After I have tested the XIOM Vega Pro on different blades one after another, I get this notion that the XIOM Vega Pro is a clone of Butterfly Tenergy 05. I will not say XIOM Vega Pro is a replacement for Tenergy 05. XIOM Vega Pro is a Junior Butterfly Tenergy 05. It is for the players who liked the top spin curvy loop of Tenergy 05 but disliked its weight, hardness, uncontrollable high loop angle and lack of feel.
Power
XIOM Vega Pro is lacking few qualities that Tenergy 05 has. The Tenergy 05 has excellent power on a top spin drive or loop stroke. The ball from Tenergy 05 kicks up on the bounce on the table with enormous power. The XIOM Vega lacks power in this area - it still kicks up, but lacks the power. Countering such drives or loops that come from Tenergy 05 is hard. Countering drives from XIOM Vega Pro is easier than Tenergy 05. This is where you have to spin the ball with side spin. That would be a win with XIOM Vega Pro - when you lack power, win with spin.
Spin
The XIOM Vega Pro shines high in this area, and have excellent spin from it’s skin (yes, I’m talking about the topsheet if you have not heard the name skin.). Are you a “feel and touch” player? You will like XIOM Vega Pro better. The Butterfly Tenergy 05 does not offer much to the player in feeling because of its hard feeling and weight.
Speed
The Butterfly Tenergy 05 has excellent speed. However, this speed at high speed rallies and slower game are not controllable. You have to be a “man on the job” to loop or drive to finish the point with Tenergy 05. The XIOM Vega Pro behaves differently in high speed and slower game. You have control over its speed with XIOM Vega Pro. Irrespective of its speed, the XIOM Vega Pro can’t carry enough power, speed and spin from mid-distance. The XIOM Vega Pro is a close to the table drive and looping tool.
Hardness
The XIOM Vega Pro’s hardness is 47.5 as per the specification. This is not comparative to XIOM Omega III or Omega II’s hardness. The sponge is called carbo sponge. Even though the hardness is that high, the rubber skin is very springy, so there is more dwelling of the ball on the skin. The XIOM Vega Pro does not feel heavy or hard like Tenergy 05.
Defense, Push, Serves
Vega Pro is not a chopping rubber. It is neither a push machine. Don’t find it’s strength in defense, but in its driving and looping ability.
Throw Angle
The Butterfly Tenergy 05’s is famous for it’s high throw. I have not seen a way to control the throw. The XIOM Vega Pro gives you more control to change the throw or loop angle. Except that it lacks power, the Vega Pro can throw the ball high as Tenergy 05 can make.
Skin
The XIOM Vega Pro is a German rubber. It is not tacky in it’s exposure to the eye. Comparing with the other XIOM German made rubbers, I would like to say XIOM Vega Pro is mild tacky. The skin of XIOM Vega Pro has more natural rubber. The trend of natural rubber started in XIOM Zeta. The XIOM Vega Pro lasts little longer than other XIOM rubbers because of this reason. I have seen XIOM Zeta has more lifetime compared to Omega II or Omega III, and has some players used it for like 6 months. The XIOM Vega Pro continues this trend of durability.
Compared to XIOM Omega II and Omega II, Vega Pro has more grip over knuckle and underspin. Lifting heavy underspin with Omega II and Omega III is sometimes difficult especially in a humid condition. The Vega Pro is excellent to lift heavy under and knuckle balls. Have seen Timo Boll lifting the choppers heavy chops?
Glue Effect
XIOM Vega Pro is a German tensor with in-built speed glue effect. There is excellent click sound and control at high speed rallies. An amazing thing I liked about XIOM Vega Pro is that it’s overall impact on the blade, the performance of the rubber on the other side has not changed much at all. The Butterfly Tenergy series has 5% effect on the overall setup of a blade. The XIOM Omega III or II (or any tensor) has 20% effect on the blade. The XIOM Vega Pro has 7.5% effect. This is one reason I was attracted to XIOM Vega Pro very much. I would recommend XIOM Vega Pro for players who are very sensitive on their backhand whose strength is also a strong backhand. With a new rubber on their forehand some players feel they have lost their control and depth of their game from the table. The Vega Pro does not change the characteristics of the blade like other tensors, and is excellent compared in this characteristic to Tenergy 05.
Migration
The Professional players who know their safe zone and depth can migrate to XIOM Vega Pro easily. The XIOM Vega Pro will not change the overall blade balance and control - the reasons I have mentioned before. The players have to focus only on the side they put the XIOM Vega Pro, and that’s the only area they need to focus to change the strokes. This helps migrating to XIOM Vega Pro easy. I don’t want to give an impression that this is rubber is easy to migrate to being any type of player. The XIOM Vega Pro is a drive and looping rubber that need excellent skill, so consider your level before migrating to XIOM Vega Pro from any rubber.
Assembling
The XIOM Vega Pro needs 2 to 3 layers of glue before it can settle down well on a blade. Please read my other blog on gluing Andro Hexar.
I will be writing more on XIOM Vega Pro later. To discuss this topic, go to tabletennisJunkie.com.
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks - considering the 2 currently, I have had excellent results with Tenergy 05/64 F/H B/H but played someone getting very good spin and speed with Vega Pro. Will try Vega Pro in the next couple days - thanks for the excellent review.
Stuart (New Zealand)
does it shrink?
“Have seen Timo Boll lifting the choppers heavy chops?”
No, because he does not know how to play against defensive players. Look at Ma Long - Joo and then Timo - Joo. You will see the difference. Is not T05 fault that Timo has not a good trainig against choppers. :))