Palio Macro Era Review

wonder if mdjenders knows where the topsheet is produced?

Heimdallalso wrote: wonder if mdjenders knows where the topsheet is produced? didn't he already say it

Some more info:

Palio Macro ERA is a new, 4.5 Gen Tensor BIOS, made in Germany by ESN Elastomers.  The Macro Pro that rossicarbon is referring to is an older, 3G tensor, also made by ESN.   The original Macro was too soft for the Chinese market, so they made the Macro Pro as a firmer version.  The Macro ERA is the newest version with the latest Tensor technology.  These rubbers are NOT manufactured by Palio, they just market them.

The Macro ERA is a grippy, non-tacky rubber.  Sponge hardnesses are 42.5 and 47.5 (just like Joola Express 1/2), thicknesses MAX and 2.0mm.  As with other German tensors, the rubbers play quite a bit softer than the hardness values would indicate.  The 42 I would classify as medium-soft, and the 47 medium-hard (not rock hard at all).

Thank you all for sharing your observations.Can you also tell us about the durability of these rubbers.Tensors from ESN are pretty fragile and their longevity ,well,sucks.What about Palio Macro?Does the top sheet retain its grip after 2-3 months?Also,is it true that the top sheets aren't made by ESN,but the sponges are?If the top sheets are durable,then these Palio rubbers can be very attractive.Updates will be much appreciated.

JimT wrote: mmerkel wrote: Just a note on what happened with my PME (42.5). I took it off to try another rubber (EJ syndrome setting in). When I went to put it back on, I lost about 1 - 2 mm around the edge, as it appeared to have shrunk in both directions. I don't think I stretched it when I put it on originally, as I was very carful. I tried to gently stretch it just a tiny bit, but I must have done it inconsistently as it is now uncontrollable and unpredictable, especially in flat hits. I think there are areas that are more stretched than others now, which leads to more catapult in some areas while other areas play "normal". Other than trying to live with the smaller rubber - which must have lost some of its tension through the shrinkage - do you have any suggestions on what to do? Here is what happened with my PME. It was a bit larger than my regular blade, sticking out on the sides, so I took scissors and cut off two very narrow short bands of rubber (1 mm width, 4-5 cm length).Then I noticed (before putting it on Nexy Color, after taking it off BBC 9-10-9) that a considerable amount of rubber glue has accumulated on the sponge. So I used my finger to try and roll it off the sponge and proceeded quite successfully with that removal. In the end, I removed a "huge" chunk of rubber glue residue - a full cubic centimeter at least!Imagine my surprise when after putting the shiny residue-free rubber on Nexy Color (same face size as BBC) I realized that it was again sticking out 1 mm on the sides and 2-3 mm on top! Granted, upon affixing the rubber I used a roller before putting the paddle into the clicky press but still. I am guessing that residue was tightening up the rubber, keeping the size smaller, and also without it the sponge became a tad softer and more pliable and stretched better when the roller was applied.Anyway, the moral: try getting rid of all the accumulated gunk - maybe that'll help.

PME 42.5* is so soft and stretchy that rollers easily push it out of shape during installation, i.e. they can inadvertently stretch a cut sheet by several mm, at least. Initially I was installing (uncut) PME 42.5* by inverting the rubber on a table and lowering the blade onto the rubber to avoid stretch! Now I have gotten better at installing it right side up, but using small diameter (1"-1.5") rollers is a no-no. I have a 4" diameter roller that, if used with a gentle touch, will not stretch the 42.5 PME during installation.

To nathanso :
Thank you.That is really good to know.I have been waiting for more reviews on these rubbers.I plan to get me a couple of these when I have used current sheets.

Is the general consensus that PME is more durable than other same gen tensors?

his shipment frm china is probably stuck

It's so difficult to source a sheet of PME these days. /cry

Finally, ttArmory has new Macro Eras and they also have Blitz - which is 5th gen tensor, kind of a next step from PME, I guess.

I already ordered two new PME from ttnpp.com, so I will wait a bit until some more info on Blitz becomes available. There is a review here already, by Heimdallalso, go read it if interested.

nathanso wrote: My Blitz shipped today from Ttarmory. I should have my first round of robot tests and an initial review -- including a PME 42.5* comparison -- finished by Thursday late.

My understanding is that you should to compare Blitz and PME 47.5 - because Blitz only exists in 47.5. Basically it is the newer version of PME 47.5 MAX

dual700 wrote: Jim, � I played 4 matches with PME 42.5 on my 1 ply hinoki on one side and T64 on the other. I pretty much agree on your findings except the throw angle. PME is slightly lower than T64 and a tad bit slower (speed wise). I had my club mate who's about 2100 to try it and he found the same. � Just my observation. � Great rubber, nevertheless. I want to try the 47.5, maybe it has the same arc/speed as the t64. � Thanks

Can you compare T64 to PME 42.5*? T64 has been recommended to me and I'm a longtime PME user. I'm particularly interested in T64's sensitivity to incoming spin (not a PME strong point) and its ability to loop over the table.

Nathan, if you want less sensitivity try PME 47.5. I switched to PME from Tenergy specifically because Tenergy was too sensitive to the incoming spin for my taste. Naturally the harder sponged version is better in that regard.

Anyways, I advise both you guys to try 47.5 version - it sounds like both of you could benefit from using that one instead of a soft version.

dansari wrote: You could also try T25 if you're concerned about T64's sensitivity to incoming spin.� Mine should be coming any day now...

I don't want to throw this thread too far off-topic, but seeing that I'm a longtime PME user perhaps this will be of benefit to others who are using or considering PME.

PME 42.5* suits me very well (better than 47.5* due to its tighter arc on over the table loops). I recently bought Donic Baracuda max and loved the spin and the unexpected insensitivity to incoming spin.. but I hated the high throw angle. So, does T25 or T64 (or any other inverted rubber) combine low throw, tight arcs, and insensitivity to spin? I've shied away from the Tenergy series (after owning T05 1.9) due to their heavy weight since I prefer a paddle in the 150-155g range and Tenergy usually makes that impossible, even with OX LP on the BH.

JimT wrote: Nathan, did you try 47.5 and switched to 42.5 because...?

I have them both but prefer 42.5* due to its tighter arc on over the table loops.

JimT wrote: I think the right strategy there is to upgrade your play and your technique so that you can confidently use the harder rubber. But it doesn't happen right away, naturally... it takes time.

Jim, I think that's against EJ's law