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I use 2.0 on my backhand with the Yasaka Sweed Extra. The control is out of this world, and the backhand flicks are insane! Just try it with the Yasaka Sweed Extra blade, and you will love it all the way to advanced levels.
My favorite all-rounder. It’s good for everything and has no real weakness. It can be glued on any type of blade. It’s not very speedy, but if you know how to activate the tensor, you can get enough speed to score. For specific game styles, there are better options, of course, but if you look for a balanced rubber on the inexpensive side, this is the safest bet on the market today.
He usado estas gomas durante un año y fácilmente te duran seis meses en muy buen estado. Dan un agarre muy bueno y casi no se pierde velocidad. Yo las combiné con una madera de alta velocidad, y la combinación es brutal. Las recomiendo encarecidamente.
I’m using 1.8 mm on an all-around penhold blade. Excellent feel & control. Also, I like the throw angle which keeps the ball lower over the net & prevents my opponent from an easy attack off a high ball.
Being medium soft and a slower tensor rubber, it allows me to place the ball more accurately on short games and makes it easier for me to loop the ball, though not the most powerful loop (it could be because of my age too :) )
All in - it’s a pretty forgiving rubber, fast enough for my level of play (as an intermediate leisure player) and reasonably priced.
I had to come back here and change my review. Initially, I found the rubber unsatisfactory, but after trying it on a different blade, it performs exceptionally well. I use it on my backhand, as the sponge is too soft for forehand shots. The max sponge feels and appears like 2.0, due to the thicker topsheet compared to products like Donic Bluefire M3.
The pimples are spread wider, allowing the rubber to wrap around the ball effectively, even with low-speed shots. This feature is particularly beneficial for banana flicks. However, the downside to this topsheet is that the ball can grip it on contact, resulting in unpredictable bounce. The angle of the throw is more pronounced, making it challenging to control when receiving shots from an opponent. This means you will need to adjust the racket angle significantly more than with other rubbers to compensate for incoming spins.
Despite being a tensor rubber with a springy sponge, this product is unforgiving if you misread your opponent or apply excessive force. The topsheet is not highly spin-sensitive but generates good spin, yet its elasticity makes it sensitive to spin. The speed is respectable, but it’s easy to bottom out the rubber, which I enjoy. Close to the table, it delivers powerful hits. Mid-distance performance is also satisfactory. Once you adapt to its non-linear nature, it becomes effective for blocks, with the high throw aiding in this aspect. In summary, this rubber excels in both speed and spin departments.
Small Update: I consider it the most suitable rubber for my backhand due to its lightness and the way the topsheet wraps around the ball, providing excellent elasticity. However, avoid using it on flexible blades like Stiga AC, as it becomes challenging to control. I found it performs exceptionally well on Tibhar IV-L for backhand shots, while on Yasaka SE, it’s remarkable.
This rubber is sensational for the backhand. It was my second rubber, before I played with Chinese rubbers. With Xiom Vega Europe, I was able to improve my backhand technique a lot. I was able to flick with a lot of power and control.
I think the strength of this rubber is that it transfers the force of the movement very well without losing control. Speaking of control, this rubber is excellent for counter-attacking and blocking, both passive and aggressive.
For flicks, it hooks up very well and is quite direct. My only “complaint” is that it could generate more spin to compensate for how direct it is. But for that, it would have to be harder. It has 42° hardness.
I recommend it for any intermediate player who wants speed/control and confidence in their backhand.
Used as a backhand (BH) rubber following many online recommendations, I am quite satisfied with it. Honestly, I cannot tell the difference between this rubber and the Rakza 7 Soft which I am currently using. Both are medium-soft and offer great performance. I am able to hit quite hard with my BH using these rubbers and keep the ball on the table. Sometimes, I will incorporate a BH serve with right side spin, which often gives my opponents trouble.
Xiom Vega Europe in 2.0 was perfectly acceptable as a BH rubber for me when I was first learning to play and even as an intermediate player. I believe that the softness of the rubber makes it easier to execute faster shots with less effort.
CONTROL! That’s the one word I’d use to define it.
Coming from Tenergy 80 and Omega VII (on my backhand), I was a bit dubious, also because Vega is cheaper. But I gave it a shot, and OMG, this is way better for me! It’s the perfect backhand rubber.
With a medium-soft sponge (42.5 degrees), it provides a great feeling, is super consistent, and has a low throw arc. Vega is great if you look to control the game with blocks close to the table, giving you a huge amount of confidence. You also have all the gears you need for your backhand loop from close to mid-range.
Give it a try, especially considering its price.
Max thickness is 61g uncut, 43g cut. This rubber is easy to play for any level. It’s easy to make spin on any shot with this rubber.
However, the problem with this rubber is topsheet durability. The topsheet starts showing abrasion and loses grip after only 5 hours of play. This doesn’t affect shots that sink into the sponge, but it affects brush shots.
Amazing rubber. Its spin is insane.
I recommend this rubber as a do-it-all option. As someone who prefers softer rubbers, I find this one to be medium-soft, which feels perfect for my playing style. It offers good spin, speed, and superb control. As an average player, I experience no struggles with this rubber, and it gives me the confidence to play opening (topspin) shots. Simply put, the ball consistently lands on the table, even with slow to high-speed hits/strokes. If you enjoy playing with soft rubbers, this one will provide you with confidence in all your shots. It’s definitely a keeper.
