Xiom Vega Pro

Review:

Muy buena por su precio. Equilibrada.

Saludos:

Saludos desde Chile!

A great rubber, featuring aggressive topspin that makes the most stock shot hard to return. It’s worth the money and very spinny. However, it’s not recommended for more defensive players due to its high speed, which can be hard to cope with. Overall, it’s a highly recommended rubber.

The rubber is good. However, I didn’t like the rubber band effect. This effect causes two nearly identical shots to have completely different outcomes because of the catapult.

It has a neutral feel on FH drives - not too disengaged/numb but also not the most responsive rubber on the market.

The first couple of FH drives quickly revealed that the XVP is not a speed monster. However, it still has sufficient power to enable mid-distance play.

I have heard many fables of XVP high throw angle, but in my opinion, it is only a medium to medium-high throw rubber.

Looping is, nonetheless, quite pleasant - controlled and clearly the XVP greatest strength.

Review:

I came across this rubber while browsing an online German table tennis shop. I read the reviews of the Vega Pro and was curious to try it. I have an aggressive playing style and prefer to play at mid-distance or close to the table. My game relies on heavy topspin and precise placement for flicks and serve returns.

I have played with Bluefire M1 Turbo, M1, M2, JP01 turbo, evo MXP, Tenergy 19, Tenergy 05fx, and Rhyzer 48. Despite the Vega Pro not being as fast as any of these (although very close), it still packs a punch when needed. I found that my game had much more potency with spin and accuracy. I use a Boll ALC blade, and the combination of spin, speed, and control is astounding. I was able to return short serves that were low over the net with vicious spin and precision.

Looping with this rubber is a dream, and with the right blade (carbon with some flex), it’s an absolute joy to play with. I felt like I couldn’t miss, and this is a highly underrated rubber, especially for its price. It’s around £25 per sheet from a reputable table tennis supplier in Germany. I will keep this rubber for the Boll ALC, my perfect combination.

Max thickness is 71g uncut, 50g cut. Easy-to-play rubber for any level. Performance is great and speed is very linear. Serves are spinny. Short game isn’t bouncy, but power shots are fast.

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 affects brush shots.

A great forehand rubber, I would highly recommend this to any developing attacking player. This rubber has all of the fun and excitement of rubbers like tenergy and the evolution series but is way more forgiving. Overall, it is a great price and has unbeatable performance.

High throw, medium-hard sponge, medium-soft topsheet. It’s a bit difficult to control, a bit unpredictable. However, it becomes softer after a week or two, so the controllability will improve over time. Very spinny, a fast mid gear but slow in the top gear.

Donic Akuda S1

Donic Akuda S1 is a table tennis rubber that is designed for all-around play. It is a medium-hard rubber with a grippy surface that provides excellent control and spin. The sponge is relatively soft, which makes it good for generating spin and feel.

The Akuda S1 is a good choice for players who want a rubber that is versatile and can be used for a variety of playing styles. It is also a good choice for players who are looking for a rubber that is durable and will last a long time.

One of the best forehand rubbers for me. It’s a fantastic rubber with brilliant spin capability and more than enough speed. Highly recommended!

A good all-around rubber, not spin sensitive. I use it on my backhand and find it very good for counterattack and blocking. It’s also fantastic for smash. The grip is lower than other modern rubbers, which means the spin is not high but powerful if you hit strong.

Honestly, brilliant rubber with high spin and a sufficient amount of speed. This is a great option for players looking for more control in comparison to more responsive and fast rubbers like Tenergy 05. It’s also a good alternative for forehand players who want that little bit more speed. Consider Evolution MXP in that case.

I’m confused by the high ratings for this rubber. Years ago, I tested it with my blades and spin style but found it didn’t work for me. However, a training colleague of mine has used it for years and has very good OFF- skills as a former 2nd-league player. He produces extraordinary services and FH/BH topspins, but I haven’t been able to get the same results with this rubber.

Recently, I started testing it for poly ball as my league results were very bad last year. I ordered two Vega Pro in 1.8mm for tests on different blades. Before playing, I tuned the sponge, but the results were not convincing. The main problem was a low throw angle and less catapult.

My last test was on a TSP Balsa 6.5 blade on FH, and the Vega Pro worked best there in short play, chopping, save blocking, topspin, and smashing. I’ll use it next season. Another training partner of mine tested this bat and ordered the same package, as they found it safe, controlled, and powerful when needed. We’ll provide further feedback in the future.

That is one amazing rubber! I use Xiom Vega Pro on my forehand and backhand on a Tibhar Curious blade. It is a very fast combination!

Vega Pro is a surprisingly linear rubber for ESN standards. It has many gears, making short game easy and power looping far from the table a breeze. However, the catapult effect only kicks in on big strokes, so it’s not recommended for the backhand, as it feels too dead and hard there.

Compared to newer generation rubbers or T05, Vega Pro is much more linear and requires more physical effort. Nevertheless, looping is very pleasant, with a high arc and a good balance of speed and spin. This rubber pairs best with stiff blades and hard outer plies, such as the BTY Timo Boll series with fiber. It is considered the best T05 replacement for the forehand.

Blade: XIOM allround classic S.

