Picking between Hexer/Roxon 450/Roxon 500

[speedplay]

For reference;

http://www.affordablett.com.au/smf/index.php/topic,681.0.html

Where I compare Roxon 450, Roxon 500 and Hexer, all 3 are Andro rubbers.

Speed on slow strokes:
As stated in the review, R 450 has the worst short game, Hexer the best and 500 comes in somewhere in the middle.

Speed on power loops:
R 500 edges out on this one, followed by R 450 and Hexer.

Speed on Drives:
Once again, R 500 followed by R 450 and Hexer.

So, which of these do I need? Here I have to look at my self and be honest about my level of play and the style that I play and when I do this, I realise, my short game is crap! Doesn't matter which of the rubbers I use, cause my short game is still crap, it is just different levels of crap, so why should I let this affect my selection of rubber? Further on, I have realised, at the level I play at, short game isn't such a big part of the game, since most of the players at this level don't have a short game that is good enough to prevent the opponent from attacking, fact is, those who think they do often manages to put the ball half long, which is idealistic for those who seek to attack.

Powerloops on the other hand is important for me, since I'm often playing away from the table, I need the rubber to help me generate speed (and spin) so this is a huge factor when I decide what rubber I'm going to use.

Drives, pretty much the same as powerloops, so these two rounds go to the R 500, shadowed by R 450 and last Hexer.

Spin on loops:
Hexer spins earlier then R 450, when compared to the speed they both generate, while R 500 out spins them both, but only when used with really good technique.

Spin in short game/Serve:
Minor differences to begin with, but having used them all for a while, I've reached the conclusion that Roxon keeps it ability to spin better then Hexer.

So, what answers does this give me? Since I play away from the table, I need both speed and spin, so the lower gears of the Hexer really don't help me much, it might actually hurt me, since sometimes I aim to hit a fast stroke, but due to lack in technique, the Hexer uses a lower gear then I intended to. R 500 is clearly the best rubber for this, but I'm not looking for the best rubber, I'm looking for the best rubber for me and I have to be honest again, most of my loops aren't text book strokes, so this round goes to the more forgiving R 450.

Control:
A round that should go to Hexer, but once again, I have to look at my own game and ask me what benefits it gives me and to be honest, the benefits I gain with the Hexer are not always beneficial to me, since I often get less speed from it then I intended and this actually harms my control since I'm not able to make the stroke I intended to. R 500 is with out a doubt the hardest rubber to control. So, judging in everything, Hexer allows me to make slow blocks, but is this something I really want and use? No, when I block, I do this as a part of an offensive strategy and block aggressive, so despite the fact that Hexer have more gears, I'm more helped with the "free" speed provided by R 450.

Weighing in all of these things, I've reached the conclusion that the R 450 is probably the best rubber for me. How ever, there is a big difference between the best rubber for me, and the best rubber out of the 3. According to me, the R 500 is by far the superior rubber here, but it requires so much of the user and I have to admit that I'm not yet skilled to use it. Next in line is probably more depending on your style of play, a control player would probably benefit from Hexer more then Roxon 450, while R 450 suits better for some one trying to make the point on their own. If I had to pick, I would probably claim that the Hexer was slightly better then the R 450, but the benefits it provides the player with takes some skill to actually gain any advantages from. In my case, the benefits of Hexer wasn't big enough for me, my short game is still crap and the possibility to adjust the speed on blocks works against me rather then for me. So, despite the fact that I rate R 450 as the "worst" rubber amongst these 3, I rate it as the best rubber for me.

I'm still able to use both Hexer and R 500, with out dropping to much in level, but for fine tuned perfection, R 450 is my choice. I think it is important for all of us to not only look at the best rubber, but look at what the rubber actually offers to us. If my short game improves, I might give the Hexer another go as this might give me the edge in the short game, if my looping game develops more, I might consider the R 500 for the extra speed, but at my current level, R 450 is my choice.

Now, how do you guys go about selecting your rubber of preference?

[pingpongrob]

Good to see your Honest.

Mum and Dad always taught me that Honesty is the best policy.

Now when do I get my apology. 

