Friendship/729 Presto Spin

I have a sheet of Red 42 degrees on my forehand. The weight is average at 48g cut/67g uncut. 42 degree rubber is hard; I would say it is 50 degrees on the ESN scale. In a side-by-side finger pinch test, it is almost as hard as 40deg Hurricane 3. The sponge is dense and not porous, compared to Xiom Vega Euro DF. The topsheet is very grippy and you can generate a lot of spin. However, speed and catapult are less than Xiom Vega Euro DF. I would prefer more catapult. Overall, it is good rubber for spin and control, but it is too hard for me.

UPDATE: I received a Black 42 degrees, and it is much softer; probably 45 on the ESN scale. And it is 65g uncut. 729’s quality control is really bad for the two rubbers to be so different.

4/6/2021 Update: After only 20 hours of play, the topsheet has zero grip. Durability = 1 out of 10.

Pros:

• High speed on flat hits (possibly due to macroporous sponge)
• Excellent spin and control in looping
• Provides a satisfying “sink” feeling into the sponge during looping, reducing missed shots
• Better suited for forehand than backhand play

Cons:

• Sponge is harder than some comparable rubbers, resulting in shorter dwell time for top spins
• May lack the catapult effect of rubbers like DHS Hurricane II/III NEO

Other notes:

• Tested on a 729 L-3 (Offensive Arylate) blade
• Weight cut: 42g

UPDATE 04/12/2020: After 8 months of use, the rubber’s grip on slow brushes has diminished unless the sponge is engaged, reducing the effectiveness of opening safeplay. The durability has been downgraded to average.

UPDATE 08/19:
I recently acquired a sheet of 729 Presto Spin 44°. Upon attaching it to my H301, I can attest to its remarkable performance as a non-tacky tensor for a Chinese-made rubber. Unlike other Chinese rubbers, it lacks the pungent boost odor.

While the 44° sponge was intended to compensate for my forehand’s lack of speed, the rubber proved unsuitable for my playing style. My attempts at looping and flicking too quickly resulted in the ball bottoming out of the table. Disappointed, I switched the rubber to my backhand, where it surpassed my expectations.

Compared to previous backhand rubbers like Palio AK47 Yellow, 729 Focus3 Plus, and Xiom Vega Euro, the Presto Spin provided an effortless feel. Its catapult effect was present but not excessive, maintaining confidence in looping underspin balls. The top sheet enhanced the catapult, improving the arc’s quality. However, it lacked sensitivity to spin when attempting bare pushes or blocks.

Despite its performance being comparable to European-made intermediate-level tensor rubbers, the top sheet appears fragile. A slight impact with the table caused a small chip on the edge. Further testing is required to determine its durability. Nonetheless, at its price point of $20, it is a worthwhile investment.