Three Nittaku rubbers with new VA sponges: Hammond CR, Hammond FA, and Sonic AR 

      Last summer, while being affected by Covid-19 restrictions, I evaluated the Nittaku Hammond CR inverted and Nittaku Sonic AR short pimpled rubbers playing against my Newgy 2050 robot. You can read that review here. Nittaku has subsequently re-released these rubbers – along with the Hammond FA short pips – using a new “VA” sponge, allowing me to re-evaluate these rubbers in a more conventional setting. Nittaku’s goal is to deliver a highly elastic sponge that generates an exhilarating sound. VA-sponged rubbers will become available in the future as special editions of existing rubbers. The testing procedure is listed towards the end of this article. 

 

Nittaku Hammond CR with the VA sponge

      According to Nittaku, the original Japan-made Hammond CR (HCR) rubber combined the Hammond topsheet and a “CR sponge” that was specifically developed for the new 40+ ball, promising excellent feeling and speed. 

     The VA version of the HCR (HCR-VA) comes in the same cardboard wrapped as the HCR, i.e., a gold-on-black cardboard wrapper, which briefly lists the rubber’s characteristics on its back. The topsheet is reasonably grippy but entirely non-tacky. The surface is matte and the pimple contours are visible below the surface. The cream-colored VA sponge is as soft as the regular sponge and has no visible pores. The sheet is pliable, curls slightly upwards, and has a rubbery smell. The HCR-VA (black, super-thick 2.0) sheet weighs 59 g uncut (height x width: 180 x 170 mm) and 39 g when cut to the 158 x 151 mm Tibhar Szocs Signature 1 test blade, which is the same weight as the regular HCR, rendering it as one of the lightest inverted rubbers that I have tested. 

Playing Impressions

Driving

     As in my robot-test of the regular HCR, the first couple of FH drives immediately revealed that the HCR-VA is a fast (~OFF level), very soft, and springy rubber, when using medium input power. FH drives produce a ridiculously loud cracking sound and a very crisp, speed-glue-like feeling. The underlying blade is very clearly felt as the ball penetrates deeply into the sponge. Being a player who was brought up in the speed-glue era, I love this type of feeling. The auditory feedback enhanced my fantastic control on FH drives. 

Looping

     The feeling when FH looping is ultra-crisp and associated with a prominent clicking sound, which will be especially useful for developing players as it is loudest when proper stroke mechanics are used. The FH loops are direct and fast, but lack spin, as my practice partner had no difficulties blocking and redirecting my loops. The soft nature of the VA sponge limits the top-end power that can be generated when looping. FH loops against backspin were generally easy to execute as the HCR-VA is a spin insensitive rubber, but the topsheet lacked the necessary grip to pull the ball over the net on some occasions. The lack of topsheet grip results in rather flat trajectories, which are became evident in FH loop-to-loop rallies far from the table, as the ball often was caught in the net. While low on spin, the rubber affords a fantastically fun feeling, which in turn allows for the execution of spectacular shots.

Blocking

     The HCR-VA can be an absolute beast when blocking. The soft and catapult-rich sponge enables execution of insanely fast blocks, which seem even faster due to the MASSIVE cracking sound that is produced. It is not far-fetched to believe that you might be able to win a couple of points simply by intimidating your opponent. However, the soft sponge is right on the edge of not being able to provide sufficient resistance/compressibility to comfortably support passive blocks. In other words, it is easy to bottom out the sponge when blocking against powerful topspins. The HCR-VA does not provide enough resistance on counter-drives/loops, as the sponge almost collapses and the ball goes into the net. 

Smashing

     Unsurprisingly given the above, the HCR-VA is highly effective on flat hits and smashes, which are lightning-fast considering the amount of physical effort imparted. And once again, a satisfying and massive cracking sound is produced on these shots. However, as with looping, there is a relatively low maximum level of power that can be imparted on the ball.  