Nice control and very spinny.
Slow, Unsuitable for Spin Production
This rubber lacks speed and spin generation due to its soft sponge. Its lightweight and medium throw angle make it inconsistent.
Ratings:
Speed: 6
Spin: 5
Control: 7
Overall: 6/10
Limited Advantages
Despite its shortcomings, this rubber is spin-insensitive, allowing for some spin-resistant backhand flicks. However, its soft sponge hinders consistency.
Unsuitable for Beginners
Contrary to recommendations, this rubber is not suitable for beginners. Its inconsistent performance makes it ineffective for developing skills.
Recommended Alternative
Omega V Euro provides superior performance, offering excellent spin and control. Vega rubber is generally not recommended.
The rubber has a soft, spinny opening. It has a low arc and low throw in block or powerloop due to bottoming out. It is a good control rubber for backhand for beginners, especially if you like spinny rubbers. It is bouncy but not fast and hard enough for forehand. Vega Pro has a much higher throw.
I think this rubber is good for beginner players. However, I prefer to play with much harder rubbers. For me, it’s very slow and has no catapult effect, so you must execute a full topspin move to make the ball reach the other side of the table. Nevertheless, it’s the easier rubber to make counter topspins.
UPDATE 04/12/2020:
I did not change the sheet, and it is still going strong! I do notice that the edges are chipping off more frequently, and it has softened considerably with extended use. However, the topsheet grip remains intact.
UPDATE 04/24/2019:
This is an exceptional rubber for blocking, fishing, and boosting confidence in looping. I highly recommend it for players who are transitioning to an all-around looping playstyle. I used this rubber on my backhand for a week before switching to DHS H301 on my forehand for a month. I lacked confidence on my forehand at the time and needed a more forgiving rubber. I do not have any complaints whatsoever. The ball placement control is much more efficient with the other rubbers I have used on my forehand. The spin is excellent, and the speed is sufficient. Lifting backspins is effortless with forehand strokes, but it was even better with backhand snaps/flicks. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with this rubber.
Review:
Overall, this is a good rubber. It is not particularly fast, but it provides excellent control. With this rubber, all hits become a simple task.
Unfortunately, this rubber doesn’t seem to play as well as it used to. I highly recommend the Butterfly Rozena rubber. It’s a great rubber and is a better alternative if you are considering the one in this review.
Bought on recommendation of user “superspin” on 4/20/2018. Amazing rubber. Best rubber for me to loop and lift backspin. I have never looped so beautifully…high to medium high arc+loops land very deep with great speed. I have it on DHS 301 blade.
Super light rubber, cut rubber was 40 grams only - lightest I ever used. High grade topsheet - very grippy, bit tacky. Very good for pushes, accurate placement. Net play awesome, I can play until mid distance also without problem. My FH flick for receive has skyrocketed.
Update: 20 March 2018 - had to remove as a friend hit it on table creating a hole. But while removing the sponge showed how strong it was.
Update - 31 August, 2019 - Still feel it’s a great rubber, but topsheet is fragile…ruptures easily. But spin is still intact after more than 1 year. Blocks are too good.
Used on Joola Rossi Emotion, Joola MC1 and Tibhar Stratus PW, XVE is an extremely well-balanced rubber. It offers great control, thanks to its soft sponge and good feel.
However, due to its low/medium throw angle, looping heavy backspin may require more effort than some rubbers with higher throw angles. Its speed is more than adequate, and its spin is enough for most applications.
If you’re looking for a hard, fast, high-throw rubber such as Tenergy 05, XVE is not a suitable choice. However, if you seek a relatively soft and very well-balanced rubber that’s capable of handling various tasks, XVE is an exceptional option.
XV used in 1.8mm provides a very high level of control. It helps to bring down the pace of rallies while being able to generate power on its own if needed. This rubber is light and soft, making it good for accelerating to loop the ball and generating spin. It is a great rubber for beginners learning to spin the ball and for intermediate control players. For more advanced players, perhaps the MAX or 2mm will be more appropriate.
Probably one of the best backhand rubbers. It offers great control and spin, and while not too fast, it’s also not too slow. I feel more confident when making backhand shots with this rubber.
I have been using this rubber on my backhand for about a year now. I usually play 3 times per week at a club. This rubber is still in great condition.
The control in this rubber is its best characteristic. It is able to create spin as well as block consistently. It has a great feel on every hit.
The only problem is getting speed on far away loops/hits. It can generate good spin when looping but struggles to get high speed. I have been using an allround-wood blade, so this may contribute to the issue.
Overall, I prefer this rubber to Butterfly Sriver. It feels alive when hitting, and I can trust it to make a shot.
I recommend this rubber to players that are looking to learn how to implement high spin and control on the backhand. However, it may be too slow for the forehand.
Really great rubber! I use it with Donic Appelgren Allplay from both sides. Speed is good enough. Spin is excellent. It’s a very good choice for all-around players.
Great backhand rubber. It is too soft for forehand. It is not very soft, but on forehand prefer something harder. Excellent control, flicks, backspin loops.
