Stiga Genesis M

Tried this on a Stiga Infinity VPS V. I’m not a big fan of the rubber, but it’s okay. The plus side for me is definitely control and feeling. It’s very easy to control spin and speed from the opponent, whether it’s blocking against loop or close to the table, serve return, etc. Amazing for snakes and chops!

When it comes to attacking play, the rubber falls a little short for me. Speed is quite slow, and you have to practice a lot if you want to find the right technique for playing fast loop drives. The grip feels really good, though, and therefore the spin is nice but not as much as, for example, H3N or T05. Especially away from the table, you feel this as the opponent can quite easily handle your attacks. However, I believe you can get decent speed if you use it on a faster blade!

Weight is a little downside, as it’s quite heavy and doesn’t give you that much power. It’s a solid rubber for intermediates, but for pros, I would use something faster or with more spin instead, as it’s a little mediocre.

I was looking for a hybrid rubber to substitute Hurricane 3 Neo and have partially found it. It loses its tackiness fast but remains grippy for a while, offering average durability.

Unlike H3N, this rubber isn’t very sensitive to incoming spin. It’s faster than H3N but not as fast as a tensor rubber. It’s not bouncy until you hit hard.

While it provides less spin in serves, it’s very spiny when looping. It’s less predictable than H3N but much more predictable than tensors. This can lead to occasional point losses, which I don’t experience with H3N.

Despite requiring less effort to play, I still need to use hip rotation and forward arm motion to make it work. I’m currently using it on my backhand with a flexible blade, the Stiga Maplewood NCT V. This combination gives me extra power without sacrificing control. However, it feels more uncontrollable and bouncy on carbon blades.

Overall, it’s a great option for counter looping. Players who struggle with consistency using tensor rubbers should consider it for their forehand or backhand.

Review of Black Max Rubber

Tested in black max on the forehand of a Stiga Allround Classic and an Xiom Offensive S, the speed of this rubber is slightly faster than the Vega Pro in 2.0mm. However, the feeling is more Chinese-like, with a slightly thicker contact on the ball compared to Chinese rubbers like the H3N, likely due to its softer topsheet.

This rubber offers excellent control over placement and trajectory, partly because it does not react excessively to spin. Another notable feature is its trajectory, which is particularly pronounced away from the table, especially on the allround classic, but requires effort to pick up the ball initially. The spin is high, comparable to the Vega Pro.

When used on the allround classic, the spin feels safe and controlled, while on the offensive S, it provides more speed and a longer trajectory. Compared to Euro rubbers, the Black Max offers improved linearity, while it differs from Chinese rubbers by being more elastic and dynamic.

This rubber is well-suited for an allround-offensive playing style that utilizes spin, placement, and speed. Enjoy your table tennis!

Those past seasons, I’ve played with Vega Pro quite a lot, also spent some time playing with Omega V Pro, TG3 Neo, and TG2 Neo. I like spinny and not too dynamic rubbers on my FH.

This Genesis M is a good intermediate between traditional Chinese rubbers (tacky and “dead”, need to put the whole body into the shot to get speed and be effective, very demanding if you’re not used to it) and Euro-Japanese rubbers (more dynamic, can get some speed even with shorter strokes). You get a rubber that’s not too bouncy, can control the ball well (not too sensitive to incoming spin), and impart a good amount of spin. The short game is good because the rubber is not too bouncy, not as good as a classic tacky Chinese rubber, but better than usual Euro rubbers. Still, you don’t need as much power as you do with Chinese rubbers, which makes it much more forgiving and easier to get more than decent speed.

In the end, I find that this rubber gets the best of both worlds, and I like it very much. Other players found that, in contrast, you don’t get a rubber as spinny as Chinese rubbers, and it’s more difficult to play than Euro rubbers… I guess it depends a lot on what you’re used to playing with. Anyway, if you like not too bouncy rubbers with good spin, but don’t want/can’t play with traditional Chinese rubbers, then this one is definitely worth a shot!

Edit after 2 years: I only wish this rubber would exist in a “Hard” version. Medium feels too soft for me (I’d say around 42°, Euro scale), and even though I really appreciate it, I might change for a harder rubber, especially on my forehand.

Blade: DHS PG-7
FH: Genesis M
BH: Tin Arc 5

I purchased this rubber from Paddle Palace as part of their Combo Specials. The Genesis was advertised as a fusion between Chinese and European rubbers, so I was intrigued. I decided to experiment with this setup, as I usually tend to use Chinese FH and Euro BH, but I tried the opposite to see if their claim was true.

