Singapore Smash: How to Use These Forehand Tensors?
Now tacky rubber makes up the majority on forehands, whether high-tack or slightly-tacky. Gradually I find, for pros in big halls, after backing off the table, tacky rubber’s arc stability really is stronger, and spin is better too. Tensors mainly score by penetration; backed off to mid-far table, most of the time their threat and stability are inferior to tacky rubber. But still, some players stick to a tensor on the forehand. Probably, in their view, forehand speed and penetration remain very important.
ZYRE-03
Users: Lin Yun-Ju, Tomokazu Harimoto, Shunsuke Togami, Jha. Though the Z03 is a tensor, everyone finds it very easy to hold the ball, and lifting underspin really is stable. But easy ball-holding and underspin-lifting do not necessarily mean strong spin. The Z03 can be very fast and very charging. Charging means it can produce a long arc, especially in topspin rallies. Some players, just starting with it, even feel that after firing, the elasticity is too big and the arc too long, easily erring. Basically, for Tomokazu Harimoto, Shunsuke Togami and Jha, you rarely hear “their balls are very spinny” now, because they rely more on ball speed. Fast enough, charging enough, is fine. This is the Z03’s strength. Its absolute spin lifting underspin is actually not strong, but it can lift, then enter rallies and play speed. Of course, the bat is a whole. Here we only discuss the rubber; once paired with different blades, the effect differs.
HELIX Platinum
User: Moregard. I have played the M and XH hardnesses. This M hardness is already enough for the vast majority of amateurs’ backhands. Slightly harder than the same-hardness DNA Platinum. And when you fire, it feels fairly porcelain-firm. Its spin quality is impressive — probably among the best of German-made tensors. This is also where it beats the Platinum DNA line, especially on lifting half-long underspin.
DNA Platinum
User: Hana Goda. For this one, amateurs can choose M or H on the backhand. I feel the H hardness, when played, has some T80 air. For the forehand, you can use XH. Though this series is also a tensor, its friction is fully sufficient. Compared with the Helix, the DNA Platinum seems easier to drive through. What does that mean? I feel, for amateurs’ forehands, it lowers the threshold, more easily producing speed-based penetration. If you want a cheaper Tenergy, the DNA Platinum is worth considering.
Nittaku G-1
User: Mima Ito. The G-1, playing this plastic ball, works on both wings. The backhand generally uses Super Thick (2.0mm); the forehand can use 2.0 or Max. With Max, the power exceeds German rubbers like the MX-P, and it actually still suits our Chinese amateur forehands. The sponge has quite a nice wrapping feel, so it was long ago seen as one of T05’s budget alternatives. Its controllability is also easier than T05, not as springy.
T05 Hard
User: Zhu Yuling. Brutal power, precise ball-grip — this really is like a Hurricane among tensors, still not lacking spin and bottom power. Zhang Jike once used it on the forehand (a Swedish Open the year before he retired), and Zhu Yuling has used it long-term. It is just a bit heavy, a bit hard, but once accustomed, on the forehand, very good. It demands you actively fire more, so its threshold is a bit higher. But in the traditional sense, it fits our forehand habits well — whether the spin quality looping a half-long underspin, or the fierce power after a rip. If I were a few years younger, not working late every night, this would be my favorite.