Soft, lightweight, and fast, this springy rubber offers a medium throw and controlled play with good spin. Coming from hard, high-throw rubbers like Baracuda and MX-P, adjusting to this rubber took some time. It excels in driving but is less effective for counter looping. I enjoyed using this rubber, but as I missed being a hardcore looper, I decided to switch to a different one.
I used this rubber on the backhand side. It is very explosive and nice for blocking and making topspin shots.
The downside is that it has a limited number of gears. Hitting harder or not will not result in a significant difference in shot speed.
Apart from that, it is an excellent backhand rubber that is also easy to serve with and make service returns.
This rubber produces nice spin, good control, and a fast, nice catapult effect.
I find it a very good rubber for my Forehand (I play with Hurricane Long 5). I’ve tried many soft Rubbers (Acuda S3-Tenergy 05 fx-Rasant Powersponge-Rasanter R42 and R37, Bluefire M3), and I can assure you that it’s not worse than the others, and it’s cheaper. It’s great because it has very good quality for a small price! I paid 25 Euros compared to the 50 for the Tenergy!
Outstanding performance on Viscaria. FH + BH offer super loop, counter attack, and chop. You can execute various techniques with this rubber.
Just received them today. I beat a guy who I only dreamed of beating before. I won 3 straight set games against him.
Good rubber if you like soft rubber. Comparable with Rakza 7 Soft.
This rubber offers an exceptional performance-to-price ratio. As Tenergy prices continue to rise, I decided to experiment with this rubber on a BTY Viscaria.
As an intermediate tournament player, I find this rubber exceptional for my level. It provides strong spin, speed, and excellent control, fulfilling all the key requirements of a high-quality rubber at this price point. The high-grade topsheet and medium/soft sponge contribute to its exceptional playability.
For those who aspire to Olympic-level performance, this rubber may not be the best option. However, for most players, it is a highly recommended choice. Its dynamic and topspin-loaded loops, precise and well-controlled short game, and effective blocking and countering capabilities make it an impressive choice.
Initially, I used T80FX and prefer this rubber significantly. It excels on the forehand and is suitable for all players, except those seeking hardbat or unconventional playstyles.
Surprisingly, some reviewers have described this rubber as slow or lacking spin, which I find puzzling. With good technique, it offers both excellent speed and spin. It has an intuitive nature, adjusting to your arm speed and angle to guide your shots effectively. It works superbly on both forehand and backhand with a fast OFF or OFF+ blade.
After further testing, I have upgraded my overall score to 10. This rubber compares favorably with several classic rubbers, outperforming them in terms of performance. It is the only rubber I have ever awarded a perfect score.
Additionally, I have experimented with this rubber on an ALL+ class blade. Notably, the speed element remained prominent even on a slower blade. This combination is highly suitable for loopers who prefer close-to-table play. The short game and blocking were also excellent, with only a slight reduction in speed for counters and smashes.
Overall, this rubber is an ideal choice for intermediate-level control loopers who seek an affordable alternative to the high-priced Tenergy’s.
I bought this rubber as an intermediate player keen to move on from Sriver to develop a more attacking style. Initially, I found it difficult to control after the relatively deadening Sriver, but I soon got used to it.
Now, I find it helps my looping and especially counter looping and loop blocking. I don’t find it so easy to push, but this is probably just my bad technique. It gives a great range between snappy hitting and more delicate controlled play.
I’d recommend it to non-beginners looking to speed up their game.
Review: Vega Europe Table Tennis Rubber
A good and balanced rubber. I’ve been playing with F3 and F3 Big Slam for years now, and was getting a bit bored (and tired of changing rubbers every 5 months). A friend of mine made me try this Vega Europe, and I finally bought one for myself.
First of all, the sponge is said to be around 42°, but the topsheet is really elastic, which gives the impression of a medium-soft rubber, I’d say around 37-38°. The build quality is really great. The throw angle is quite high, it took me 2-3 sessions to get fully used to it.
Due to the elastic topsheet, this rubber is very good for topspin players, not that fast though, I’d say it’s an OFF- rubber. It’s quite dynamic, so easy to topspin with, but it can be difficult to impart lots of spin to the ball, which pops out of the rubber quite fast. So if you like to put a lot of spin on the ball, this may not be the best choice. As the sponge is firm, it behaves very well on more passive shots, quite good for blocks, short game, and even defense.
Overall I’d say this is a versatile and durable rubber for offensive topspin players who like to go for several topspins and don’t rely only on the spin of their ball. If you really rely on placement and heavy spin and not only offensive shots, I’d rather go with a Vega Pro that offers more control, more spin, but is more demanding (you need to put in more effort to get a faster ball). This Vega Europe is quite dynamic, so I find it sometimes difficult to correctly spin the ball.
Each sheet of this rubber appears fresh. It is superbly elastic and durable, featuring a topsheet and a nice black, soft sponge.
This rubber is on the softish side. To get the most out of it, use Blades with a harder outer layer or a bit more stiffness.
It offers phenomenal control, making it easy to place the ball where you want, even with struggling technique. It’s an excellent rubber for backhand play close to the table. It can negate incoming spin during receives and allows for stable blocking of incoming attacks.
For beginner to intermediate players, this rubber is a must-try. It offers superb performance, quality, and durability at a great price point.
Well-balanced rubber with excellent control and spin.
The Galaxy Z7 VF is best with this rubber. Control is very good, blocking is easy, and service reception is great as the spin is easy. This is good for everything! The game becomes fun and enjoyable.
