Among the XIOM rubbers, XIOM ZETA is a popular rubber next to XIOM Omega III. The XIOM ZETA is an economical rubber for players who can’t afford expensive rubbers like XIOM Omega III. I have personally used the XIOM ZETA Asian and Euro versions on various blades like XIOM Aigis, XIOM Amedeus, TSP BalsaPlus 3.5, JOOLA Stephan Feth and another custom made blade which is made of balsa wood.
The XIOM ZETA lasts for few more months than other XIOM rubbers. In a recent study we have done, we have seen players using XIOM ZETA for 6 months.
The XIOM ZETA has less speed glue effect than XIOM Omega III. I’m a modern defensive player, and I try to slow down the game. I have found XIOM ZETA has less speed than XIOM Omega III or Omega II which are extremely fast rubbers. I have more control with XIOM ZETA than XIOM Omega III. The XIOM ZETA reminds me of DONIC Coppa Gold - similar in hardness with good control.
The XIOM ZETA topsheet is tacky. Some players don’t like to use that term for tensor rubbers, but to mention it only for the Chinese rubbers. The high tackiness cause the rubber to hang onto the rubber. The XIOM ZETA does not have tackiness similar to a tacky Chinese rubber, but it’s special topsheet can make more rotations compared to other tensors - the ball does not have to punch into rubber to generate rotations. That’s where the XIOM ZETA shines as a rubber to rotate with more spin with its cover. I call it a tacky tensor. At the same time, I call a tacky Chinese rubber has “extreme tackiness” while XIOM ZETA has “medium tackiness”.
The XIOM ZETA comes in two versions. I don’t see much difference between XIOM ZETA Asian and XIOM ZETA European. The Euro is little soft, but it falls in the range of a hard rubber with speed glue effect. The hardness of XIOM ZETA Asian is 47.5 while the XIOM ZETA European is 45 degree. A player who is starting with a speed glue effect rubber should try the Euro version first before moving to the Asian version. This will help the player to have a path for progress.
I have had a chance to play with XIOM ZETA European 2.0 mm yesterday. I played with Butterfly Tenergy 25 1.9 mm on the same blade I have tried the XIOM ZETA European on. It is going to hurt many Butterfly Tenergy fans, but I have to say this that XIOM ZETA has more speed than Butterfly Tenergy. The XIOM ZETA has less forward rotational spin than Tenergy, but has more rotations to the side. There are some areas where Butterfly Tenergy 25 outshines ZETA. In areas like power & topspin I go for Tenergy. The ZETA outshines Tenergy 25 in speed and side rotations, in other words the speed glue effect of XIOM ZETA is higher.
The XIOM ZETA is not a good choice for some looping players who have short back lift and don not have a good follow through. I have seen this rubber more successful with Chinese style players who play close to the table. It’s apt for hitting and slow looping, but requires follow through.
Being a defensive player myself, I have found problems playing against players using Tensor rubbers. The XIOM ZETA is a very cunning rubber I hate to play against. It’s spurious spin and speed trouble me a lot. I have seen this kind of behavior against Chinese tacky rubbers only like speed glued DHS Hurricane III. The soft push by some penhold players get me into trouble all the time.
The XIOM ZETA costs $32 in the United States. It is a very good tensor rubber for Chinese short game style.
The XIOM Sponsored player in the United States Alfred Najem uses XIOM ZETA European 2.0.
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
A new and unique technology of Germany was applied to ZETA. In reality, the top sheet of ZETA isn’t tacky. But, it has really “slightly tacky” feel. How? I don’t know.
ZETA is different from any other TENSOR rubbers made in Germany. Currently it is the only German rubber which can be a good replacement of speed-glued Chinese rubbers. Of course it is still different from Chinese rubbers. But, in my opinion, you don’t need much adjustment.
Varghese mentioned TENERGY 25. But, Zeta can also be a great competitior against TENERGY 64. Zeta Asian version has clearer feel. The feel of TENERGY 64 is slightly dull because it doesn’t have “real” speed glue effect. Great sound and feel is one of the advantage of ZETA. Especially you can hear the metalic “glue” sound from ZETA European version (of course without speed glue).
Hello I am 13 years old. I have played with my friends tibhar nimbus. It was fast and had spin but it did not perform up to my expectations. I think xiom zeta asian or euro version (2.0mm) rubber will do well for me being better than tibhar nimbus. Do you think it will suit my attacking needs ?
The XIOM ZETA Asian is little hard. It has more of a Chinese style rubber.
Please post your question in http://www.tabletennisJunkie.com where I can ask you more questions and help you choose a rubber.
Could you please tell me the durability of xiom omega 3. I play aproximately 6 hours a week with a break of about a month a year. Thank you i would realy appreciate this.
You can get between 65 and 75 hours out of XIOM Omega 3 by considering 4 hits per day. I have seen people using Omega 3 for 6 months with more than 100 hours. It will get beaten up when it approaches 100 hours. You have to properly take care of Omega 3. As I always advise, use only water based glue like I-Bond with Omega 3.
I am 13 years old I use chinese rubbers. My coach has xiom zeta and vega. I used it today its very good for topspin.