(by: Darryl Tsao)

The Tenergy line of rubbers has been an iconic product in the table tennis industry.

Tenergy 05 Hard is one of the newer installments in this lineup, offering a stiffer sponge when compared to all the other Tenergy products. I paired this rubber with my Viscaria blade. This rubber has a similar weight to the Dignics 09c, which makes the bat feel noticeably heavier when compared to the regular Tenergy and Dignics series. The topsheet is not as grippy as the Dignics Series, but is still well optimized for today’s game. The stiffer sponge is immediately noticeable, and it is a night and day difference when comparing against the preexisting Tenergy Series. This rubber has a crisp feeling at contact, making it very responsive. It is an extremely fast rubber, with less dwell when compared to the other Tenergy rubbers.

Spin is still good but some may find it lacking in an era where spin is a key part in the sport. One part where this rubber was a bit troublesome for me is the arc. When compared to modern rubbers like the Dignics series, the arc is very low and less stable by comparison. This makes it much more suitable to play close to the table than far to the table, since the spin and the arc isn’t supple enough for far table play. Short game is rather interesting with the 05 hard. Although it is very hard to control in the short game, it is very easy to keep the ball low, since this rubber is less spin sensitive.

One thing that the Tenergy 05 hard excels at when compared to other rubbers is how effortless it is to play with. Players don’t need to play full power to achieve a powerful shot with this rubber, sending the ball loaded with speed. This rubber is definitely more suited towards the forehand rather than backhand, since the short dwell time and extremely fast nature of the rubber makes it unideal for the backhand stroke. The speed and low arc also makes it better for the forehand, which is used for a finishing shot. This rubber is fit for a niche of players who stay close to the table playing aggressive strokes with less spin and more focus on speed.

I would recommend pairing this rubber with a harder and faster blade since it would compliment the rubber’s qualities better. This is definitely not beginner friendly rubber, since the tremendous speed and low arc make it unsuitable for players developing their technique. Lastly, the Tenergy 05 hard can maintain its performance for quite a while, making it a durable rubber.

All in all, Tenergy 05 hard can be a dangerous weapon for people who seek an extremely fast rubber with good spin qualities, and stay close to the table play aggressive strokes.

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