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Stiga DNA Dragon Grip Review |
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7220 |
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Posted: 10/25/2021 at 1:23pm |
Stiga DNA
Dragon Grip Weight: 72
grams uncut (2.3mm) Speed: Off+ Topsheet:
Very High – Grip, Low Tack
The DNA
Dragon Grip is a specialized DNA Series rubber that has slightly tacky topsheet.
The last non-Chinese rubber that Stiga had was years ago with the Magna Series
namely Magna TP, TC and TX rubbers. The concept of those rubbers is quite
advanced for their time wherein most of the European and Japanese brands rely
mostly on grippy topsheet surfaces whereas the Magna rubbers has added spin
potential due to their tacky topsheets. The concept slowly picked up a few
years ago and now the trend in the market is for European rubbers to have a
semi or fully tacky variant. The topsheet of the DNA Dragon Grip is
surprisingly almost non-tacky compared to other brands that are also produced
by ESN. When you press your fingers against the topsheet, you can feel some
tack but not too much that it can pick and hold the ball for a few seconds. The
sponge is 2.3mm thickness which made the rubber a bit heavy but common among
hard sponged rubbers starting from 50 degrees and up. The Dragon grip is right
now the hardest Stiga rubber but the topsheet is medium soft which compensates
for the 55-degree sponge hardness. The pores in the sponge are very minute.
When compared to the DNA Platinum XH or Extra Hard rubber, the topsheet of the
Dragon is a bit softer and I will explain it as I go along with the review. This
was tested Nostalgic All+, Inspira CCF and Stiga Energy Wood V2 blades. The speed
is quite fast for a hard rubber but it is slower than most 55 degree I have
owned and tested. The sponge and topsheet both give the ball the more than
desired speed but I did not find it too fast coming from a boosted Chinese
rubber. I do not think the topsheet has too much effect in keeping the ball not
too fast for the user. The tack on the ball can affect the speed during
topspins but even with great sponge compression, the speed seems to be slower
compared to the DNA Platinum XH version. I believe the XH version of the DNA
Platinum is still one of the fastest ESN rubbers in the market now despite
having a softer sponge at 52.5 degrees. The ball repulsion with the DNA
Platinum XH is quite profound obvious that you have to adjust your swings on
your forehand attacking shots especially topspins and follow-up loops against
blocked topspins. With the DNA Dragon Grip, even with full swings on the said
strokes, I did not see any need for adjustments. It was pretty tamed for a
55-degree rubber. The speed is definitely there but not as much as the
52.5-degree DNA Platinum XH version. For smashing the speed and power was
excellent because the tackiness or the almost-lack of tack does not interfere
with smashing the ball enabling a very efficient energy transfer from the
racket to the ball. The Dragon
Grip is the spinniest rubber of Stiga nowadays. The Platinum series especially
the Hard and Medium versions are the spinniest or the easiest to spin with when
they came out but common to all grippy rubbers, there is this certain feel that
I am looking for in a rubber that can only be found among Chinese rubbers like
Hurricane 3. Let us face it, the newer generations of tacky ESN rubbers could
not escape comparison with Chinese rubbers such as Hurricane 3. The gold
standard of rubbers that produce tons of spin is with Chinese rubbers but spin
is not everything nor speed is everything. DNA Dragon Grip offers a fairly good
balance of both parameters with more on the speed factor. Chinese rubbers have
this sort of feel the moment you contact the ball with the rubber and that
distinct feel can help you spin the ball better. Maybe it’s the stickiness or
any other factors like type of topsheet, sponge or the overall make up and
design of the Chinese rubber. Chinese rubbers user can attest to this but it is
hard to coin or find a term for it. The DNA Dragon grip has some of that feel
when contacting the ball but quite less maybe because the tackiness is way less
and the ball has lesser “dwell” but the presence of a small amount of this feel
make the DNA Dragon Grip makes it a very spinny rubber and at the same time a
very fast one. I would place the spin slightly above or equal with Tenergy 05
minus the spin sensitivity. The arc when looping both underspin and counter
topspins seem to be on the medium high to high arc. ON the same angel with
other rubbers, I would see it pass the net approximately at 3-4 inches which is
a bit higher than other DNA regular series or DNA Platinum series rubbers. The DNA
Dragon Grip is rubber designed for advanced level players but compared to other
rubbers with the same hardness or above it, the DNA Dragon Grip is easier to
handle. I have had rubbers in the 55 degree range up to the 60-degree range
that can only be consistently used by players with varsity-level playing skills
and I mean the good and trained ones. It has the capabilities of both Chinese
and Euro rubbers. It has the capability to easily do drop since it has some
tack and also do spinny pushes but in the speed department it is an offensive
weapon for its speed. The cost of the DNA Dragon Grip is way less than the DNA
Platinum Series and on the same range as other 50-degree ESN rubbers from other
brands. Compared to other slightly tacky rubbers ranging from 50 to 60 degrees
including Dignics 09c, the Dragon Grip has the least amount tack but it is fair
to say it is the easiest to use and is more of the forgiving rubber in all
offensive shots. |
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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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AndySmith
Premier Member Joined: 11/12/2008 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 4378 |
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Thanks for the review yogi.
Any chance of a quick comparison to Rakza Z Extra Hard? Similar hardness and slightly tacky topsheet concept...
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This was a great signature until I realised it was overrated.
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yogi_bear
Forum Moderator Joined: 11/25/2004 Location: Philippines Status: Offline Points: 7220 |
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They have similarities to be honest only that with the 2 blades that I have tried with it, the RZ EH seem to have a much higher arc. Spin-wise they are almost the same. The Rakza Z EH seems to have a higher and longer arc that you need a more closed angle when looping underspin.
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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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