Rubbers: XIOM Vega pro on both sides, 2.0mm. (Bh/Fh)

I’ve been using this setup for a month. In the past, I used Chinese rubbers, the NEO versions of the Hurricane 3 and Skyline 2. Obviously, there are big differences between them. The surface of the Vega pro is not tacky, so it does not react to incoming spin heavily. This makes it easier to return serves or block heavy topspins compared to the Chinese rubbers I used. However, the non-tacky surface has a disadvantage: I’m struggling to generate heavy spinny topspins, overall on my backhand, and heavy spinny serves. I thought the rubber would be spinnier based on the reviews I read.

I can’t recommend this rubber for the backhand unless you have a really good technique. I would recommend a bit softer and faster rubber for the backhand.

The rubber is quite good for OFF players who search for direct and speedy shots with low arc and low spin.

I found it impossible to play with the rubber. Maybe it’s because I’m not a pro, but the control was bad. I re-glued it with a butyl acetate glue on a cheaper blade, and the feeling was better. I think this is a rubber that you need practice to play with. It’s very fast but not really harder than Sriver or Baracuda. I think if you change your rubber to Vega Pro, most of your hits will get on the wall behind your opponent. (2.0 red, forehand)

5/12/2018- I did not like this rubber very much. Perhaps it does not suit my style. The quality is great, but it is hard. It needs a lot of effort to get the full potential of this rubber. I think the spin is way less than Rasant and Rasant Beat or even Rakza 7 Soft. The control is not as good as the rubbers mentioned above, but it is cheap and very durable. I have it on Andro Treiber -Z.

Update-23 May 2019: Since I have been practicing a lot and have improved a lot, I love this rubber. It is better than Tenergy 05 as it is easier to control. The ball can be hit very hard but still lands on the table due to the spin. T-05 is too bouncy and goes out; you need more skill to control it.

I have used this rubber for three months after my 3.5-year break from table tennis. In the past, I used Tibhar Evolution EL-P, Tenergy 05, but this is my favorite rubber so far for forehand. It provides powerful topspin, easy block, great control, and placement of the ball.

I recommend playing close to and middle from the table because if you use this rubber far from the table, you will have to use more power due to less catapult effect than Tenergy. I use 2.0mm thickness on the FH side on the Primorac OFF-, and I will probably try a max thickness next time or Xiom Vega Tour.

Excellent rubber. It reminded me of a powered down Tenergy 05, which is very good for my style of play. It has excellent spin, speed, and control, and is definitely an offensive rubber.

This is exceptional rubber. I have been playing with it for several years and simply love it.

My only wish is that the sponge would be one degree softer. This is because on flexible attackers blades, you really need good skills to use it effectively.

Here are some ferocious forehands from myself with Vega Pro on Xiom ZX2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JA6H7hDPSA.

My favorite FH rubber (on a Stiga Celero wood). I have tried others like Aurus, Evolution MX-P (using in BH, see comparative review there), Tenergry 05, but I always stay with this one.

This is the rubber that gives me the most power (with a full arm) but keeps the confidence in my topspins and smashes. It is very easy to open-loop, and hitting is very consistent.

Be aware that the rubber needs good arm speed (thus including leg work) and is quite sensitive to incoming spin.

To give a level idea, my TTR ranking oscillates between 1,500 and 1,600 in Germany.

One of the best backhand rubbers ever made! It is fast, spinny, and extremely stable, making it easy to play. It can last for a year or more on the backhand, and the balls land well. It is simply one of the best rubbers for backhand play.

It is very fast and has good control.

Compared to Vega Europe, this rubber has a slightly harder sponge, resulting in a bit more speed. It offers a more direct feel during smashes and countering. However, it has a medium arc for a lighter tuned tensor.

Vega Europe provides an almost effortless feel when looping, while Vega Pro has a slightly less dwell time, requiring a slight learning curve to adjust to. Both rubbers offer excellent spin and control compared to ultra-powered tensors.

The test sheet was labeled as 2.0mm, but upon inspection, it appeared to be closer to 1.8mm or 1.9mm. It features a high-quality top sheet with black Carbo Sponge.

Many players would benefit from trying the Vega Series due to its exceptional price-to-performance ratio. It offers a great balance of speed, spin, control, and value.

Players below the 2000 rating level should consider this series as a cost-effective alternative to expensive rubbers. It delivers excellent overall performance and will elevate the quality of your game.

While I prefer Vega Europe for its looping capabilities, Vega Pro offers a touch more spin but with less ball feel. Ultimately, the best choice depends on individual preferences. Find the Vega that suits your style and elevates your table tennis game.

Review text:

I really like this rubber. It does just about everything well and is easy to use. It’s the first tensor I used after transitioning from Mark V as a developing player.

Good speed and spin with great control and consistency. Excellent for blocking, flat hits, serve return, and pushes. Pretty good for looping and serves. The high throw angle makes lifting backspin fairly easy. Can be used effectively on either FH or BH.

Not the fastest or spinniest but a good choice for an all-around tensor that is highly consistent with good control.

