Baracuda BIG SLAM

Woooow, this sounds like a soft rubber, SGE dream, hooooweeeeever, it doesn't look like they put the big slam sponge on a barracuda topsheet like the name suggests. From a German shop,

Another savage fish from Donic 

Hmmmm...  I thought Acuda S3 played like Baracuda with a softer sponge but not quite as spinny.  

yes another softer tensor by ESN.... I can rip it off in no time hehehe

Honestly I really don't understand why, before my rubber will last for several months some almost a year.  maybe because I play just twice a week, but now I have easy access to a table tennis club, I can play everyday.   I don't want to say that I'm good, maybe I just hit hard.

lol, you should be able to afford a decent digicam..

pablogilberto wrote: lol, you should be able to afford a decent digicam..

AcudaDave wrote:  my wife is flying to Taipei tomorrow and will visit a shop that specializes in Donic equipment that just so happens to have Baracuda Big Slam in stock!! Yea! Can't wait to try this rubber out.  I have played with Desto F3 and F3 Big Slam over the last 10 yrs, and tried Baracuda out, but the sponge was a little harder than I prefer.  I recently tried Acuda S3 on my BH and loved it so finally switched from Desto F3, but gotta admit the softer sponge of Baracuda Big Slam really sounds like something I might like.    She will be back in about 2 1/2 weeks so I'll let you all know how it plays.

OK...I have finally received the Baracuda Big Slam this weekend.  Haven't played with it yet, but will give it a thorough workout on Tuesday at the club.  I did take it out of the package to check it out though, and the sponge seems to be porous like the original Baracuda, however not quite as porous.  It also feels just slightly softer than Baracuda, but not too much...so can't wait to give it a try.  Will post a couple of pics.  Ordered a couple of blades from Paddlepalace for my kids and asked them when they would be receiving some Baracuda Big Slam and they didn't have a timeline.  The guy I spoke with said the US was the last to get new equipment when it first comes out.  I gave the original Baracuda a try last year, but found it to be a little harder than I prefer for a rubber on my BH so I quit playing with it. 

Finally got to play with the Baracuda Big Slam last night.  As I mentioned earlier, the rubber is porous and looks a lot like regular Baracuda sponge but maybe just a tad lighter in color.  Big Slam is stamped on the sponge. 

I have it on my BH and it seems to work better so far than the regular baracuda - possibly because I play more loop drive on my BH and the throw angle is lower than regular baracuda which am loving. On the scale of speed it is very slightly slower than regular version but the sound is really nice and feel is better possibly due to softer sponge . The top sheet is the same so it's as grippy as regular baracuda. To me I didn't have to do any adjustment to my BH stroke changing from regular baracuda and I love it in my BH. I am still testing serve returns aggressively so might write back soon but hoping not much surprises coz of same top sheet.

assiduous wrote: Best BH rubber after T05FX. This is the only rubber that I have tried that I can honestly say resemples Tenergy. Not quite as springy, but still very very tight, even though soft sponge. Great bite, OK speed, and very spiny.

Can you comment on it's durability ? Also does the sponge soften up more as you play or re glue (water based only)? i have noticed this in my X2 platin FD rubber - it was medium hard initially for a few weeks but once i removed and glued it to my back up blade the sponge became softer.

haggisv wrote: The Big Slam topsheet seems a little different to the regular Baracuda to me, feels more grippy and it has more shine. Could be a just a slight variation between batches.

 

AcudaDave wrote: Finally got to play with the Baracuda Big Slam last night.  As I mentioned earlier, the rubber is porous and looks a lot like regular Baracuda sponge but maybe just a tad lighter in color.  Big Slam is stamped on the sponge.    First thing I noticed is that the sponge is not quite as soft as I expected it to be.  I would say this rubber is medium-soft sponge. Definitely feels more firm than Acuda S3 or Desto F3 Big slam.    The throw angle seems to be medium.  It wasn't as easy to brush loop as it is with Acuda S3.  Blocking/hitting is ok with this rubber, and the speed is ok, but this rubber seems to be more suited for someone that drives the ball.  It did seem to impart a fair amount of spin, but even though the sponge was slightly harder than Acuda S3 it didn't seem to have as much speed as the Acuda S3.    Overall it's a pretty good rubber, but if you like soft rubbers and tend to brush loop then you probably won't like this rubber.  If you're more of a loop-driver then you might like this rubber.  As for me I'm going back to Acuda S3.

hi, any comparison in weight to lets say the tenergy 05? i would like to try this rubber but the weight of the rubber is a crucial factor to me, thanks ^_^

right2niru, thanks for the info ^_^