Friendship/729 Super FX

The rubber is cheap and semi-tacky, making it a decent choice for the backhand. However, the tackiness gradually fades over time, becoming almost non-existent after a year or two of use.

Cheap and worth the money, this rubber is sort of like Hurricane 3 but slower and has slightly less spin. However, it has better control and a slightly lower throw angle.

It costs 10 bucks at most, so if you like harder tacky rubbers, give it a try.

This rubber is not suitable for attackers. Its red sheet is completely non-tacky and dead. The black sheet may have different properties, but this review only tested the red sheet.

The rubber has a very low throw angle and a weak throwing effect, resulting in a flat arc. Despite these limitations, the rubber offers good control. It is not sensitive to spin and has a soft sponge with no catapult effect.

Due to these characteristics, this rubber is recommended for choppers. However, it is not recommended for any other playing styles.

This rubber is very cheap and is a good choice for players who want to change from playing European rubber to Chinese rubber.

Yinhe Mercury II Table Tennis Rubber Review

I tested the Yinhe Mercury II rubber on a Max Black sponge and an ALL 5ply wooden blade. It’s a faster rubber than I expected, with both the sponge and top sheet being very hard. It’s challenging for beginners and recreational players to brush the ball and perform controlled topspins or backhand flicks. I expected it to be tacky for backhand chopping, but it isn’t.

The rubber is heavy, but the build quality is excellent. The sponge doesn’t crumble, and the top sheet doesn’t crack or unglue from the sponge, indicating durability. While I can handle the sponge hardness, the hard, non-sticky top sheet doesn’t suit my style.

I recommend this rubber for beginners and intermediate players with an aggressive style who play close to the table and favor hard flat hits on the forehand.

Not a bad rubber, but I don’t personally like it. As I am an upper beginner, I have a rather small field of comparison. I can compare it only to my old premade bat and some other cheap rubbers.

It has far more kick and better spin than my old premade bat, but it pales in comparison with other available rubbers. For my taste, they are just too soft and not spinny enough. It’s a good place to start, but I would recommend them only to players who are just starting their table tennis adventure.

Compared to their European soft counterparts, they seem to forgive fewer errors. During the first hour of training, I got more balls in the table with old and used Donic Quatro A’conda than with Super FX.

I stopped using it after a week. Its hard topsheet and hard sponge on a hard blade made the dwell time practically zero. No spin, no grip. The ball was falling off the blade. Very low throw angle. Only good for blocking.

It might work better with a flexible blade. I might have gotten a fake one. Bad rubber, even for beginners.

If you are on a budget, try Yinhe or Palio rubbers instead.

This is an average cheap rubber that is only good for training purposes.

Put it on a flexible blade like the Stiga Allround Classic, and it’s a fantastic rubber at a very low cost. It’s a superb rubber for forehand play. The blade and rubber combination provides excellent control, allowing you to hit harder with more speed and spin. Simply concentrate on your technique.

A good rubber to start with when entering the world of table tennis. It is both cheap and playable.

Yes, it’s cheap, but unless you’re a beginner, I found this rubber to be of little quality. It’s hard and bouncy, which makes control difficult and hardly provides any spin. Looping is very difficult, especially when faced with even moderate backspin. Certainly not one for intermediate or better players.

Made for boosting. When unboosted, it has a very hard sponge with a low throw angle, making medium distance play very difficult. I applied 5 layers of Falco and the rubber is now really very good. Having played with Hurricane 3 Neo and Skyline TG2 before, I can say that after boosting it is identical to these. However, be warned that it plays like a rock when unboosted.

I have been using a lot of more expensive rubbers but always end up preferring this one. Probably I think I am better than I am since I use this. This rubber is filled with enough speed and spin for me. It is easy to play against backspin and playing loops far from the table is a breeze. I am using FH red 2.2 and BH black 2.0. I think this rubber is suited for beginners to very demanded players!

The rubber produces much spin, but it produces little speed (for me). So, when I do a loop, it’s very spinny, but it’s slow.

However, it might be good for backhand (BH), but it’s bad for forehand (FH). It’s good for flick and has enough spin for serves.

