Xiom Vega Japan

It’s too soft for me, but not as soft as Palio ak 47blue or yellow. It is only recommended for fast and hard surface blades. Otherwise, on softer blades, it feels more like a pillow.

A big minus for this rubber is the fact that it tends to slip off the rubber sometimes when hitting the ball tangentially, for example, when doing topspins. It feels as if the ball was wet. I also noticed this on a friend’s blade while he was playing with the VJ.

You often can read that people have this specific problem with the Vega Japan (red rubbers more commonly though).

As this is a non-negotiable issue for me, this was the last time I bought this rubber.

Really have to agree with spincrazy29, the Xiom Vega Japan is probably the best of the Xiom series. It plays almost as good as the new Tibhar Evo EL-S and is definitely among the top 3-5 medium rubbers.

It plays softer than you would think and is a crazy looping machine with enough control to not mess up your game.

I would recommend ignoring the spin rating of 8.7 on this site, especially since many other rubbers with a spin rating of 9.3 or more cannot compare with the Vega Japan in terms of spin. Just look at the list of rubbers with the best spin and go down until you arrive at 9.2.

I would also like to add that the weight rating on this site is probably incorrect. Mine always weigh about 49-50g, so it’s a very heavy rubber when you consider it only has a medium sponge.

Perfect 45 degree tensor rubber. It is not too bouncy. I disagree with Kurokami’s assessment. For me, this rubber was more spin oriented than the VP. The VP was much faster when using both of them on the same blade. I agree that it has a softer, more elastic topsheet, which gives it more spin on the slow shots (pushes, short game).

The top end speed and spin of the VJ is lower than the VP. So for intermediate / advanced players, the VP will be a better FH rubber.

Conclusion: for amateur / intermediate players, this is a perfect 45 degree BH rubber with plenty of control and spin, with enough speed to finish the point using good technique.

Right out of the pack, you can notice that booster smell, and you can see a distinctive pimple structure on a tensioned top sheet.

This is not a rubber for beginners. It is bouncy. Even though its release date was in 2013, it is not behind modern rubbers in terms of spin and speed.

I have tried Vega Pro, Europe DF, Asia DF, Omega 5 Euro, and Omega 7 Pro, and I can say this is the heaviest of all of them. It is easy to produce nice spin and speed, but it lacks top-end gear compared to the Omega series (V, VII).

It is not so great over the table for doing short pushes, but flicks are great. It is good for backhand looping and driving and for the forehand if you need more dwell time. You can produce nice finishers. It also has a very solid sound.

For 30 euros in my country, it is a good value.

Dignics 05 Rubber Review

Pairing this rubber on the Stiga Dynasty Carbon blade produced better results than using the Nittaku G1 or TSP Ventus Speed rubbers on the same blade. The Dignics 05 rubber exhibits characteristics very similar to the T05 rubber. It generates both excellent spin and speed.

Updated March 2020: Although the Dignics 05 rubber is not the latest rubber from Xiom, its spin capability is still exceptional. My son uses this rubber for competitions, and he consistently produces high-spin ball loops and drives that his opponents find difficult to block back onto the table.

This is a great rubber, underrated; more people should give it a try. The speed glue effect is noticeable, providing excellent speed and spin. It also exhibits high durability, maintaining its new appearance after 5 weeks of use (10 hours per week). The strong click during spinning remains consistent, with no noticeable slowdown. I recommend it for backhand use, but it performs well for forehand as well. This powerful rubber deserves more recognition.

Hardness: Medium

Launch Angle: Medium

Speed: Fast

Spin: Good

Uses: Driving, distribution, blocks, topspin

Arc: Medium (enough to pass the net)

Backhand: Very good

Forehand: Works well with flexible wood; otherwise, shots may go to the net

I’m surprised by the low overall and spin ratings for this rubber. It’s the best forehand rubber I’ve ever used! Loops generate an incredible amount of spin, and their speed surpasses Vega Pro, even in 2.0 mm. This rubber is lightweight, which I find beneficial. As many others have noted, it’s definitely underrated.

45-degree rubber is unique. The ball consistently falls on the opposite side of the table and is forgiving for a 45-degree rubber. The tensor is concealed, requiring force to activate it. With sufficient force, the rubber generates significant spin and speed, making it ideal for improving your stroke.

Topsheet:

Exceptionally elastic and rubbery, the topsheet has a distinct shiny appearance. Despite an unusual odor, it promises great satisfaction during services. Notably, a subtle noise can be felt when the ball is taken superficially, as in a topspin where only the topsheet is grazed without visual contact with the ball.

Initially, there were concerns that the rubber might stretch and break, especially at the edges. However, upon inspection, the rubber remains intact thanks to its exceptional elasticity. A peculiar characteristic of Xiom tires, the red topsheet is notably more spin-oriented than its black counterpart.