Very good rubber for the money. However, it is a bit too slow for my liking. I played with it for 3 weeks (max thickness) on the forehand (FH) and backhand (BH) on T-8, Stratus Power-wood, and Zetra Quad.
It lacks power on hard strokes and bottoms out quickly. Therefore, you cannot execute the same strokes as when playing with Vega Pro, Rasant, Sigma Euro (1 and 2), or Tenergy 05. However, it should be good for an all-around style and less aggressive backhand side.
This rubber generates very good topspin from smaller-moves BH counterhits, and combined with the higher arc allows me good BH topspin-blocks as well.
I like it a lot when hitting with friends (when it comes to points, I use long pips). Feels medium-soft to me, and is rather light, circa 38g glued. I have not tried enough pushes/return serve and don’t have a real BH loop.
Given the moderate price, it achieved my goal of having fun. Next time, however, I’ll search for something lighter, even if pricier.
This Xiom Vega Europe rubber is more like the new generation of Bty. Sriver & Yasaka MarkV rubbers. It is good in speed, spin, & control for most of the average level non-pro. players who want all-around rubbers.
I noticed the shrinking problem too, as mentioned by others. It can be corrected by drying the new glue longer and removing old glue if you re-glued.
Used on Backhand (BH)
Compared to Vega Pro on forehand (FH) looping:
With blade coming into play sooner, spin becomes limited, creating a flatter arc than Vega Pro.
Weight in red max:
Shrinkage noticed: 1-2 mm after 4 months
Has this rubber recently changed? I bought a new sheet in 2015 and it is not as lively as it used to be.
Still a very good rubber but “deader”, not as fast and spinny as before! Has anybody noticed this too?.
This rubber provides an excellent balance of speed and spin, making it an exceptional all-around option for backhand play.
After my pair of Acuda’s wore out, I wanted something with more spin and kick. I found what I was looking for in the Vega Europe.
When used with an OFF blade and in maximum thickness, they play best. The rubber has a great spiny surface, which is excellent for serves and brush loops. It provides a good kick in loops when using a full stroke. It also allows for great spiny pushes and is very controllable. There is great control in power loops and counter loops. Blocks are okay, which is good for a soft-ish rubber.
If you are looking for a spiny rubber with lots of control and a bit of a kick, this is it.
Update: I bought a fresh rubber in 2015 and they have changed it a bit. It is softer, the softest of the Vega series, a bit slower with more control, and has the same good grip. This makes it good for backhand use.
Using 2 of these (2mm - BH & FH) with a Xiom Aria (ST).
After 6+ hours of training, I feel very happy with it.
You want to play slow strokes? Just make a slow stroke. You want to kill the point? Make a strong stroke. I never really understood the concept of gears until playing with this one. The speed is there, but you will access it with a stroke with speed and energy.
That’s why the rubber has a lot of speed, but remains with a lot of control.
With my current setup (mentioned above), I can play until mid-distance without a problem.
Topspin/aggressive strokes are very easy to do (lifting underspin, drive, brush loop, smashing).
For blocking it’s OK.
I would not use it as a mainly chopping rubber; for me, it works better as an offensive rubber.
Service reception is up to you. The rubber allows you to flick, drive, push short and long. Against some players, it was very easy (mainly because I could read the spin and act correctly, making a full-offensive since the reception). Against others, it was harder (is it side spin? no spin? omg it’s already out of my range, damn).
The spin is good. Making services are easy.
I think it’s a perfect rubber for an all around/aggressive game, very equilibrated and controlled.
Smash is perfect, drive and counter are very good, serve and shortplay are good, and loop is decent as well. Very good control.
The sponge and the topsheet are so well matched that you don’t even think about it. It’s probably the best sponge I’ve ever tried.
Good rubber, but still not very suitable for my gameplay. Sorry.
AMAZING!!! I replaced my Flextra with this on Gergely, and it feels so good. It’s very good for blocking, with its massive spin and amazing control. It’s very suitable for me, as I use a lot of control but still enjoy attacking. It’s very good for backhand or forehand, and don’t forget the affordable price that makes this rubber so worthwhile.
I can only say: The best rubber I ever played with!!
Excellent rubber. I improved my backhand and feel very comfortable. Amazing control!
Back with Xiom Vega Europe
My new weapon, Xiom Zetro Quad, Vega Pro FH, Vega Euro BH.
Tried this rubber for a few weeks. It provided good control due to its soft rubber composition, making it excellent for brush looping and chopping techniques. However, it was not suitable for power looping or smashing.
I used 2.0 black rubber on my forehand, but it did not perform as expected. I will attempt using Razka 7 instead.
Regarding speed, I would not rate it as 9.0. It is closer to Razka soft in terms of speed. My personal speed rating for this rubber is 8.7.
Good all-rounder with excellent control.
I really like this rubber. I put it on the forehand side of my Kreanga Carbon to replace some Butterfly Cermet rubber. Speed/Spin is comparable to Cermet, but I think the control was better and the sound/feel were better. My admittedly crappy looping skills have only improved with this, and I’ll note that blocking is fairly easy with this.
I will say that it is highly susceptible to dust and will turn into anti-spin rather quickly compared to a sticky Chinese rubber when not cleaned regularly. I’d say it needs cleaning about once per 45 minutes unless you’re playing with clean balls that have already been broken in.
