Tibhar ‘Hybrid MK’ launched in December 2022 is the new flagship of Tibhar rubber range. It is the rubber developed for and being used by Kenta Matsudaira who is one of current Japanese top players. It is one of the ‘MK’ products those have been developed after the contract between Tibhar and Kenta Matsudaira. According to Tibhar, Kenta Matsudaira’s requirement is the rubber with relatively soft sponge density that provides firm grip and high speed. The result of the development for satisfying Kenta Matsudaira’s requirement is ‘Hybrid MK’.
Although its name includes the word ‘Hybrid’, ‘Hybrid MK’ isn’t a sticky rubber but the non-sticky tension rubber of new generation that can be compared with Butterfly ‘Tenergy 05’. The reason why ‘Hybrid’ is included in the name is that Tibhar utilized the experience gained from ‘Hybrid’ series which is the family of sticky rubbers for example ‘Hybrid K3’. So, ‘Hybrid MK’ can be considered as the ‘non-sticky’ variation of ‘Hybrid’ series. Like the sticky brothers, ‘Hybrid MK’ also pursues high level of balance among spin, speed and control. And, differently from the sticky brothers like ‘Hybrid K3’, the good balance directly becomes the ease of use. Although ‘Hybrid MK’ is the top players’ rubber optimized for Kenta Matsudaira, there will be many ordinary players who feel that it is much easier to use than many existing top rubbers in the market.
Currently Kenta Matsudaira is using ‘Hybrid MK’ on the forehand side of his ‘MK Carbon’. And, the rubber on his backhand side is ‘Hybrid K3’. The combination of non-sticky rubber on the forehand side and sticky rubber on the backhand side looks very unique and interesting. Kenta Matsudaira takes the initiative of rally by variety of technics from backhand side and then keeps the initiative by powerful but stable topspin from forehand side. It is worth noting that such combination is possible. But, ‘Hybrid MK’ is also recommended as the rubber of backhand side because it provides high level of ability that enables the player to perform various backhand technics very easily. (Especially for the players who aren’t accustomed to sticky rubbers, ‘Hybrid MK’ will be more optimum solution.)
‘Hybrid MK’ is the rubber developed for the combination with ‘MK Carbon’. ‘MK’ is a new sub brand of Tibhar, and the products under ‘MK’ brand is developed by the cooperation with Kenta Matsudaira.
Differently from ‘Hybrid K3’, ‘Hybrid MK’ isn’t a sticky rubber.
All black packaging of ‘Hybrid MK’ gives high class look. ‘Hybrid MK’ is a new flagship non-sticky tension rubber in Tibhar rubber range.
‘PRO TOOLS’ mark is attached to the Tibhar products specially assigned as the equipment of top professional players.
On the backside of packaging, the characteristics of ‘Hybrid MK’ is described in five languages – Germany, French, English, Chinese and Japanese. It is described that the knowledge gained in the development of ‘Hybrid K3’ in the cooperation with Darco Jorgić, Vladimir Samsonov and Shang Kun forms as the basis of ‘Hybrid MK’, and ‘Hybrid MK’ combines everything that is defining Kenta Matsudaria’s playing – an extraordinary touch, high spin potential, long contact between ball and racket, and enough speed to put the pressure on the opponent.
The sponge hardness is 48° in German standard (= 36.5~37.5° in DHS/Butterfly standard).
The inner cover appears when the front cover of the packaging is opened. The surface of rubber is being protected by double covers.
And, also there is a protection paper on the top sheet.
The top sheet isn’t transparent, and of course there isn’t adhesiveness on the top sheet.
The ITTF registration number is 74-052. It is interesting that the small logo mark under the name ‘Hybrid MK’ indicates the center line of the rubber.
The color of sponge is cream.
The pimples of top sheet are arranged densely, and doesn’t have taper. This dense geometry looks like that being applied for many flagship rubbers those are concentrating of spin performance. However, ‘Hybrid MK’ has thicker base and lower pimples than most of rubbers with similar pimple geometry in the market. This concept is the exact opposite of thinning the base. And, probably the thick base is the key factor of the feeling and the performance of ‘Hybrid MK’. Because the base of top sheet is thick, ‘Hybrid MK’ doesn’t adapt the sponge thicker than 2.2mm.