Results: This rubber definitely feels more like a Euro rubber. It doesn’t have the tackiness I expected, but it does have some tacky qualities. The disappointment was that it did not suit my playstyle. With longer, full arm strokes, this rubber performed poorly and did not seem to produce the spin and speed I needed. However, when I switched to a more traditional Euro style with a bent elbow, the rubber seemed better suited.

Overall: The rubber has above average spin and speed, but nothing comparable to Chinese rubbers in terms of spin and Tenergy in terms of speed. I felt it lacked the final push in speed to give the opponent that danger feeling to take the rally initiative. It is a solid beginner to intermediate rubber for practicing technique.

As an endnote, the rubber definitely has some characteristic Chinese qualities (i.e., slight tack), but other than that, it is a Euro rubber that really only suits a certain playstyle. I would not recommend it for competition, but it is good for practice.

Genesis M

Used on Stiga All Classic on BH for 2 months. From the first session, I had a very good feeling. I played Chinese rubbers on the BH before (Friendship Higher), and Genesis M is obviously very different from those. I was looking for a rather fast, yet controllable rubber that allows for flicks, quick punches, and strong counterloops… and found it. Genesis M performs very well in each of those areas, and lifting backspin became easier. I can create great amounts of spin.

However, the best part in my opinion is that the rubber is not as reactive to the opponents’ spin, which makes the short game simple and counters, even against very strong balls, consistent. It’s a great rubber to me.

Note that the tackiness is okay in the beginning but now pretty much gone. However, it still has better grip compared to “normal” tension rubbers, meaning that the ball doesn’t slip off the rubber when brushing.

I can only recommend this one; I won’t change it anymore.

Way different from Yasaka’s Rising Dragon on my Stiga Offensive Classic WRB. The Genesis M has a harder sponge and a harder topsheet, which isn’t tacky at all. This way, it has less dwell time and less control. Throw angle seems a little bit higher, but the ball dips more into the table. I’m still getting used to it. Feels pretty heavy.

<<Update 1>>
After some time, the feeling of uncontrollability diminished considerably. Maybe the rubber broke in. I also got used to the additional weight of my new setup. Feels very spinny, I’ve been scoring significantly more with serves and spinny loops. But I still don’t find it as reliable as Yasaka’s Rising Dragon. There’s not that much forgiveness.

Review of Table Tennis Rubber

This rubber on an AR+ Stellan Bengstton Juic Blade provides exceptional spin on serves. While not as effective for flicks, it excels in looping and chopping. However, it can be unpredictable in bounciness at times, affecting pushing and blocking.

The rubber performs well on both the backhand and forehand sides. It is particularly suited for backhand play. Despite its durability and consistent spin over three months, a natural chip developed at the corner due to gluing issues with the sponge.

Performance Assessment:

• Loop: Extremely spinny but slightly slow
• Block: Very good, capable of punching shots
• Flick: Moderate, but may improve with a well-suited blade
• Push: Generally good, but occasional tendency to dip into the net with low-spin serves
• Punch: Moderate, not as effective for smashing as Chinese rubbers
• Spin: Comparable to Tenergy 05 but with less speed

Overall, this rubber is recommended for choppers and players who emphasize spin and blocking. It offers a unique blend of European and Chinese characteristics. Consider trying it out if you are willing to experiment with a hybrid rubber.

Similar to Butterfly Spin Art but without the bouncy nature, this rubber is heavy, a bit bulky, and provides lots of control. The sponge is hard (not medium), but the rubber surface is smooth, which helps you feel and control the ball. Speed is medium, while spin is high, though you may need to get used to the rubber first to exploit its potential. It is certainly not tacky but still grippy.

As a side note, I tend to use stiffer blades which have low throw to benefit their blocking abilities.

I have played with Genesis M for a while now and I fell in love with this rubber. What I like the most is the spin it generates. My serves became much spinnier, and I really like the balance between speed and control.

It feels different from the earlier Stiga rubbers I have tried, maybe because it’s made in China. However, when it comes to how it plays, I think it feels much more like a European rubber than a Chinese rubber.

Compared to Tenergy, I think this rubber is more spinny and has a slightly higher arc. I rate it 9/10.

This fast rubber boasts a speed and throw comparable to Tenergy 64. Its low and fast trajectory contributes to its quick pace. While spin is decent, its speed is the surprising feature.

When used with a carbon blade, this rubber can propel the ball with great force. The catapult effect is not as pronounced as some ESN rubbers, allowing for controlled short play without excessive spin sensitivity.

A bounce test against Donic Bluefire M1 revealed a difference of about a ball width in height. However, it remains bouncier than rubbers like H3 Neo or Mark V. Overall, this rubber offers excellent performance.

Better than the S one.