The new-generation tension rubbers (or ‘Tenergy-type’ tension rubbers) have been gradually improved and have become the mainstream of rubbers. When ‘Tenergy 05’ and ‘Tenergy 25’ first appeared in September 2008, this kind of rubbers were called as ‘spin-oriented’ tension rubbers. However, new-generation tension rubbers have been gradually diversified and become faster and faster. And the role as ‘rubbers with excellent grip and spin performance’ is gradually being handed over to new sticky tension rubbers so called ‘Hybrid rubber’. However, the new-generation tension rubbers those are ‘non-sticky’ but are focused on grip and spin performance are also being released. For example adidas ‘P7’ released in 2013 but is currently discontinued. And, currently the representative of that kind of rubbers is andro ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ and its soft version ‘Hexer PowerGrip SFX’.

‘Hexer PowerGrip’ and ‘Hexer PowerGrip SFX’ have their origins in the ‘Rasant’ series which is the flagship (if we don’t consider new sticky flagship, ‘NUZN’ series) rubber family of andro. In 2013, andro released new top rubber family, ‘Rasant’ series which provides significantly increased speed compared to the existing new-generation tension rubbers at that time. And, ‘Rasant’ series caught the eye of players with its very unique green-colored sponge. And then, a year later, andro launched ‘Rasant Grip’ and ‘Rasant PowerGrip’ which focused on grip and spin performance unlike the previously released ‘Rasant’ series. (Whan compared with ‘Rasant Grip’, ‘Rasant PowerGrip’ has stiffer top sheet and stiffer sponge.) Afterwards, ‘Rasant Grip’ and ‘Rasant PowerGrip’ were discontinued when newly released ‘Rasanter’ series replaced ‘Rasant’ series. However, andro thought that the characteristics of ‘Rasant Grip’ and ‘Rasant PowerGrip’ are meaningful in poly-ball age, and released new rubbers whose sponges are softened from ‘Rasant Grip’ and ‘Rasant PowerGrip’ in the name of ‘Hexer’ series. (‘Hexer’ series had originally been the top rubber family of andro, but changed its position to mid-level after the release of ‘Rasant’ series.) Those new rubbers are ‘Hexer Grip’ and ‘Hexer PowerGrip’. For that reason, differently from the other models in ‘Hexer’ series, ‘Hexer Grip’ and ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ are equipped with green sponges which is the evidence of the origin of these two models. The difference from original ‘Rasant Grip’ and ‘Rasant PowerGrip’ is that the sponge densities of ‘Hexer Grip’ and ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ are lower by 2.5 degrees. And afterwards, andro added even softer versions – ‘Hexer Grip SFX’ and ‘Hexer PowerGrip SFX’ whose sponge densities are 5 degree lowered from ‘Hexer Grip’ and ‘Hexer PowerGrip’. Because of improved ease of use, ‘Hexer Grip SFX’ and ‘Hexer PowerGrip SFX’ are dealt as the rubbers for entry players, and at the same time the competitor against Butterfly ‘Rozena’. (There are significant differences between the concept of ‘Hexer Grip/PowerGrip SFX’ and that of ‘Rozena’. But, one thing in common is that those rubbers are easy to use.)

‘Hexer PowerGrip’ is the rubber that provides improved ease of use by lowering sponge density of the ‘Rasant PowerGrip’ from 50° to 47.5°. That adjustment is not only intended to make it easier to use, but also to optimize it for the new era of poly-ball. As the word ‘Power’ and ‘Grip’ expresses, it is focused on grip and spin performance, but provides higher power than ‘Hexer Grip’. ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ is the rubber for ambitious intermediate players who required the rubber which provides excellent spin performance but is easier-to-use than sticky rubbers.

andro ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ series consists of two variations – ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ which is a medium hard version with sponge density of 47.5°, and ‘Hexer PowerGrip SFX’ which is a medium soft version with sponge density of 42.5°. Two variations have identical top sheet (except for the ‘SFX’ and ITTF registration numbers at logo area), and are distinguished only by sponge density. andro is recommending ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ which is 47.5° version for intermediate players or above, and ‘Hexer PowerGrip SFX’ which is a 42.5° version for entry players.

On the backside of packaging, speed level and overall density are indicated in the form of gauge. And, the descriptions are written in four languages (English, German, Japanese and Korean).

The inside of packaging, the intense red color along with new ‘a’ logo catches the eye.

The slogan representing the intense spin performance of ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ is written on the right side of the inside of packaging.

Top sheet is opaque. And, the microstructure of the surface of top sheet is designed for grip and spin performance. The ITTF registration number of ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ is 03-044.

The color of sponge is green which is same as the color applied to ‘Rasant’ series and its successor, ‘Rasanter’ series. That is because ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ is the softened version of former ‘Rasant PowerGrip’. ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ is equipped with 47.5° sponge which is softened by 2.5° from the sponge of ‘Rasanter PowerGrip’.

The pores of the sponge are large enough to be seen with naked eye, but not extremely large.

The pimple geometry of ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ is same as those of ‘Hexer’, ‘Rasant’ and ‘Tenergy 05’. Regular sized pimples are arranged densely. This type (= ‘Tenergy 05’ type) of pimple geometry is being applied to most of top models.

The average area density of ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ is 0.245g/㎠. If it is combined with regular sized blade, its weight becomes around 49 gram if we don’t consider the weight of glue. (The weight of glue varies by how the player applies it. In general the weight of glue is 2~4 g for one side.)

Above picture shows red and black top sheets. Besides those two colors, green is currently available.

‘Hexer PowerGrip’ is the rubber aimed at intermediate or advanced amateur players rather than professional players, and it is much easier to use than sticky rubbers while providing high-level of stability in the rally by topspin thanks to high grip and strong rotation. That great balance in performance and reasonable price has led ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ to the success in the market. We may be able to think that the representative rubber of andro isn’t ‘Rasanter’ or ‘NUZN’ but ‘Hexer PowerGrip’. (As the representative rubber of Butterfly until 2008 wasn’t ‘Bryce’ but ‘Sriver’.) ‘Hexer PowerGrip’ is highly recommended for the players looking for the reasonably priced rubber which provides high performance and ease of use at the same time.


You can buy andro Hexer PowerGrip at megaspin.net. If you buy the products through following links, a part of profit is shared by TTGearLab. So it becomes a donation to TTGearLab.

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