Also, I’ve noticed that if your sweat gets on it (such as if you try to wipe it with your hand/arm in a pinch), it will turn rather slick for about 10 minutes while the skin oils absorb into it. That is a bad thing, so I try to avoid touching it except with a sponge and distilled water. That is rather effective at cleaning it.
As advertised, it’s really not sticky at all, and kitchen plastic wrap only barely sticks to it.
I’m not sure if it’s inherent to this rubber/sponge or if I stretched it too much during application, but the edges are starting to puff up, and I will have to re-glue it soon. I can already tell there will be about a 2% shrinkage of the rubber when I do this, and it won’t reach the rim of the paddle anymore. If you’re using a strong glue on a normal paddle, this may not be a problem for you, but I was using Butterfly Free Chack on a Kreanga Carbon blade, which has a VERY slick surface. I will have to be very careful in the future to select rubbers for this blade that are unlikely to shrink. The Yin He Venus 2 rubber on my backhand has not shrunk at all and is holding tight with the same glue and application process.
This was also my first Xiom product. I was fairly impressed, and I think I will be buying from them more in the future. I will just be more careful with the gluing and use a different blade for it.
I started using [rubber name] a week back on my Joola Rossi emotion (carbon). I shifted from Mambo H to this one, and I could see a visible difference in spin and speed. My opponents say that the ball now has more kick and also swings. I never changed my style, though.
The throw angle is perfect for chopping, but when trying to loop the ball coming with underspin, I do have a problem. But maybe it is my technique issue.
It suits me more for smashes and chops. Looping is also easier on no-spin or topspin balls, but slightly difficult on underspins.
I have P7 on my FH and accidentally ended up piercing the topsheet as it scratched against one of the corners of the table. So, while replacing, I will go with this one. It is 1/2 the price of P7 and very spinny and speedy too. This is the best BH rubber I’ve used (Mambo H, Genius sound, Tackifire special).
When reading the above, you may think this is a self-playing rubber. That is absurd. I can’t fathom how you could call this rubber controllable. It’s incredibly bouncy, far more than anything I’ve tried before, which is why its control is low. The soft sponge is very lively and always active.
This rubber is ideal for blockers because it allows you to hit powerful shots. I’ve tested it on various blades and can conclude that it’s suitable for amateur play where the ball flies high, allowing for consistent smashing. Vega Pro features a harder sponge, which reduces its bounciness and enhances its controllability. Its only advantage is its low weight.
The rubber exhibits an unusual characteristic: it’s fast on slow strokes but slow on fast strokes, which is the opposite of desirable rubber properties.
Amazing backhand rubber with lots of control and good spin.
Speed lacks a little bit but is all well when you engage the soft sponge.
More control than Tenergy 64, same speed, a tad slower. I use it on MAX on a Xiom Stradivarius blade for my BH. The spin and control is phenomenal.
The rubber is of good quality, but it does not rank among the best.
Review
This rubber is excellent! I use it on my forehand with a Zhang Jike blade. It offers a combination of speed, spin, and control. However, I find it slightly too fast for my preference, possibly due to my transition from a slower Primorac Off- blade and Joola Energy X-tra racket.
Great product by Xiom. Softer, light, tensor rubber of good quality.
Hardness:
Xiom rates its sponge softer than the Pro version of Vega. It is hard to feel the difference on touch. The top sheet is a lot softer than the Pros. It has higher pips. The soft top sheet adds spin at low speeds but also contributes to bounciness. Maybe with average technique, one should be careful with short under-spin balls (sometimes those pop up).
Top spin game:
The top spin game is great. Openings are strong (probably the best), and mid-distance is very solid too. Catapult, high spin, and the easiness of play are all there when less than 2 meters away. The rubber clicks hard almost all the time, some may find this useful to correct technique.
If you go back more than 2 m, in my opinion, the rubber starts developing some problems due to the softness. The harder you hit, the more you will feel the blade coming into play. Not so much on BH but on FH definitely.
Other parts of the game with this rubber are all there. Service is great, blocking, pushing, and so on. You may need some time to adjust, but by no means will you be disappointed with this rubber’s performance.
Highly recommended rubber to fast players who love control close to the table. Recommended on the BH side of the blade. Would also recommend Vega Euro to players whose physical ability is not top-notch or have some type of physical limitation. Bounciness and control (hard to put those two together but Vega Euro does manage) may help you with ball placement and compensate for the lack of footwork to some degree.
Would not recommend this rubber on FH at all (well, maybe beginners can use it as the FH rubber, but …). Definitely, if you are a heavy hitter from a distance, there may be some better alternatives.
In any case, if you like to try this rubber out, you will not throw away your $40!!
Hope this helps a bit. Have fun playing TT.
I love this rubber. I chose this rubber over Rakza 7 on the backhand. I get good spin when looping with lots of control.
A very good BH rubber, extremely easy to use. I have 2.0 mm XVE mounted on a Juic SB Alpha. I should have gotten the XVE in Max.
Good spin, great control, but slower than I’d like. I’d like to try the Max version on a faster blade.
Glueing was a challenge–the sponge is all air, like soap bubbles–but I got it on using a VOC-free latex glue. (Do NOT use VOC glue!)