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Not having used Hexer or R500, I use R450 on the basis that its the best rubber overall that I have ever used. On the R1, Gambler Outlaw came close to being/feeling as good but still fell short a little on spin. I think on a slower blade it would also fall short on speed. Proton came close to R450 in most respects except for in humid conditions and in spin was quite a bit less without great wrist whip due to harder sponge. I somehow suspect it may have something in common with R500. The one I am rather interested in after reading ChrisBuer's comments on OOAK is R330. Now we know Rob has the good oil on that rubber and he thought it was great for control but I think top end speed was just off peak for him...is this right Rob? I think at my level, being a few grades lower than Rob R330 may be a revelation to the R450 perhaps, not that I have a problem with R450's control anyway.

[pingpongrob]

Now we know Rob has the good oil on that rubber and he thought it was great for control but I think top end speed was just off peak for him...is this right Rob? I think at my level, being a few grades lower than Rob R330 may be a revelation to the R450 perhaps, not that I have a problem with R450's control anyway.

Reb, the blade I'm currently using has Roxon 330 Max on the Forhand, and yes its still pretty fast, but I tend to think that Roxon 450 still suits my style (Supachop also feels the same). I have sold quite a bit of both the Roxon 330 & Hexer lately, I ahve also placed my order for the Hexer Pro+, which should arrive in 2 weeks, this may be an interesting rubber especially after talking to teh Guy back at andro.

[speedplay]

Good to see your Honest.

Mum and Dad always taught me that Honesty is the best policy.

Now when do I get my apology. 

Hrm, how about never

Note that I claim that Hexer is a better rubber then Roxon 450, and Roxon 500 is better then both of them, but Roxon 450 is better for me due to my inabilities to get the rubbers to perform they way they are capable at.

But, for now I prefer the Roxon 450, even if it means I have to spend some time working on my serve again, cause I have got used to the Hexer and the slow speed it provided me with when serving.

[pingpongrob]

Hrm, how about never

Note that I claim that Hexer is a better rubber then Roxon 450, and Roxon 500 is better then both of them, but Roxon 450 is better for me due to my inabilities to get the rubbers to perform they way they are capable at.

My claims all along were still right

Oh, Rob, you were wrong again, you claimed the Roxon 450 was better then Hexer, which it isn't Nope, nothing subjective about that, it is purely based on facts

To me  a rubbers is better for me - not for Waldner, or MaLin. The general player, not a god. So I still deserve an apology for you claiming I was wrong again, or its a trip to the imfamous Boxing ring 

[speedplay]

Lets bring out the gloves then, shall we

To be honest, and a little bit serious as well, I don't think it is fair to judge a rubber depending on how we get along with it, I try to express my views, what I like and don't like about them, but I also try to see the potential a rubber has in the hands of other, more skilled, users. So, for me, Roxon 450 edges out Hexer, while Roxon 500 trails by a bit, but in the hands of a more skilled player, I think it would be the other way around. And no, I don't believe you have to have Waldners skill to master the Roxon 500, I think most pro players would do very well with this rubber.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Mars is one such more skilled player, and he didn't like R500 either.

[speedplay]

Trying not to offend Mars here, but from what I've seen of him play, he is quite far from being a pro and then there is the whole style thing to think of as well. Mars is a hitter, R 500 is a loopers rubber. In my mind, there is no doubt that the R 500 is a superior rubber compared to R 450, but it might also demand superior skill to use it. If I make 50 loops, then one of them might be perfect, which the R 500 rewarded a lot more then the R 450, but the remaining 49 loops, far from perfect, still became decent with the R 450 while the R 500 punished my lame efforts. Now, if I were a pro, I would expect 49 of my loops to be perfect (well, nothing is perfect, but close to perfect, you get the drift) and one of them to be not so perfect and in this case, I would pick the R 500 as it would reward me more then the R 450.

[RebornTTEvnglist]

Yep I get your drift now and you're right Mars is not a pro and wouldn't be offended about that. He is a hitter (although he will loop at times) and it is interesting that you say R500 is a loopers rubber cos so far I hadn't picked up on that. My impression had been given it was harder it would be more for hitting than looping so thanks for clearing that up in my mind.

[Tenergy]

Well I would say either of the roxons, depending on your attack - Hexer isnt bad but it dosent suit me, could suit you though.