Yasaka Mark V HPS

Tensor 35 reviews

35 Reviews

#1 — April 2023

Yasaka Mark V HPS is a very tacky, hard rubber best suited for a variable offensive playing style. It allows for many different strokes, has multiple gears, and boasts a slight catapult effect. Although not particularly noticeable, the catapult effect is still present.
If you aim to refine your technique, this rubber is a worthwhile investment.
Impressively, it exhibits exceptional durability. Even after a year (or longer) of use, it retains its tackiness when paired with a protective screen.
In conclusion, Yasaka Mark V HPS is a rubber that warrants consideration for purchase.

#2 — September 2021

Mark V HPS

  • Offers excellent spin, speed, and control.
  • Pairs well with T-11+ or TB ALC blades.
  • Facilitates effective rallying.

Note: The rubber’s topspin shots may be easily blocked by other rubbers. It is particularly suitable for players who prioritize keeping the ball in play.

#3 — July 2021

Not the biggest fan to be honest. Reading all the hype and then testing it out struck me. I used this on the backhand. The best features of this rubber are light weight, blocking, and control. Speed is not there and grip for spin is not there. Could just be my technique also as I’m comparing to DHS rubbers such as H3,Tin Arc3, Goldarc8, and even Razka 7 soft. Yasaka rubbers do a great job of block and control. But when it comes to RPB looping/driving, it doesn’t shine. Or maybe I tried using the wrong Yasaka rubber for my style of play. If you’ve started on DHS rubbers as a Penholder, it’s best to stay there IMO. Yasaka hits differently. Still a quality rubber. I used it on YEO for BH. I just struggled to use it to lift under spin and execute RPB smashes. No hate…

#4 — February 2021

The best rubber ever produced, the Top spin machine, offers awesome spin and enormous control. Its very light weight makes it easy to use for beginners to advanced users. It excels in all aspects except durability, which is a little bit less than average. Highly recommended to any offensive or allround players.

#5 — February 2021

Offensive Rubber with Excellent Spin and Control

This rubber offers exceptional spin and control for offensive play. It provides a superior grip when the ball is brushed adequately.

Medium Throw Angle and Power

Compared to the Rakza series, this rubber has a medium throw angle. It excels in generating powerful topspins with a low angle, increasing the likelihood of shots clearing the net.

Short Game Performance

In the short game, this rubber provides ample control, enabling precise and spinny shots. It also makes spinny serves effortless.

Lightweight and Versatility

With its lightweight design, this rubber significantly reduces the overall weight of the paddle if used on both the forehand (FH) and backhand (BH) sides. This allows for pairing with heavier blades for optimal balance.

Durability

The only notable drawback is the durability of the top sheet, which may show signs of wear under frequent topspin play.

Comparison to Mark V

This rubber surpasses the original Mark V in both speed and spin, while maintaining a comparable level of control.

#6 — May 2020

Very good upgrade of Mark V, with good catapult.

#7 — March 2020

It works well on Sanwei CC and Donic Black Devil, offering good control and medium spin. It is easy to make a flat hit and loop in the mid range.

#8 — August 2019

A good rubber for a beginner.

Bought a pair of these for my kid. It will deliver what you expect. No WOWs, but also no mistakes. Very reliable rubber.

#9 — September 2018

I recently tried this rubber on an OFF- blade (Limba-Ayous) with the plastic ball, and it was disappointing. The rubber is well made, but it seems to lack grip with the plastic ball. However, it’s possible that my blade being soft impacts its performance with the plastic ball. So, I’m going to keep the rubber and try it later on a harder, stiffer blade to see if its performance improves.

Another issue to consider is playing style, as the rubber may work better with flat hitting, smashing, etc.

#10 — June 2018

This is an ideal step-up from beginner level all-round rubbers like Mark V, in my opinion. It pairs well with an Off- blade like Yasaka Sweden Extra, especially in 2.0 mm thickness. This combination balances racket weight and the power/spin ratio.

With regular practice, you can effectively execute looping, top-spin, counter-hit, block, cut, push, and opening under-spin. Chopping may prove challenging, but a defensive blade could potentially make it easier.

I have also paired it with Yasaka Goiabao 5 blade. This combination is perfect for a mix of looping and hitting styles. The blade’s hard outer layer, inner medium density core, and slight flex complement each other in both short and long games. It’s a comfortable and enjoyable blade to play with.