Overall, the rubber is excellent and has a linear trajectory.
However, using it on a medium or hard carbon blade is recommended. I use the rubber with maximum thickness on a Donic Waldner Senso Ultra Carbon, and it is ideal for backhand play. It enables me to topspin backspins effortlessly and offers versatility in spin, speed, blocks, and control. The short game is impressive, with ample power from mid-distance. It lacks bounciness, and its trajectory is consistently linear compared to other tensors.
In contrast, using it on a standard all-wood Tibhar Stratus Power Wood results in a mushy feel and reduced speed.
Therefore, in summary, the rubber performs exceptionally well as a backhand rubber on harder carbon blades.
I love its speed and its control. I’ve had no problem in adapting to this rubber.
The thing that makes me love this rubber is its throw angle - just perfect for me…
This rubber provides excellent speed, spin, and control. My red rubber delivers a higher throw angle than the current ratings indicate. I would give it a 6 out of 10 in this aspect. The rubber has a slightly firmer feel compared to what I use on my other blades (Joola Energy Green and Tango). Despite its firmness, it performs effectively on both the forehand and backhand, making it suitable for my all-round playing style.
I use it 2mm on BH in Nimatsu Celsior 5.6 blade. It’s a medium-soft rubber, truly fast with excellent control in all shots. Perfect and quite easy for attacking and defense too, but it isn’t one of the fastest rubbers.
Really great backhand rubber! Try it, you will not leave it!
Very solid rubber from Xiom! Great for sidespin topspin loops, topspin smashes, and blocking.
However, this rubber lacks speed and spin compared to Tenergry rubbers (except for having more spin than Tenergry 64).
It’s not ideal for chopping, but excels at close-to-the-table play.
Overall, it’s a high-quality rubber priced at $37, making it a great value.
This rubber is almost too easy to use. Looping is great with this rubber, as it provides tons of grip and spin.
Blocking is very pleasant, although I would personally like a little more bounce, similar to that of Tenergry 05 FX or Acuda S3.
Overall, this is a very good rubber for the intermediate player. However, for the advanced player, this rubber may lack the necessary challenges and may feel like it has too many gears.
The first impression of this rubber is amazing, as it facilitates heavy topspin balls. However, after a week, I noticed that the rubber lacks the energy to return the ball effectively from an opponent’s weak shot unless I apply additional power to drive the ball. For beginners learning topspin, this rubber is ideal, providing high control for blocking and smashing. However, it requires harnessing power from your opponent for speed.
After a month, my impression changed: the rubber became less effective, not unlike other attacking rubbers, and appeared slow in long ball rallies. The advantage of this rubber lies in its excellent spin and control during both attacking and defensive play.
I have just started using this rubber. However, there is an issue that needs to be addressed, a problem I have had with several Vega Series rubbers:
Simply put, this stuff SHRINKS like crazy. I recently installed it in my Timo Boll ALC. I applied one thin coat of Butterfly Free Chalk as I do with all rackets I install (I work part-time in a pro shop and glue rubber daily). The sponge absorbed the glue and refused to stick. I tried a second coat, but the same thing happened. It took FOUR coats of glue before I had enough buildup to hold the rubber in place! It was ridiculous! Nevertheless, I cut the rubber professionally (leaving about 2mm of overhang on all edges, as professionals often do) and proceeded to play.
But that’s not the end of it: As I played, the sponge SHRANK and peeled off the blade. I was very upset. When I went back to the shop to re-glue it, I realized that although I had left 2mm of overhang on all sides when I initially cut the rubber, the sheet had shrunk so drastically that it barely covered the face of the blade. If I had cut it flush, I would have lost $80 worth of rubber!
I finally used wet glue and placed the rubber under a stack of books overnight. That fixed the problem.
Be warned about this issue. The rubber appears to be of good quality, but I glue rubbers almost daily and have installed dozens of them. I have NEVER encountered a rubber that behaves like this before, even among tensors. I am not satisfied with this product. The shrinkage makes it look terrible, and it is an expensive purchase. I will consider using Butterfly rubber next time.
Perfect backhand rubber!
Excellent backhand rubber. Loops are spinny and very easy to perform. Short game is also effortless due to the rubber’s versatility. I have yet to encounter any issues with it. The sound it produces is also great.
Really nice rubber for forehand or backhand. I tried it on a Nittaku Latika. Amazing spin on loops, good serves. It has good pop but most importantly, the unbelievable control. The sponge is quite soft and the throw angle is around medium. I haven’t tried T05, but I think that this is a bit of a step down in spin and speed but a big step up in control. Really nice rubber for controlled attacking play. On forehand, it might be a little lacking for some though.
This rubber is very good for all-around play. For my game, it might be a little slow and soft for forehand aggressive loop attacks, but it’s a keeper for backhand. It also provides good spin.
At first try, I wasn’t impressed with this rubber. However, after a month, I have to say that it is really good. It has good speed, really good spin, and amazing control. The only thing I still don’t like about it is the service, which is not as spinny as Chinese rubbers.
I just changed my review of these after using it for 2 months. It is one of my favorite backhand rubbers. It is very spiny when brushing the ball, and most players cannot simply block my backhand loop because of the spin.
