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Yasaka Valmo review |
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Hans Regenkurt
Silver Member Joined: 08/12/2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 826 |
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Posted: 04/24/2017 at 3:24pm |
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I bought Yasaka's new, made in Japan rubber. This is my first Yasaka rubber and I bought it to see if they have managed to come up with something new that surpasses the majority of the recent years' ESN range which were not only similar to each other but also did not show anything new except marketing blurbs and some minor changes in feel. Their playing characteristics were mostly the same - I am thinking of the Donic Bluefire line for example which are mediocre in my eyes at best.
So I bought the Valmo, hoping to find something that is really adapted to the plastic ball and not ESN made. My problem with ESN stuff is that they produce rather flat trajectory shots in general, causing their user to either hold back a little. Tenergy beats most ESN rubbers here in my opinion. I bought a sheet of max, the weight is 66 gramms uncut (168x170mm) It features a porous white sponge that is different to ESN sponges. The size of the pores is very small, Tenergy-ish, I would say. As it lays on a flat surface, the edges curl up a bit and it has no booster smell whatsoever (the Bluefires or even the Evolution series do smell of booster). Upon first inspection, the topsheet feels somewhat different to ESN as I pull my finger accross it: it feels softer and elastic, not that synthetic plastic feel that German topsheets have. The pimple geometry seems identical to the XIOM OV Asia. I will be posting my first impressions around the weekend. I am not boosting it in any way yet. EDIT: the above pertains to ESN products made before 2017. I have not yet tried the new and hopefully improved German type rubbers. Edited by Hans Regenkurt - 04/24/2017 at 4:03pm |
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Jasonh
Super Member Joined: 09/08/2015 Location: US Status: Offline Points: 184 |
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Sounds a bit like Juic T+PV, a decent 40+ Japanese made rubber with soft, elastic topsheet.
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Fly away!
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Kolev
Gold Member Joined: 10/04/2004 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 1529 |
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Looking forward to your impressions
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Hallmark Carbon Extreme (x3)
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Rich215
Premier Member Joined: 02/28/2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3488 |
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Did you happen to weigh the uncut sheet?
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Hans Regenkurt
Silver Member Joined: 08/12/2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 826 |
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No unfortunately and I glue it on first before cutting it to the size of the blade. I can weigh it when I remove it for the first time. |
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haggisv
Forum Moderator Dark Knight Joined: 06/28/2005 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 5110 |
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Huh? You said this in your post: "I bought a sheet of max, the weight is 66 gramms uncut (168x170mm)" |
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Hans Regenkurt
Silver Member Joined: 08/12/2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 826 |
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It looks like Rich read my post as thoroughly as I did his I thought he had read the entire text and was asking after the cut weight.
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Rich215
Premier Member Joined: 02/28/2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 3488 |
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Sorry, my mistake. 66g for max uncut is not at all heavy in this day and age.
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DLC1325
Silver Member Joined: 02/15/2016 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 722 |
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I've always had a soft spot for Yasaka rubbers. I look forward to your review as well.
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t64t64t64
Silver Member Joined: 06/13/2013 Location: Europe Status: Offline Points: 838 |
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looking forward for a review
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http://mytabletennis.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=61764&PID=734709
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Hans Regenkurt
Silver Member Joined: 08/12/2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 826 |
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I am writing this after about 3 hours' testing. It is glued onto a Korbel SK7 that is 93 gr. There is a boosted OIV Asia on the other side.
