Xiom Vega Euro DF

I have been using this backhand rubber for two years, and I still periodically revisit it. As a backhand-dominant player, I have some interesting observations.

It’s an unusual rubber; in some aspects, it’s forgiving, but its extreme softness causes it to be bouncy even with light touches. Consequently, it requires some time and effort to tame. The softness also makes it prone to bottoming out on harder shots. Xiom rates it at 37.5 degrees, but I find it noticeably softer than Tenergy 05FX (36°) and Spinlord Marder (35°), roughly on par with TSP Ventus Soft, which is one of the softest rubbers available.

Due to its softness, this rubber has few gears. Although the spin is decent, it is by no means comparable to other soft tensors. In short, it’s a good backhand rubber for loopers and blockers, and it chops quite well once tamed, especially with the 1.8mm sponge.

One final point worth considering is that it performs poorly in hot and humid conditions, as noted by another reviewer. I would recommend this rubber for beginners and anyone looking for a controlled backhand. It is also suitable for inverted choppers using all-around or defensive blades who occasionally want a more dynamic backhand alongside heavy cuts.

This is a classic soft rubber known for its excellent spin capabilities. When hitting softly, the ball travels quickly. However, when hitting hard, the ball tends to move at a slower pace.

I tried the 2.0mm thickness on both my forehand (FH) and backhand (BH) sides. The rubber weighs only 38 grams when cut, making it quite lightweight.

It’s extremely easy to play with and has a low catapult effect. Lifting underspin is effortless! The rubber offers a perfect balance of speed, spin, and control. This is my first experience with an ESN Tensor, and I had no issues adjusting to it.

However, there is a notable downside: the durability is very poor. After only three hours of play, the topsheet already lost its grip. Due to this issue, I would not purchase it again.

Soft rubber with a hardness of 37.5 degrees, this rubber is excellent for blocking and offers good control. It performs well when lifting low balls from a mid-distance, providing a satisfying speed glue sound. With the right technique, it can achieve impressive speed.

In terms of the short game, it is not too bouncy, but it is very spinny. It can be challenging to return slow loops due to its high spin potential. I have been using it on my backhand for three months, and I find it particularly effective for opening with backspin balls. I feel very confident executing this with the VE DF.

In my country, it costs 30 euros, which I believe is a good value for money.

In my experience, the rubber performs well on blades with hard outer layers, such as the Yasaka G5 and Stiga Emerald V. However, it feels softer and less powerful when used on the Yasaka YES. I have the rubber in a thickness of 2.0 mm.

The VE-DF plays somewhat like a cross between Rakza 7 Soft and Rasanter R37. However, I would prefer R37 if I were looking for a soft rubber. The VE-DF is indeed soft, as mentioned by other users, and it offers good control for basic shots.

It features the typical Tensor ‘ping’ and has more speed than others have attributed to it. However, it is certainly not as fast as the regular XVE, which is rated at 8.9. I would say the speed is very similar to Rakza 7 Soft, which is rated around 8.6, while the throw angle resembles that of Rasanter R37. My scores of ‘10’ were primarily intended to raise the averages from 8.3 to 8.5, which I believe is a more accurate representation compared to other soft rubbers I have used.

The VE-DF is good for developing basic shots, but it may lack the ‘gears’ for players with a more advanced game. The rubber has a high-quality, grippy topsheet, meaning it should be no less durable than standard XVE. I generally agree with the speed, spin, and control ratings provided by the user ‘tipoman’.

I fully agree with McCustom. The rubber is extremely soft and bouncy, even with the lightest touch, including on the backhand with a Yasaka Sweden Classic ALL blade.

Like most tensor rubbers, chopping is challenging due to the very limited margin for error. However, unlike many tensors, even a medium-force loop will cause it to bottom out. Hard loop attacks produce such a cracking sound that I started to worry about damaging the outer wood layer of my blade!

Ultimately, you have little control over the short game and lack both speed and spin in power plays. It is only effective for slow opening topspins or flicks, which can be tricky, but at least you can take advantage of the grippiness of the topsheet.

[Update] December 2017: The above impressions were formed while playing in relatively warm conditions—around 25 degrees Celsius. Now, it is colder in the court where I play (10-15 degrees), and the rubber feels significantly harder! I prefer it in colder conditions; it no longer bottoms out during loop exchanges and only does so when attacking. The bounciness has also been reduced, allowing me to truly enjoy the grippy topsheet while chopping. It’s clearly a winter type of rubber!

