(by Steve Hopkins)
I recently had opportunity to try Butterfly Tenergy 19,
I’ve been playing with Butterfly Tenergy and Dignics rubbers for some time. Most recently I have had Dignics 09c on my forehand and Dignics 05 on my backhand. There are some interesting differences with this rubber and I’m going to try to relay those differences here as I see them.
As a 2000-level player, my analysis and comparison of equipment has limits. I don’t have the arm speed of the pros, and I don’t rely on powerful loops or try to drive the ball through my opponent – so my review is on how this equipment works for me in a competitive setting. I’m an all-around or control player that uses precise shots to set up high-percentage points. I vary spin and speed, and my attacking shots generally occur when the other player has made a mistake or as a counter-attack using my opponent’s power against them.
Tenergy 19 has a feel that will be an easy transition for users of other Tenergy or Dignics sheets. The top sheet has a different pip configuration (more, smaller pips) and the same sponge as the Tenergy series. To the touch, it feels a little harder than Tenergy 05 and very similar to the Dignics rubbers.
I found it very easy to control and all of my normal shots landed. I could flip, and push, and block, and loop. I tried it on both sides of my regular blade and was able to compare it to the other rubbers that I have been recently using (Dignics 05 and 09C). Many of the other reviews talk about Tenergy 19 as having more spin and more speed than the other Tenergy rubbers – that was not my experience. With topspin counter rallies, I found it to have less power than my Dignics sheets and less power than Tenergy 05. I would say that the advantage Tenergy 19 had over other rubbers was that it easily countered the other player’s spin and allowed me to be very consistent with my counter loops – but that consistency was partially due to the reduced rotation and speed with my normal swing.
When applying spin to the ball on my serves, it reacted very well and the result was serves with great spin and placement. Service returns were easy to control, but I found those returns often went back with less spin than is normal for me when using the Dignics rubbers.
I did find that there was great velocity with high speed closed swings where contact was only with the top of the ball. These types of strokes – like an attacking over-the-table backhand return of serve – were effective and strong. Great dwell time on the racket with these pro style shots. Most of my shots, however, are softer loops and controlled contacts so overall I found Tenergy 19 to be a little safer than Tenergy 05. Perhaps my best description would be that it falls between Tenergy 05 and Rozena – with control and ease of use like Rozena, but with the ability to hit some bigger high-velocity shots like Tenergy 05 when needed.
For me and my arm speed, Tenergy 19 does not have the high loft and diving arc of some of the Tenergy and Dignics rubbers – but if your game is more about precisely placing balls around the table, and occasionally mixing in some high velocity swings, you won’t be disappointed.
Increase your consistency, land a variety of spins and speeds, soften some of the shots that your opponents send to you, and win the long rallies with Tenergy 19.
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