Friendship/729 Battle MAX PRO

First time using Battle Max Pro after previously using Battle II Provincial Blue Sponge on BTY Lin Gaoyuan. The speed is slower than Battle II, but with better spin. Control is slightly below Battle II, but still very good in aggressive counter game. It has several gears and a low throw angle, making it great for raising underspin balls with a lot of spin. If you prioritize spin over speed, go with Battle Max Pro. I like these rubbers from Friendship. They are good rubbers.

Review:

I play this rubber with a 41-degree hardness on my forehand, using a Sanwei V5 PRO 7-ply wooden blade. The blade’s hardness complements the sponge’s firmness.

BMP is exceptionally tacky, likely the most of any hard rubber I’ve used, and it maintains its tackiness after multiple training sessions. Its speed is impressive, and the low throw when brush looping provides excellent control in pushes, serves, and short underspin strokes.

The spin generated is exceptional, particularly after a slight reduction in tackiness. I enhanced it with a layer of Seamoon Booster, which may have contributed to the improved spin characteristics.

Weight:

• Uncut: 74g
• Cut: 55g

Decent speed unboosted, but more speed with booster. Overall this rubber is pretty good for fh, and does a bit of everything you need.

It is tacky, fairly hard 40d, good speed and good spin. The arc is slightly low-ish, but feels more normal arc than Battle 2. Because of the arc issues, I feel this rubber is better suited for limba-inner carbon blades.

Overall it is pretty comfortable and can do everything you need.

Review:

My current favorite rubber is the Battle 2 Pro/Hurricane (BMP). It excels on hard and stiff blades, allowing for optimal spin, speed, and power. However, softer, flexible blades hinder the BMP’s performance. My experience with BMP has been exceptional when paired with blades like Yinhe V-14 Pro and 729 Yellow ALC. Conversely, it performed poorly on my FangBo B2. Initially, I feared that my BMP might be counterfeit due to its contrasting performance. However, its exceptional play on the 729 Yellow ALC confirmed that it is optimized for hard and stiff blades.

Regarding performance, BMP boasts excellent control and power, enhancing confidence in counter loops and blocking. While it has slightly less spin than the Battle 2 Provincial, it remains tacky initially, losing some tackiness after a few sessions. Notably, it retains more tackiness after six months of play compared to the Battle 2 Provincial. Its durability is also impressive; numerous accidental hits against the table’s edge have left the top sheet undamaged.