Flicking

     The HCR-VA’s lack of spin sensitivity and direct nature sets the stage for excellent FH flicks. Flat pancake flicks work better than traditional flicks, as the latter are compromised by the lack of topsheet grip. 

Pushing

     As in my initial robot test with the regular HCR, long FH pushes were challenging at times due to HCR-VA’s springy nature. I had to stay vigilant to avoid overshooting the table. This is probably the weakest area of the HCR-VA. Moreover, while the pushes are direct and fast, they are not very spinny, which afforded my practice partner ample opportunities for powerful third-ball attacks, provided he was well-positioned relative to the ball. In contrast, the HCR-VA feels slow on low power input shots like short pushes, thus allowing for short and low pushes to be played. 

Serving

     In line with the above, the HCR-VA feels slow on backspin serves. As a result, I had many serves go into the net until I started using a more aggressive stroke. The spin level on backspin serves did not seem to be particularly high. In contrast, I had to moderate my power input on long topspin/sidespin serves to avoid overshooting the table. However, once mastered, I was able to execute fast serves with a second bounce close to the end lines. 

Conclusion

     The VA-sponged Nittaku Hammond CR is a fun rubber to play with. Everyone at the venue will know where you are, given the massive sound that it produces. The lack of spin sensitivity and ultra-crisp feeling, allow for a very direct playing style, where the focus is on flat hits, fast drives, active blocks, pancake flicks, and smashes. If your game style relies on spin, this isn’t the rubber for you. In my opinion, the HCR-VA is well-suited for intermediate-or-better players and particularly well-suited for kids and older players due to its low weight. 

 

Nittaku Sonic AR with the VA sponge

     According to Nittaku, the regular Sonic AR (SAR) short pimpled rubber – and by extension, the VA version (SAR-VA) – enables “high-speed continuous attack with excellent feel” and is recommended for attacking players. Nittaku gives the regular Sonic AR short pips a speed/spin rating of 13.75/7.25, which should render them far faster than the Hammond FA, Moristo SP, and Moristo SP AX short pips which have ratings of 12.75/7.00, 12.50/7.50, and 13.00/8.50, respectively. 

     The SAR-VA short pips come in the same colorful blue-and-purple-on-black cardboard box as the regular SAR. A brief description of the rubber’s characteristics is given on the back. The vertically aligned pips are quite narrow, tall, and flexible, with a conical base and cylindrical top and hashed pip tops. The sheet is pliable but does not curl excessively. The sheet exudes a rubbery smell but I could not detect any booster scent. The cream-white VA sponge feels soft and has no visible pores. The SAR-VA (red, super-thick 2.0) weighs 46 g uncut (height x width, 180 x 171 mm) and 31 g when cut to the 158 x 151 mm Tibhar Szocs Signature 1 test blade. This renders it 3 grams heavier than the regular SAR, but 3, 4, and 7 grams lighter than the Hammond FA-VA, Moristo SP, and Moristo SP AX short pips, respectively. 

Playing Impressions

Driving

     The SAR-VA produces fast, flat, and spinless BH drives, all while providing enough clearance over the net to maintain good consistency. It is far bouncier, softer, and faster than my regular short pips, i.e., Spinlord Waran 2, and the underlying blade is, accordingly, clearly felt, resulting in a very crisp feeling. The SAR-VA are perhaps the fastest short pips that I have reviewed. I would characterize them as solidly OFF. As far as I could tell, the SAR-VA does not produce any discernable levels of disruptive effect.    

Hitting Through Backspin

      Unlike my observations when playing with the regular SAR against the robot, I struggled greatly when attempting BH flat hits against backspin. Either the shot clipped the edge of the net or – when I tried to brush the ball a little bit – overshot the table by far. If I timed the shot perfectly, I could flat hit the ball hard. However, I never managed to find the sweet spot. I attribute these difficulties to the flat trajectory and the lack of grip and support from the topsheet,     

Flicking

     Unlike my abovementioned struggles when hitting through long pushes, I found the SAR-VA to work well when executing BH flicks, especially on diagonal shots, whereas I struggled a bit more when attempting down-the-line flicks, which needed a little bit of lift and grip from the pips. The rubber works best on pancake-type flicks, though this requires well-timed execution of the shots when the ball is at or near the zenith. Given the lack of grip (and the vertically aligned pips), it is challenging to execute traditional mini-loop BH flicks.

