Stiga Calibra LT is very good

Tried on


very good lots of speed, control and spin. I think black version is better than red. Yet to try spin version. glad I did not put it on carbon blade not enough feeling otherwise if on carbon.

I've been trying out Callibra rubbers on a Clipper and a TBS.  The topsheet on all is the same but there are 4 hardness levels LT+ > LT > Spin > Sound in hardness.

Edited by akapur - 01/14/2013 at 6:28pm

Baal, akapur,

Back a few years ago when I started this thread, I used it on a Viscaria.  It is perfectly good on that blade.  Go read the original post on this thread to see what I thought at the time.  What I would say now reading back is that it is actually quite a lot faster than T64. The answer to your question here is practically any good modern rubber is good on a Viscaria!

In the end I did not switch.  I still prefer T05.  As Akapur notes, Calibra LT is pretty unforgiving because it is very fast (like Rhyzm, T64, and several others). But I'm not sure that's the entire reason for me.  I just really love the feel of Tenergy, especially in short game.  Also, about Tenergy supposedly letting one get away with "lazy shots";  if this is actually true, it would be a plus for any rubber, since maintaining balance is right at the top of The Most Important Things in table tennis.  So by my way of looking at things, anything that facilitates getting back into position after playing an aggressive shot that you had to move for would be a good thing.  Having said that, I'm just not sure I would agree that Tenergy lets you get away with lazy shots.  It is slower than Calibra LT and throws quite a bit higher.  Both are rubbers with very high performance meant for offensive players.  I think my level would be pretty much the same with either one given a month to adjust.

An interesting question for me that I can't quite answer just yet, is if I was forced to choose between something like Bluefire M1, Evolution MP-X or Calibra-LT, which one would I pick?  Probably it wouldn't matter, as above, my level would settle into the exactly the same place after a week or two.  However, the lighter weight of Calibra-LT might be an advantage for some people.

Changing from one modern high performance offensive rubber to another will almost certainly not make you better.  It is however fun to try new equipment. 

I would be curious to know if any professional players have started to use Calibra LT.  As a rule I never follow the "what the pros use" threads, but this question is kind of interesting now that I think about it.


Edited by Baal - 01/15/2013 at 9:35am

My EJ senses are tingling...

Mickael wrote: I am sure of two pros are using calibra, I actually watched playing against each other on a pro tour: Ali saleh of egypt (africa champion many times) and saive of belgium, actually saleh won 4-1 after winning person of Sweden 4-3

There's a post on tabletennisdaily.co.uk with a racket control list from the 2012 Czech open, you can probably find it if you just google that sentence. Anyway Kristian Karlsson and Abdel-Kader Salifou are another two who use Calibra. There were still a few players using Stiga Boost as well.

Edited by Anderni - 01/15/2013 at 6:24pm

You can certainly loop with Calibra LT, but I found that there was less spin then T05 and not the arc that I wanted. T05 allows me to play with a bigger margin while it also provides more spin then Calibra.

NextLevel wrote: Speedplay wrote: You can certainly loop with Calibra LT, but I found that there was less spin then T05 and not the arc that I wanted. T05 allows me to play with a bigger margin while it also provides more spin then Calibra. Maybe one of the slower sponges will do it. Spin or Sound.

I am using LT Spin on my BH instead of T64 and i must admit to most things above said on throw , spin etc.. these 2 rubbers have different characteristics and needs adjusting time of at least 4 - 6 hours; LT spin is still spinny enough to open up from BH and due to the long trajectory it is harder for the opponent to block it back and will most likely block it to the net. Its throw is low so pushes work great and harder to open for opponent ; still getting a hang of the blocks with this rubber . Those over the table banana flick may be possible but perhaps not as easy or effective as T64. Over all i am gonna give it another few more weeks to decide on LT Spin especially on a deep under spin ball opening ; LT Spin has far better top sheet compared to any tensors in the market.

I also like to know about the durability of this rubber. My Stiga Boost got crack edges without me touching the table. Also the surface become slippery faster than most rubbers I used. Still it plays very well without the sense of losing grip. So I really want to buy another Stiga for FH if it can last better. May be I will wait for the upcoming Calibra Tour.

NextLevel wrote: How is the durability of LT Sound?  Some of the reviews complained - I tried it out today on a Viscaria blade and was impressed with the weight, speed and control.  So if it is fairly durable, I am willing to give it a try on both forehand and backhand.  I've never had my short strokes go through with such penetration before.

It is a bit too soft for my taste, but if it suits you great...i just like harder rubbers...one issue you will find it does not lift well heavy underspin (while looping) but on the flip side it handles topspin for counters very well.

Mickael wrote: I play 6 times a week for 2-3 hours I am using calibra sounds, it lasts for two months. Compared when I used to play tenergy they lasted around 3 months.

NextLevel wrote: Test run is going ok.  The one thing I love about LT Sound is its weight - I have it on an over-sized head blade (Juic Stellan Bengston Alpha) and it is lighter than my other set ups with Rhyzm and Baracuda and in many ways just as powerful.  The spin is less, but the throw is lower and the ball moves faster and with more penetration.  I had an underspin problem initially, but I found it was more of a gluing problem.  When I reglued it, I was able to lift underspin just as well as with other rubbers, though my blocks were not as good as before the regluing.The lesser weight appeals to me but I can see why some people do not like this rubber.  However, for someone like myself with modest TT goals, it suits where I want to take my game.  I know blocking and hitting are going to be significant parts of my game if I am going to get better and I feel that it will be easier to block/hit or counter through heavy spin with this rubber than with many others.  Definitely spins sensitive, but not as bad as Tenergy or Baracuda.I'm going to use this rubber for 6 months before switching to anything else (if I am still playing TT then).

+1
But you didn't say anything about its sound it is amazing , it gives you some much confidence.

Mickael wrote: +1 But you didn't say anything about its sound it is amazing , it gives you some much confidence.

The sound is amazing, but I thought we all knew that already...

Had a bad accident today and ripped the rubber.  Will have to get a new sheet in Black.

A friend of mine mentioned Stiga Calibra LT as the closest thing to Speed glued Bryce FX (in terms of feel, speed etc) he has ever tried. He was a regular Bryce FX user - and is generally accurate with his comparisons. Can anyone who used both confirm?