Donic BlueStar A1

Goma extremadamente rápida con mucho spin y buen control.

Esta goma es ideal para quienes prefieren un estilo de juego ofensivo. Ofrece un control excepcional, lo que permite colocar la pelota con precisión y potencia. También produce una enorme cantidad de giro, lo que dificulta que los oponentes devuelvan los golpes. En general, es una excelente opción para jugadores que buscan maximizar su potencial ofensivo.

Review of A1 Table Tennis Rubber

I highly recommend this rubber as a forehand replacement for C1. It provides a successful upgrade, resolving key issues while maintaining desirable characteristics.

The hardness of A1 is measured at 52.5 degrees, while C1 claims a 60-degree sponge. However, A1 feels slightly softer than C1 but harder than C2, making it an ideal substitute for those who find C1 too firm. Booster oil can soften C1’s sponge, but it does not address its excessive weight.

C1 is incredibly heavy at 90 grams uncut. When paired with a blade like the STIGA CyberShape Carbon (86 grams), the overall weight reaches an astonishing 195 grams.

In contrast, A1’s sticky top sheet, similar to C1/C2 and Chinese rubbers like DHS Hurricane 3, provides excellent grip and topspin capabilities. Its speed is slightly faster than C1, delivering a satisfying “crispy” feel during smashes.

In summary, A1 solves the substantial weight issue of C1 while preserving its grippy top sheet. Its slightly increased speed enhances offensive play. It is an excellent choice as a forehand rubber, particularly for those seeking an alternative to Hurricane 3.

Deep Heavy Angle:
On the backend of the table, this rubber provides excellent control for short game shots, allowing for good touch. It exhibits a notable catapult effect on powerful strokes yet maintains controllability during short pushes.

Linearity:
The rubber’s linear trajectory prevents it from diving down from the paddle, enabling high topspin strokes with a sense of security.

Recommendations:
Highly recommended for aggressive forehand topspin attacks. It offers a unique combination of properties, setting it apart from other rubbers. The player feels confident with all-out attacks on the forehand.

Comparison:
Comparable to Dignics 09c and boosted Hurricane 3, this rubber provides similar performance without the need for boosting. However, it is quite heavy.

Update (1/31/2023):
The rubber maintains its tackiness and powerful performance over time. It is predicted to gain popularity as its exceptional qualities become more widely recognized. The player considers it their current favorite forehand rubber and among their top three of all time.

Backhand Use:
On the backhand side, the initial impression suggests similarities to Hurricane Three, but with increased speed. It demands precise technique due to its hard sponge, rewarding good technique with power, spin, and kick. Incorrect contact leads to shots going long. Punches seem to perform well with this rubber.

Review Text:

This rubber is exceptionally fast, making it ideal for blocking, smashing, and hitting. However, it exhibits a peculiar behavior when looping the ball.

Despite generating significant spin, the trajectory of the ball remains remarkably straight. This characteristic may prove challenging for mid-aged amateurs and requires a skill level comparable to school team or higher to fully harness its potential.

While the throw angle is high, the ball’s trajectory lacks the desired curvature I prefer for looping, akin to Xu Xin’s technique. This straight trajectory presents difficulties in controlling the ball’s entry into the table.

While this rubber may align with modern preferences, it does not suit my personal style. Consequently, I have reverted to using Z1 Turbo, which better aligns with my desire for a more pronounced curve when looping.

Very fast rubber

The rubber is very fast, but the spin is not better than T05 (9.9 is not realistic!). The maximum red color weighs 50g. The spin and speed are excellent, and it behaves like EU rubber.

Control

The control is quite special because a flat touch leads to a slow block, but a block with a slight angle leads to a bouncy reaction. So it might take some time to adjust and benefit from such a capability observed on Presson WC89 (SZLC) with spruce as top wood.

Blade compatibility

It was too fast on this SZLC blade, too fast on TB ALC or Viscaria. I am trying to find an OFF- blade to handle this super-fast rubber. Maybe a blade with a speed of 8.5~8.7 might be better than a speed of >9.0.