Recently I discovered two great FH rubbers: Xiom Vega PRO and Vega Japan (MAX thickness). Vega PRO is perhaps the best rubber I have played with, but it is a bit too fast (some balls go out of the table easily).

Vega Japan is a bit slower, just enough for landing more balls on the table. It has excellent spin, very good speed in attack (spiny FH and smashes), and very good control on service receiving and blocking. So, no complaints whatsoever! Vega Japan shines on an OFF+ blade (Joola Wing Passion Extreme).

BH is at charge of a Joola Phoenix MAX rubber, which does the job very well.

As others have pointed out, this rubber is grossly underrated at the current grade of 8.7 (it is quite better than Vega Euro, graded with 9.3, which seems a bit “dead” when compared with Vega Japan, IMHO).

Very good for forehand. It offers good control at high speed and is very bouncy. However, it is not suitable for short games, passive blocks, or chopping. I used it on a Yasaka Silverline carbon blade and found it effective for lifting the ball, topspins, and side effects. It is an offensive rubber that provides control on fast balls.

A very good rubber from XIOM. It has strong aspects in all areas of play and is fairly easy to use. After playing for a few sessions, the rubber feels natural in play and shots come easily.

I have used this rubber on my BH for months and it performs well for flicks, drives, serves, and blocks. While predominantly offensive-focused, it also has a good enough feel for defensive chops when backed into a corner. It’s one of the best runners in the Vega series and doesn’t disappoint.

Definitely worth giving a try on BH or FH with its great ability to spin and add pace to an aggressive game, while still maintaining enough touch and feel to hold its own in passive play.

Great rubber that deserves a better score.

Not sure why this is rated slower than VP. VJ is clearly faster. If you were to compare the two, VJ is more like T64.

It’s more speed-oriented than the VP, with a softer, more elastic topsheet. The carbo-sponge is the same. The overall feel is softer, but I prefer the way Tenergy creates the softer feel with a hard topsheet and soft sponge rather than vice versa.

Testing this versus T64, it rebounded faster as with most tensors. At the time, it wasn’t worth the premium over VP. Now that the prices are the same, it’s a good deal and interchangeable with T64 while you use VP in place of T05.

Review:

Avoid this rubber. Tarheel2536’s critique rings true. Attempting to remove glue (specifically Butterfly Chalk) from the sponge causes it to crumble. I experienced excessive sponge loss, exposing the rubber. In a fit of frustration, I tore the rubber barehanded, demonstrating its lack of durability. It’s highly likely that the rubber and sponge would tear upon contact with the table’s edge.

Prior experiences with re-gluing rubbers have not prepared me for the significant sponge loss encountered when removing glue from this product. It is an exceptional case of poor durability, resulting in a complete waste of investment.

In my opinion, the rubber with the best price to efficiency ratio. It’s not as grippy as Tenergy05 or OmegaV Tour, but it’s still very good.

I don’t know about SigmaII Euro/Pro, but they’re about the same price as Omega V Tour. It’s very bouncy, and it took me a while to adjust from 2.0 mm to max mm.

For the price, it really is a great rubber. On par with all the latest generation rubbers like Bluefire and Rasant, etc. Because of the sponge hardness, it can be comfortably used for both forehand and backhand.

My current favorite forehand rubber. Many Tenergy users have asked to try it after playing against them and have described it as having a similar effect on the ball. It allows for nice spinny serves, solid pushes, and confident short and mid loops. For the price, it seems like a great value when compared to high-end rubbers.

A big disappointment. I was looking for a backhand (BH) rubber with good control and spin, mounted on my fast, light Yinhe T-11+. Pushes are fine, but it doesn’t “bite” the ball enough for BH loops. Vega Europe gives much better bite (though it’s slower).

Forehand (FH) loops are okay, though rubbers like Yasaka Rakza 7 (on the T-11+ FH) and Xiom Sigma Europe II are much, much spinnier. I can’t wait for the replacement for XVJ to come in the mail.

UPDATE:
I just pulled the rubber off the blade (easy). Then I slathered the rubber with extra glue to make the glue easy to pull off. Disappointing again—the sponge is so soft that pieces of the sponge came with the glue. The top sheet feels hard, under tension, but the sponge is soft.

This is the best rubber. It provides great spin and control, and it is very durable. I have been using it for a few months now, and I have not had any problems with it. I would definitely recommend this rubber to anyone who is looking for a good all-around rubber.

My game is of the all-round type, which includes chops, looping, flat smashes, and backspins. I am currently using Adidas Fibertec Classic with Vega Japan on the forehand and Vega Asia on the backhand. This combination perfectly suits my playing style. I switched to Vega Japan from Rakza 7 Soft, which had a higher throw and made it difficult for me to play an all-round game. Vega Japan is truly a “jack of all trades” rubber. So far, it has been excellent, and I am definitely not disappointed.