Hexer Impressions - LONG!!

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I'm not sure I feel at all comfortable starting this thread with the following observations.  I don't think I've gotten everything out of Hexer that is has to offer.  Please no flames.  

That said, I'll just jump into it.

Initial impression is that it is very heavy.  As heavy or heavier than Tenergy 05.  Even on the relatively lightweight Donic Waldner Dotec Hinoki, the rubber definitely had serious weight.  

I allowed the rubber to outgas and air out on the racket for two days before putting it in the case and heading for the club.

First impressions from an earlier thread:   

Background:  Generally, I play an allround game, close-in to two steps back for competition, block counterhit, loop.  Heavy reliance on serves, placement and countering.  I have good fundamental skills, hit / play at around 1600 - 1700 US rating.  I really enjoy hitting mid-court counter-loops and do so with very good consistency and power against much better players.  That's what I do most of the time.  I don't play tourneys much, so I'll just have to estimate my rating based on who I typically play at an equal level.  I'm saying this only to help place my skill level and playing style in the context of my comments. 

The following are early observations, I've barely had adequate time to adjust to this rubber.  It was just not something I could pick up and get the most from in a couple of hours.   

It seems like everyone wants to focus on a comparison between Hexer and Tenergy [place your number here].  Again, Hexer feels every bit as heavy as Tenergy 05.  That's about as much as Tenergy 05 is equal to Hexer.  Hexer is, in my opinion, and in every way, superior to Tenergy 05.  Tenergy feels harder but does not seem faster.  

Now on to the review of Hexer....

The first half-hour was difficult and frustrating coming from softer rubbers (F3 Big Slam max and Palio CJ8000c on Butter sponge).  I slowed down a bit to get a better feel and was rewarded with greater consistency.  After that, I was able to speed up again with more consistency and control.  It is at that point where I will start my observations. 

Hexer has a fairly high throw.  Not is high as Tenergy 05 (at least in close, nearly the same as T-05 off the table), but higher than the F3 Big Slam which was a little higher than the CJ8000/Butter combo.  Hexer feels a little softer than T-05.

Hexer seems to play well short and over the table.  Better control, as fast, spinnier than T-05.  Returns serves well, serves are spinny.  Brush loops are easy to lift, very spinny, hard to block, harder to hit, fairly easy to place deep.  At least as good, if not better, than Tenergy with better control.  Fast loops are easily executed, but it took a while to gain consistency.  Neither Hexer nor T-05 have the good touch or feel like F3 Big Slam or the CJ/Butter combo.  The very short game isn't too good with Hexer.  Not as easily controlled as F3 Big Slam.  I didn't get quite the feel or timing for consistent flips on the Dotec Hinoki.   

Taking a step back, Hexer seems to deliver very good speed and spin on off-table loops and drives.  Its harder than I prefer, but had decent control.  Spin was quite a bit better than T-05, seemed to be a little better than what I usually generate using Big Slam.  Control wasn't as good as Big Slam, but I hardly expect it to be considering how hard it is.  Chops in close and to mid-court were not too bad.  Not all over the place like what I experienced with Tenergy 05.  

Usually mid-court looping and counterhitting is, IMO, better controlled with softer rubber.  That said, mid-court looping with Hexer is as good as I've played with any rubber that is as hard it is.  Really excellent spin.  Sidespin loops just skid across the top of the table with good pace.  Ball is relatively easy to place.  T-05 isn't in the same league with Hexer in mid-court play (too hard?).  But Hexer doesn't have the control from mid-court as softer rubbers, particularly F3 Big Slam.  IMO, F3 Big Slam is about as good as it gets for that.  Chopping from mid-court is unexpectedly good with Hexer.  Ball floats up nicely and drops onto the table with plenty of spin. 

Deep court is unknown.  I just don't live back there.

After hitting with Hexer for about 1 1/2 hours, I seemed to play practice matches almost as well as I do with my "regular" rubber.  But I also seemed to be holding back rather than playing my typical game.  More conservative, more tentative.  I'm just not comfortable with Hexer.  Maybe that will improve with time.  [It didn't.]

That's what I have for now.  More in the future as I get more time and try different blades.  Just as a casual observation, I don't think I'd be happy with Hexer on a faster blade.  But that's just me.  YMMV.

The following comments are after a few more sessions of play.  

I've decded that Hexer is NOT a good match for me on the Dotec Hinoki.  I pulled it off and glued it onto the Donic Dima Sawtec.  Its a solid ALL+ blade with very good control and feel.  Its really one of my all-time favorite blades and has had a very wide variety of rubbers on it.  The Hexer was glued on three hours before I played, but I ONLY put glue on the blade, not the rubber (plenty of residual glue on the rubber already).  

My first impression was "WOW, this is a MUCH better match for Hexer than the faster blade!"  And I still think it is.  Much better control, the blade helped provide better dwell time resulting in more control and better spin than on the three-ply Dotec Hinoki.  Ball speed was the same (technique dependent).  Close game was much better on the Dima, MUCH BETTER than the T-05 on the same blade.  The rubber was still fast, but was better controlled on the slower blade.  It definitely brought out a lot of potential from the Dima Sawtec.  

Mid-court play was more consistent: looping and hitting were still good, but the rubber is still a little too hard for my tastes from mid-court.  Some others trying the combo from mid-court felt the same.  

During a match against a player in the mid-1700s, I thought I lost a few points due to a lack of control in the close-in / short game.  I didn't win any points due to any special qualities of Hexer except for maybe one heroic shot from mid-court (mostly just reflexes with a heavy dose of blind-ass luck).   

After an hour or so playing Hexer on the Dima, I switched to F3 Big Slam on the Dotec Hinoki to compare.  That was MUCH better.  Even though the combination was almost as fast, I had significantly better control and, according to my hitting partner, as much spin as Hexer.  And the Big Slam is approaching end-of-life.  Shots were about as speedy, but more consistent with the soft Big Slam.  I played better in all aspect of the game with the Big Slam on the faster blade than the Hexer on the slower blade.  

I did not glue Hexer onto the Yasaka one-ply hinoki.  I don't have the skill to control that combo.  Further, the weight of that combo would have been prohibitively high, too much so to execute good strokes.   

OK, so here's my bottom line....

Weight is a factor.  This rubber is heavy.  I felt like hand speed suffered because of weight.  I could live with Hexer, but my game would suffer maybe 2 - 3 points per game, maybe 50 - 75 rating points.  My personal preference of for softer rubber, equipment with more control.  

Players that really want fast rubber, have sound fundamentals and good control might want to try Hexer as an alternative to Tenergy 05.  IMO, Hexer plays as well or better close in and much better off the table than Tenergy 05.  IMO, the better match for this rubber is a very light solid ALL to ALL+ blade to give the combo more dwell time and control.   

I'm going to start passing this sheet of Hexer around to other players in the club to get their opinions.  I'll report back any interesting observations.   

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.  