The rubber has never reached the described hardness of 42.5°. A more realistic measurement would be around 37-38°.

It may be too soft for harder topspin strokes. However, countering feels good.

Vega Europe DF is extremely grippy. The DF technology creates a significant amount of spin while remaining non-tacky, which means it doesn’t react heavily to incoming spin.

This rubber is very soft and bouncy, requiring a delicate touch, especially for mid-table pushing, as opposed to short-short play. The speed does not increase significantly for harder strokes, but it excels in close-to-the-table attacking due to its bounciness.

Topspins, or open-ups, can produce a lot of spin and tend to be slow when executed with a brushing motion. The pip structure, which consists of long, thin, and sparsely arranged pips, contributes to a less direct and predictable trajectory for shots. Additionally, the dwell time feels short because the rubber ‘repels’ the ball before it can fully grip it, particularly on slower or more passive shots; therefore, control can be a challenge.

When strokes are executed correctly, they create a loud click, with good dwell time from mid-distance if the ball is taken late. However, any shots where speed is prioritized over spin are likely to bottom out, unless they are close-to-the-table drives.

The quality of services is average; the grip is sufficient but not exceptional, while flicks are very controlled. Remarkably, the grip remains excellent even after about 50 hours of play. I would say this rubber is effective at teaching good technique, provided the user is willing to learn.

Enjoy your table tennis!

First things first: the Vega Euro DF is a really soft rubber. The feeling is around 35°, making it by far the softest rubber I’ve used since I stopped playing with Desto F3 several years ago. Currently, I mostly use harder rubbers like Vega Pro, Omega Pro, and Genesis M.

I have been using the Vega Euro DF on my RPB backhand for four months, and it is a very good rubber if you prefer soft sponge and springy options with a “speed-glue” feeling. However, if you frequently play strong topspins or flat hits and blocks, you may find this rubber too soft, which could lead to difficulties in control. The sponge bottoms out quite quickly when you execute strong shots. As I mentioned, I use this rubber for spinny topspins in my penhold RPB backhand, and it is well-suited for that style of play.

While it is certainly not the most spinny rubber available, the topsheet is very grippy, ensuring you won’t encounter any surprises when trying to lift a ball. Although I find it a bit too soft for my liking, if you don’t mind this characteristic, you might enjoy this rubber very much.

The rubber is notable for its soft sponge and surface. I used the 2.00mm black version with the DHS PG7 as my forehand. While it excels in producing spin, it falls short in terms of speed when needed. This rubber is particularly suitable for players looking to improve their techniques after transitioning to their first custom table tennis racket.

If you’re an advanced player, this is the best rubber for your backhand. Works great on Hinoki and Koto outers. On the heavy side so consider a lighter blade.

Better than the regular Xiom Vega Europe that is not a DF version.

Very good rubber for attack and defense, deals with all shots, and has good dwell. Just a great rubber for all levels.

Vega Euro DF has been my go-to rubber ever since they added the “DF” formula. I use it on my all-wood Xiom Extreme S, and I can hit the corners of the table consistently all day long. This rubber is quite soft, so it may not be suitable for everyone, and it felt too soft for me to play on my carbon/Hinoki racket. Overall, it’s a fantastic all-around rubber that lasts a long time.

It is easier to control the arc.

Only for beginners. Super slow, even on fast blades.

Very good rubber for defense.

I am surprised at the performance of this rubber. It is so amazing. The spin and control are great. As a defensive player, this rubber is superb. Thanks to tabletennis11 for the quick delivery.

Xiom rubber is dependable, long-lasting, and versatile.

I now use this rubber (2 mm) on the two sides of an ALC blade: AMAZING! Very spinny, great control, and very good speed! What else? Thank you TableTennis 11!

Excellent soft rubber with great control and spin. In terms of speed, it is similar to the classical Sriver, but with better control and much better spin. The throw angle is rather low. My colleague uses it on the backhand of the Andro CS 5 All+ blade. Out of all the paddles I’ve tried, this combination provided the best control. Of course, for a high-level attacking player, this rubber would be too slow.

Первый раз столкнулся с такого рода накладкой. Поиграв пару недель более менее привык, до этого играл Андро тензорами. Задержка мяча на накладке весьма большая из-за этого контрольность очень большая. Сцепление с мячом специфичное - буквы DF в названии неспроста, тонко зацепить мяч не удаётся, мяч сваливается, при более плотной игре классической техникой вращение сильное.