Pro & Contra

• Spin: Excellent
• Control: Excellent
• Speed: Good
• Durability: Good
• Price: Fair

Contra

• No real weaknesses, but the catapult effect may be too low for some players with hard hitting strokes.

Detailed Report

Full review coming soon.

On a Xiom Offensive S, in 2mm black:

Out of the packet, the topsheet is very slightly tacky. The sponge is hard, has larger pores than Tenergy, and is black. The first couple of drives feel unspinny, but a spin stroke kills that sensation. This rubber has a lot of spin potential, but it is essential to exert energy in brushing the ball to achieve this spin (unlike rubbers like Vega Elite). I can only imagine the spin achievable on a softer blade with more flex.

On short pushes using the topsheet, there is little bounciness. Mid-table pushing is less secure; compressing the sponge too much will make the push/chop catapult long, although the hardness does help. FH looping from close/middle distance is superb; the ball does indeed ‘cannon’ across to the other side, although this needs very good energy transfer from the legs and waist and more than a little brush in case you’re thinking of using this lazily. Loops have loads of precision, and the confidence this instils is invaluable, especially close to the table. The throw angle is high, not low.

On BH, power loops had to be extremely well timed. Maybe a max sponge would give a bit more dwell. BH open ups were unpredictable until I closed the racket angle, whence the rubber suddenly performed much better. Blocks on both sides are good but not as good as something like Rasant Power Sponge, especially if you don’t like closing your BH racket angle.

Serving is great, no complaints and plenty of spin when I’m not lazy ;-)

Conclusion:

A really good quality rubber for offensive players, with both a huge spin potential and a precise and predictable trajectory, even if this means sacrificing a little forgiveness found in softer rubbers. This could be good for the FH of improving loopers in 2.0mm or 1.8mm, who are trying to achieve a more consistent contact with the ball, because it gives a lot of looping control in the mid-low gears, yet retains a great catapult for further back. Enjoy your TT!

The rubber is good.

This was the rubber I used on my forehand on my first custom racket.

My friend who has a Nexy Kanaph (Blade), Donic Coppa X2 Platin Soft (BH) and Donic Acuda P2 (FH) tried using my racket. My other friend who is a heavy offensive player also tried my racket, and they both used the Vega on the forehand. They said that they had a hard time controlling it because it was way faster than they expected and that’s why I gave this rubber a high rating for speed and spin.

I’m not saying that this rubber lacks control, it’s just that this is a really good rubber for a good price. My only mistake was that my LKT Instinct+ blade was too slow to compensate for the rubber which actually made my racket slow.

I’m really looking forward to using this rubber with fast carbon blades and probably a soft rubber on the backhand like the Vega Europe or the Stiga Calibra LT Sound.

Don’t be afraid to buy this rubber guys, I absolutely promise that this rubber is really good, no regrets!.

This is a very good rubber. I am waiting for the dynamic friction version. Does anyone know if or when the DF version is going to be available?

Recently I discovered two great FH rubbers: Xiom Vega PRO and Vega Japan (MAX thickness).

Vega PRO is perhaps the best FH rubber I played with, but it is a bit too fast (some balls go out of the table easily). Part of this issue is the blade, an OFF+ Joola Wing Passion Extreme. It is an offensive combo, but nevertheless it has enough control in receives and blocks. Very good away from the table. Quite better and more balanced than the Vega Euro (too slow for FH IMHO). Vega PRO loses to Vega Japan in one aspect: Vega Japan is a bit slower, just enough for landing more balls on the table. But the pros of VP overwhelm this slight weakness (adequate training solves the issue).

BH is at charge of a Spinlord Irbis I (MAX thickness) rubber, a light rubber with enough speed, spin and very good control.

Great for attacking on both the backhand and forehand. However, if you play defensively, this is not the rubber for you as chops generate below-average spin. Looping is very consistent with this rubber, and overriding side spin with topspin is extremely easy.

This rubber is near perfect for backhand play, particularly on the Stiga Clipper CR. It provides good bounce, speed, and spin. While it’s not tacky, it has good grip.

As a two-wing player, I rely heavily on backhand flicks in response to serves. This rubber has served me well over the years. In the future, I may consider trying the T Energy 05 or 64 for comparison. However, for the time being, the Xiom Vega Pro remains an exceptional backhand rubber.

Great forehand rubber.

Certainly my favorite forehand rubber of these last years. I’ve made lots of changes in my setup during several months, coming from flexible blades and very soft rubbers, and gradually came to stiffer blades and harder rubbers. I quickly came to love the Vega Pro for many reasons:

• It’s affordable, and yet very durable (lasts around one whole season for me). The build quality is extremely good. Though the sponge is firm, the topsheet is quite thin and supple, so the overall feeling is firm, but not that hard (I’d say around 42-43°, depending on the thickness and the blade underneath).
• It’s quite fast, but very linear, so you don’t feel like you’re playing with an uncontrollable rocket. You get the speed you expect, no surprise, no tensor effect that comes into play when you don’t expect it, and yet it’s easy to play. On the contrary, the Vega Europe is a little easier on this side, speed is easier to “trigger”… but Vega Pro can be really fast as well if you have a good technique and hit the ball correctly. However, during short play or opening topspins, the rubber offers lots and lots of control…
• … and spin! Vega Pro is a very spinny rubber. I never played with Tenergys or modern alternatives, so it’s hard to compare. I’d say it’s a bit behind, but really not far. Throw angle is high or medium-high, so very suited for topspin play.

