Equipment - Stiga Airoc Astro M & S reviews

Stiga Airoc Astro M Max

Weight: Approximately 66-68 grams uncut

Hardness: around 45 degrees

Speed: OFF+

Stiga Airoc Astro S Max

Weight: Approximately 62-64 grams uncut

Hardness: around 45 degrees

Speed: OFF

I received these about 2 weeks ago and have been testing both rubbers in a variety of blades. I used mainly the Stiga Rosewood V and then on subsequent tests I used several other blades like Yinhe T-1 as a representative of using a very fast carbon blade, an ITC XF for a controlled composite fiberglass layered blade and the Stiga Clipper wood. I used water-based glue for gluing both rubbers. I used polyball and celluloid balls when I tested these rubbers

Stiga has already released their premier polyball ready rubber last year but then players wanted a more dynamic and more spin on the rubbers so they released the Astro Series. The older sample for the Astro rubber had a calibra topsheet with airoc sponge which was a very good rubber but Stiga decided not to pursue with the idea and released the Astro series which according to them has an increased in quality and performance. So basically, this is the same Airoc topcsheet and with an all new, reformulated sponge.

The sponges of both the M and S versions have a reactive and springy feel when pressed hard. At first bounce on both rubbers after I glued them, both seem to have a high rebound on the ball. The sponges have very small pores yet they are lightweight and do not feel so dense even the M version. The topsheet feels grippy and has a strong “bite” on the ball.

When I first get to hit with both rubbers, I noticed a slight increase in speed and performance for both the M and S versions. The Astro rubbers seem to have better spring when hitting the ball on drives and smashes. Even the S version which for me is still harder compared to any sound series of Stiga rubbers released before. Astro M’s speed is comparable to any very fast euro rubber and to some extent it is even bouncier than any other 45 degree tensor rubber. It is slower than the Evolution MX-P though. Astro S’ speed is faster than the Evolution EL-P. It feels softer by a few notches but faster.

Both rubbers are very good and perform superbly on service receives that are very spinny. They are both insensitive to incoming which made me like the rubbers in this area of play. When receiving using drop shots or flicks, there is high control.

For spinny loops, I found the S version spinnier than the M version. The amount of spin that you can produce mostly come on the improved sponge. Compared to the older Airoc’s which have the same topsheet, the Astro’s sponge especially the soft version digs better into the sponge and grabs the ball better. I think if you placed a euro or Chinese rubber on the Astro topsheet, you would have one complete spinny and fast rubber. In general, I would place the Astro M’s spin as high and the Astro M’s spin as very high. Both still are a few notches lower than modern tensor rubbers in terms of spin. The Astro M has a low to medium arc when doing loops and the Astro S has a medium to high arch doing the same stroke.

Overall, I would prefer the Astro S version. It is a very good and complete all around rubber which offers good spin and excellent attacking in all strokes. The Astro M is better in smashing and driving away from the table but the Astro S has better spin. The 2 rubbers pair well with both all wood and with composite blades. The Astro S is very versatile and plays good with any carbon blade with off or off+ speeds. The Astro M can be a smashing and driving monster when paired with an off+ carbon blade especially if you are far from the table.