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Review (authors unknown)
Review 1:
I went from Palio Macro ERA to Hexer. Hexer was a little disappointing
on my first practice. The brush loops did not seem to get the same
amount of spin and I lost a couple notches of speed. However, it was
easier to lift underspin balls over the net and my serves are spinnier.
Blocking is better with Hexer, but FH pushes landed in the net more
often on receiving underspin serves. Loop drives are about equal for me,
but with a lower curve on Hexer. I received more of my loops back where
before with PME they often came back long due to the spin. Overall, I
didn't have to make too much adjustment to my game. After a few more
practices and games I have to say that Hexer definitely has less spin
than PME. I have to work so much harder to get a spinny loop with Hexer.
I had to downgrade the spin on my rating. I will play the next
tournament with Hexer, but I will most likely go back to PME on FH.
Update: Last night I put the PME back on and the spin in my loops came
right back. I have now ordered a sheet of soft PME, since I liked the
soft feel of Hexer better, but I can't deal with the fact that I can't
get a proper brush loop with Hexer. I guess PME is just better suited to
my game. Anyone in the market for a cut sheet of Hexer?
Review 2: Review by gekogark1212 (published with
permission)
1. The reviewer:
I’m a 2 winged looper, with my backhand being quicker, but with less
power. Aussie B grade standard, which is roughly 1900 USATT. Tested this
on my Yasaka Extra blade with JO Gold on the back.
2. Physical Properties:
I have a red sheet, in 2.1mm. Sponge is medium soft, without a durometer
I’d say around the 42.5(tensor scale) mark, and smells like the usual
Donic/Andro tensor stuff. The feel of the topsheet is very grippy, even
compared to Jap topsheets like the Donic Coppa Speed. Sponge is like the
Tenergy stuff. The red doesn’t look as artificial as the Vega. Impressed
so far at the German rubber.
3. Speed:
Speed on slow strokes fairly fast, however it also has an excellent
short game. It behaves extraordinarily on services, great on pushes and
good on flicks.
Speed on power loops is only so-so. I thought it would
blast me out of my seat, but in the end, my mind isn’t blown, my socks
aren’t knocked off, and my wallet’s now a little lighter.
On the 100% power geko rocket put-away shots, this rubber is indeed
faster than Tenergy 05, JO Gold, Donic Coppa Speed, Plasma 470, Roxon
450 etc. etc., but we’re talking whole body, whole arm, complete waist
turn and no recovery type loop-kills. Which to me is COMPLETELY
unrealistic to base anything on.
Smashing with the Hexer is ok. It doesn’t have the
meaty feeling as with Tenergy 05, but neither does it reward your
half-hearted efforts.
4. Spin:
Spin on slow loops is quite good, though I can’t see it being Tenergy 05
spinny, it gets close, and though none of us really believed him, Rob
was right (again haha), the Hexer’s slow loop spin is marginally if at
all, better than the Roxon 450.
Spin on faster loops is actually very high! My loops
were landing way, way shorter than the Donic Coppa Speed, which I have
gotten used to. In fact, some were so short, it started to land in the
net…but this could have to do with its slow speed also.
Spin on serves is nothing to write home about. Good
spin, but absolutely brilliant control on it. Very, very short serves
(although hardly as spinny as they look) can be performed easily.
5. Control:
In terms of blocking, I’d agree with the advertisements. It is magic!
Very stable blocking ability and not as sensitive to spin as I’d imagine
from looking and feeling the topsheet.
Pushing and looping is very close to where you want
it, especially looping the corners closest to the net.
6. Other Playing properties:
The throw is high! Almost ridiculously high. This gets annoying as you
try to loop consistently, but at the same time keeping the ball low and
putting pressure on the opponent. Hexer robs you of that stroke and
punishes you if you try to close your angle by slipping.
Glue feel is present and lovely sounding, given you
hit hard enough. Otherwise, it’s more of a “pak” sound than a “tock”
sound.
7. Reference:
In the best way I can sum it up, I’d say the Hexer is a prepubescent
Donic Coppa Speed, I mean that in two ways. Firstly, it seems like it
hasn’t grown its muscles yet but is still trying to compete with the big
boys. It loses out in speed rallies. Secondly, like an annoying younger
brother, it brags on and on about its better spin, but in actuality is
no better than the Roxon 450, and is marginally better than a new sheet
of Donic Coppa Speed. Plus it demands more pocket money than the older
kids, brat!
