Nittaku Express

Nittaku Express – is an offensive short pips-out table tennis rubber, made by the Japanese manufacturer Nittaku, designed for aggressive attacking players (OFF), especially those who use many drive strokes, as well as beginners looking for control and speed. With a sticky topsheet, medium-hard sponge (~42.5°, Medium), and elastic structure, Express offers high speed, good spin, and excellent control, ensuring easy ball separation. Approved by ITTF and JTTA, made in Japan, it is a great choice for drive-oriented play.

Main features:

• Rubber type: Short Pips-Out

• Speed: 8.5/10

• Spin: 7.0/10

• Control: 7.5/10

• High tension: No

• Stickiness: Sticky

• Strategy: OFF

• Surface: Short, sticky pips

• Sponge hardness: Medium (~42.5°, Medium)

• Sponge thickness: 1.8 mm, 2.0 mm, Max

• Colors: Red, black

• Country of origin: Japan

• Approvals: ITTF, JTTA approved

Nittaku Express features a short pips construction optimized for offense:

• Sponge (medium hardness): Medium-hard sponge (~42.5°, Medium), with fine pores, elastic, similar to Yasaka Mark V XS (~40°, Medium) or Butterfly Raystorm (~40°, Medium). The sponge provides a strong catapult effect, facilitating fast drive strokes and smashes while maintaining control. Sponge thickness: not precisely specified, but short pips-out rubbers are usually offered in 1.8 mm, 2.0 mm, or Max thickness, suitable for OFF players.

• Top sheet: Sticky short pips-out topsheet, with wider horizontal pips ensuring good spin and control compared to other short pips rubbers like TSP Spectol or Donic Desto F3. The stickiness allows for spinny drive strokes and light topspin shots but is less than inverted rubbers, e.g., Nittaku Fastarc G-1. Durability: ~100–150 hours, regular cleaning is necessary to maintain stickiness.

• Short pips technology: The sticky topsheet and elastic sponge allow high speed and spin while maintaining short pips characteristics – fast ball separation and low trajectory. The rubber is focused on drive strokes, smashes, and blocking, with a light spin effect, suitable for beginners and advanced players.

• Low trajectory: Express generates a low, straight trajectory ideal for fast drive shots, smashes, and short blocks at the table. The arc is lower than inverted rubbers, e.g., Donic Acuda S2, but higher than classic short pips, e.g., TSP Spectol.

• Spin sensitivity: Moderately sensitive to opponent’s spin due to the sticky topsheet, making it easy to block topspin shots but requiring technique to return spinny serves.

The rubber weighs ~40–45 g (2.0 mm, cut), similar in weight to Yasaka Mark V XS (~40–45 g), lighter than Nittaku Fastarc G-1 (~50–55 g). Offered in red and black colors, in accordance with ITTF rules. Water-based glue (e.g., Nittaku Fine Glue) and protective film are recommended.

Nittaku Express technical specifications:

• Speed: 8.5/10 (high). The rubber is fast, suitable for drive strokes, smashes, and blocking, faster than Nittaku DO Knuckle (7.5/10), but slower than TSP Spectol Speed (~90/100). Some sources: 8+/10.

• Spin: 7.0/10 (medium). Allows for spin generation in drive and light topspin shots, spin is higher than Nittaku Best Anti (39/100), but lower than Nittaku DO Knuckle Long-1 (78/100). Some sources: 7/10.

• Control: 7.5/10 (high). High control in drive strokes and blocking, suitable for beginners and advanced players. Control is similar to Yasaka Mark V XS (~75/100), but lower than Nittaku DO Knuckle (90/100). Some sources: 8-/10.

• Sponge hardness: ~42.5° (Medium), similar to Nittaku Super DO Knuckle (~42.5°).

Trajectory: Low, straight flight path, suitable for fast drive strokes and blocking at the table. Users praise the “speed,” “control,” and “easy ball separation,” but note that spin is limited and spin shots require practice.

• Nittaku Super DO Knuckle: Speed (73/100), Spin (59/100), Control (90/100). Super DO Knuckle is slower, with medium-length pips, lower spin but higher control, suitable for ALL/OFF players.

• Yasaka Mark V XS: Speed (~80), Spin (~75), Control (~75). Mark V XS is similarly fast, with short pips, slightly higher spin, suitable for OFF players.

• TSP Spectol: Speed (~85), Spin (~60), Control (~80). Spectol is faster, with less spin but similar control, suitable for OFF+ players.

• Butterfly Raystorm: Speed (~80), Spin (~70), Control (~75). Raystorm has similar speed and spin, with short pips, suitable for OFF players.

Express stands out for its speed, spin, and control, suitable for drive-oriented offense.

Nittaku Express is suitable for offensive blades:

• Nittaku Acoustic: Maximizes control, suitable for OFF- players.

• Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive: Provides speed, suitable for OFF players.

• Butterfly Korbel: Harmonizes spin, suitable for OFF- players.

• Tibhar Samsonov Force Pro: Balances speed, suitable for OFF players.

• Nittaku Septear: Emphasizes drive strokes, suitable for OFF- players.

The rubber pairs best with OFF, OFF- blades as the sponge utilizes the blade’s elasticity. Suitable for forehand or backhand, especially for beginners learning drive technique.

Nittaku Express is designed for players seeking speed and control:

• For attacking players (OFF), especially beginners and advanced players performing drive strokes.

• For drive-oriented play, suitable for forehand or backhand, especially for drive strokes, smashes, and blocking.

• For play at the table and mid-distance: effective for fast drive strokes, short blocks, and smashes.

• Serve return: Sticky topsheet enables control over spinny serves but requires technique.

• Blocking: High control, suitable for fast, short blocks.

• Drive strokes: Maximum speed and spin, easy ball separation.

The rubber is effective in drive strokes (9.0/10), blocking (8.8/10), smashes (8.7/10), serve return (8.5/10). In topspin shots (8.0/10) and serves (7.8/10), it is limited by spin. Users emphasize “speed,” “control,” and “ease.”

• Speed (8.5/10), high, suitable for drive shots, smashes

• Spin (7.0/10), medium, effective in drive strokes

• Control (7.5/10), high, suitable for beginners

• Topsheet: Sticky, short pips, good ball separation

• Sponge: Medium hardness (~42.5°), strong catapult effect

• Dynamics: Easy ball separation, suitable for drive strokes

• Durability: ~100–150 hours with care

• Affordable price: Competitive for short pips rubbers

• Spin: Limited, not suitable for strong topspin strokes

• Technical requirement: Spin shots require practice

• Spin sensitivity: Moderate, more difficult serve returns

• Durability: Stickiness decreases after ~2–3 months