Valmo does have some characteristics that distinguish it from most ESN rubbers that I tried (I am thinking of the Bluefires and XIOM rubbers), however, they are minor. For one thing, the topsheet is a bit softer (not ESN softer) and it gives a different feel when touching the ball - it gives a sort of dampened feel, not the ESN kind of "bite and then shoot it out". But when you make a strong stroke, the rubber and the sponge work together and the ball just rockets off. The feel reminds me of classical rubbers like Sriver. Its behaviour is reliable close up and at mid -distance. It looses edge when you are pushed further than three meters. The other thing is that the arc is a little higher on loops than e.g. a Bluefire M1 and you do not have to hold back so much as at higher speeds. Unfortunately this is a minor difference. I does block nicely though. Compared to MXP or the Tenergy series, its top speed is noticeably slower and in spite of the nice arc it produces on loops, it is less dangerous for the opponent both with plastic balls and celluloid. While we were using celluloid, it did everything reasonably well. When we used it with Nittaku Premium plastic, the first couple of strokes were a disaster: I sent all of my loops into the net. My partner noticed that there was no arc and very little spin on the ball. I asked him to switch blades for a minute and I instantly hit a winner with his boosted Tenergy on the very first stroke. This is where we stopped and both of us agreed that his boosted T05 is superior in all aspects with the Nittaku. So the essence of my findings is that it is not a rubber from Yasaka that would approach the performance of Tenergy. Althoug it is made in Japan, I do not feel they have managed to make a breakthrough. It is as if Japan had their own ESN factory now that is able to produce mediocre sheets but not the real stuff. In my view, it could be a better choice than the Bluefire series. The speed maybe less than M1, more like the range of M2 but it is more reliable. It is not a match for MXP or T05. In terms of spin, it is average ESN spinny but not T05 (or even MXP) spinny. It has not convinced me so far but I am going to boost it and do some further testing. |
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Magic_M
Platinum Member Joined: 05/31/2012 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 2220 |
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This sounds in my ears as if you are talking about Nexy Karis M
Edited by Magic_M - 04/29/2017 at 12:54pm |
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AndySmith
Premier Member Joined: 11/12/2008 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 4378 |
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Surely another rubber from the same factory. |
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This was a great signature until I realised it was overrated.
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drclaude1
Super Member Joined: 01/04/2008 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 221 |
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Could you please compare it to the Rakza7?
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Carbonado 290
Rakza7 Rakza7 |
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Hans Regenkurt
Silver Member Joined: 08/12/2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 826 |
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Unfortunately not. Nobody on the team plays with Yasaka.
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
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when i saw the jp hybrid i am thinking this is close to mantra and karis
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
ITTF Level 1 Coaching Course Conductor, ITTF Level 1 Coach |
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clannewton
Super Member Joined: 03/03/2008 Location: Melbourne,FL US Status: Offline Points: 298 |
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It does not seem like a big surprise that the BOOSTED tenergy 05 is more active than a non boosted Yasaka valmo. Seems liking comparing apples and oranges.
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Nittaku Violin FL-L
FH Donic Bluefire m-1 max BH Donic Bluefire m-2 max Cocoa Beach TTC, Florida |
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Hans Regenkurt
Silver Member Joined: 08/12/2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 826 |
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That was meant to underline that Valmo is in no way exceptional in spite of being made in Japan, newer technology, etc I have been trying it since my last post but my opinion has not changed. If you like, Valmo unboosted is equally inferior to an unboosted Tenergy or MXP from the perspective of offence. |
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
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I was curious with the valmo good thing the yasaka disributor here in my place sent me a sample
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
ITTF Level 1 Coaching Course Conductor, ITTF Level 1 Coach |
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slevin
Premier Member Joined: 03/15/2012 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 3602 |
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How hard is Valmo topsheet & sponge? Hans: how is Spin compared to M2? Is it better FH or BH rubber for you?
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Trade feedback:
http://mytabletennis.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=50787 |
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Hans Regenkurt
Silver Member Joined: 08/12/2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 826 |
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Valmo is softer than ESN 47 for sure. I would say it is around M2 hardness overall but it behaves differently. The topsheet feels softer to me but it is difficult to tell because Valmo is springy whereas M2 not so much.