Blocking

     BH blocking with the SAR-VA worked well during warm-up drills, but my consistency decreased substantially when blocking hard third ball FH loop attacks. The sponge struggled to absorb the incoming energy and this, combined with the prominent catapult effect, meant that many of my passive BH blocks veered past the table. I was able to land very fast BH blocks when I used a more active stroke, but the margin for error is narrow, requiring good timing and technique. While I was able to execute BH chop blocks, they seemed to be less spin-inverted than with my regular Waran 2 short pips. 

Smashing

     The SAR-VA short pips are fast and direct. Accordingly, it is possible to execute very fast flat hits, though proper technique and positioning are required to avoid the ball from careening past the table.  

Pushing

     Long BH pushes are somewhat tricky to execute with the SAR-VA. The rubber’s high speed and springy nature, combined with the soft nature of the pips, necessitates the use of soft hands to prevent the pushes from going long. The pushes are aggressive and long. Unlike my observations in the robot test with the regular SAR, I would characterize the BH pushes as quite spinny. For sure, my practice partner occasionally struggled to loop against them.  

Chopping

     A little to my surprise, I found the SAR-VA to work reasonably well on defensive BH chopping. I had to use very soft hands to prevent overshooting the table, but once mastered, I was able to chop my hitting partner’s spinny FH loops with respectable consistency. The shots floated low on the table, giving him some challenges. 

Conclusion

      The VA-version of the Nittaku Sonic AR, is – just like the regular version - a short-pimpled rubber for the uncompromising attacker that seeks to finish the point off quickly. It is definitively not a beginner’s rubber as the catapult effect is very pronounced on high-impact shots, which reduces control. I suspect that the SAR-VA would work well for penhold players who use short pips in the FH and a relentless flat hit attacking style.  

 

Nittaku Hammond FA with the VA sponge

     The regular Nittaku Hammond FA short pips were developed using the “Integrated Energy” technology, in which natural rubber is used in combination with synthetic rubber. More specifically, the natural rubber grips the ball firmly, whereas the synthetic rubber ingredients catapult the ball. Nittaku further asserts that the combination of a hard topsheet and a soft sponge is well-suited for the 40 mm balls. Nittaku gives the regular Hammond FA short pips a speed/spin rating of 12.75/7.00. In contrast, the Sonic AR, Moristo SP, and Moristo SP AX short pips have ratings of 13.75/7.25, 12.50/7.50, and 13.00/8.50, respectively. In other words, the Hammond FA short pips are expected to be slower and less spinny than their Nittaku short pimpled cousins. 

     The HFA-VA is packaged inside a multicolored cardboard wrapper that is held in mostly golden and red color schemes. There is a brief marketing blurb on the back of the wrapper. The matte topsheet consists of vertically aligned pips, which are relatively narrow and tall. As far as I can assess, the geometries of the pips are very similar, if not identical, to those of the SAR-VA. Thus, the pips appear to have a tapered conical base, a cylindrical top, and hashed tops. The topsheet feels less grippy than other short pimpled topsheets that I have tested. The pink/purple VA sponge feels a little harder than the SAR-VA sponge and is without any visible pores. The sheet is pliable, curls slightly upwards, and has a rubbery smell with no hint of factory boosters. The HFA-VA (red, super-thick) sheet weighs 50 g uncut (height x width: 180 x 173 mm) and 34 g when cut to the 158 x 151 mm Tibhar Szocs Signature 1 test blade, which renders it heavier than the SAR-VA and SAR (by 3 and 3 grams, respectively) but 1 and 4 grams lighter than the Moristo SP and Moristo SP AX, respectively. 