All in all, this has been my favorite rubber for the last 2-3 years, never really needed to try anything else. For this price, and if you…

Vega Pro Review

• Weighs around 48g cut (2.0mm on Primorac Carbon). This harder rubber is suitable for softer surface (hinoki) blades.

• Initially used on Powerwood, it felt hard, slow, and lacked spin due to the blade’s harder surface. When switched to Primorac Carbon, the rubber transformed. It perfectly complemented the blade’s softer hinoki surface.

• The combination produced fast, extremely spinny shots with exceptional side spin and devastating topspin dives. It significantly enhanced the blade’s spin potential.

• However, after two months of heavy use, the sponge deteriorated, transitioning from a hard rubber with medium throw to a soft rubber with high throw. As a result, the reviewer will consider using the 1.8mm version or Donic Bluefire series in the future.

Un cauciuc foarte bun pentru topspin balonat cu o rotație mare și un simț bun, asemănător cu Tenergy05. Cauciuc la un preț acceptabil. Încercați-l cu încredere. Eu îl folosesc pe lemnul Ma Lin Extra Offensif pe FH.

Stimați,

Absolute quality rubber from XIOM. Perfect for my backhand. It has a medium-low throw, perfect for quick backhand flicks and drives. This rubber produces loads of spin when thin contact is made on the ball on service and touch play. Blocking is great, but where this rubber truly excels is creating effective spin.

With rubbers like Energy, we can judge the amount of topspin by how much of a dive the ball has. But with this rubber, it is a very direct shot (which is great for the backhand), but the spin really causes havoc to the opponent’s shots and highly affects the accuracy of your opponent’s strokes.

Great rubber for a very reasonable price; I recommend it for all stages of play after the beginner level.

Forehand (FH) Rubber Review

This non-tacky rubber is categorized as medium-hard and medium-heavy. It provides a high throw, making it great for looping. Despite its categorization, the rubber offers a soft touch close to the net. Unlike many tensors, it exhibits minimal bounce.

Weight and Durability

The Black max variant weighs 47 grams when cut, indicating a medium-heavy weight. In its uncut state, it weighs 67 grams. After four months of use, I observed approximately 1 mm of shrinkage.

I used Adidas Tenzone SF regularly for 10 months. Four months ago, I switched to Vega Pro as my main setup.

Compared to Tenzone SF, Vega Pro is relatively easier to use and offers better control. The throw angle is medium high for both weak and strong strokes. In contrast, Tenzone SF has a medium-high throw angle only when its sponge is engaged or during strong strokes. This makes Vega Pro more suitable for looping.

In terms of spin characteristics, Vega Pro is slightly spinier than Tenzone SF. However, both rubbers have similar speeds. The weight is average, slightly on the heavier side, but still within the normal range.

I would like to correct the throw angle rating of Vega Pro. It is definitely medium high, higher than Tenzone SF. Overall, I am highly satisfied with the performance of Vega Pro.

The cheapest top-level rubber is not bad and is appreciated by many.

Vega PRO is slightly spinnier but slower than Vega ASIA. Both rubbers offer good control. Asia FH and Pro BH is a good and inexpensive starter kit.

Both rubbers require a significant amount of glue and are considered “one-time” use type of rubbers. Once removed from a blade, they tend to curl up excessively and become difficult to flatten out on a new blade.

I originally started using Vega Pro in 2012, and although I’ve tried a bunch of other rubbers, I keep coming back to this on FH. I use max sponge on Xiom Aria 5-ply blade with a thin Btfly free chack application.

It has a moderately hard feeling (which I prefer on FH). I get clear feedback and it’s somewhat forgiving if I make less than optimal contact. It’s easy to keep my serves and pushes low with good spin, almost like a Chinese rubber. When looping, I can use a big stroke close to the table and produce lots of spin and power, yet feel confident that I’ll hit the table. This encourages me to play more aggressively and suits my game well.

To be sure, there are many rubbers that will produce more spin and speed, but this still has plenty of both. The longevity is fantastic, and at $38 per sheet, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better value.

I use RSM platinum special penhold racket (10.5 mm). This 2.2 mm rubber fits well with the racket. The spin and speed are good, especially in the close table or mid-table plays. The control is mildly poor than the Sigma Europe I, but it had more gears than the Sigma Europe I.

The best period of the rubber is the period of the second week to 4-5 weeks from the use of this rubber. The speed became slower since the second month due to the loss of elasticity of the sponge. The durability of the topsheet is good, which may keep good spin for 2-3 months. The average time of play (usually in match) is around 6-7 hours per week.

Review:

Very offensive rubber that is also controllable. I got used to it after a couple of days of training and hope it lasts a long time.

Vega Pro is a high-quality tensor rubber with a higher throw angle and excellent spin generation. It’s not excessively bouncy close to the table, making it suitable for loopers. It exhibits strong ball dip, contributing to its impressive looping potential.

