729-3 Japanese Sponge

“One sheet of RITC Friendship 729-3 Pips-In rubber with Soft Pink Japanese Sponge. Just slightly sticky very spinney soft surface combined with sensitive and consistent Japanese pink sponge, this rubber meets and exceeds the demands of the modern topspin and touch game”  

Characteristics:

• Superior speed and spin
• Super Touch
• Fast Spinning
• Quick attack and Loop
• For initializing attack
• Soft pink Japanese Sponge
• ITTF/USATT/CTTA approved

Ratings (out of 10):

• Speed: 9+++
• Spin: 9
• Control: 9

Comments:            

This rubber is very fast with a slightly sticky top sheet. Friendship 729-3 is very powerful and has the ability to loop as well as smash. Medium hard pink Japanese sponge provides tremendous dwell time for Loop and Loop kill.

Click here for pricing on 729-3 Japanee Sponge from One of a Kind Trading

"My 729-3 sheet is the same weight as RITC 2000/2.2 MRS. Lighter than a traditional chinese sheet on traditional Chinese sponge, but probably 5-10 grams heavier than a medium weight Japanese or European sheet. 729-3 was a little firm at first but loosened up nicely with glue.  Less tacky than other Chinese topsheets.

The sheet of 729-3 2.2 seems to have a Euro/Japanese feel. Not so sticky, may be a little harder than I'm used to, but doesn't have that disconnect between a stiff topsheet and softer sponge like some Chinese topsheet/Japanese sponge combos. Low throw angle, even lightly glued. Great on serves, pushes and loop kills, not sure if I like it as much for rallying/in between shots.  Performs similarly lightly glued to Butterfly Ekrips or unglued Spintech Dynasty, with a similar low throw angle and a high top end.

It seems a bit wider range than other Chinese rubbers I've tried due to the less tacky surface. It is heavier than 40H but that's fine for my single sided blade. It flips very well and also loops off the bounce and flat kills great.  The pink, Japanese sponge version is not as springy as the Magic Red or the Transcend sponge which is a plus with speed glue and a lively, high throw blade like my Spintech 9 ply carbon.  It seems to need a break in period and gluing for best results." ...AGOODING

RITC 729-3 with jap. sponge - this is a good alternative if you dont have enough bucks to buy fast euro or jap rubbers. this is vert fast and the fastest RITC rubber imo. its not as tacky as other Chinese rubbers but still very spinny, good for loops and loop drives, sponge is medium soft.

729-3 Jap Sponge: The sponge is medium soft, about 42-43 degrees hardness. its not super sticky but gives a good spin. high throw angle or arc and is very bouncy due to the jap. sponge. its a lil bit faster than mark v but the control is good.. i think its the best chinese rubber i have used after hurricane 2

I also liked 729-3 on the Japanese sponge, one of the best rubbers I used for drive looping on a high throw carbon blade.  It did need to be broken in and glued lightly though.

Cream topsheet is one of my favorites. More elastic and slightly thinner and less tacky than traditional Chinese topsheets. Very spinny without being paticularly tacky. For control use the Jap sponge. For something faster use transcend.