Tianjin Hurricane 3 Neo National Blue Sponge

This rubber is comparable to the Hurricane 3. However, it requires more effort as it’s easy to shoot the ball out due to its speed and high throw angle. Caution is needed when blocking and countering.

Despite its grippy nature, the short game touch is not as good as the Hurricane 3 (national blue sponge, boosted). However, it still outperforms bouncy rubbers like Tenergy 05. This rubber falls between T05 and H3, resembling a Eurojap tensor designed to mimic the Chinese style of play with increased speed.

The tackiness rating in some reviews appears to be exaggerated. While the rubber is tacky, it is not enough to consistently lift the ball, though you can feel the stickiness.

Overall, this rubber is suitable for aggressive forehands, similar to the style of Ryu Seung Min.

Review:

This is an excellent rubber, offering both great speed and spin. However, it is not recommended for beginners or players with lazy strokes.

Due to its high speed and throw angle, you will need to close the bat more when driving, blocking, and counterlooping topspin. This will prevent you from setting up an easy smash or missing the table. On the other hand, looping and flicking backspin and deadballs will become easier.

I use this rubber on both my forehand and backhand. When used with proper technique, it is deadly. It provides all the speed and spin you could ever need. However, it is crucial to have solid technique to use this rubber effectively; otherwise, it can be difficult to control.

The Donic BlueStar A1 is a fantastic rubber from Donic. It is a modern hybrid rubber. The surface is slightly sticky, and the sponge is fine-pored and very dynamic.

There are a few benefits for the Bluestar rubbers if you know how to use them properly. They have a high trajectory when playing topspins. The A1 has to be played actively; it’s a good rubber for aggressive players. It is quite controlled and not so fast when playing over the table short-short or flicks. But once you start swinging, the sponge will deliver a pronounced catapult effect and a lot of speed for your strokes. You can also put a lot of spin on topspins because of the very grippy surface.

Overall it’s a premium, modern hybrid rubber and a very good choice for ambitious players! Keep in mind the hardness of 52.5°; it is a hard rubber. You need to have a well-developed technique to use the A1 to its full extent. For most non-professional players, the BlueStar A2 (or even A3) will be the better choice because they give the same advantages as the A1 but are a bit slower and a bit softer.

Rubber sheet had been mounted on one-piece Hinoki blade (8.5mm). For attacking, topspin is excellent.

Superb.

Heavy and expensive are not all cons. Surface durability is not good either. Considering its price, not recommended.

Good for forehand.

Hard feeling. Similar to Chinese rubbers. Very fast and responsive but hard to master for amateur players.

Not very fast. Good spin, but not incredible.

This is a great hybrid on par with Tibhar K3, Joola ZGR, Dignic 09c. However, its durability is not great, only lasting about 1 month before the topsheet started showing pimples.

I have been using the latest and fastest Donic rubber that has been released, and so far, this is the fastest one that I like. The rubber is strong. It doesn’t tear easily than Blue Storm series rubbers. The sponge is harder too, but it has very good control when blocking. This rubber is for advanced players. If you are looking for your ball to curve when looping, this rubber is not for you. If you are just learning to loop, this rubber is not for you.

Good.

Very good for blocking and smashing. It’s very easy to shoot the ball.

Rubber has a great catapult and excellent grip when new. It retained like-new properties until about 1-2 months in of near daily play and almost completely lost grip around 3 months. The sponge responds well to Falco Tempo but becomes mushy with a thick-ish layer applied.

I use it on my forehand. It’s great.

I bought BlueStar A1 and BlueStar A2 glued on Nittaku Latika Carbon. They are not very durable for the price that I paid. Medium arc throw, spin under Baracuda hard sponge. 50g cut.

Need fast, accelerating swing to execute loops/loop-drives.
The sponge is hard, so slow swings don’t work. Heavier than most German-made rubbers, but similar in terms of durability. Easy to “lift” underspin close to the table. Counter-looping is the best feature. Probably best for the forehand.

This is a good rubber, with enough speed and tackiness.

Using it for the forehand.