Despite being a high-end product, Vega Pro is not easy to bottom out due to its high throw angle and durability. However, this should not be a concern for most players who do not engage in hard loop drives from more than 6 meters away from the table.

One potential issue with Vega Pro is its tendency to pop up the ball on long pushes with side spin. This could be a result of a lack of skill near the table and can be minimized with proper technique.

Blocking with Vega Pro is highly effective. Passive blocks often result in additional spin, benefiting players who are out of position. Looping drives during hard exchanges are also exceptional, with the rubber’s high grip preventing the ball from slipping off. Notably, Vega Pro produces a distinctive clicking sound at high speeds, which may appeal to some players but not others.

The rubber has excellent durability, lasting for a month with consistent play. This is an impressive lifespan, considering that most rubbers are damaged in less time.

Overall, Vega Pro is a highly recommended product, especially for the forehand. It offers great value for its price range of $35 to $45 and is suitable for players of intermediate and advanced levels. While not ideal for absolute beginners, Vega Pro is an excellent choice for those seeking a quality rubber with exceptional spin and durability.

Excellent for my backhand. Playing with it just feels effortless.

I love this rubber. It offers good speed, spin, and control, making it suitable for blocking and controlled attacks both away from and near the table. I have the Chinese version on my forehand and the European version on my backhand.

No disrespect to the above reviewer, but I have been using this rubber for 18 months and change it every 4 months, never having any issues with shrinkage. Most spring sponges are hard to stick on, so I found from my experience that you should never stretch or bend the rubber much when placing the top sheet on the blade. Stretching causes the sponge to shrink back later when the glue dries up, and this can be noticed within 48 hours. I hope this helps.

Anyway, this rubber is the complete package for me. It does everything, especially loops. It has an excellent throw, is very durable, and does not lose much performance even after 4 months; I can’t tell the difference. However, it is not for beginners. 10/10.

UPDATE:

Have been using this for three months now. I still agree with everything I said below, but WATCH OUT! There is an issue with this rubber. I have had the same issue with Vega Europe, so it’s not a one-off:

This stuff drinks up the glue like crazy. I had to put on three coats on the sponge before I could get it to stick. What I discovered later is that it SHRINKS, too, as it absorbs the glue. I don’t mean a little; I mean A LOT. I took the rubber off one blade and put it on another, then switched it back. It had shrunk 2mm on every side. It was no longer usable. I work part-time in a pro shop. I glue rackets for others almost every day, and I have never, ever seen a rubber behave like this before. It’s a great rubber and lasts well, but beware: it shrinks, and you can lose $70 worth of rubber in the snap of a finger. It’s hard to get to stick, and if it comes off and you have cut it flush, you are screwed, I kid you not.

Vega Pro Rubber Review:

I recently started using the Vega Pro in max thickness on my forehand and backhand on my Darker 7p-2a carbon. So far, I’m liking it.

Vega Pro has a stiff but not too dense sponge. I had to put three coats of Butterfly Free Chalk glue on the sponge before it stopped soaking in and I could put it on the blade. But despite this, the sponge works very well. Unlike cheap rubbers with a stiff and dense sponge, Vega Pro has some give, so I wouldn’t exactly call it HARD. The ball gets down in there, and I wasn’t disappointed with the dwell time at all, particularly since I hit a fast ball.

Vega Pro is fast. I’m a middle-distance looper, so this works great for me. But if you play close to the table as a rule, watch out. It’s designed to grab that ball and chuck it a mile. I wouldn’t recommend it for close players or anyone below a strong intermediate skill level.

Vega Pro offers good control and spin for me. As long as I hit a quality stroke, it delivers. I wouldn’t call it forgiving, but not too strict either. Lastly, you can spin the ball like crazy.

Although the product specs at the top of the page (as of this writing) say that Vega Pro is not a tensor rubber, it IS a tensor rubber. It says so on the front of the package.

Overall, I give the Vega Pro rubber a 9/10. However, it’s a specialized rubber that’s best suited for fast, spinny, more advanced attacking players. Others will find themselves struggling with it.

Out of the Packet Impressions:

• Well-made and reliable quality
• Ample grip from the topsheet
• Medium-hard sponge
• Densely arranged, thinner pips

Playing Experience:

Prior to using this rubber, I had transitioned away from Chinese rubbers due to their lack of speed for over-the-table drives and counterloops. However, I still desired versatility and feel.

Driving with this rubber proved effortless, allowing for precise short shots or powerful deep shots as desired. The control was excellent, but required a certain level of skill and commitment. The low throw over the net was commendable, even with minimal topspin, a crucial aspect for advanced players.

The short game required some minor adjustments, but the hard sponge enabled accurate pushes with good spin and short trajectory. It also performed well in flicks. However, proper footwork and concentration were essential to prevent pop-ups or excessive spin from the grippy topsheet.

Aggressive loops were highly effective with Vega PRO. It provided excellent speed and a low trajectory, posing a formidable challenge for opponents. Looping against backspin required adjustment, but was not overly problematic with proper technique and footwork.

Smashing was enjoyable, as with many tensors. The ball possessed great speed and felt powerful.

Serving with Vega PRO was both easy and controllable, offering ample spin and angle manipulation thanks to the sponge.

