Nittaku Zalt

Picked up a sheet of this last week. Made in China.

Sponge is porous. Colour is very near to the colour of tenergy's sponge colour (Zalt is a little lighter, less red). Probably about the softness of the FX tenergy sponge. Zalt's sponge pores are smaller and tighter than the T-FX sponge though. I can get a side-by-side pic if anyone seems interested.

The topsheet is interesting. Tall, thin pips with fairly wide spacing. Topsheet is very, very thin. Totally non tacky. Rubbing your finger down the sheet reveals a very rough, bumpy feel. You can feel the pips through the topsheet.

In play it's a good, solid allround+ rubber. IMO, it slots into the "modern classic" category along with Andro Shifter and Xiom Musa. Not massively fast and not hugely bouncy, spin is excellent, throw is medium. Whereas Musa feels more like a toned-down (untuned) tensor, Zalt has a far more Japanese feel to it. I immediately thought of a more flexible, elastic Mark V with a more modern feel. And it's reasonably light - lighter than Musa, for example (but Musa's sponge is harder...).

Not sure which Chinese company is making this on behalf of Nittaku, but the quality is really high. No imperfections anywhere.

dannyreventon wrote: If you have to choose between the two? Musa or Zalt, which would you choose? :)

Tough question! ;-)

I prefer the lighter weight and feel of the Zalt at the moment. But! Being made in China, I worry a little about the QC between sheets. And Zalt's softer sponge does have less power - particularly noticeable when punching or playing half-strokes over the table. I had a few shots "wash out" and drop into the net because I wasn't used to the lack of pop.

If you twisted my arm then I'd probably go with Zalt and make some stroke adjustments. Zalt has a particularly nice feel when in a BH counterloop situation, which can be a tricky area for me, so it gets a few points there.

Of course, I haven't tried Musa 2 yet...

dannyreventon wrote: Me too! Darn that elusive Musa 2. ha ha ha. Wonder why only ttnpp is the one selling it.

Yeah, that is a bit mysterious. Fills me up with conspiracy theories.

Zalt seems really overpriced in US TT webstores. TT-Japan is a better option.

Great for backhand!!
Great control!!

Not very spinny or sticky

Rather than start a new thread, I'll ask on here and hope someone replies :)

Alwin wrote: My qs are

AndySmith wrote: +1 to CipheR's post. Alwin wrote: My qs are > How is Zalt for developing/learning strokes? Great!  It isn't too fast, is quite soft, and the topsheet has an unusual quality of being insensitive to spin unless you use a fast stroke action, so it's very forgiving. > How much of a difference is it from Flextra - will it be too fast or lack control? It's not too dissimilar actually.  It does throw a little higher and I did find it easier for BH looping (although I can't remember the last time I used Fextra - many years ago!).  It isn't much faster at all. > What kind of an arc does it produce? I'm not keen on low arc BH rubbers. (answered) > Is it durable? Yes, pretty good. > Is it a non-tensor rubber? Yes, non-tensor.  It's made in China (more on that below). > How does it perform on serves and touch shots? Really well during service return.  It doesn't have a hugely grippy topsheet so it isn't the best when serving yourself. So, this is made in China and since my original post above I'm 90% sure it's made by 729, simply because it's really similar to 729 Battle 1.  Battle 1 has a grippier topsheet on an almost identical sponge, and is cheaper too.  If you're prepared to go one small step further up the rubber performance chain away from Flextra (more grip, slightly faster than Zalt), you should give Battle 1 a try.

AndySmith wrote: piligrim wrote: AndySmith wrote: And it's reasonably light what the weight cut to standard size blade? My red sheet ("super thick", heh) is 38.75g cut to 158x152, which is a tad bigger than standard.

really?? so light! thanks Andy
Can you compare please it's speed to other tensor rubber for example Acuda or Evolution?

thank you very much. so it slower than Acuda ... maybe on OFF+ blade will be still fast enough ... with this rubber racket weight will be super light.

Battle 1 has similar weight to Zalt?

AndySmith wrote: +1 to CipheR's post. Alwin wrote: My qs are > How is Zalt for developing/learning strokes? Great!  It isn't too fast, is quite soft, and the topsheet has an unusual quality of being insensitive to spin unless you use a fast stroke action, so it's very forgiving. > How much of a difference is it from Flextra - will it be too fast or lack control? It's not too dissimilar actually.  It does throw a little higher and I did find it easier for BH looping (although I can't remember the last time I used Fextra - many years ago!).  It isn't much faster at all. > What kind of an arc does it produce? I'm not keen on low arc BH rubbers. (answered) > Is it durable? Yes, pretty good. > Is it a non-tensor rubber? Yes, non-tensor.  It's made in China (more on that below). > How does it perform on serves and touch shots? Really well during service return.  It doesn't have a hugely grippy topsheet so it isn't the best when serving yourself. So, this is made in China and since my original post above I'm 90% sure it's made by 729, simply because it's really similar to 729 Battle 1.  Battle 1 has a grippier topsheet on an almost identical sponge, and is cheaper too.  If you're prepared to go one small step further up the rubber performance chain away from Flextra (more grip, slightly faster than Zalt), you should give Battle 1 a try.

Alwin, dont forget to say something about Zalt since you tried it

Nice and in depth review. Thanks much mate

Mark V is cheaper. I was under the impression reanos hold and both zalt played similar to good old mark v.

asifgunz wrote: Mark V is cheaper. I was under the impression reanos hold and both zalt played similar to good old mark v.

Renanos Hold is more powerful overall. Not as forgiving as Zalt or Mark V.

I just thought I'd do a update, since I've been playing pretty regularly with Zalt with the old cell ball and polly ball.