‘Rakza 7’ is a new generation tension rubber released by Yasaka in March 2010. After Butterfly ‘Tenergy’ series shocked the table tennis market in the second half of 2008, German tension rubbers made with the same concept as ‘Tenergy’ series were released from late 2009 to early 2010. ‘Rakza 7’ is one of those rubbers. ‘Rakza 7’ is also the successor of ‘Mark V’ which had been the representative rubber of Yasaka during 1969 ~ 2009. As the ‘Mark V’ have been the rival of Butterfly ‘Sriver’, ‘Rakza 7’ is also a product planned as a rival to Butterfly ‘Tenergy 05’ which is the true successor of ‘Sriver’. Yasaka called the new generation (or ‘Tenergy’ type) tension rubber as ‘Hybrid Energy Rubber’, and all of ‘Rakza’ series products classified as Hybrid Energy Rubber in Yasaka rubber range. (There is one thing to note here. Recently, the sticky tension rubbers of new generation which provide higher speed than traditional sticky rubber by reducing the adhesiveness of top sheet are called as ‘Hybrid’ sticky rubbers or simply ‘Hybrid’ rubbers. Although the same word ‘Hybrid’ is included in the that name, the meaning of that ‘Hybrid Rubber’ is totally different from the meaning of Yasaka ‘Hybrid Energy Rubber’. All models in ‘Rakza’ series are ‘Hybrid Energy Rubber’s, and one model in the series – ‘Rakza Z’ – is also a ‘Hybrid Sticky Rubber’.) ‘Rakza 7’ is the rubber that focuses on spin performance among ‘Rakza’ series, and can still be considered as Yasaka’s standard rubber even 14 years after its release. After the release of ‘Rakza 7’, Yasaka added its soft version – ‘Rakza 7 soft’. ‘Rakza 7 soft’ is Yasaka’s standard tension rubber that is recommended for the players who prefer spin to speed but at the same time like soft feeling and sharp sound.

‘Rakza 7’ is the new generation tension rubber, and is the rubber especially focuses on spin performance. Just as Yasaka ‘Mark V’ was the competitor to Butterfly ‘Sriver’ in the past, ‘Rakza 7’ is the rubber made in response to Butterfly ‘Tenergy 05’. The top sheet of ‘Rakza 7’ have cylinder-shaped pimples those are arranged densely. The sponge density is average 47.5 degree in German standard (= around 36 degree in Butterfly standard). ‘Rakza 7’ can be considered as the standard model of Yasaka rubber range.

‘Rakza 7 soft’ is the soft version which is for the players who like the concept of ‘Rakza 7’ but prefer much softer feeling. The spong density is average 40.0 degree in German standard (30~31 degree in Butterfly standard). ‘Rakza 7 soft’ is softer than Butterfly ‘Tenergy 05-FX’ whose sponge density is around 32 degree in Butterfly standard (= around 42 degree in German standard).

Yasaka named the new generation (= ‘Tenergy’ type) tension rubber ‘Hybrid Energy Rubber’ in 2010, and calls all rubbers in ‘Rakza’ series ‘Hybrid Tension Rubber’s. ‘Hybrid Energy Rubber’ is doesn’t mean sticky tension rubber of new concept which is called as ‘Hybrid Sticky rubber’ or simply as ‘Hybrid rubber’. Although the same word ‘hybrid’ is used, those two expressions have totally different meaning from each other. So please be careful not to get confused. (By the way, in ‘Rakza’ series, ‘Rakza Z’ is both ‘Hybrid Energy Rubber’ and ‘Hybrid Sticky rubber’.)

Yasaka Rubber’s top sheets are generally simple in design. The Yasaka logo is displayed in the center of the logo area at the bottom of the rubber, the product name is displayed on the left, and the ITTF registration number is displayed on the right.

The sponge color of ‘Rakza’ series is cream (= undyed color). As a new generation tension rubber, it adapts the sponge with large pores. But, compared with the sponges of recently released rubbers, the pores of the sponge of ‘Rakza 7’ is relatively small.

The structure of the top sheet is made up of densely arranged cylindrical pimples. This pimple geometry is standard for the rubbers focusing on spin performance which were released during 2008~2010 – the early days of new generation tension rubbers. Butterfly ‘Tenergy 05’ which is the main target of ‘Rakza 7’ also has this pimple geometry.

The top sheets of ‘Rakza 7’ and ‘Rakza 7 soft’ are basically identical to each other except for the design of logo area. The difference in the ITTF registration numbers. The number of ‘Rakza 7’ is 83-007 while that of ‘Rakza 7 soft’ is 83-009.

Since the release of ‘Rakza 7’, Yasaka has added various models to the ‘Rakza’ series. Currently there are 8 models of pimple in rubbers the ‘Rakza’ series. (If pimple out rubber is included, there are 10 models.) The characteristics of each model can be summarized as follows:

  • Rakza 7 : Standard model which focuses on spin performance. Sponge density is avg. 47.5°.
  • Rakza 7 soft : The soft version of ‘Rakza 7’. Sponge density is avg. 40.0°.
  • Rakza 9 : More biased to speed when compared with ‘Rakza 7’. Sponge density is avg. 42.5 °.
  • Rakza X : More controllable model which focuses on the ability of gripping ball. Sponge density is avg. 47.5 °.
  • Rakza X soft : The soft version of ‘Rakza X’. Sponge density is avg. 42.5°.
  • Rakza Z : Sticky tension rubber which provides higher spin performance than ‘Rakza 7’. Sponge density is avg. 50.0°.
  • Rakza Z Extra Hard : Harder version of ‘Rakza Z’. Sponge density is avg. 55°.
  • Rakza XX : Current top model of which is the power version of ‘Rakza X’. Sponge density is avg. 50°.

7, 9 and X are the products focus on spin, speed and control respectively. Z is sticky version which provides even higher spin performance than 7. And, XX is the most advanced version for current professional players.

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