Important Considerations:

Using Vega PRO requires good technique. Attempting to rely solely on the rubber will result in ineffective shots. Conversely, sloppy strokes will lead to errant shots. The name “Vega PRO” is no mere coincidence.

Durability appears to be adequate, lasting approximately half a season or slightly longer. This is suitable for those who prefer to avoid frequent rubber changes.

Overall:

I am satisfied with this rubber and intend to continue using it. I recommend it to players with an aggressive style who seek a balance between looping and driving. However, it requires confidence in strokes and commitment to good technique. Overall, Vega PRO is an excellent rubber at a reasonable price.

Very versatile and confident loop rubber! An excellent FH choice!

Xiom Vega Pro is an overvalued rubber. It has too high spin sensitivity and spin ratio.

Tenergy05 is far better in all aspects (or a boosted Palio CJ8000 Biotech 40-42).

Omg, what a rubber! So fast, so spiny, and so cool. Why buy overpriced Butterfly products? This rubber gave me the power I was looking for.

It excels in loops, drives, and serves. For blocks, you must get used to its high throw angle.

And the price? Very nice for what it offers in return.

Not as good as Omega 4 Pro. I bought a red one for this review and found that the quality of this rubber (red) is quite bad compared to the black one. I strongly recommend you to buy the black one.

The speed is quite fast, however, it is not spinny enough for me.

Excellent rubber for FH topspin, generating a high amount of spin. Despite being rated as an OFF rubber, it is not excessively fast.

Pros:

• Excellent for loop and power drives
• Blocks well

Cons:

• Pushes require attention to incoming spin
• Not suitable for beginners or passive play

Other Notes:

• Very spinny and offensive rubber
• Offers good ball feeling
• Generally requires offensive skills and fast legwork

REVIEW FOR JPEN PLAYERS:

I purchased the 2.0 red and attached it to my 1-ply cypress blade.

Weight:
The weight of the rubber impressed me. The 2.0 thickness was ideal for Jpen. The racket achieved excellent balance after gluing, with no head heaviness. Transitioning between forehand and backhand proved smooth and quick, eliminating the discomfort associated with using heavier rubbers.

Sensation:
The sponge exhibited a porous texture, resembling pipe insulator foam. Sealing this rubber with sealing glue is inadvisable, as the sponge will absorb the glue and accumulate excess weight. The top sheet possessed medium hardness, slightly softer than my preference for meticulous driving.

Timeline:
Initially, I disliked this rubber due to its stark contrast with T05’s grip and powerful catapult. However, after a week, I adapted to XVP and learned its merits. The rubber gradually deteriorated after approximately 2 and a half months.

Play:
This rubber would likely excel in looping play. Its performance in driving was less impressive. The top sheet lacked sufficient hardness, causing the ball to sink excessively into the sponge and creating a mushy sensation. I observed limited spin on contact or trajectory, yet the ball surprisingly propelled forward at a surprising angle. The throw angle could have been higher, as many of my drives ended up in the net, proving frustrating. Backhands lacked sufficient catapult for powerful shots and exhibited a slightly slow and floaty trajectory. Exaggerated strokes were necessary for backhands to the left to clear the net. Blocking proved exceptional, enabling me to execute precise touch shots.

As a Jpen driver, I would recommend a different rubber with increased speed, a harder top sheet, and a higher throw angle.

Excellent rubber, with a wide range of capabilities. Easy to loop, flip, and counter. The black rubber has a higher throw than the red rubber. The spin and control are awesome, but it may take some time to get used to this rubber if you haven’t played with high-throw rubbers before.

I used this rubber (red, 2.0 mm) on my RSM platinum special (10.5 cm) for 2 months.

In the first 2 weeks, I missed shots (loop and speed) due to its hard sponge and quick response, but it improved in the following weeks.

The rubber offers a lot of speed and good spin (more power equals more spin, but spin is relatively poor at slow speeds). Blocking is easy with this rubber.

Its durability is much better than that of Rakza 7 (47.5 degree). It’s a real offensive rubber.

I have been using Xiom Vega Pro for about 2 months. It’s an awesome rubber for attackers. The only issue I have is pushing on the opponent’s serves. This is likely due to the rubber’s high grip.

Overall, it’s still an awesome rubber.

VERY GOOD RUBBER, FAST AND SPINY. GOOD CONTROL. BETTER THAN Vega Asia AND Sigma Pro (SOFT FEEL, NOT SO SPINY).

Very fast rubber. I can’t say it’s a hard rubber after trying hard Chinese rubbers because I can press my finger on the topsheet very easily.

Good feel on loops, blocks, drives, etc. However, I still prefer Omega4 Pro.

Very good rubber. I used many rubbers but always come back to this one due to its looping ability and speed for hitting. The chop is heavy and good for serving. It suits playing close/mid table, even far away. Definitely, this rubber is not for beginners, but pros will love it. Players who control/defend won’t like it.

One of the nicest rubbers I’ve ever used. Spin is awesome, speed is great, and control is great (when you know how to use it). Overall, the experience is outstanding!