8. Other comments
Other than the fact that its sponge looks different from previous
tensors, and being labeled “4G”, I’d say Andro is still on the detour to
finding a good post-glue solution. Again, like the Roxon series, the
Hexer has great short game and close to the table ability, but in terms
of explosiveness or dynamic properties, it hasn’t surpassed the Plasma
series. Now in terms of control and spin, it still hasn’t reached the
pre-glue level. Oi! Andro! What are you doing son?
Review 3: December 20, 2009
Was playing with Tenergy 05 on forehand, Tenergy 64 on backhand. This is
much better rubber for FH, many better control, better away from table,
better spin. Better on BH, more control, all better game. Lasts more
than Tenergy. I switch to Hexer to have better game. I don't use Tenergy
because Hexer now best rubber for me.
Review 4: December 7, 2009
I play Tenergy 25 on my BH so most of these comparisons are relevantly
biased against Tenergy. Hexer is better than Tenergy in some areas and
worse in others, but overall I believe it is superior to Tenergy in the
fact that it is lighter, less expensive and performs at a supreme level
just as a different style (very linear). Can't wait to try Revo-Fire.
Review 5: November 26, 2009
Wow. I recommend this to any inverted topspin player. For months, i have
trained with someone double my age, and with the hexer after a few
sessions in adelaide, i started to destroy him. A nice low throw angle
to keep the opponent under pressure constantly.
Review 6: November 25, 2009
Best rubber i have used. the throw angle is amazingly short and the spin
it produces from nearly no effort at all is abosolutely amazing. It
really puts the enemy under pressure from close-to-the-net topspins.
Review 7: November 11, 2009
First of all, I am a Asian and I was looking for a rubber that can
perform the Chinese style loop instead of the European. I was told that
DHS Huricane 3 was my only option but personally I don't like Chinese
tacky rubber. Andro Hexer is exactly the rubber that can do the job
pretty well. I gave my ratings according to the comparison with Donic F1
and JO Platin that I still have. The sponge of Andro Hexer is hard with
no doubt BUT the feeling when playing with it is soft !! The grip (on
the ball) that it has is in many ways comparable to Huricane 3 and it is
non-tacky (at least when compared to Copa and F1). The only weakness it
has is a slight lack of speed but it does matter much because it gives
you powerful top spin with suitable throw angle required for Chinese
style loop. Yes it is more spinny than F1 and Copa Platin (hard). I
bought this rubber in Hong Kong and it worths the price (about USD $35).
Review 8: November 11, 2009
First of all, I am a Asian and I was looking for a rubber that can
perform the Chinese style loop instead of the European. I was told that
DHS Huricane 3 was my only option but personally I don't like Chinese
tacky rubber. Andro Hexer is exactly the rubber that can do the job
pretty well. I gave my ratings according to the comparison with Donic F1
and JO Platin that I still have. The sponge of Andro Hexer is hard with
no doubt BUT the feeling when playing with it is soft !! The grip (on
the ball) that it has is in many ways comparable to Huricane 3 and it is
non-tacky (at least when compared to Copa and F1). The only weakness it
has is a slight lack of speed but it does matter much because it gives
you powerful top spin with suitable throw angle required for Chinese
style loop. Yes it is more spinny than F1 and Copa Platin (hard). I
bought this rubber in Hong Kong and it worths the price (about USD $35).
Review 9: November 10, 2009
Looking at the sponge construction, this is Andro's answer to Tenergy.
The sponge looks very porous, and is quite heavy. There are differences
however, making Hexer a good alternative for players looking for
something a little less extreme. First off, I found it to be sightly
less grippy than Tenergy. So, less easy spin available, but it reacts
less to incoming spin as well. This makes it much easier for service
returns and the short game in general. Great for flips. It also has a
much lower throw, so it performs in a more "traditional" way. And it
feels nice and controlled at low-medium pace. However, it really wakes
up on hard hits, giving some serious pace. I suppose this makes it a
little non-linear, but with a bit of adjustment it becomes a real
advantage. I found it a little tough at first to lift backspin from over
the table, but that was just a case of getting used to the low throw (I
was coming from Tenergy 05). So, all-in-all, a real alternative to T05
for players who find it a bit over the top at times. Don't know how
durable the rubber is yet though - hopefully better than tensors...
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