Drum is a typical Chinese style inverted rubber
with a very stick topsheet. This makes it great for spinny serves, and
for looping if you rely on the topsheet to spin the ball. It has a very
firm sponge, which makes it great for hitting and blocking.
The sponge is like a wall. If you bounce a ball off
a wall, it rebounds off quickly, with little dwell time. Similarly, a
ball rebounds off Drum very quickly, with little dwell time.
If you tend to hit or to loop drive the ball with
power and precision, and like a firm sponge, and a topsheet that gives
great spin, then this rubber is right for you.
If you use a thinner sponge, then Drum is great for
chopping because of the harder sponge and sticky topsheet.
Drum CWX is similar to Drum, but the sponge is a
little softer, so more dwell time, and so more control.
U.S. Team Member Han Xiao (all-out looping style)
uses Drum on the forehand; Former Chinese Team Member Chen Weixing (a
chopper/looper) uses Drum CWX on the forehand. Drum comes in 1.8mm,
2.0mm and MAX; Drum CWX comes in 2.0mm and MAX.