Serve

The natural rubber topsheet provides excellent grip, enabling low serves. The harder sponge allows the topsheet to perform more work, resulting in effective spinny serves.

Push

This rubber excels in pushing. When executing long, flat, and fast pushes, the ball lands with both speed and spin.

Block

Compared to Vega Euro, blocking with this rubber proves more effective. The harder sponge on Vega Pro provides greater kick, allowing for more effective over-the-table returns.

Loop

Vega Pro produces loops with a lower trajectory than Vega Euro, resembling the arc of H3 Neo. Loops tend to land deep on the table with good pace. When looping against backspin, the grippy topsheet enables strong ball loading, while the firm sponge ensures a powerful return.

Very good for serves and loops, both for opening, fast, and brush loops, it is impressive! Because of its big window, it’s sponge is very cool! And it’s topsheet is very glossy, which I thought wasn’t grippy, which proves me wrong! Cuz it was very spinny! Especially for brush loops and sidespin serves!

Very easy for looping slight or medium underspin, a bit hard on very heavy ones, you need to have good control and perfect technique if you want to to hit balls with heavy topspin with any strokes, including blocks!

Very good for drop shots, but be really careful with your chops (away from the table) cuz it pops it out. Makes a very nice combination with a Zetro Quad blade.

This rubber is a good choice for players who prioritize spin and blocking. Additionally, it performs well for pushing and spin serving.

Serve:

• Very good serve using Stradavarius, Andro Aramid, and Zetro.

Spin:

• Very good spin, but less than T05.
• It produces spin through a combination of tackiness and softness in the topsheet, resulting in mechanical and sticky spin.

Throw Angle:

• Is medium to high.
• Slow strokes produce a high arch with Zetro, while Stradavarius provides decent arch.
• Fast strokes produce a catapult effect with Zetro, also good with Stradavarius.

Direct Hit:

• Better with Andro Aramid and Stradavarius from a distance.
• Zetro’s high spin tends to shorten the ball’s travel distance.

Loop:

• Very easy with Zetro; still good with Stradavarius and Andro Aramid.

Flip:

• Best with Andro Aramid.
• Very good with Stradavarius.
• Good with Zetro.

Control:

• Very good with Stradavarius and Aramid; still good with Zetro.

Pushing:

• Good, but the ball may pop up if the blade angle and hitting contact are strong.
• Found to be better with Limba and Koto wood.

This is an attacking rubber that excels at initiating topspin from your opponent’s backspin, counter-looping, smashing, driving, and blocking. It also offers good control.

However, for non-offensive strokes like chopping away from the table, serving, and pushing, the control is only a 6. Flipping requires care due to the rubber’s high arc, as shots tend to go over the baseline.

For Japanese-style and all non-RPB penholders, this rubber is not recommended because close-to-table blocking or attacking is almost impossible due to the high-throw of the rubber. J-penhold players will have to close their angle on the BH, which is virtually impossible against opponents who are powerful loopers. Those with RPB should not have any problems with this rubber.

Fantastic rubber! I have been playing with Tenergy 05 on my forehand but am not willing to pay £50 for a sheet now that Butterfly has increased the price! So, I thought I would give the Xiom Vega Pro a try. I’m so pleased because I have to say it’s the best rubber I have ever played with!

I am playing with the MAX red on my forehand. The control is absolutely amazing. Looping is so easy, and I feel that any shot I play is guaranteed to land on the table. Speed is okay but definitely not as fast as Tenergy. However, I’m winning many more points now as my loops and counterloops are landing on the table far more often.

The vega pro is reasonably spinny (again not as much as Tenergy), but the accuracy and also the very very low throw angle have improved my game instantly.

It’s great for pushing, blocking, flicking…everything really.

I’m playing with it on a BTY Timo Boll Spirit and would recommend a harder blade like this for the Vega Pro.

So, if you’re currently playing with Tenergy and are looking for something cheaper and more accurate, then I would highly recommend giving this rubber a go.

When my Yanus became chipped and worn, my coach suggested that I go for something with a bit more bite on topspin drives. I can’t detect a great deal of difference myself, but opponents say my drives have a nasty dip and curve, so I guess this must be doing some good.

Chops are a little more difficult than with the Yanus.

When I first played with it, it felt dull, lacked spin and speed. I later realized that I was not using the proper techniques to bring out the power of the rubber.

It is considered “pro” for good reasons; it requires fast racket speed, arm movement, forearm snap, wrist snap, and good waist rotation to bring out its power.

Pushing: Needs longer contact time, short and long pushes have good control and predictable placement.
Looping: Requires a longer stroke for more contact time.
Serve: Provides excellent spin, good with low shots and deep serves.
Looping top spin: Needs a more horizontal path to bring the ball down for a lower bounce. This is due to the higher throw angle of Xiom Vega rubbers, designed for a higher arc for safety when clearing the net.
Smash: Easy and fast.
Flip: Good control and pace.
Drop shot: Good control.
Drive and counter: Excellent.
Half-long balls: Easy to handle due to the grip and higher throw angle.

It’s an excellent rubber with a wide range of gears from slow to fast. It feels like a speed-glued H3 (Xiom Pro has a higher throw angle), TG3, and tuned Neo H3 and TG3.

