Looking for a hybrid rubber that delivers Chinese-style spin without the maintenance headaches?
The 2nd-generation Sanwei Target National has been promising exactly that since its release in late 2021, bridging the gap between traditional Chinese rubbers and modern European tensors.
Sanwei claims this rubber was engineered to “dominate the game and take every chance to score with spin or counterspin.” But does it live up to these bold claims?
After extensive testing, I found some surprising answers that might change how you think about hybrid rubbers.
For this review, Sanwei provided 2 test rubbers. However, they had no input on my testing process or conclusions, and this review reflects my honest, unbiased opinion based on real playing experience.
SANWEI TARGET NATIONAL REVIEW SUMMARY
The Sanwei Target National combines a medium-hard sponge (39-40° Chinese scale) with a moderately tacky topsheet to create a hybrid that excels at controlled offensive play. Throughout testing, it demonstrated impressive spin potential and consistency, particularly in counterlooping and blocking scenarios.
While slower than modern tensors when unboosted, it offers linear power progression that rewards proper technique and full strokes. The rubber particularly shines in controlled offensive play, where its combination of grip and stability allows for precise placement and spin-oriented attacks.
The rubber provides excellent value compared to premium alternatives like Butterfly Dignics 09c, offering similar spin capabilities at roughly half the price.
Perfect for:Intermediate to advanced offensive players who generate their own power and value spin control over raw speed. Best suited for forehand, particularly for players transitioning from European to Chinese rubbers. 3-10+ years of playing experience.
Benefits
Control in loop-to-loop rallies
Strong blocking stability
High spin potential without extreme tackiness
Consistent performance without boosting
Linear power progression
Excellent value compared to premium alternatives
Drawbacks
Moderate base speed
Requires good technique to access full potential
Only available in MAX thickness
About the Reviewer
David brings 20 years experience as a player, with 10 of those coaching players of all ages and standards. His style is The All-Rounder
About the Review
Blade Used: Sanwei Nova Carbon & Sanwei Froster
Rubber Thickness: MAX (2.1mm) on all sheets
Hours Tested: 10+
Test Levels: Match play vs. inter–advanced opponents
Page Contents (Quick Links)
Recommended Playstyles
The Target National best suits controlled offensive players who generate their own power and prefer spin and placement over raw speed, making it particularly effective for those transitioning from European to Chinese rubbers or looking to develop a more technical attacking game.
History & Background
Released in late 2021, the new Sanwei Target National represents a complete redesign of Sanwei’s original Target National rubber.
While the first generation received mixed reviews and required boosting for optimal performance, this new STN version brings significant advances in design and technology.
The rubber features a revised sponge formulation that delivers improved elasticity and resilience, along with an enhanced surface treatment for more consistent grip. Engineered specifically for the 40+ plastic ball era, it offers higher inherent speed without requiring boosting and provides a more linear, predictable power curve compared to its predecessor.
This review focuses exclusively on the new 2nd-generation version, which comes in distinctive silver packaging to differentiate it from the original release.
The Target National’s shiny packaging
Design of the Sanwei Target National
As discussed, the Sanwei Target National represents one of the newer entries in the hybrid rubber market, developed specifically for the 40+ plastic ball era.
The improvements in this 2nd-gen version make it a true hybrid that successfully bridges Chinese and European rubber characteristics while eliminating the need for boosting or extensive maintenance.
Topsheet Characteristics
The rubber features a moderately tacky topsheet that sits between traditional Chinese and European designs in terms of grip. Fresh from the package, it can briefly lift a ball (about 1 second) which is less tacky than Hurricane 3 but more than pure European rubbers.
The topsheet employs a unique surface treatment creating uniform micro-roughness, which helps maintain consistent grip and spin capabilities. While classified as “half-sticky,” it plays more like a high-grip European rubber in practice, offering excellent spin potential without the maintenance demands of traditional Chinese rubbers.
