Nittaku Fastarc S-1

Tensor 25 reviews

25 Reviews

#1 — February 2023

Nittaku Fastarc S1

Nittaku Fastarc S1 is by far the best FH rubber I have tried for the Yinhe T11+ blade. It is great for topspins and mid distance looping. Flat hits are powerful, and services are good, short, and spinny (except for Hurricane Neo3, which was great for service). The best part is that I can open any ball with forehand, including heavily underspin balls.

#2 — January 2022

Time for me to come home, to my S1. As a coach, I’ve tried almost every rubber and blade imaginable, with countless combinations of players’ bats. I’m finally done searching for the mythical “it rubber” that will supposedly obliterate your opponents. Don’t fall for this nonsense anymore. Fancy equipment won’t magically make you the player you aspire to be.

The S1 is a well-rounded, controlled rubber that I keep returning to. One of its key features is its lightness, allowing players to hit through the ball with greater speed, generating ample spin. Trust me as a coach: don’t waste your money on expensive high-end rubbers. Say goodbye to those fancy options and get yourself some S1.

#3 — September 2020

Out of curiosity, I decided to pair my Nittaku Violin blade with the Nittaku S-1 1.8mm on both sides, replacing my T05fx.

Initially, some people mentioned that the S-1 was not as fast as the T05fx. However, I found the S-1 to be noticeably faster. My opponents, accustomed to blocking my slower but spinny topspins, struggled with the increased pace.

The S-1 is incredibly lightweight, which is a definite advantage. However, the main downside for me was the reduced spin potential. Aggressive topspins were only slightly affected, but opening loops lacked the spin I was accustomed to. The ball did not soak into the sponge as deeply and shot away comparatively quickly.

If you rely on variation and a wide range of sidespin and topspin on your over-the-table balls, the Nittaku S-1 may not be the ideal choice.

On the other hand, long pushes were fast and effective, giving my opponents difficulty if their movement was imperfect. However, pushing short was extremely challenging, and this, combined with the reduced over-the-table spin, prompted me to remove the S-1 from my backhand after a few weeks of use.

Blocking was relatively easy with the S-1, and receiving serves was not significantly impacted by the opponent’s spin. Overall, the rubber provided a relatively forgiving experience, but ultimately it did not meet my specific playing style.

#4 — June 2019

I love this rubber! It’s fast (though not the fastest), easy to control, and decently spinny. I used it on the FH Yasaka Goiabao 5 and can return any serve consistently. The rubber is not affected by spin at all. Hitting away from the table is consistent and powerful. It’s solid for flat hits and can smack any ball right back.

#5 — December 2018

12/29/2017: Amazing rubber. I have it on Timo Boll ALC. Super speed and control. Spin is good too. Very good for serve receives. I have the black on the BH side, on the FH, I have Tenergy 05. I think I don’t know how to use Tenergy 05 because I feel Fastarc S1 is way better in all aspects.

#6 — July 2018

I had trouble finding a rubber with hardness and medium speed, high throw that will replace my Andro Rasant in FH (this is out of production). I tried Tibhar ELP, but it was too fast and very direct. Tibhar ELS was very fast and heavy, T05 FX was very fast without control and difficult blocking. I then tried Fast Arc S1 and I was impressed. Blocking, topspin, and insensitivity to spin were all good. This will be my rubber for many years, I hope it does not stop being produced.

Update: It seems delicate but is quite the opposite, very resistant and durable. This polyvalent rubber works well in FH and BH, is quite fast, has impressive durability, and is insensitive to spin with a medium angle.

#7 — May 2018

I’ve been using this rubber on my backhand for a couple of years now. Unlike what the “S” stands for in its name, it’s not very fast. However, it’s got consistency and control unlike any other rubbers, which is the reason I’m using it for my backhand.

It has a quite a soft sponge with a grippy and soft topsheet that grabs the ball and produces a ton of spin. For me, the softness doesn’t fit my play style for the forehand but is perfect for the back.

