TENERGY 80 REVIEW

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   I have 2 sheets of Tenergy 80 that I will be testing/reviewing very soon...
Haven't put them on any blades yet, but first off I noticed Butterfly has a new hologram logo watermark on the packaging.

==============================

OVERALL REVIEW:

T80 is a slight variation of T05. A little less spin than 05, with a bit longer arc. (But more spin than 64.) Its longer arc might give the impression of more power, but honestly I'd say they are too close to call regarding speed and power, and any differences in this area should probably be attributed to production inconsistency. To me they are the same hardness, but T80 sounds softer with its more hollow tone. (Vaguely similar to T25.)

T80 is not a specialized variation of Tenergy like T25. Likewise, its not as far away from T05 as T64. Its a closer relative of 05.

Will I use this rubber? Yes, to me its an intriguing spin-off of T05, and I will continue to try it out on the FH side of different setups. At the same time, because of its similarities to 05, its not a good BH rubber for me. I can use either T05 or T80 on my forehand without missing a beat.

Who will like this rubber? I think anyone who likes T05 will at least be mildly intrigued by T80. (So probably half of the table tennis world. ) If someone likes T05 but wants to take some of the edge off the spin without changing rubbers completely, they might like T80. Or someone who wants a little more penetration, but doesn't mind sacrificing a little bit of inherent spin, might like T80's slightly longer trajectory.

There might be a certain type of player to emerge who swears by T80, who knows? Otherwise it will probably end up like T25 with a small following... Although most people will like T80, but just continue to like T05 more, compared to T25 which most people just hate.

Who will not like this rubber? People who are looking for a totally different experience than is offered by T05 will be disappointed with T80. If you categorically don't like T05 for any reason, you probably will not like T80 and should avoid it. (As opposed to if you like T05 overall, but wished Butterfly tweaked it a little bit... Well that's T80.)

Misc - I liked T80 better on the ALC than on the ZLC. T80's longer trajectory paired nicely with the tight arc of the ALC. I will stick to 05 on the FH of the ZLC.

Day 1:
Glued onto 2 blades. TB ALC, Innerforce ZLC. T05 on opposite sides.

Bounce test - To be honest its difficult to tell the difference between T80 and T05 by just bouncing the ball on the racket. Tone is slightly different, but otherwise spin and power seem very close.

5 minutes of hitting/blocking at the office pong table - Still hard to tell the difference between 80 and 05. Throw angle seems close. Power and spin, very similar. I will need to do more thorough testing at the club tonight with better practice partners.

Initial thoughts - It doesn't suck! Although so far, T80 seems more like it should be called "T05b". Or they just figured out a way to make T05 with a little bit of T25's sound... But I will keep trying my best to find this rubber's distinguishing characteristics.

Day 2:
Still need to test T80 long term, but I think after a 3 hour club session, I have a good idea about this rubber.

Again, glued onto 2 blades. TB ALC, Innerforce ZLC. T05 on opposite sides.

I still think T80 is very similar to T05. People who like T05 should be at least intrigued by this rubber. Below are some comparisons:

Speed/Power - After testing 2 T80 rubbers on 2 different blades, along with 2 slightly used T05's on the opposite sides I can't say that T80 is much faster than T05. It feels slightly bouncier/speedier while countering and blocking, but I can't tell if that's because its new and the T05's are used. Either way, while warming up and standing away from the table hitting big counter loops, T05 seems to feel more solid and have a little more kick. Again its almost too close to call, so close that I think its just the newness of the rubber, because new rubbers feel softer and bouncier while Tenergy can harden a little bit over time. Also, As I will detail below, T80 has a slightly different spin and throw angle, which might make it seem faster, but if its truly faster than T05, as T64 is for example, its not obvious to me.

Feel/Softness/Hardness - Very similar. Almost too close to call, but if I had to make a decision I would say that T05 feels slightly more solid. Really the only thing that stands out is that T80 sounds softer. It has a more hollow tone. So I don't really agree with some of the reviews I've read that claim T80 is clearly harder than 05. I think its basically the same, if not slightly softer or slightly less solid/tight feeling. (All Tenergy sponges are basically the same hardness, besides the FX versions, except that T64's pip structure, longer pips, etc, make it feel softer.)

Spin - T05 creates a tighter arc on loops, and it seems to have better spin on serves. Of course T80 has good spin. Its still feels like playing with a new Tenergy right out of the package!  So its also a close call, but while practicing looping --countering, and against underspin -- using the same stroke and racket angle repeatedly and then twiddling, T05 loops will spin down sooner.

Throw angle - I'd say T80 is very similar to T05. High. Its really noticeable when I hit bh's. I don't like T05 on my bh because of the throw angle. I prefer T64. Well T80 is basically the same as T05 in that regard. It doesn't spin down as much on the 2nd half of its arc, so it seem to have a longer throw angle than 05, but the angle coming right off the blades seem the same.

----------

I will try to update this post as a test T80 in the long term, or as the inevitable debates arise.

Edited by LOOPMEISTER - 12/31/2012 at 9:32pm