The tackiness reduces very fast, but it still easily accumulates dirt.

How can you give this rubber a speed of over 7 in the overall rating? What did you compare it to? It’s a very slow rubber. I have Donic Coppa Platin Soft X2 and Donic Bluefire M3, and they are much faster. Even the pips I was trying, Thibar Grass DTecs, are faster!

This chip rubber provides cheap effects and is not suitable even for beginners. It is overpriced for its poor quality. Its performance is comparable to Reactor Corbor, which is available for only 3.5 USD.

The rubber is suitable for blocking, countering, and pushing. It generates significant backspin, making it ideal for defensive play. Despite its ability to create spin, it remains stable against incoming spin due to its hard sponge. Topspin attackers may find it unsuitable as it lacks the necessary characteristics for effective topspin play.

Color: Black

Sponge: Blue

Thickness: 2.0 mm (2.8 mm after boost)

As I play table tennis for fun only, I boost this rubber and use speed glue. This rubber excels on looping strokes and counter looping. It also offers decent control on block strokes and provides good control in touch play. The tacky surface can generate significant spin, but this can also be a disadvantage when receiving incoming spin. In my opinion, there are newer generation Chinese rubbers with more spin and speed, but the blue sponge of this rubber is attractive enough for me to continue playing with it.

Very good rubber! Best for moderate-level players, very compatible with any blade in the table tennis market.

Very good Chinese rubber. It goes well with hinoki outer plies blades such as Nittaku Clout or other offensive blades.

First of all, this is very cheap rubber that is worth much more than you’ll pay for it. It is not as slow as you might think. Spin is okay, and control is the best. I’m currently using a 1.5 mm sponge, and it is just fine. Black rubber with a blue sponge is better for forehand. It is quite a subtle distinction, but it is there.

I am a two-wing looper, and loops are easy to perform with my Donic Appelgren Allplay Senso V2 racket, which gives a medium-high throw. Pushes are great also. Blocking is fine but not too dangerous for your opponent. The rubber is medium tacky and a bit heavy, but it doesn’t bother me much. I’m using mostly Friendship rubbers. Considering the price and quality, buying 10-15 times more expensive rubbers is a waste of money for a recreational player.

Edit: After some time playing with this rubber (now I use 1.8 mm), I still think it is bang for the buck. Maybe just a little slow for match game and not the best for countering topspin. But hey, it costs about $4-5.

Very good beginner rubber, very tacky, not too fast or too powerful. I had it as my first rubber, it lasted for about six months, but it’s a good rubber for helping you get into the game.

I was really blown away when I played with this rubber on my backhand. It provides absolute control and is very cheap, costing only Rs.850 in India. I love playing backhand topspins and taking the initiative in the game. This rubber has helped me achieve that. Pushing can be difficult at times due to the high throw angle, but if you get used to chopping, no one can counter hit you. This rubber is a must for beginners and intermediate players. It offers perfect control and an amazing amount of spin. Overall, I give it a 9/10.

When I glued this rubber to my blade and started to play, I immediately exclaimed, “WOW!” It may not be exceptionally fast, but considering its price, it’s an incredible rubber.

One of the aspects I particularly appreciate is its ability for pushing. It allows me to generate a significant amount of backspin, which I find particularly useful on my backhand.

While the rubber is effective for blocking, it can be challenging to execute a “perfect” block due to the sponge’s limited power. To block effectively, a forceful forward motion of the racket is required.

Initially, I preferred to step back from the table while blocking and simply return the ball. However, I found it somewhat easier to block after the ball had already bounced.

Very thick and hard top sheet. This rubber is very slow. It is extremely hard to loop with. It suits chopping and pushing with thin sponge.

The Best Allround!

This is an excellent choice for all-around players. It combines speed, control, and spin in a perfect balance, making it suitable for both offensive and defensive play styles.

Great rubber, but not for me.

It’s very slow, but a hard fullhit makes it seem offensive. Blocks are often low and fast.

Great for push and serves if the technique is right.