The downside is that the topsheet is brittle. The edge starts cracking and breaking after 3~4 weeks of use, and the rubber itself is good for about 6~8 weeks. TT11 has it for “4 for 3” deal as well as tt-japan, which has it for a pretty low price. For the price you can buy it’s a steal even with lower durability! Still lasts longer than Tenerygy.

#8 — April 2018

Unlike its big brother, Fastarc G1, the Fastarc S1 put a smile on my face the first day I used it. It is fast, has lots of grip, and generates very good spin.

As Vega Pro reminds me of a tamed T05, the Fastarc S1 reminds me of a tamed T64. It has one of the best performance-to-price ratios of any rubber. I use it on my backhand reversed penhold (RPB) blade.

#9 — April 2018

Fastarc S-1 is my go-to backhand rubber. I am not claiming that this is the best backhand rubber ever, but it is the rubber most suitable to my playing style and skill level.

The topsheet is soft, not tacky, but grippy. The sponge feels medium-soft. The rubber is dynamic and can generate a lot of spin, combined with a medium-high throw angle and plenty of control. These characteristics make this rubber super easy to play with.

The best part is that this rubber is cheaper than most tensor rubbers. I would rate Fastarc S-1 as 9.5 out of 10, considering its good performance and great value.

#10 — August 2017

I bought S1 1.8 black rubber with a bat called Liu Shiwen to play with. The S1 Fastarc black rubber is very consistent on my forehand bat, as mentioned earlier. It gets great drive when hit on my forehand and has a great serve that can trouble your opponent. It has all sorts of loops, great control, drive, flat hits, smashes, and spin shots that can be put in when you have good technique. It is one of the best forehand rubbers I have played so far and I definitely recommend it. I think it is better than most T energy rubbers, apart from T energy 64 which is similar to S1 but a bit lighter. I am going to buy S1 red rubber since I like the black rubber so much. I hope the red is as good as the black rubber.

#11 — June 2017

Unbelievable rubber, as the title suggests, is very fast and spinny and has a lovely arc for clearance. Loopers must try this rubber! It offers excellent control. The topsheet has a high content of natural rubber with a high elastic feel. The sponge is porous but with tiny pores. It has a great catapult effect. Pushing requires good technique, but all other offensive shots are easily made.

It is definitely not ideal for beginners. This rubber has a high throw, maybe the same as or higher than Tenergy. More shops should stock this in the UK; I had to order from Europe.

#12 — June 2017

Review:

Nittaku rubber delivers an excellent performance, as expected. While slow, it offers exceptional spin and control. Paired with a 7-ply wood blade, it effortlessly lifts backspin balls, ideal for backhand play.

However, due to its soft sponge, quick backhand rallies may encounter slow, low-force balls, reminiscent of short-pips or Chinese rubber. This necessitates an adjustment in technique.

Overall, this product provides complete satisfaction and deserves a 9.5/10 rating as a backhand rubber.

#13 — January 2017

The Nittaku Fastarc S-1 is very soft to the touch, much more so than its 45-degree sponge would suggest. It also weighs only 43 grams when cut to the 157 x 150 mm test blade, making it lighter than any other 40-45 degree rubber tested. The topsheet is extremely soft, and its durability is a concern.

During gameplay, the S-1 proved to be the softest and slowest of the Fastarc rubbers. Despite its “speed first” description, it exhibited a subdued woody feeling during aggressive shots.

For more information, see the full review at: http://blog.tabletennis11.com/nittaku-fastarc-p1-g1-c1-s1-table-tennis-rubbers-reviews

#14 — January 2017

I’ve bought 3 sheets of this rubber and love it. I have 2 max (2.0 mm) sheets in both red and black, and a sheet of 1.8mm in black.

This is my favorite FH looping rubber. It’s very fast, lightweight, has good control, and provides pretty good spin. Best of all, it’s easy to loop and great for smashing. Its medium hardness is suitable for almost any blade. The black is firmer than the red and slightly faster, and the 1.8mm black is even more firm.

The only negative is the lack of feel if you are using carbon blades.