I’m a penholder and find this rubber very good for the forehand. I use it with a Yasaka Gatien Extra and I can make a very powerful third ball with this combination. I feel that I have a lot of power in my forehand. It’s also good for loops, serves, and medium-distance play.
Muy buenas gomas. Tienen una esponja negra, lo que las hace lucir muy bien. Son excelentes para realizar topspins, pero estos salen a una velocidad lenta, lo cual es ideal para ubicar pelotas en cualquier parte de la mesa. También son adecuadas para cortar y sacar y excelentes para loops.
En comparación con Tenergy, tienen un buen precio. Lo único negativo es su durabilidad, comparada con gomas como Tenergy - Boost o Acuda.
En general, es una buena goma ofensiva, con un excelente sonido, buen ángulo y pique de topspin bajo.
I use the 2mm black on Yasaka Extra BH. The rubber is easy to use and I adapted to it immediately. It is very forgiving, which gives me lots of confidence. As a result, I feel like I can do any passive or aggressive shot. Looping feels almost ridiculously easy.
The sponge gives lots of power for away from table shots. Counter attacks are strong. It is easy to vary the spin, speed and length of the shot using XVE. The only reason why it is not also on my FH is because I like a slightly harder feel on FH. Otherwise, it is also a great FH rubber for lots of topspin. And yes, it has a nice sound!
Great rubber, bought to replace Spinart on my backhand.
The top sheet has a quality appearance, is a Tensor, and does not sit flat before gluing. It has good lift, higher throw, good for flicks. Chops need a stroke adjustment due to the long dwell, but then they are excellent for the short game with lots of spin, and loads of control. Blocks easy. Looping and counterlooping were shockingly good. Even very hard hits seem to always clear the net and dive down on the other side with a good kick. You can feel the sponge grabbing the ball and catapulting it back out. It needs a more closed blade stroke than my previous rubbers.
It has definitely improved my game and gives extra confidence that any of your shots will land. I am sufficiently impressed to have ordered another sheet for the forehand. I have tried several different rubbers and bats in the last six months. I won’t be looking anymore.
Rubber 2mm on Boll Spirit.
Great sound too!
One of the best rubbers I ever used. The big window is not an issue, and it’s actually noticeable straight away. Excellent for all strokes, especially topspin and loops. Pushing and chopping require a little practice, but after a couple of hours, it’s no problem.
Useful info on sponge hardness: Vega Euro is 36 degrees, Vega Pro is 38 degrees, and Omega Pro feels like 37-39 degrees. The rating by the manufacturer is misleading. These rubbers are not suitable for novices.
Excellent rubber. I could see why some Tenergy users are switching to Xiom.
I was testing this rubber some time ago. It is fast enough with good ball feeling, but it has poor spin compared to Chinese rubbers. I had big troubles to get the ball over the net from chopped strokes. Chinese rubbers (DHS) are the best so far (spin, speed, control, price. On the other hand, Chinese rubbers need a different technique and more power). This is not a bad rubber but definitely not as good as some people say.
EDIT October 2011: Ratings updated.
I gave one more chance to this rubber and after a few hours with it, I must say it is really good rubber. The topsheet isn’t tacky but has a decent grip, and the sponge is medium-soft. From my game experience and observation, there are two types of rubbers:
Xiom Vega Europe is the second case. Its spin isn’t somehow extra high, my rating is 8. Chinese tacky rubbers produce much more spin, no doubt. I’m wondering what would happen if there was a rubber with a tacky topsheet and soft sponge. I’d say the result will be the “killer spin” but I don’t know… If it worked like that, DHS and more Chinese brands would use that.
Back to Vega.
Not a huge spin, lower speed, nice ball feeling. That window effect is really good but it works only in faster drive/top spin rallies. If you wanna open the game from a strong chop, it is not easy at all. Ok, it depends on your technique, but I still prefer to open the game using my DHS Skyline forehand. The last thing - I don’t like the sound, it’s strange.
Conclusion
Great rubber for low to medium-skilled all-round players, still developing their technique. I don’t recommend it for pure attackers or top players.
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Great rubber for hard blades. I recommend it for control-lacking players. It feels like speed-glued Sriver FX and is good for services, creating lots of spin.
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I think it is the most exciting rubber for topspin players. The ball bounces at the opposite side with a lower angle, which seems to defy the laws of physics. Try it and see for yourself!
I love this rubber! It’s very easy to play with, and you can loop very well with it.
I bought this rubber with the maximum thickness. I was really impressed by the throw angle. The topspin is incredibly good, and looping is excellent. Unfortunately, this rubber also has a downside. After using it for about three months, I realized that the spin is remarkably less than in the beginning. Smashes were also not consistent anymore.
Fantastic Soft Rubber
This is the best soft rubber I’ve ever used. It’s hard to make even a mistake with this rubber whenever I do topspin thanks to its big window effect.
Amazing balance. I’ll update as I use it more. But for now… this rubber really is incredible. Everything works. As long as you have an offensively oriented style, this should be a great fit.
This is a fantastic rubber with a lot of spin. Due to the big window effect, this rubber has incredible control. With this, you can do top spins easily.
It is really good for BH on carbon blades.
Nothing more to add to other reviews but… the most complete rubber I’ve ever tried. It is not the best in any characteristic but is very good in most of them. Perfect for backhand.
