Donic Barracuda?/Andro Hexer?

[Skippy]

Yesterday I played with a guys new racket and he had Barracuda on both sides, and it was very difficult for me to control.  It just made the ball do strange things.  I am sure that I would have eventually adjusted to it and I would have eventually tamed the rubbers.  (I hated the blade that the rubbers were on too)  They were pretty fast rubber, and the spin was pretty good too.  Silver is right it doesn't have the high throw that T05 has, and it's throw is probably a little higher than T64, but in my case this rubber was initially more difficult to control than any rubber I have previously used.  However it definitely had the gears to play a quality power game.  I think I am going to ask to try his bat a couple more times just to see if I can do some more basic strokes.  It sure was interesting stuff. 

[speedplay]

Interesting Skippy,

All I've ever read about Barracuda before have been  complains that it is to slow. Most people seem to enjoy the spin it creates, but the lack of speed is what turns them of.

The question is, would you rate this as closer to spring sponge or Tensor sponge? Also, have you tried the Hexer? How would it compare to that?

[pingpongrob]

spring sponge

just a marketing Ploy..  How the hell can you even call the bublely sponge of the Tenergy series a Spring Sponge.  The pips are all arranged differently and each rubbers plays differently due to this pip arrangement.

[speedplay]

just a marketing Ploy..  How the hell can you even call the bublely sponge of the Tenergy series a Spring Sponge.  The pips are all arranged differently and each rubbers plays differently due to this pip arrangement.

As for the name, I don't care if they call it spring sponge or moon rock sponge, but I feel that T 05 plays very different to any other rubber I have ever used.

Now, you say that the pips arrengement makes each rubber play differently, are you saying that one sheet of T 05 might play completely different to another sheet of T 05? Or, are you saying that there is a difference between T 05, T 25 and T 64?

[Skippy]

Barracuda doesn't play much like any other tensor I have tried.  The sponge is dense kinda like the Tenergies, but I wouldn't say that the feel is much like the Tenergies either.  The sponge plays closer to the Tenergies than traditional tensors do that's for certain.  The traditional tensor sponges even in their hardest versions are quite a bit softer than the Barracuda.  I can't think of an Xiom tensor from the Omega's that felt even remotely as hard as Barracuda.  Also Barracuda doesn't click nearly as loud as the older tensors.  However it used to kinda annoy me when the tensors would click even on touch pushes which I thought was a bit overkill.  As far as Barracuda speed you have to consider that all speed I play with is derrived directly from my spin and the incoming spin.  I'm kinda a pile on guy.  When the ball comes in topspin I don't just reverse it.  I always add even a little more to it making it fairly quick, and very spinny.  The Barracuda was actually pretty good for this, and because of my style of play it was sufficiently speedy.  I cannot make a determination as to how fast it is striking a ball in a flat manner.  I just don't do it very much.  It's probably closer to T25 in play.  That one was a little harder for me to control too.  I had a second hit with it yesterday, and it was much more manageable, and I still maintain that it's plenty quick for power players.  I liked it when I knew what the rubber was going to produce.

[speedplay]

Well, if you have found something you like, then stick to it. I'll get a chance to try it out for my self once the new season begins, as one of my team mates will use it and I think I'll be allowed to have a go with it to compare it to Tenergy and the Tensor rubbers I have tried.

[Skippy]

Not my racket Speedplay.  Oh FYI he had it on a Donic Epox Offensive.  Nice looking blade, however I absolutely hated the blade.  I'll stick with my Stradivarius I think.  As I have tried many other people's equipment, I kinda breath a sigh of relief that I can stick with this blade forever and I wont have skipped a beat.  I'm not saying that I couldn't  be persuaded into another blade.  (Rob whatcha got that's just like it only maybe a notch or two quicker?)

[pingpongrob]

(Rob whatcha got that's just like it only maybe a notch or two quicker?)

Havent really thought about it, I cant even remember what the plies looked like.  Funny thing is I could get Yinhe to make anything (except the kitchen sink), I just asked them to make a De.1 without the centre Arylate. Might still be a bit slow, will just have to wait and see.

On another note, the Hexer+ is playing really well on a Cheap Yinhe M-6 blade, I was actually surprised. Came about it by fluke, someone sat on my blade, and I didnt have another is stock.

[Skippy]

Ack!  Someone broke your blade?  That would suck.  I have someone who kinda coaches me at tournaments, and he looks out for me by explaining where to put my blade and where not to between matches just so it doesn't get broken.