Stiga Mantra Pro M

Honestly, you can’t really trust Revspin ratings blindly. Everyone plays with a totally different blade, technique, and expectations. It’s funny how so many cheap Chinese rubbers get crazy high ratings, but once you actually play with them, they turn out to be pretty average. Meanwhile, high-end rubbers from major brands like Stiga—which are miles ahead of those budget sheets—sometimes get trashed in reviews. I guess that’s what happens when a hefty price tag creates unrealistic expectations.

As for me, I’m still searching for my holy grail setup—feels a bit like Harry Potter trying out wands at Ollivanders! Right now, I’m rocking a 7-ply offensive 729 Green Goblin 7 blade, and it is absolute gold for me. I put Stiga Mantra Pro M on my forehand and Loki Kirin K1 on the backhand, and I’m really digging this combo. The Stiga is a proper tensor rubber, and paired with a hard blade, it just clicks. Great feel and performance if you ask me.

Stiga Mantra Pro M is a great Japanese rubber with great grip, spin, and control capability. It is a lot easier to control than some of the more spin-sensitive rubbers on the market. Topspin and underspin with this rubber proved to be really reliable and easy to use. Although not recommended for smashing (feels mushy), it still produces quite a speed when smashing. The only reason for not giving a five-star rating is its durability. Both topsheet and sponge get worn out fairly quickly after 6 months of use and regluing more than 4 times. I have used it on my Stiga blades: Dynasty Carbon, Carbonado 190, and Rosewood NCT VII. This rubber is quite friendly for medium-to-hard-feel blades. Overall, it is a good rubber to use. Bear in mind the frequency of usage and durability. It is highly recommended to use for the backhand in combination with Stiga DNA Hybrid H for the forehand.

The rubber I felt was not very fast, even though it says on the package it is made for speed. I think the speed is comparable to the Andro Hexer SFX range. The rubber has very bad control. When looping, the ball could go out easily, and when playing fast, it would sometimes undergrip the ball. Spin on serves is awesome and totally wowing. It is the spinniest rubber for serving. People in my club use Tenergy 05 and Rozena, and I have somewhat more spin than them. I would recommend this rubber for casual players or players who just started out, as the rubber improves with you. In terms of power, it is amazing. It lacks 20–30% of the penetrating power required, but this can be compensated for with a good blade and technique. Catapult is very, very good, and the rubber is very bouncy.