Club/amateur/intermediate players will greatly benefit from this rubber paired with an Off-/All+ blade.

#11 — April 2018

Formatted text

#12 — July 2017

Very good rubber with nice spin and speed. It also provides good control. The rubber works very well in FH, but I think it is perfect for BH. Paired with a Xiom Extreme S blade and a Xiom Omega Europe in FH, there is nothing to complain about. The HPS version is better than the other versions and is worth the price.

#13 — March 2017

As a Short and Mid ranged OFF+ player, I play with spin rather than flat shots. For my forehand, this rubber has been the best so far.

Before using Mark V HPS, I was using Donic Coppa Gold. However, Mark V HPS provides more spin and control. If you have a blade like the Donic Senso Carbon, which is sufficiently fast, you can also generate a lot of speed in your topspin.

My serves now have more spin, and I can place my topspins anywhere I want.

Mark V HPS is a must-try rubber for players with a similar style to mine.

#14 — January 2017

I bought a sheet of 2.0mm red rubber. So far, this is my favorite rubber. It’s fast with very good control and is very forgiving. It has a great feel and is medium soft, making it suitable for any blade.

You can use this rubber for either forehand or backhand. Currently, I use it on the backhand and use Nitakku Fastarc S1 for the forehand.

My review:

Very light, cut weight = 42g
Speed = 9.2
Spin = 9
Control = 9.5 forgiving
Grip = 9
Throw = medium
Hardness = 4
Feel = excellent
Overall = 9.5

#15 — December 2016

As a big fan of Yasaka, I wanted to try a faster rubber combined with a faster blade, the YASAKA GOIBAIO 5. I have this racket with Rakza 9 on the forehand and Mark V HPS on the backhand and I am very satisfied. I have had this racket for the last 10 days and even though it is very early to tell, here are some observations.

The racket was a lot faster than my previous one and the first 2-3 days I was struggling to keep the ball as I was able to do it before. I also had difficulty holding the blade as I changed from a straight to an anatomic bell type. After the 4-5th day, I was able to get used to holding it and playing better. It might take me a few days or weeks to get used to it, but I believe with this blade and these rubbers, I will be able to move forward faster.

As for the rubbers, they are very fast and have a very strong hit. For the spin, you will have to be a little technical if you want to succeed with a lot of speed.

#16 — September 2016

Revisión de goma para tenis de mesa

Utilizada con la madera Joola Flame Fast (FH), encuentro que esta goma es más lenta que el promedio que se indica en la página. Sin embargo, con la técnica adecuada, se pueden realizar bucles muy fuertes y con gran giro. Es muy fácil realizar bucles, topspin de apertura y tercera bola, aunque no con tanto giro como la Calibra LT Sound, pero con más control. También se pueden realizar saques con mucho efecto y, con algunos ajustes, también se pueden realizar bloqueos consistentes.

El caucho es de gran calidad. Llevo usándolo aproximadamente 6 meses y no tiene ningún defecto, a diferencia de mi Tenergy 05 en BH. Es una goma excelente para mejorar las técnicas de juego, recomendada para jugadores de bucleo cerca de la mesa.

#17 — December 2015

Very good balanced rubber. Great speed, explosive, with good spin and great control. Also blocking very well. You can do everything with it. Works better with medium/hard blades.

#18 — August 2015

This rubber is very sensitive to dust, as dust causes it to lose its spin rapidly. However, if you wash the rubber with soap and water (remembering to wash out all the soap), the grip will return. I find that I need to wash the rubber after every two sets.

When the rubber is clean, you can do everything with it, providing you have the skill. The rubber feels light.

#19 — February 2015

Just received it, and it plays well. Was able to hit backhand pretty solidly. I think I like my Yasaka X better because it has more spin and control. Also, I can smash with forehand 70%-80% of the time. I do recommend it. Everyone I show it to says this is good rubber.

#20 — January 2015

This rubber offers a perfect balance between speed, spin, and control. It excels in delivering powerful smashes and drives, as well as precise loops, short pushes, and serves. Its versatility allows for excellent control over opponents’ shots and quick, controlled blocks. Additionally, its lightweight construction makes it an ideal choice for those seeking a lighter racket. Overall, this rubber provides a well-rounded performance that caters to various playing styles.

#21 — March 2014

A good rubber, faster and spinnier than the regular Mark V. However, the regular Mark V has more control. It is not as good as calibra, tenergy, etc. but it is a very good rubber for all intermediate players.