Here is my review:

  • Speed = 9.5
  • Spin = 9
  • Grip = 8.8
  • Control = 9
  • Hardness = 3.5 (red), 4 (black)
  • Cut weight = 42.5g/44 (red/blk 2mm)
  • Durability = good
  • Feel = vague, red was very curly when re-gluing (hard to stick), blk more flat, harder & faster

Overall rating: 9.4

Blk 1.8mm = 40.9g cut, slightly harder & slightly slower.

#15 — May 2016

One of the best rubbers from Nittaku for the all-round attacker is the Nittaku Fastarc G-1. It offers good speed and is a lightweight rubber. When paired with an Off- blade, this rubber will give you great results. You can be confident in your shots with the Nittaku Fastarc G-1.

#16 — December 2015

The rubber provides a good balance of speed and spin. It is fast, but not excessively so, making it suitable for a wide range of players. Additionally, the rubber offers excellent spin capabilities, enabling players to create sharp angles and deceptive shots.

On the backhand, this rubber excels in flicking techniques. Its responsiveness and control make it easy to execute quick and precise flicks, providing players with a versatile offensive weapon.

#17 — June 2015

This is a very good Off- rubber with soft sponge and is probably one of the best from Nittaku. I used a few pieces and liked it much better than the more expensive G-1.

However, its performance cannot compare with new generation rubbers like Bty. 05FX, Xiom Omega V, or Donic JP03.

#18 — October 2014

Just tried a Nittaku Carbon Flame blade with this rubber in 2.0 thickness on both sides. It provides good speed away from the table and excellent smash near the table. In 2.0 thickness, it weighs 41.5 grams on a blade measuring 150 x 157 mm. I prefer using it on the forehand side.

#19 — May 2014

First time using Nittaku Fastarc S-1 and my first impression was, WOW! I love it for both my forehand and backhand.

With this rubber, you can generate great spins as far as looping, chopping, and on a serve.

It has amazing control, even a beginner could use this rubber with a slightly thinner sponge.

This is by far the best rubber I have ever used! :)

#20 — October 2013

Best rubber for me. I prefer this over any of the Tenergy line. I think that for an overall rubber where you have it all, spin, speed, and control, this is the one. It is amazing. I simply control everything well with this one.

#21 — April 2013

This is my forehand rubber on Stiga CC5. The ball feel is great. It is fast and requires skill to control the ball and keep it low, as the throw angle is quite high. It is almost as fast as Bryce Speed but definitely has more spin.

#22 — December 2012

Great rubber. I have backhand and forehand on Innerforce ALC and I like it a lot. It has great ball feel, good spin and speed, and is very good when playing against long pips, easy to lift underspin.

The weight is the main thing about this rubber. It’s light for such a powerful rubber. I can’t compare it to Tenergy and other top tensors, not because it’s worse, it’s just different. I will keep playing with it and enjoy every minute. It’s a special rubber.

#23 — September 2012

Black uses it with a Gergely blade as a forehand. This is a looper’s dream rubber, easy, and effortless for underspin counter style. It is not so good for flat driving, but once you exert enough time to practice, I think this is a well-all-around rubber by Nittaku.

Initial impression: Its top surface is slightly tacky and has a high-quality natural rubber look. Once you try rolling the table tennis balls on its rubber, it reacted similarly to the amount of force you put in. This is not the case with Chinese rubber. A must-try rubber for those who want to take topspin and spin to another level…

#24 — June 2012

This is my backhand rubber. It offers a nice high throw, making my backhand loops easier to land. It’s quite a fast rubber but still provides plenty of spin. It’s not the best for short games, but it’s more than capable with good technique. From its appearance, it looks identical to my Rakza 7, including the sponge. I suppose they’re both made in Germany, in the same factory.

#25 — February 2012

I have tried this with Bty Zhang Jike for my FH. Max

BH: Mark V HPS 2.0

The price is lower compared to Tenergy.

Played it for two hours. The rubber’s characteristics include a medium to hard sponge; the speed is very fast, similar to Bryce speed. Because of its medium tackiness, its spin is great, especially on serves.

If you want to take your game to another level, you must have this rubber!

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