Compared to Tenergy O5, Xiom Pro has better control, more power at mid-distance, slightly less spin, and better feel on the racket.
Some critics say that this rubber is “Sriverish.” Yes, it can feel that way with slower racket speeds.

The top sheet is of excellent quality, with high natural rubber content. It appears to have good durability, but I will monitor it over the next 1-2 months.

The manufacturer’s rating of spin and speed is higher than the ratings on the Vega Europe. With high racket speed, the PRO has much more power and spin. The manufacturer’s rating is considered to be more accurate.

Compared to Vega Europe:
Vega Europe is easier to play with, has very good spin, is much softer, and offers excellent control. However, it is weaker for power loops and drives than the Pro version.

Note: I use an All+ Stellan Bengtsson Alpha blade, which is not a very fast racket but has excellent control.

This is the easiest rubber I have ever played with! I looked for a hard backhand rubber and got the Vega Pro, and it’s perfect! It’s easy to play with, still dangerously spinny, and formidable for placing the ball wherever I want. It looks absolutely perfect too! Yes, the optical impression with this rubber is outstanding! The sheet looks almost softish, if there is such a thing. Well, I get carried away - sorry…

This paddle is very good.

It has been one of my favorite rubbers since the Tenergy 64. I felt it has the same sponge.

The best rubber for counterlooping! It literally eats the incoming spin and sends the ball exactly where you want it.

It is a very good rubber for loops and basically anything on the backhand. However, the only problem I found was with the shops. If there was no spin, it would pop up. If there was under spin, it would just eat it up and go straight for the net.

Overall, I am impressed with the speed, spin, and control of this rubber. Initially, I underestimated its spin capabilities, but after playing against opponents using it, I noticed how effortlessly their balls soared over the table.

Unlike the previous review, I haven’t encountered any issues with the rubber causing balls to pop up on pushes. This could be due to the specific combination of blade and rubber I’m using. The rubber excels in both loops and counter loops, although it demands a certain level of technique to execute them effectively; otherwise, the shots tend to overshoot. In a way, it encourages the player to improve their stroke technique.

Hard, fast, and spinny! Pushes need perfect technique, or you will pop it up and get killed. If your game is attack, attack, attack, then this rubber is for you. It is of good quality.

I’m using this rubber on my backhand (BH). For me, it’s an excellent rubber for both wings. It’s a bit explosive in the short game due to its high catapult effect, but it’s not uncontrollable.

It’s not a rubber for beginners. I’d say it’s quick and very spin-sensitive. Drives are easy, topspins are spinny and fast, loops are very spinny (not easy to do in the beginning, but it gets easier with training), flicks are good, and chops are very hard to do.

Overall, this rubber is lethal. It demands good technique to use its full potential. The throw angle is medium-high, and it’s very durable.

For comparison, it’s slower than the Omega 7 series and T05, about the same speed (a bit quicker) as Fastarc G1. It’s spinnier than MXP, but less spinny than T05 and Fastarc G1.

I paired the Xiom Vega Pro with a Yasaka Atlético Power racket on the forehand (FH) and a Stiga Mantra on the backhand (BH). The result offers great control, making it ideal for playing close to the table and excellent for serving and blocking.

However, for attacking or finishing shots, it feels slow. The only exception is for smashes, where the control allows you to place the ball precisely. I intend to give it another chance, but it is potentially slower than a Hurricane 3. For reference, I typically use a Victas TDE on the FH, which is noticeably faster.

The Xiom Vega Pro rubber is a top choice for offensive players seeking speed and power in their game. Featuring a hard and bouncy sponge, this rubber is designed for players who are well-versed in their technique. It’s not ideally suited for beginners due to its demanding nature.

To fully unlock its potential, players must master their stroke mechanics, as the rubber requires precise handling to reveal its true capabilities. When executed correctly, the Xiom Vega Pro produces a low trajectory that can be unsettling for opponents, particularly during fast-paced exchanges.

It excels in shots like flips and poses a challenge for counter-hitting opponents. Versatile across a variety of blade types, especially offensive ones, it serves as a formidable weapon on both forehand and backhand strokes.

Overall, I highly recommend the Xiom Vega Pro to experienced players looking to elevate their offensive game.

I had tried it on both my backhand (BH) and forehand (FH). It felt better on my backhand because it’s slower, softer, and not as spinny as my Tibhar MX-P forehand rubber. The rubber speed isn’t nine out of ten as the reviews here are misleading.

I use this as a forehand rubber on a penhold racket.
I had the opportunity to play with the Tenergy 05 rubber and I would compare it best to it. Blindly I don’t think I would be able to tell which tire is which…
Although it seems to me that the Vega Pro is a bit slower and definitely has a lower throw angle.
Vega is also heavy coming with over 48 grams on my blade.
The biggest disadvantage is that it loses its shine quickly… say after a few months…

This is a bestseller for a good reason. The rubber is very versatile and easy to control, with good speed and a relatively light weight. I play it on my Donic Waldner Allplay, and it’s a great combination for a versatile game.

Using it on my backhand, it’s pretty fast, but I don’t get much spin on backhand serves. There is also too high a launch angle.