Yasaka Rakza X Soft

While I normally use MX-P on BH, I briefly experimented with softer sheets. I replaced my Rasant Grip on BH with this. The RG has a soft topsheet along with a 45 deg sponge. RXS has a hard, super grippy topsheet (a bit like that of the MX-P) along with a 42.5 deg sponge. This combo makes it play firmer than it's sponge hardness.

For me, using the RG, meant I had to change my stroke mechanics more than normal depending on how hard I was looping. Soft banana loops (brush) needed different technique and generated much different throw angle than harder loops. Some balls felt really spinny, others, inexplicably seemed to float (as if there wasn't optimum synergy between sponge & topsheet).

This control problem is not present while using the RXS. It is very easy to spin with, looping is very consistent and the arc is very tight. The throw angle remains pretty uniform.

Of course, if you love soft topsheets, there are a number of options to choose from (RG, OVE, JP03 to cite a few). If you like harder topsheets, there's the EL-P, FX-P (which I haven't tried) and RXS. The RXS feels spinnier than the EL-P and has less catapault.

For me, it is the best medium-soft / soft rubber that I've used so far (I've tried M3, JP03, JP02, EL-P, OVE, RG, T05FX).