Nittaku Best Anti
Rubber description
Characteristics
- Type: Anti-spin
- Speed: Very slow with significant dampening effect
- Spin Potential: Low; generates minimal spin but allows for some manual manipulation at slower speeds
- Surface: Semi-frictionless (not totally slick); offers more grip than newer German-style anti-spin rubbers
- Dwell Time: High, facilitated by a soft and compliant sponge
Performance and Gameplay
This rubber is designed for a tactical, control-oriented game rather than high-speed offensive play. Its primary strength lies in its ability to kill speed and neutralize incoming spin, making it exceptionally reliable for service returns, passive blocking, and short-game placement. Because the surface provides a degree of friction, players can lift backspin balls or engage in a rolling motion, offering more versatility than fully frictionless alternatives.
When used defensively, the rubber is highly consistent for chopping. While it does not provide extreme spin reversal, its ability to return dead or spinless balls disrupts an opponent’s timing and rhythm. The rubber excels in a “placing and blocking” strategy; players are encouraged to use precise placement and speed variations to force errors. For attacking, it is best suited for flat hitting—an effective technique that causes the ball to skid—rather than looping. Due to its very slow nature, users must be prepared to exert force on their strokes to ensure the ball clears the net.
Also Known As
- Chinese: (slang: 防弧, Nittaku防弧)
- Japanese: ベストアンチ (slang: ベスト)
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Recent Reviews
#1 — February 2026
My first Anti. I’ve tried a couple and this one still fits my playstyle the most. I’m not a defensive player, but All+ contrast with a lot of variation. My Best Anti racket has a Fastarc G-1 on the forehand on a Series S S-7 blade (listed as OFF but feels more OFF- or ALL+ due to being softer than most OFF allwoods).
The Nittaku Best Anti is often understood and reviewed as an entirely defensive tool, but due to its medium hardness sponge, you can do pretty quick anti-shots with it that tend to surprise opponents with a no spin, fast dropping ball that is usually sent into the net.
It’s also one of the few classic antis that can be used mid-range and is nice for choppers (I chop quite often especially against quick long serves to the backhand). It can produce zero spin chops or spin-reversal chops depending on chop angle and technique. Although it’s not a lot of spin-reversal, it’s often enough to confuse the opponent if varied, especially in lower leagues, but still pretty effective against more skilled players that aren’t used to playing against anti.
Otherwise, it can do all the anti things, like chop block against top spin or drop shots very well.
I want to emphasize again, that its speed is pretty quick for an anti and is heavily underestimated. Next to nobody I’ve seen makes use of it, even content creators don’t.
Overall, although it has the same weaknesses as all classic antis (not great against shot/smash and quick long serves), it is a very controlled anti with a lot of options that can be used by total beginners, but has a pretty high skill ceiling when it comes to technique, since it’s not one of the slower ones.
#2 — January 2026
Mi primer anti, difícil adaptarse al cambio de ángulo de los golpes al venir de gomas lisas. Al principio la bola no pasaba la red, pero con el tiempo se vuelve un aliado para las recepciones de servicios, con devoluciones cortas y peligrosas cuando se anticipa cerca de la mesa. Complicada para atacar, pero útil para cambiar el ritmo de juego.
#3 — March 2025
I could start playing almost immediately after I put Nittaku Best Anti 1.8 instead of my Donic Acuda S1 2.0. The most amazing thing is how easily I can receive the opponent’s serve.
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