Tibhar ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ launched on 1st October 2023 is the harder version of Tibhar’s current flagship rubber – ‘Hybrid MK’ which is the foreside rubber of Kenta Matsudaira. ‘Hybrid MK’ is a new flagship ‘non-sticky’ tension rubber whose main advantage is that the ball bites into the rubber very well at the moment of impact and then rises high without falling. That makes ‘Hybrid MK’ the rubber not only for top layers but also for everybody. But, ‘Hybrid MK’ has been available only in one sponge density, and there have also been the players who require the variation that gives harder feeling while keeping the main advantages of ‘Hybrid MK’. That is the reason why Tibhar developed ‘Hybrid MK Pro’.

The sponge density of ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ is 51° (in German standard) while the sponge density of original ‘Hybrid MK’ is 48°. It keeps the great balance of ‘Hybrid MK’, and provides higher performance that is required by power players.

According to Kenta Matsudaira who has cooperated with Tibhar during the development of ‘Hybrid MK Pro’, it gives higher performance of spin and speed, but the player will not feel ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ as hard as the sponge density indicates because the ball bites into the rubber very well. Also, the character that the ball moves upward without falling has been further improved. ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ is recommended for the players who require higher power of topspin and counter topspin.

The rubber of Kenta Matsudaira is now available in two variations – ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ with 51° sponge and ‘Hybrid MK’ with 48° sponge.

‘Hybrid MK Pro’ is a non-sticky tension rubber. It is one of the most advanced new-generation tension rubbers.

The theme color of new ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ is purple. Purple color is being applied for packaging and sponge. Like the black packaging of ‘Hybrid MK’, the purple packaging of ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ gives high class look that fits for the flagship rubber.

On the backside of packaging, the characteristics of ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ is described in five languages – Germany, French, English, Chinese and Japanese. It is described that ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ provides enhanced power while maintaining the advantages of ‘Hybrid MK’.

The sponge hardness is 51° in German standard (= 38.5~39.5° in DHS/Butterfly standard).

According to the ratings on the packaging of two versions, ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ can make faster ball than ‘Hybrid MK’, but the loss of control due to enhanced power isn’t significant. And, two versions can make same amount of rotation.

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. The top sheet of ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ identical to that of ‘Hybrid MK’.

The color of sponge is purple, differently from the cream color of its medium sponge version. So we can easily distinguish between those two versions even when two version are attached to the blade. Purple is the theme color of ‘Hybrid MK Pro’.

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’, and ‘Hybrid MK Pro’. Because the base of top sheet is thick, ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ doesn’t adapt the sponge thicker than 2.2mm.

Top sheet is available in two colors – red and black.

‘Hybrid MK Pro’ makes very good combination with ‘MK Carbon’. Although what is actually used by Kenta Matsudaira is its medium sponge version – ‘Hybrid MK’, he has tested ‘Hybrid MK Pro’ intensively during the process of its development.

‘Hybrid MK Pro’ makes very good combination also with ‘MK 7’ which is a 7-ply blade of traditional thick construction. And, the inner-fiber blades such as ‘Libra’, ‘Shang Kun Hybrid AC’ and Butterfly ‘InnerForce Layer ALC’ are recommended for the combination with ‘Hybrid MK Pro’.

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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