Friendship/729 FX EL Super Soft

It can be fast when you hit hard and very slow when you need; however, you don’t have control.

Spin 6/10.

Soft here = hard.

I use this rubber for forehand (FH) chopping and attacking, primarily for chopping. (1.8mm)
I find it effortless to control my chops and ensure that my attacks clear the net.
This rubber is recommended for beginners and intermediate players.

Was playing with Spinlord Marder and wanted to try something even cheaper as I play a lot. I prefer soft rubber, so I ordered this.

I was disappointed at first because this rubber is very hard, and calling it soft is a joke. However, as a close-to-table blocker, I love this rubber. I have it in a 1.2, and it is very controllable with lots of gears. Awesome for control and placement.

I found it to be average in serving, it is spinny but nothing special. The low throw makes this awesome for close table play. If it is as durable as others say, it will be my go-to rubber.

I wanted a more controlling rubber. This is very good for the money. I put it on a Dr Neubauer Barricade blade, making it one of the slowest setups. But if I execute shots correctly, the ball goes very fast.
Short pushes got better. Backhand and forehand flicks got better. Loops are very forgiving. Put more effort into your swing to get the best, fast, and low loops. Very good setup for a learning player. USATT- 1450.

As a beginner, I used this on my forehand. I found that many of my topspins were going into the net. However, serving was amazing.

NOT SOFT, more Medium. VERY VERY SLOW, even with a max rubber. The ball doesn’t go over the net even with a regular stroke using an OFF+ blade (e.g., epox donic topspeed).

I only bought it because it was $7 on TT11… save your money… for food.

Good for beginners. Speed and spin are okay. Control is good. Not a bouncy rubber.

Review of 729 FX Super Soft Rubber

I have played with this rubber for an extended period and have formed a decent impression of both the black and red versions.

Differences Between Black and Red

Despite having the same stamp, the black and red rubbers feel significantly different. The black rubber exhibits a tacky surface, while the red rubber is not tacky at all.

Control and Performance

The red rubber offers superior control, particularly when executing drop shots and flicks over the table. Even backspin balls can be easily flicked, giving the impression of playing with a poly ball. Both rubbers provide satisfactory push capabilities.

When looping away from the table, the red rubber provides a better “feel” compared to the black rubber. Looping backspin shots is also easier with the red rubber.

Driving with the red rubber feels sharp and precise, while I have not attempted to drive with the black rubber due to its tacky surface.

Subjectivity and Quality Control

The significant difference in feel between the red and black rubbers may be attributed to personal preference. However, I believe that the red rubber offers greater control and precision.

Due to the affordable price of this rubber, there is a potential for inconsistent quality control. It is possible that I received an inferior black rubber or a particularly exceptional red rubber.

Overall Recommendation

Based on my positive experience with the 729 FX Super Soft red rubber, I tried the 729 FX Lightening rubber. However, it did not provide the same level of control and precision as the red version. I would recommend considering the red version for players who prioritize control over spin or speed.

Really like this on my BH, the light tack is helpful for generating spin with a smaller stroke. Also pretty forgiving and consistent, really good for blocking but also decent looping and enough speed to finish the point for sure if well executed.

This is a very friendly rubber. It gives you a lot of spin because of its tackiness. It offers very good control, allowing for precise loops and specific placement.

The speed is not as high as other rubbers, but overall, it’s a nice and inexpensive option for beginners.

I am currently using the black version of this rubber on the FH and am about to replace it as I have simply worn it out. I play at a club 3 hours a day, and it lasted for about 6 months, although there is still a little zip left on my shots.

I suggest this rubber be used for an all-around game as it is very good for CONTROLLED LOOPS, although it loses some of its performance after a month of constant playing. It’s also great for an amateur as it doesn’t require much drilling to get used to.

Although I didn’t particularly like it as I play an offensive game, it didn’t help with making my quick close-to-the-table attacks faster.

All-in-all, you should expect a stable, grippy, and soft rubber if you happen to buy one.

In combination with a fast carbon blade, this rubber demonstrates its real potential. It creates a very annoying topspin trajectory for the opponent, causing the ball to literally dive after the bounce.

I really like it!

Why do people claim that this rubber is light and soft? My experience with the 2.0 and max thickness is that it is heavy and has medium hardness. Despite being labeled as 35 degrees, it doesn’t feel soft. Perhaps these characteristics differ in the 1.5 mm thickness.

Update: The weight of the rubbers varies significantly: the 2mm red is 41 grams, while the 2mm black is 47 grams! This is not an error; both rubbers were purchased from the same magazine at the same time.

This rubber pairs well with the Stiga Off Classic blade.

Slow rubber.

I’ve tried this rubber on Donic Waldner Black Devil. Black Devil is definitely a very hard controlled blade with almost zero dwell time. So if you make a combination with this rubber (2.0 or 1.8) with a very hard blade, it will become a perfect combination (we have more control on stroke). No matter the arc, if you can feel the ball, then it will become easy to touch the table.

I tried this rubber on a fast OFF+ carbon blade. Control is good, and speed is fast when you hit fast. However, it lacks spin – unlike BTY or DHS. The price is good for developing players. It is good for developing strokes before upgrading to spinier rubbers.

Very good backhand rubber for an ALL player.

This rubber is very good and cheap.

The topspins don’t have a great arc, but you can hit very low balls with this rubber and they will still hit the table.

It also has a very good feel for blocking game and returning serves.
When you hit a good one, it will make a “plich!!!” sound.

It is also very light.
Overall, it is a very good rubber and the price is also amazing.
I use it with water glue, so no speed glue, but I’m still happy with it.

However, it doesn’t seem to be very good for an away-from-the-table topspin game because it lacks speed.

This rubber excels in backhand play, providing exceptional control. Having tested approximately 20 rubbers, predominantly Chinese with a few European and Japanese options, this one stands out for its superior control.

Despite its slower speed compared to other rubbers, it retains sufficient pace to secure points. I have paired it with an off-blade, resulting in a balanced setup. The rubber also generates excellent spin. Overall, it ranks among my favorite rubbers.

Review:

This rubber is a great choice for beginners. It offers good control, slow speed, and good spin. The 2.0 mm sponge is an ideal choice for this rubber.

Pros:

• Good control
• Slow speed
• Good spin

I have always used Friendship 1.5 for my backhand. I used to use the “original” but now I use the “SuperSoft” and I would not change this rubber for anything else. Once you are used to this rubber with excellent control you can smash, loop, chop, block, and serve well.

I am an attacking player!!!

I got it in 2.2mm and it is good for chopping. However, for all-out attackers like myself, it was terrible. It’s not good for smashing at all. The loops are okay, but they have no kick when they hit the table. I wouldn’t recommend this rubber for anyone.

It is good for blocking away from the table without sacrificing any power.

Good rubber for beginners. Super soft and slightly tacky - not a very good rubber for an offensive player. At best it’s an All- to All rubber.

Without glue or boosters, this rubber feels like the dodgy stuff that comes with the Dunlop premades (bottom of the range too).

It may work for choppers, but for a serious attacker who isn’t just playing for others’ mistakes, something faster and spinnier is needed.

Very spinny and controlled, but really slow. Good for a close-up control game for beginners.

I’ve only tried this rubber without speed glue, but it’s definitely slow with a very soft sponge.