Es una goma de harto control, blandito, con nula pegajosidad, con efecto de nivel medio. No es tan buena como un Rakza o un Tibhar Evolution MX-P en relación a su efecto, genera un excelente top spin y excelente backspin.

What a rubber for looping and making topspin. Really good for those who love playing in high-rotation strokes mode.

Overall, both rubbers have great spin capabilities, speed, and control. However, the Tibhar Evolution MX-P is slightly faster than the Butterfly Tenergy 05. The Tibhar rubber also has superior durability, lasting longer compared to the Butterfly rubber. In terms of spin, both rubbers perform exceptionally well and provide a good feel on contact with the ball. The Butterfly Tenergy 05 has a softer sponge, which gives a better feel during play, while the Tibhar Evolution MX-P has a slightly harder sponge. For players who prefer a more aggressive style, the Tibhar rubber would be the better choice due to its speed and durability. Overall, both rubbers are high-quality options for advanced players looking to improve their game.

This rubber is very good. The catapult effect is present, not too spinny but a little heavy. But overall, it is a good soft rubber.

Dobra guma, pogotovo za moj defanzivan stil. Dobra za blokiranje.

Great for backhand. Very light weight, high throw, high spin, high control.

Personally, as someone who favors backhand far more than forehand, this rubber has done it for me. It has very nice control, and there is quite a bit of spin generated using this rubber. It is a bit better for defensive players who chop with their backhand, but it is also quite good for offense, and with the correct form, you can easily use this rubber as an offensive backhand rubber.

In general, it is quite a good backhand rubber for intermediate players that need something that has a bit more control as they better themselves at the game, learning their playstyle (like myself).

I would recommend it if you’re a more defensive backhand player, though I would say that the rubber is equally as good at defensive backhand as it is at offensive backhand.

LOVE this rubber, has been my mainstay for the last couple of years on my all-wood Xiom Extreme S. Good bite for spin, but not killer, and just fast enough to be competitive. But where it shines is that I can just paint the corners with it. Blocking is predictable, just a little tip to kill spin or turn a block into a shot.

Switched to this from Butterfly 64-FX and am very happy I did. I put it on Xiom’s OFF- blade, the Feel HX, and this combo works well. I’m a 1570 player, about 5 years in, and was finally realizing that the equipment I was choosing was just too fast for me to really develop good feel, where I was really letting the ball sink into the top sheet before whipping through the shot. I have now been using this combo for 6 months and will stick with it.

The Xiom Vega Euro DF is a high-spin, high-control, medium-speed rubber. I use it as a BH rubber on an ALL+ / OFF- blade and, with good technique, am able to play all the shots I want. Slow loops, good serves, very controlled blocks, accurate BH flicks/smashes, etc. You probably won’t be able to get a real power-loop out of this on your BH, but what you’ll gain in accuracy and spin more than makes up for the lack of top-end speed.

Used this rubber on my FH on a Victas Yuto Muramatsu Blade. Performs okay on defense and offense is much better. I guess on another blade it’ll improve, and of course, more practice using this rubber is highly recommended.

I play with Vega Europe on an all-around blade and Vega Pro on an offensive blade. The Vega Euro DF is a faster, spinnier version of the Vega Europe. I love it. I play it on a stiffer 7-ply blade and it’s perfect for European-style looping, hitting, and mid-distance looping play as well as close-to-table. I would recommend this if you are already playing with a Vega Europe rubber sheet.

GREAT RUBBER WITH A LOT OF CONTROL ON BH.

Soft rubber good for the backhand, control ok, spin ok, medium speed, for intermediate users. In FH it is slow to attack. I used it with Xiom ZX3 wood.

I love this rubber because it fits completely my style. I like to attack and defend, cut and smash. I can do everything with it! The only downside is that the spin is not the best, but if your stroke is good then you’ll control the monster!

I did not find any differences between Vega Euro and Vega Pro DF. In general, it has been significantly changed over the past 2 years, it has become 8 grams lighter. Softer, slower, less grippy and at the same time lost control. Why did they have to ruin a good, inexpensive, and popular rubber?

It was stuck on my Stiga Infinity VPS V backhand. Too soft (2.1mm) but perfect grip while looping and speedy as well.