Friendship 729 FOCUS III 3 Snipe

I only use these.

yea.. the sponge is very soft so you really need a ultra sharp blade to cut it.. or scissors.. i prefer scissors though. 

I have the 46 degree version and it feels softer than my 729 super fx. ???

racquetsforsale wrote: I have the 46 degree version and it feels softer than my 729 super fx. ???

Isn't the super fx a hard sticky rubber?

I have played with Focus III snipe for a short while before...... I ordered it from Zero Pong (which I promote wholeheartedly, it is a great company)  and they only sell it in what they say to be the 40deg sponge. I would agree with it being close to that softness maybe a little less. I had this rubber on my Forehand on the 729 Bomb blade. I got this rubber because I contacted them to give me the closest rubber they have that compares to the Donic Coppa J.O and this is what they said would feel similar to that rubber.

I found when playing around with this rubber is it is great when counter looping, blocking and hitting close-mid distance from the table but anything farther then that I had a very hard time getting enough power out of it to do far from the table loops. I have not tried any other hardness and I am sure it is much different but, unless you are a close to the table attacker I would not recommend this rubber to you.

The old super fx like deng yaping used was very traditional hard, sticky, heavy, thick top.  They came out with "fxel" using the same mold several years ago.  The two are totally different.  FXEL is softer and much much lighter and only lightly tacky.  Not super bouncy...very predictable with high control.

Why do you say the focus3 snipe is japanese sponge?  I'm not sure it ever really was, but I don't see it on this version for sure.  Not that the japanese sponges used by chinese companies are ever really that good anyway.  Anyway, when the chinese companies make their own sponge it seems the hardness is more consistent.  Old school chinese with german or japanese sponges were always all over the map in quality and hardness.  It seems since they improved their own soft sponges they kind of went away from that.

Edited by cole_ely - 05/11/2011 at 9:21am

I ran into the same issue when cutting into the snipe.  I've cut4 snipes by now as well as other rubbers and I think I kind of know why the snipe reacts the way it does. 

When one uses a blade to cut into rubber/sponge the job usually needs to be done slow.  Also the blade needs to be extremely sharp.  I've noticed that setups with harder sponges and rubbers yield better (cleaner) cuts.

The snipe is not like this.  Because the sponge and the rubber are so soft using a blade will pull the rubber away from the sponge if the it isn't ridiculously sharp.  So if you are going to use a blade make sure to make many run throughs around the tt blade and try not to force the rubber/sponge to cut.  In the same respect, you kind of need to pull the rubber/sponge outward in a perpendicular motion to the plane upon with your blade is cutting the rubber.  This step is vital because if you don't, the sponge is soft enough for a person to make fine cuts right next to each other.  Not good.

If you're not looking for a crazy precise cut.  The less risky option is just to use scissors with water.

Good Luck.

cole_ely wrote: Why do you say the focus3 snipe is japanese sponge?  I'm not sure it ever really was, but I don't see it on this version for sure.  Not that the japanese sponges used by chinese companies are ever really that good anyway.  Anyway, when the chinese companies make their own sponge it seems the hardness is more consistent.  Old school chinese with german or japanese sponges were always all over the map in quality and hardness.  It seems since they improved their own soft sponges they kind of went away from that.   The biggest part of the improvement I've seen from f3 regular to snipe is consistency in sponge.  I figured that was because they started making it themselves.  Also the topsheet was varying wildly in tackiness toward the end of the regular f3 production.  The old f3 could be really good or really bad.

hmmm Actually no where does it say Japanese, but its just the feel, softness and texture that makes me believe it is, also I have a few Chinese coaches who buy this rubber from me because they say it has a Japanese sponge, they love it for training students as it allows the student to control topspin better, I like it because of the tiny click when the shot is right lol

I used a box cutter, using a brand new blade to cut my most recent sheet. I did have to make several passes and not force the cuts, but I did wind up with a pretty straight/clean cut. 

cole_ely wrote: Well, it used to say japanese sponge, but I don't see that on the snipe and I don't think it is.  But it seems pretty good anyway and def more consistent.   A lot of times I think the so called japanese sponges weren't really made in japan.  How do they get away with this?  Well, we've all bought japanese food that wasn't really made in japan right?  It's just an adjective, which is what you alluded to.  It has a japanese feel to it.

yes hahaha China does make (what they call Japaneseish ) type sponges with a bit more softness and sping ,,, but my friend seems to tell the difference in a second, So Im really unsure now as 729 would normally say Japanese if it was as a selling point

the snipe3 is like sriver or sriver fx
not a pro rubber even not close to it
the rubber dont have glue effect bilt in
his price is good to his qualitiy
i orderd 46 deegres from ttnpp

callisto, what makes you think they even have a 46deg version?

weird, I've never heard a complaint about an inspirit type rubber oxidizing.

Cole,

http://mytabletennis.net/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6328&PID=549610

Second post from the top

Edited by racquetsforsale - 03/01/2012 at 4:49pm