One month ago, I bought the Xiom Vega Europe rubber in red and black, both 2.2 mm, glued on an offensive Butterfly Innerforce ULC-blade.
I’m very satisfied with it; it has a really good feeling and killer spin.
Vega Europe is also excellent for blocking and chopping with much control.
The weight is very good, it’s a bit lighter than Butterfly Tenergy 64.
I like it way more than the expensive Butterfly Tenergy 64 (which I’ve played with for a year), because the durability is way better; after I’ve played a month with it, the surface of the topsheet almost was unaffected.
Another important reason why you should buy Xiom Vega Europe and not Butterfly Tenergy 64: the power of topspin of the Vega Europe is way higher than that of the Tenergy 64.
The black carbo-sponge is very nice; I love it, it’s very cool and professional looking.
Price is 30 euros, compared with Tenergy 64 --> 56 euros, so you save 26 euros, which is quite much…
Smashing is much easier with the Vega Europe than with the Tenergy 64, it feels better, and the sound is nicer.
Xiom Vega Europe is a good rubber for short, but a bit more for mid-distance players; if you buy it in max., long distance shouldn’t be a problem either.
Hopefully, this review helped you as much as possible ;).
Greetings,
Jason.
Xiom Vega Europe was a delightful surprise for me. After an extensive search, Tenergy 25 was always my favorite for its exceptional all-around capabilities on my Juic Kalinic. However, when the price was significantly increased, I bid it farewell. Not because I couldn’t afford it, but because I felt insulted by the pricing strategy.
I immediately removed it despite its relative newness and switched back to inexpensive Chinese rubbers. I tested some tuning methods, but after researching the current trend, I discovered the Vega series. As a middle-class player, I initially hesitated but decided to test the Vega Europe, despite its perceived slowness. I initially planned to use the Vega Asia but am thrilled I gave the Vega Europe a chance.
Although it may seem to produce less spin, my top-spins sink considerably after hitting the table. The Vega Europe has an impressive range of gears. It excels in the short game, although some may find it bouncy. However, this is not entirely true. The harder you hit the ball, the stronger the catapult effect becomes, especially when avoiding flat hits. On slow balls like service returns or pushes, it is highly controlled and less sensitive to incoming spin.
When smashing the ball, it maintains sufficient speed for scoring while remaining controlled. However, the most remarkable aspect is the speed generated during fast topspins over the table. The ball accelerates so significantly that it gives the impression of being faster than a smash. I recently played against the best player in my team, who is aware of my weak smashes. He was astonished by the speed of my attacks. This suits me perfectly because my first top-spin is highly spinny. If it is blocked, I usually have a chance to kill it. However, I struggle with long half-high balls. Vega Europe compensates for this weakness and enhances the speed of my forehand.
It is extremely fast for quick attacks, but equally controlled for opening top-spins. As a twiddler, this is a significant advantage as I frequently employ backhand top-spins. Nine out of ten are well-controlled and very spinny. On my backhand, the Vega Europe provides an extra gear. It grips the ball regardless of spin, allowing for control and enabling the ball to sink deep enough to stay on the table. In a way, the Vega Europe functions like two different inverted rubbers, adapting to both my backhand and forehand techniques.
This effect is particularly noticeable when I chop a ball from mid-distance and my opponent pushes it towards my backhand with the ball already falling. Despite this, I can still execute a quality top-spin.
Vega Europe is versatile, but it takes some time to understand its gears. Occasionally, you may hit the ball over the table due to its strong catapult effect. After three uses, including a successful competition outing, I can confidently recommend Xiom Vega Europe. It is an excellent inverted rubber that combines exceptional speed with control. It enhances my overall game quality, reduces mistakes during service returns, and accelerates my top-spins. The large window effect is not just a marketing ploy; it genuinely works. In addition to its positive qualities, I am captivated by its satisfying cracking sound, which is louder and more distinct than the Andro Roxon. The rubber is also remarkably lightweight.
I purchased it in 2mm thickness, but I may consider trying the maximum thickness in the future. For now, I am delighted with my choice. It is a fantastic piece of high-tech equipment for an all-around attacking player like myself.
Vega Europe is a relatively slow tensor rubber due to its soft sponge. It is perfectly suited for all-around playing styles.
Amazing rubber offers a lot of control and still a lot of speed and spin.
It is a bit soft for me. In the short game, the catapult effect is noticeable, and when you hit hard, it bottoms out quickly. It is very controllable because of its speed, but I don’t like the non-linearity of it (my opinion).
Now, let’s go for the game perception:
Far from the table, it lacks power, but medium distance is okay. When it wears out, it gets very inconsistent.
Mid-soft gummy topsheet allows for brushing and loop driving. Excellent for backhand play.
Average gear, effective for blocking and countering flat and medium-speed loops, but limited damage potential. Not a speed demon, but a viable alternative to T05FX.
Too soft for forehand, but ideal for learners and control-oriented players seeking precision blocking and spin placement.
Reasonably priced. Pairs well with stiff blades and low dwell time due to its inherent dwell.
Fantastic backhand rubber for intermediate-level players like me who prefer two-winged looping. It offers nearly the control of Mark V, but with a manageable catapult effect. This not only adds gears to one’s shots but also makes Vega Europe significantly more engaging to play with.
An ideal intermediate setup would comprise:
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