The red sheet always has an orange sponge and less tack, seeming very elastic and bouncy. The black comes with orange and blue sponge. The one with blue sponge has more tack, and the sponge is harder. It’s especially made for the forehand.

Maybe great and very offensive on something like Avalox Blue thunder 555 or 777.

This is a classic Chinese style tacky top-sheet with a very firm sponge. The sticky surface makes it easy to impart lots of spin in serves. It is also very sensitive to incoming spin, which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. It forces the player to be alert to their opponent’s actions and respond appropriately.

Looping, chopping, and pushing are all easy to execute with this rubber. Control is good, and it excels in 3rd ball attacks and close to table play. However, it may lack in loop to loop rallies. When used on the FH, it is best to hit the drive the ball into the sponge to gain speed and control. Hits/drives and loops give a crisp ball impact sensation.

There is no catapult effect, so good body/stroke mechanics are necessary for speed and penetration. This makes it a good training rubber. The spin can be very high, but compared to the latest tensors, it is slow and not lively. Players often put this rubber on a blade with some flex to compensate. Playing away from the table requires much effort.

Despite its drawbacks, the rubber is cheap and durable.

Buena relación calidad-precio, como las Friendship en general, esta goma es buena para principiantes y jugadores un poco más avanzados. Tiene un buen control, consigue un buen efecto, aunque menos que la 729 Hitger y también menos velocidad que la 729 Oem. Sin embargo, es polivalente para todo tipo de juego dependiendo del grosor.

Es válida para un juego allround y permite realizar también ataques, especialmente si se utiliza con una madera rápida. Tiene una gran duración. Es recomendable para los que se están iniciando, ya que es mejor que comprar gomas tensionadas mucho más caras.

Quite nice for backhand looping. Very easy to loop against backspin. A bit on the heavy side.

If you are looking for reasonable spin and exceptional control, this is the perfect rubber.

Easily the best value rubber in the entire market.

To keep it short, I think it’s a great rubber for its equally great price!

I think it’s also a very good rubber for beginners who are learning how to counter serves, spins, and control their game. The rubber is also applicable in many higher levels. There is a smaller amount of speed; however, control and tackiness may well cover the cost of that fault. All-round players will probably benefit from it more than others, but others can use it until they discover their true rubber or develop a technique complimentary to it.

I am (and always will be) using this inexpensive but high-quality rubber from Friendship 729. The Super FX is quite similar to the GeoSpin Tacky and the RITC 729. It is a very durable rubber that can last significantly longer than the usual playing hours, unlike other rubbers that can easily wear off.

This rubber is not suitable for beginners, as it requires a lot of training and getting used to. It pairs perfectly with Friendship 729 blades, and I use it on both my FH and BH. The feel of it in the Forehand is quite powerful, especially when it is newly cleaned, and its tackiness is maintained. It can generate tremendous spin, particularly when used with services that consume a lot of spin for the opponent to rebut.

Unlike other rubbers, the Super FX has a hard sponge, which provides a different level of control compared to rubbers with soft sponges. This rubber is often underrated, but its overall performance makes up for it. Looping can be a problem if it is not cleaned frequently, but this is a small drawback considering its durability and longevity. For its affordability and overall quality, I would give the Friendship 729 Super FX a 5-star rating.

As a defensive player, I use this rubber in black with a very hard blue sponge on my drive. I highlight its great control for serves with spin and for blocking shots from outside the table. It is very good overall. I use it in 1.5 thickness and I am going to try it in 1.8 to see if I can get a little more speed for the final attack.

This is a classical Chinese rubber that is very tacky, providing high spin and low speed. This combination makes it perfect for beginners and for all-round players.

As a beginner, I really liked this rubber. It’s very spinny and tacky for serves and up-close play, with good control and decent speed. My one complaint is that it doesn’t handle incoming spin that well.

The sponge is hard but softer than DHS Neo rubber.

Used as my backhand on a hinoki-carbon blade, this rubber provides consistent play for defensive-attacking styles. It’s an excellent combination for my playstyle, offering greater control than the more expensive Tenergy 05.