Top sheet is available in two colors – red and black.
‘Hybrid MK’ makes very good combination with ‘MK Carbon’. But, thanks to its great balance, ‘Hybrid MK’ makes very good combinations with a variety of blades. Although ‘MK Carbon’ is new flagship rubber for top players, we will be able to deal with it as a new ‘standard’ rubber of Tibhar for everybody including ordinary players.
‘Hybrid MK’ can be recommended for both sides of ‘MK Carbon’ although Kenta Matsudaira is using ‘MK Carbon’ only on forehand side.
‘Hybrid MK’ makes very good combination also with the 7-ply wood blades such as ‘MK 7’.
Currently ‘Hybrid MK’ series is available in two sponge hardnesses – ‘Hybrid MK’ with medium sponge (48° in German standard) and ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ with hard sponge (51° in German standard). ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ was released on 1st October 2023. TTGearLab will post the pictures of ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ as another article.
The advantage of ‘Hybrid MK’ and ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ is that the ball bites into the rubber very well at the moment of impact and then rises high without falling. TTGearLab was able to confirm it through brief testing. That character makes ‘Hybrid MK’ and ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ very easy to use, and become the rubbers not only for top layers but also for everybody.
TTGearLab will test ‘Hybrid MK’ and ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ together with ‘MK’ series blades and will post the test report. Also, ‘Hybrid MK’ & ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ will be used for testing with blades from various brands.
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TTGearLab 
Love this rubber and use it on both FH and BH. It doesn’t have that much catapult effect as Evolution and Rasanter for example. It’s true that you have to work a little more and some might say these rubbers are not fast enough. These rubbers offer great level of control and offer decent level of speed. If your gameplay is based on topspin and winning the point by being consistent and ball placement, the MK is for you.
I haven’t tried to MK Pro yet.
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Thank you for comment! It is very helpful information for players who haven’t used this rubber yet.
Probably the characteristics of this rubber (including both of pros and cons) are because of its thick base of top sheet. It will make the feeling of top sheet harder, and the catapult effect lower that other recent rubbers. Especially in case it is compared with Rasanter series whose base us even thinner. But, at the same time it makes the high consistency and high precision of this rubber. 🙂
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Your explanation of the hard feeling related to the top sheet reminds me of the Xiom Omega V Europe. Do you know it?
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No. I haven’t checked Omega V Europe yet.
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Hello,
Please could you compare the Tibhar Hybrid MK with a classic rubber like the Rakza 7 (speed, dynamism, spin, control and ease of use) ?
For the backhand, does the Tibhar Hybrid MK favour topspin and counter-topspin play ?
Is the Rakza 7 better for blocking and varying rhythm ?
Thanks.
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Both of Rakza 7 and Hybrid MK are developed to be the replacement of Tenergy 05. For that reason, the concepts of two models are very similar to each other. Although Hybrid MK is a much newer model, the performance setting of Hybrid MK is quite conservative. Its speed is not as high as that of Evolution series because it should be as ‘slow’ as Tenergy 05.
The main difference between Hybrid MK and Rakza 7 is in the hitting feeling. Hybrid MK is closer to that of Tenergy 05.
Both of Hybrid MK and Rakza 7 are very good for topspin and counter topspin, even at backhand side. Block from those two are very precise, but counter topspin will be more effective than block. If you need the speed of block, Rakza 9 will be better choice. The block by Rakza 9 will be less precise than that by Rakza 7. But, it will be faster and safer.
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Jeremy, what’d be your usatt rating ? mean, your opinions are interesting, but are they “lab” ones or “player” ones ?
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(I’m not living in USA. :-))
Basically all the opinions are based on data measured in lab.
However, the system that represents the measured data started from the numerization of evaluation by players. I have had many data of evaluation by playing, including my own ones. And, I wanted to connect those data to measured data. That was the start point of TTGearLab – explanation of actual phenomenon by measured data.
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