This edition of the Equipment Review videos saw Matt Hetherington reviewing the Stiga Mantra Medium and Hard rubbers.

Tested Equipment:

Blade: DONIC Waldner Senso Carbon V1
Rubber: Stiga Mantra M (Forehand), Stiga Mantra H (Backhand)

Rubber Specs:
Mantra H: Spin Elastic, Hard Sponge, 47-degree hardness
Mantra M: Spin Elastic, Medium Sponge, 45-degree hardness

Supplier Statement:
The new STIGA Mantra is developed with the latest Japanese rubber technology and offers the perfect balance of synthetic and natural rubber. This new rubber mixture creates a tension between the surface and the sponge resulting in an incredible catapult effect. Microscopic air bubbles in the sponge (Oxygen Capsule System) provide great speed with a stable and consistent hit and touch. This rubber is perfect for players who require the highest in rubber quality and performance. Mantra is suitable for all types of players, with sponge variation ranging from soft to hard.

Initial Impressions: Having a slightly more spin oriented forehand loop I decided to put the Mantra Medium on my forehand and put the harder variation on my backhand side. Initially, I felt the firmness of the rubber and a great ability to really drive through the ball contact. I could make very concise and accurate shots and really snap into my contact to create a lot of acceleration and also produce a great arc on my topspin ball.

Read Matt’s Full Review at USATT.org

Shakehand Pro Special: STIGA Eternity VPS with STIGA Mantra M RubberSale Price: $149.95 Regular Price: 195.85