Playing Impressions

Driving

      The HFA-VA shares many characteristics with the SAR-VA but is a more “well-behaved” short pimpled rubber. Thus, BH drives with the HFA-VA are flat, low on spin, and without disruptive effect, but also slightly slower (high OFF- / low OFF) and more controllable than with the SAR-VA. The feeling upon striking the ball is less crisp and more muted than with the SAR-VA.     

Hitting Through Backspin

     Like my experiences with the SAR-VA, I struggled on 3rd ball BH attacks against long backspin pushes. Proper shot timing is critical as the margin for error is quite limited. However, given the gentler nature of the HFA-VA, I had fewer BH attacks that overshot the table. I still struggled to lift the ball over the net, especially when standing too close to the table end and contacting the ball too early, as the topsheet and the vertically aligned pips do not provide the necessary grip to curl the ball over the net. An interesting side note: my BH attacks were significantly impacted by the nature of my FH rubber. Thus, when using the lightweight HCR-VA in my FH, the HFA-VA felt faster and I had more BH attacks go too long, whereas I had more shots land on the table when I used a heavier Hurricane 3 in the FH. I attribute this to a faster stroke and swing speed in the former case.    

Flicking

     As with the SAR-VA, I found the HFA-VA to work reasonably well on BH flicks. The rubber’s more moderate speed meant that I was able to play diagonal, as well as down-the-line flicks, with good consistency. However, the shots were also a little easier for my practice partner to deal with. Once again, pancake-type flicks work best due to the lack of topsheet grip.

Blocking

     My BH blocks were more consistent than with the SAR-VA, especially in random drills and match-like situations, since the HFA-VA has a less pronounced catapult effect and higher power absorption capacity. A greater proportion of my passive blocks landed on the table, whereas aggressive blocks were slower and less dangerous. BH chop blocks were more spin-inverted than with the SAR-VA (but less so than with my regular Waran 2 short pips). The controlled driving and blocking game is the main strength of the HFA-VA in my opinion. 

Smashing

     As the HFA-VA short pips only are moderately fast, a fast wrist motion is required to ensure outright winners.

Pushing

     Long BH pushes were easier to execute with the HFA-VA than with the SAR-VA. Moreover, the pushes were spinnier, flatter, and more controlled, and posed some challenges to my opponent. I found it reasonably easy to execute short pushes, although the shots did sit up a little bit due to the lack of spin, which in turn allowed my practice partner to attack the ball.   

Chopping

     The HFA-VA works ok on defensive BH chopping, even though the feeling is a little bit muddled, rendering it challenging to fully control whether a spinny or floating chop is played. 

Conclusion

       The VA-version of the Nittaku Hammond FA is a short-pimpled rubber that is easier to play with than the Sonic AR-VA. It lends itself towards a game style focusing on driving and blocking. The vertical pimple orientation renders it challenging to attack high-quality backspin pushes. In my opinion, these pips are better suited for players who either are ok with their opponents taking the initiative or who primarily use their FH to attack backspin balls. Once the rally has opened up, the HFA-VA can be used to chase the opponent around the table.

Testing Procedure

      I evaluated the rubbers using the Tibhar Szocs Signature 1 7-ply all-wood blade. I used the Hammond CR-VA in my FH, whereas I used the Sonic AR-VA and Hammond FA-VA short pips in my BH. The brand-new rubbers were attached to the blade using 2-3 layers of the Revolution 3 normal viscosity glue. I tested the set-ups over 3-4 sessions, playing a mix of regular and match-like drills against my regular high-level practice partner (two-winged looper. Neottec Neoplast Pro 40+ training balls were used throughout this test.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Reviewer

     Patrick 'Pong Professor' Hrdlicka is a table tennis enthusiast with a Ph.D. in chemistry who combines his analytical and experimental skills with his love of table tennis in order to test and review a wide range of table tennis equipment.