XIOM Omega V Pro is a top-tier table tennis rubber designed for professional and advanced players seeking a balanced combination of speed, spin, and control, specifically tailored for play with plastic balls. Part of the renowned Omega V series, this rubber stands out with its advanced technologies and is oriented toward a versatile, attacking playing style, suitable for both forehand and backhand sides. Below is a comprehensive description covering the rubber’s characteristics, technologies, playing properties, and recommendations.
Key Characteristics
Manufacturer: XIOM
Series: Omega V
Hardness: Medium-hard (~47.5° on the ESN European scale)
Speed: 85
Spin: 85
Control: 95
Durability: 80
Throw Angle: Medium-high (5.4/10)
Tackiness: Slightly tacky (2.7/10)
Weight: Medium-heavy (~48 g when cut to a 157x150 mm blade)
Technologies: Dynamic Friction Technology (DF), Carbo Sponge, Hyper Elasto, Tensor
ITTF Approval: Yes, suitable for official competitions
Technologies
XIOM Omega V Pro incorporates several advanced technologies to ensure high performance across various aspects of play:
Dynamic Friction Technology (DF):
Developed for plastic balls, which are slicker than celluloid balls used before 2014, DF technology, inspired by snow tire physics, enhances the topsheet’s grip with the ball, ensuring firm contact. This allows for strong spin generation and precise shots, particularly during topspin and aggressive strokes.
Carbo Sponge:
The black sponge with smaller pores compared to Omega V Asia provides a balanced catapult effect. Slightly softer than Omega V Asia (~47.5° vs. 47–48°), it still delivers sufficient speed and elasticity, enabling powerful shots with good control.
Hyper Elasto:
The topsheet is crafted using Hyper Elasto technology, which imparts internal tension to enhance spin and stability. This technology ensures a quick response and efficient energy transfer, especially for complex shots like counter-looping.
Tensor Technology:
Omega V Pro features Tensor technology, which increases the rubber’s elasticity and catapult effect compared to other Omega V series rubbers. This facilitates easier generation of speed and spin, particularly at higher impact speeds, making it suitable for professional players.
Slightly Tacky Surface:
The rubber’s surface is slightly tacky (2.7/10), closer to European rubbers like Butterfly Tenergy 05 or Tibhar Evolution MX-P than sticky Chinese rubbers like DHS Hurricane. This ensures excellent grip with the ball, facilitating spin and control while remaining easy to handle.
Playing Characteristics
Omega V Pro is designed for players seeking a versatile rubber suitable for aggressive play close to the table or at mid-distance, with an emphasis on spin and control. Here’s how it performs in various aspects of play:
Speed:
With a speed rating of 85, Omega V Pro is slightly slower than Omega V Asia (96/100) or Omega V Tour (91) but still fast enough for powerful topspins and flat hits. Its speed is more dependent on the player’s stroke force (“manual rubber”), making it ideal for players with strong technique.
Spin:
The spin rating of 85 indicates strong spin generation, particularly for topspins and loops. Its slightly tacky surface and medium-high throw angle (5.4/10) create a pronounced trajectory, ensuring safe and spinny shots, especially against backspin. The spin is comparable to Butterfly Tenergy 05 but slightly less than sticky Chinese rubbers.
Control:
With a control rating of 95/100, the highest in the Omega V series, this rubber is highly forgiving and suitable for various playing styles. It excels in short game, service returns, and blocking, allowing precise ball trajectory control even with imperfect technique. The rubber is less sensitive to opponent spin, facilitating passive play.
Blocking:
Omega V Pro is excellent for blocking, particularly on the backhand side. Its direct feel and balanced catapult effect ensure accurate ball placement, even against strong opponent shots. The medium-high throw angle makes it easy to block topspins while keeping the ball on the table.
Serves and Short Game:
Due to its slightly tacky surface and high control, the rubber is ideal for serves and short game. It allows precise spin variation on serves and effective returns, especially against sidespin serves. Short pushes remain low and controlled, and the rubber facilitates easy “drop shots” over the net.
Distance from Table:
Omega V Pro performs best close to the table or at mid-distance (1–2 m). Its catapult effect and high throw angle ensure consistent loops from these positions, but it may be less effective for defensive play or lobbing from further distances.
Comparison with Other Rubbers
Comparison with Omega V Asia:
Omega V Asia is harder (47–48°) and faster (96), designed for aggressive players prioritizing speed and power. Omega V Pro is softer (~47.5°) and more control-oriented (95 vs. 88), making it suitable for players seeking balanced performance.
Comparison with Omega V Tour:
Omega V Tour has similar hardness (~46°) but is faster (91) and more spin-focused (94/100). Omega V Pro offers higher control (95 vs. 93) and a stronger catapult effect, making it better for versatile players, especially on the backhand side.
Comparison with Butterfly Tenergy:
Omega V Pro is often compared to Tenergy 05 for its spin and control characteristics. It is slower and less springy than Tenergy 05 but offers similar spin and better control, especially at a lower price. Compared to Tenergy 05 FX, Omega V Pro is faster and harder.
Comparison with Chinese Rubbers:
Unlike sticky Chinese rubbers (e.g., DHS Hurricane), Omega V Pro is easier to handle, requires less physical effort, and offers a balanced combination of speed, spin, and control, closer to European rubbers.
Recommended Player Type
Omega V Pro is ideal for players who:
Play versatilely, combining aggressive topspins with controlled short game and blocking.
Have strong technique and seek a rubber offering high control without sacrificing power.
Desire a rubber suitable for plastic balls, ensuring reliability in both offensive and passive play.
Use the rubber on the backhand side, though it also suits the forehand for players seeking more control.
It is recommended to pair with OFF- to OFF blades, particularly those with harder outer plies or composite materials, such as Xiom Vega Pro or Donic Persson Power Carbon, to maximize the rubber’s potential.
Advantages
High control (95), ideal for versatile players.
Excellent balance of spin and speed (85/85).
Outstanding performance in blocking and short game.
Suitable for plastic balls due to DF technology.
Good durability (80) and forgiving for technical errors.
Maintenance
Cleaning: Clean the rubber after each session with a dedicated XIOM cleaner or distilled water to remove dirt and maintain grip.
Storage: Store the racket in a protective case, avoiding direct sunlight or moisture, to extend the rubber’s lifespan.
Durability: Regularly inspect the rubber’s surface for pimple damage, especially the black version, as intensive use may accelerate wear.
XIOM Omega V Pro is a top-quality table tennis rubber offering an excellent balance of speed, spin, and control, making it a popular choice among competitive players. Its Dynamic Friction Technology, Carbo Sponge, and Tensor technologies ensure strong performance with plastic balls, while the slightly tacky surface and high throw angle enable spinny loops and precise blocks. Though it requires good technique and some break-in time, it is an excellent choice for advanced players seeking a versatile rubber, particularly for the backhand side. For those looking for a reliable, controlled, and effective rubber at an affordable price, Omega V Pro is well worth considering.