb control in both short and long-distance shots
• Excellent for receiving serves, ensuring point security
• Distinctive sound that attracts attention
• Soft and elastic feel

Cons:

• Requires strength to generate speed
• Moderate spin, making it easier for opponents to receive topspins
• Limited spin on serves due to its lower spin capability

Overall, the player gives the Desto F3 a 9 out of 10 rating, highly recommending it for intermediate players like himself. It is an ideal choice for those who have grown weary of harder and faster rubbers that often lead to disappointing results against average opponents after a positive practice session.