Valmo is more of a speed rubber and I regard M2 more of a spin rubber. On slow topspins M2 is spinnier for sure. As for the differentiation between FH and BH, to me there is no such thing as backhand or forehand rubber if we speak inverted euro style rubbers (Chinese is a different story of course). I can use Valmo on both sides with equal results. |
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GeneralSpecific
Platinum Member Joined: 03/01/2010 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 2811 |
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So you say that M2 is spin type and Valmo is speed type here but in an earlier post you say the speed of Valmo is similar to M2. If it has the speed of only M2 and with less spin it seems like it's mostly just an inferior rubber. Would you agree? |
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Blade - Xiom 36.5 ALX FL
Forehand - Xiom Omega V Asia 2.0mm Backhand - Victas Curl P5V with Der Materialspezialist Firestorm Soft/Outkill 1.8mm sponge |
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Hans Regenkurt
Silver Member Joined: 08/12/2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 826 |
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In short, I would. Going into the details, I do not see Valmo as something that is a step forward from German rubbers.
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
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Got my valmo and will test it today. Rubber is almost soft maybe at 45 degrees so medium to medium soft feel overall. Sponge.reminds.me of the aurus but topsheet is more.like mantra n karis. 65 grams uncut
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
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the Valmo is a surprisingly good Japan-euro hybrid rubber. You would mistake the Valmo as a pure tensor rubber but it has a japanese topsheet and possibly esn sponge. the rubber feels medium soft overalll. The ball digs some depth into the sponge when you are hitting with it. THe topsheet looks like that of the Rhyzm-P and Rakza X and you would be fooled tp think it is a german topsheet but it is not. THe topsheet is very grippy and could produce very heavy spins. THe combination actually works fine because the rubber spins great and is able to go toe to toe with euro rubbers except maybe for the MXP. it is slower than the MXP but faster than EL-S or EL-P. At first try it is closer to the Karis M but it feels like more an esn rubber than a japanese one. Overall, this rubber is amazing. It hits really good in smashes, it loops well with a medium arc but with a long trajectory and a good blocking rubber.
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
ITTF Level 1 Coaching Course Conductor, ITTF Level 1 Coach |
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Baal
Forum Moderator Joined: 01/21/2010 Location: unknown Status: Offline Points: 14336 |
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I think when someone tries a new rubber and hits the first couple of loops into the net with a plastic ball, it is maybe not enough to decide that a rubber is inferior to boosted T05. What I learned from that is that this Yasaka rubber is slower and lower on one kind of shot.
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Hans Regenkurt
Silver Member Joined: 08/12/2005 Location: Germany Status: Offline Points: 826 |
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I have just played another 2.5 hours with it and I still think that it is not outstanding - and I am saying this with utmost respect to Yogi's expertise and his input on internet forums.
To name a couple of rubbers, MXP, Rasant Powergrip and T05 are simply better and I am yet to see the new Rasanter lineup or the Bluestorm series. |
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7219 |
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Mxp is still king non tenergy rubbers but the valmo is a good rubber . At least it is better than older esn rubbers and the rubber is good ebcause it is very easy to use and produce spin.
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Independent online TT Product reviewer of XIOM, STIGA, JOOLA, SANWEI, GEWO, AIR, ITC, APEX, YASAKA and ABROS
ITTF Level 1 Coaching Course Conductor, ITTF Level 1 Coach |
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NextLevel
Forum Moderator Joined: 12/15/2011 Location: Somewhere Good Status: Offline Points: 14845 |
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Many people judge a rubber by how it loops and topspins. Of course, other things like how well they can push or block or counter or return serve are rarely highlighted because these things don't factor into their process. |
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I like putting heavy topspin on the ball...
Cybershape Carbon FH/BH: H3P 41D. Lumberjack TT, not for lovers of beautiful strokes. No time to train... |
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Tinykin
Platinum Member Joined: 10/30/2003 Location: England Status: Offline Points: 2336 |
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I agree. Many posters like to describe themselves as two-wing loopers. But in reality their game is mostly about push, half-chop, topspin-drive and smashing rather than an outright looping style. It takes a high degree of skill and mobility to have a game based on the loop. Edited by Tinykin - 05/24/2017 at 7:16am |
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Darker Speed90 Rubber Fh and Bh DHS Hurricane 3, 39/38deg Delusion is an asset |
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