Donic Acuda S3 for the record

I've been waiting to hear more about this rubber and I look forward to your review. I've already completely ruled out S1 and am very close to ruling out S2 but S3 seems to have very good potential. It may go without saying but make comparisons to 05, this is a rubber people are considering using as a replacement.

Thaidog wrote: Well I can tell you that the sponge is much more like T05 than S1 or S2. It also gives it a ton of spin like T05 does with spring sponge! I have played a lot with T64 in the past few months but I did not like it because is sacrificed too much spin for speed.

This is very true, I use 64 on my backhand and 05 on my forehand and 64 is absolutely perfect for what I do with my backhand. It's not a bad forehand rubber but 05 is much better for me on that side, I've come to terms that I need 64 on my backhand because it's EXACTLY what I need. I have a little more flexibility with my forehand. It needs to have equal or better spin than 05 but I'm alright if I lose a little speed (but not too much).

Thaidog wrote: The way I like to play I want something that has good spin and still is not too slow on the backhand.

Yeah that's how my forehand works, I've never tried tacky chinese rubbers but I use 05 so I have a bit more of a spinny euro stroke instead of the more drive style of forehand that the chinese rubbers require.

Thaidog wrote: After playing with T64 I can see why a lot of Koreans play it on jpen because it fits their quick attack style but as for me I am willing to sacrifice some speed for spin.

This is true 64 does fit that kind of style but it also makes sense that Mizutani uses it because of his longer distance playing style. 64 works for him because it requires you to hit the ball harder for it to make full use of the spring sponge and he needs to hit the ball harder so the ball can travel the longer distance so it works out perfectly. When playing closer to the table the rubber is mostly about speed, granted it does still have spin but this comes from the softer more flexible pip configuration of the topsheet than that of 05's (allowing 05 easier access to the spring sponge). To add even more to it if you look at Joo Se Hyuk, he produces fantastic forehand chops with it because it is less sensitive to incoming spin than most inverted rubbers (acting almost like a shortpips rubber in this sense) and at the same time loops with it like Mizutani. So in a nutshell 64 was made for high speed close/medium distance from the table play with some spin (the fast drive style you were talking about), the ability to chop almost like short pips (Joo Se Hyuk) and also for long distance spinny power loops (Mizutani and Joo Se Hyuk). Its design was very well though out.

Xriz wrote: ...so does this mean that among the acuda series the most promising is s3? i currently hav s1 bh on a m.maze blade, too fast!!

Well s2 is slower than s1 but faster than s3. Though it seems like s3 is the spinniest of all of them.

for me, S3 has too soft sponge to be combined with acuda topsheet. It really depends on your taste and blade under it.

icontek wrote: 3) Sound and weight were good

I have used the s3 max on fh for a few months now, was that happy with it ive put the 1.8 on my bh, what can i say? it just does the lot, great spin (like baracuda) plenty of power and control and to me feels damn near as quick as o5! although to be fair , i havnt tried o5 on my blade! excellent for service returns, you just feel like you can lift almost anything. it is softer than o5 but still seems to have a similar throw. great rubber!

S3 = medium to light in weight , as icontek says, a tad heavier than mendo energy which was one of the 1st light weight style rubbers. I used it on my bh a long time ago, aahhh, memories!

Edited by foz - 09/28/2010 at 5:08pm

Not a great deal of difference really, counterloops and big loop drive shots are about 15% more dynamic on the max, the short game seems to be about the same but the odd chop stays lower on the 1.8! both spin superb!

Is S3 very slow? Is it easy to produce spin like 05? I am looking for a rubber which can produce lots of spin and easy to make open loop. hope S3 is for me.

Has anyone used rubber cement on their Acuda?

I used Stiga BTG for fear of ruining Donic's tune job.

I hate water based glue and difficulty of a perfect flat even glue job.

I've had to reglue twice with the Stiga BTG (first glue job felt awful, reglued, felt great, then the edge on one side peeled up). I'm on my third gluing, and just want it to be permanent. Any tips?

Currently I let the Stiga BTG dry clear on blade and rubber (10 min on blade, about a half hour on rubber) and then assemble with roller and leave under books overnight.

Is it my process that's the problem?

icontek wrote: Has anyone used rubber cement on their Acuda? I used Stiga BTG for fear of ruining Donic's tune job. I hate water based glue and difficulty of a perfect flat even glue job. I've had to reglue twice with the Stiga BTG (first glue job felt awful, reglued, felt great, then the edge on one side peeled up). I'm on my third gluing, and just want it to be permanent. Any tips? Currently I let the Stiga BTG dry clear on blade and rubber (10 min on blade, about a half hour on rubber) and then assemble with roller and leave under books overnight. Is it my process that's the problem?

Process seems fine, though I usually wait about 10 mins for both blade and rubber (more for rubber
can only help if you have too much glue on it).  Make sure you're not using too much or too little glue,
while spreading an even layer with no lumps remaining - an even white layer before the drying process
begins. 

ucftcys wrote: Is S3 very slow? Is it easy to produce spin like 05? I am looking for a rubber which can produce lots of spin and easy to make open loop. hope S3 is for me.

s3 is not slow! but as with all softer sponge rubbers, to get a good degree of speed off the table a stiff fast blade and max sponge should be used! s3 is superb for opening up spin shots off back or side spin serves, wicked, even with my kool blade! what blade do you use?

Edited by foz - 10/12/2010 at 6:31pm

icontek wrote: Has anyone used rubber cement on their Acuda? I used Stiga BTG for fear of ruining Donic's tune job. I hate water based glue and difficulty of a perfect flat even glue job. I've had to reglue twice with the Stiga BTG (first glue job felt awful, reglued, felt great, then the edge on one side peeled up). I'm on my third gluing, and just want it to be permanent. Any tips? Currently I let the Stiga BTG dry clear on blade and rubber (10 min on blade, about a half hour on rubber) and then assemble with roller and leave under books overnight. Is it my process that's the problem?

I've glued it with rubber cement with no problems. the rubber feels like something in between F3 Big Slam and F2 in hardness... quite  a nice rubber. It chops/pushes really well, and is good for hitting and blocking. Good for opening loops, but too soft for powerloops. Does seem quite a bit more durable compared previous generation Donic rubbers.

ucftcys wrote: foz wrote: ucftcys wrote: Is S3 very slow? Is it easy to produce spin like 05? I am looking for a rubber which can produce lots of spin and easy to make open loop. hope S3 is for me. s3 is not slow! but as with all softer sponge rubbers, to get a good degree of speed off the table a stiff fast blade and max sponge should be used! s3 is superb for opening up spin shots off back or side spin serves, wicked, even with my kool blade! what blade do you use? I am using Innerforce ZLC now. just bought S3 from internet. will test after receiving it. Do you think Innerforce zlc + S3 combination is ok? Ive not played the zlc, but going off btys ratings i think you should be fine for an alround explosive spinny game. let me know how it plays?

Edited by foz - 10/13/2010 at 6:39pm