#22 — December 2013

Excelente goma con gran durabilidad. Es adecuada para topspin, proporcionando un gran control y una rapidez considerable. Para jugadores intermedios, es una pieza clave para mejorar la técnica y ascender al siguiente nivel.

#23 — September 2013

This is the rubber most non-professionals should be using. It is a faster and a bit spinnier version of regular Mark V. It is great for close/mid-table play with very good control. It has much easier handling than some of the top-end Tensors. This rubber has all the gears to play a powerful all-round looping/hitting game. Why spend big bucks for Tensors that require steady training and practice when you can play with this at 92% performance of those high-dollar rubbers? It is a wonderful version of Mark V. Great for FH and BH. The ultimate go-to rubber for non-professionals.

#24 — July 2013

I played with this rubber on a Yasaka 3D blade and compared it to my Yinhe 7-ply blade and MARS 2 combo rubbers…worlds apart. I sorted my technique with the MARS 2 rubbers, and with the MARK V HPS rubbers, I was killing my friends on the TT board.

Serving was a breeze as I did it with more pace and spin. Returns with me chopping it back to them was fast and had lots more spin, and they even said my chopping is way faster. I had more control with the looping and smashing, and it required less effort. Well done Yasaka, I’ll be getting me some of these definitely.

#25 — April 2013

I played with this rubber on backhand for 6 months. It is a decent rubber, but far from the superior tensors available. It performs reasonably well in looping spin and blocking, with adequate control and a comfortable medium throw. However, it does not excel in any of these aspects compared to other tensors like the Acuda S2 or Xiom Sigma Europe. It serves as an adequate stepping stone to transition to more advanced tensors.

The significant drawback lies in the serving and pushing area. Spin is noticeably lacking on serves, and pushes tend to pop up due to the thin top-sheet and the firmer sponge that engages even on gentle brush shots. Overall, this rubber is suitable for training purposes but falls short as a serious competition rubber.

#26 — September 2012

Review

Initial Impressions:

  • Nice packaging with hard cardboard and a top protector sheet
  • Small pores evident on the slightly shiny top sheet
  • Milky white sponge

Playing Characteristics:

  • Great rubber with high control, spin, and decent speed
  • Top sheet rubber similar to Mark V, offering similar playability and characteristics, but with increased speed
  • Perfect for Off+ blades

My Setup:

  • Photino blade
  • Mark V HPS forehand rubber
  • Sapphira backhand rubber

Durability:

  • Excellent quality rubber
  • Tested for 4 months with satisfactory performance
  • Purchased another one as a reserve

Recommendation:

  • Highly recommend trying this Japanese rubber
#27 — April 2012

The modern all-new Mark V has me thinking. It feels like you are playing with Mark V with speed glue. Nice!

#28 — April 2012

Very good rubbers. They have everything I want to play with, and the relative medium price is nice, I think. They have equal quality with expensive rubbers such as Xiom Sigma Euro.

#29 — April 2012

Good in serve, loop, block, push, drive and smash, including topspin. Chop and short game must be played with good control and a soft touch.

#30 — April 2012

Nice for FH or BH. For all attack, use it in Maximum sponge. For better offensive control, use in 2.0mm. Every shot is easy with it, with pretty good speed and spin!

#31 — April 2012

This is the replacement rubber for my classic Mark V. With water-based glue, I feel the same as playing with Mark V with speed glue. Fantastic! Even better. Thanks, Yasaka!

#32 — April 2012

Fabulous! I feel like playing with powered speed glued rubber…very strong and spinny, not the fastest but it has everything balanced! Very lovely!

#33 — April 2012

Feels like I’m playing with Mark V with the speed glue! I’m used to Haifu water glue. It’s very nice!

#34 — September 2011

It is a very universal rubber with low throw, which suits my backhand very much. Compared to tensor rubbers, it is very linear regarding speed and power used.

#35 — May 2010

This rubber plays something like lightly glued Mark V, which is pretty good. It isn’t as fast as Tenergy or a few others, but it is fast. It isn’t as spinny as some either, but has plenty, and a nice balance of spin and speed. It is very versatile. While it won’t make you a hero on its own, it will allow you to do anything you are capable of.

Get Notified of New Equipment and Reviews

༼ つ ◕_◕ ༽つ No spam or other useless stuff. We plan to send out some newsletters from time to time with the latest reviews and project updates. Feel free to unsubscribe at any time.