Ovo je jedna relativno dobra guma za početnike. Jeftina je i dugotrajna, ali bih za početak preporučio LKT proXP 1.8 jer je mekša i ima hvatljiviju površinu.

Imao sam 729xp gume debljine od 1.8 do 2.2. Varijante 2.2 su se pokazale kao veoma dobre u igri van stola i vraćanju spinovanih lopti, a 1.8 sam imao na forhendu skoro dva meseca, ali mi nisu ostavile baš neki utisak. Kad bi imala samo malo hvatljiviju površinu, mogao bih da kažem da je odlična zamena za Butterfly Tackines D ili C. Guma je trajna, spužva je tvrda, a površina je blago hvatljiva.

Naravno, kao i sve kineske gume, hvatljivost na crnoj gumi traje vremenski duže od crvene.

Very good rubber! Considering how much I had to pay for it, it’s a great value.

It speeds up quite a bit when the tackiness starts to wear off.

You can do just about anything with the right stroke using this rubber. It lasts a very long time if you clean it immediately after every use. I recommend very firm wipes with damp (water only) silk.

This is a high quality and beautiful allround rubber. It lasts a long time and has a very cheap price.

This rubber is great for beginners, providing excellent control, spin, and effective block shots. It features a relatively slow and low throw angle, making it suitable for those who prefer controlled gameplay. Additionally, this rubber is extremely affordable, offering great value for money.

If you are an Olympic player, you’ll benefit from a faster rubber. However, for those who are good but not great, it is great all-around rubber, allowing control enabling counterattack.

It is reasonably fast, tacky, and spinny, but control is its strength for me. I keep coming back to it despite playing competitively with a wide range of rubbers of faster and tackier properties. I would recommend it for players of all ages and abilities until you realize your potential. Then you may or may not stick with it.

It is also easy to replace as the price is low. I have used it on fast and slow bats with good effect—recommended—but although there are numerous types of 729, the Super FX or Super Soft are the ones I prefer.

I haven’t used a wide range of rubbers for comparison, but among those I have tried (including several priced above $30), this rubber stood out for its exceptional spin and control without compromising speed.

While I hesitate to give it a definitive rating due to my limited experience with other rubbers, I believe it’s a solid choice that offers a well-balanced combination of performance characteristics.

Very spinny, really easy to control.

Really like this rubber. It’s great for beginners! Now that I am improving, I don’t use it as much because it is quite slow. I use a faster rubber now.

Awesome rubber for a beginner. It is very durable and, most importantly, extremely cheap.

This rubber is great for beginners. However, it is sometimes used at higher levels as well. Note that the sponge is hard, not medium.

Very nice rubber for both defenders and offensive players. I believe everyone should try it at least once, because it can produce a significant amount of spin and speed while maintaining a low throw angle. Additionally, it is more affordable than other similar rubbers on the market.

This rubber is excellent for spin and is recommended for players of all levels. For the price, you will never find anything comparable. It is a very good rubber.

I really liked this rubber as a beginner. It’s very spinny and tacky for serves and up close play. It has good control and decent speed.

However, my one complaint is that it doesn’t handle incoming spin that well.

This is a good all-around rubber, especially considering the price.

Overall, I rate the rubber 8.5 for training purposes. It’s cheap, consistent, and durable while providing enough spin and control to develop good technique.

Training rubbers should prioritize these qualities. As an example, when my workplace acquired a table, I provided four rackets instead of the low-quality ones that came with it. I chose ALLround blades to maintain a slower pace, but even inexperienced players were surprised by the bounce.

Despite office abuse and infrequent cleaning, the mildly tacky surface vanished within months. However, the rubber still offers sufficient mechanical grip after two years.

With the slower blade, many in my office have enjoyed the game, improved their consistency, and become decent players. Some who had never played before now participate.

Regular players can also enjoy the rubber’s capabilities, eliminating equipment as an excuse for performance.

I highly recommend this rubber as a trainer for new players or children. It’s affordable and provides the necessary playability for a solid foundation.

Keep in mind: Don’t underestimate the Super FX. Pair it with the fastest blade you can afford. As your game progresses (or your children outgrow it), you can upgrade the rubbers.