Xiom Yanus DF

I would say that, unusually for myself, after three training sessions I still did not feel familiar with this rubber. Occasionally, the rubber acts very grippy, spinny, and fast enough. However, at other times, I find no grip, no spin, and a throw angle that is too high. This issue occurs whether I am using a celluloid ball or a plastic ball. I used the 1.5 mm thickness for my backhand.

Perhaps all-round players can benefit from this rubber, but I believe that spin and defensive players will not find it suitable. For the first time, I cannot specify the playing characteristics after just a few sessions. In any case, I do not recommend it—it’s too pricey for average quality. For just an additional 3 euros, you could get the Omega V Tour.

My first impression was not accurate.

Update: It may be the best backhand rubber I’ve tried. My backhand spins and smashes go exactly where I want them to. In a few words: I never miss flips! I will try the 2.0 mm thickness and provide another update soon.

Update 2: Now, I have been using the 1.5 mm version for 9 months. It feels like I will never change this rubber! I have improved my backhand by 200%. Despite more than 100 hours of play, the rubber looks almost new.

This rubber truly has two faces: when using the pimple side, it offers excellent control, and chops go low with significant backspin rotation. When I attack, the characteristics change, and it becomes a very dangerous topspin weapon—slower but filled with rotation. Flat hits are a revelation for me; the 1.5 mm thickness is very fast and precise. It is lightweight, thin, and soft (40°). I recommend it for all kinds of playing styles.

If you hit the ball fairly flat, as in counterhitting, the pace off the rubber is comparable to that of a “normal” offensive inverted rubber. However, once you start looping more, the speed is noticeably slower. The main thing I noticed right from the beginning was that the topsheet had almost no grip. To generate mechanical spin, you really need the ball to sink into the soft sponge. This made it challenging to produce spin off serves or very slow loops, where you just brush the ball lightly.

On the other hand, it was a pleasure to use this rubber for hitting loop drives. You get good spin and pinpoint accuracy, making it very consistent. Once you become accustomed to the rubber, you can also achieve decent pace (I used the 2.0mm version), although it is obviously slower than that of a normal rubber. In fact, for looping against backspin and against blocks, this rubber is not only suitable for defensive play but is also effective for any kind of inverted rubber.

However, when it comes to counterlooping against aggressive loops, it does put you at a disadvantage. I also found it difficult to “reflect” topspin while fishing away from the table. Somehow, the ball returned fairly spinless and often floated long. On a positive note, blocking is solid with this rubber. Of course, the main reason people use defensive inverted rubbers is for chopping, and this rubber does provide enough control for that as well.

I love this rubber. It has enabled me to improve my game tremendously. While some rubbers take time to get used to, I was immediately impressed with the Yanus. I have purchased several sheets to use on different blades, and I believe it plays best on all-round blades.

Currently, I use an Oversized Sitga Allround WRB straight-handled blade, which offers wonderful control. On one side, I have a 1.5mm thickness, and on the other, I have the XIOM Omega IV (Europe). This combination is nearly perfect.

The Yanus allows for high-speed chops. The key is to wait for the ball to drop near its lowest point and then chop or push the ball. Additionally, this rubber also supports attacking play. I sometimes use the 1.5mm on my forehand to loop the ball, which works well when your objective is to generate spin rather than speed.

Amazing rubber, folks!