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The Friendship/729 General (Cross Sponge) rubber is a versatile choice for beginner and intermediate players, praised for its balanced characteristics and affordability. With a speed rating of 9, spin rating of 10, and control rating of 9, this rubber is designed to enhance your game while remaining easy to handle, making it popular among those honing their skills. Its medium-firm sponge hardness, rated at 6.9, provides a reliable feel for a variety of strokes, making it an excellent training rubber.
In terms of tackiness, the Friendship/729 General possesses a moderate grip rated at 5.9, allowing players to experience and learn how spin influences their play without being overly challenging. While it may not enable the user to pick a ball directly off the table, it effectively interacts with incoming spin, facilitating a deeper understanding of the game’s mechanics. Its relatively low weight, rated at 4.6, contributes to its ease of use, particularly for players still developing their technique.
Durability is another strong point for the Friendship/729 General, with an impressive rating of 7.8. Players have noted that it withstands frequent use and “beginner abuse” well, making it a cost-effective long-term investment. For those searching for alternatives, other options like the Kokutaku 868 and various tensors may offer enhanced performance for advanced players, but Friendship/729 General remains a dependable choice for those looking to improve their foundational skills. Overall, this rubber strikes a commendable balance between performance and affordability, solidifying its status as a favored training option.
I bought this as a spare rubber and it surprised me very much in a positive way. Don’t let the cheap price mislead you to think that it’s a bad rubber. This rubber has a very good cost-benefit relation. As a traditional penholder, the rubber has proportioned me the things I need for my play style: good control for blocking, good spin for both chop blocking and forehand top spin.
729 General Table Tennis Rubber Review
Overview:
The 729 General is an excellent training rubber designed for both forehand (FH) and backhand (BH) use. It features a medium hard topsheet available in three sponge hardness options: 42, 44, and 46 degrees.
Black Topsheet (FH):
The black topsheet is highly tacky, providing exceptional grip for spin generation. It comes with a blue sponge. Despite its medium hardness, the black topsheet offers moderate speed, allowing for controlled play. However, it can also deliver powerful shots when needed.
Red Topsheet (BH):
In contrast, the red topsheet is only slightly tacky and has a red sponge. It prioritizes control with a lower spin and speed than the black topsheet. It is generally preferred for BH use.
Comparison to Hurricane 3 Neo:
Compared to the popular Hurricane 3 Neo, the black 729 General is slightly slower but offers better control. It matches the spin capabilities of the H3 Neo and is slightly lighter.
Value for Money:
The 729 General is an affordable option for players seeking a tacky Chinese rubber. Its price-to-performance ratio makes it an excellent choice for those on a budget or wanting to experiment with tacky rubbers.
Note: The manufacturer has updated the packaging for this rubber. The image on this website may not reflect the current design.
Great hybrid style rubber. Yes, you read that right: hybrid. I agree with site reviews and specs out of the pack. However, after a short adjustment phase, it settles at a low tack and high grip that is not suitable for classical Chinese strokes.
Out of the pack, it has enough tack to lift the ball off the table for a fraction of a second. However, now it can only lift a plastic cover. Without tack and catapult, it is a “dead car” with no high gear, fit for a beginner to develop their strokes. It was getting tiresome, so I decided to boost it.
The medium-hard rubber responded very well to the booster. I used two layers of liquid paraffin, leaving it with no dome. It has more catapult than unboosted Sriver. It is closer to European than to Hurricane 2.
63g uncut, 48g cut. I rated the specs after the adjustment phase and after the booster, as that is how it will be played most of the time. It is great for backhand but does not suit my style on the forehand, as it tends to slip on brushing strokes.
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