One of my Target National sheets
Sponge Technology
The sponge is a key innovation in the Target National’s design.
It uses what Sanwei calls a “cake” structure with medium-sized pores, providing consistent elasticity across the playing surface. The hardness is rated at 39-40° on the Chinese scale (approximately 47-48° ESN), placing it firmly in the medium-hard category.
Check out the dark blue rubber
Unlike many Chinese rubbers that offer multiple hardness options, Target National comes in a single optimized specification. The sponge has a distinctive dark blue color and shows good tension characteristics, with edges curling slightly toward the center when unglued.
Physical Characteristics
When it comes to the physical aspects of the Target National, Sanwei keeps things simple by offering just one thickness option, their MAX version at 2.15mm. You can get it in either red or black.
Once you cut this rubber down to fit a standard blade, you’re looking at about 49 grams, a few grams lighter than the previous version.
What’s really nice about how they’ve built this rubber is how predictably it responds to your shots. The harder you swing, the more speed you’ll get, but without any surprising kicks or catapult effects that might throw off your game.
Specifications
- Weight (Cut): ~49g when cut
- Speed:Medium (unboosted)
- Spin:High
- Control: High
- Tackiness:Light-Medium
- Hardness: 39-40° (Chinese scale)
- ITTF Approved:Yes
- Sponge Thickness: MAX (2.15mm)
Summary:A well-engineered hybrid that delivers Chinese rubber spin characteristics with more accessible power generation, particularly suited to controlled offensive play.
Initial Impressions
The rubber arrives with moderate tackiness, noticeably less sticky than traditional Chinese rubbers but still able to briefly lift a ball. The sponge feels firm but not brick-hard, suggesting good potential for both control and power generation when properly engaged.
At around 49g when cut, it’s on the heavier side, though not unusual for a Chinese-style rubber. The topsheet has a uniform matte finish that inspires confidence in its grip potential.
Playtesting the Sanwei Target National
Testing revealed a rubber that plays quite differently from both traditional Chinese rubbers and modern tensors. Without boosting, it demonstrates moderate speed but excellent control and spin potential when proper technique is applied.
The throw angle is medium-low, providing good clearance over the net while maintaining accuracy. This characteristic makes it particularly effective for controlled loop drives and counters, though it requires proper racket angle adjustment when lifting backspin.
Driving and Looping
During my testing of the 2nd-gen Target National, I found its true character in topspin play. Having used both Hurricane 3 and Tenergy-style tensors extensively, this rubber impressed me with how it balances Chinese control and European dynamics.
The driving feel is distinct. Noticeably less bouncy than European tensors but more lively than traditional Chinese rubbers.
The medium-hard sponge provides excellent feedback and control while maintaining enough catapult for decisive hits. Flat drives carry good pace while staying predictable, a notable improvement over the first generation’s relatively dead feel.
Looping revealed this rubber’s greatest strengths. The moderate tackiness and new sponge worked together beautifully, allowing me to generate serious spin without the physical strain of traditional Chinese rubbers.
What impressed me most was the linear power progression. As I increased my swing speed, the rubber responded predictably without sudden kicks or unexpected reactions.
In loop-to-loop exchanges, the rubber demonstrated exceptional stability. Counter-loops felt particularly confident – I could really commit to my shots knowing they would clear the net with consistent spin and trajectory. The medium-hard sponge handled incoming loops well while providing plenty of options for counter-attacks.
While more forgiving than Hurricane 3, this isn’t a rubber that compensates for poor technique. Lazy strokes produce tame results compared to bouncy tensors.
However, with proper form and acceleration, it rewards you with professional-level spin and speed while maintaining superior control – a rare combination in my experience.
Serve and Receive
In the short game, I found the 2nd-gen Target National’s tackiness particularly useful. The rubber allowed me to load my serves with serious spin while maintaining precise control over placement – a clear improvement over most European tensors I’ve used.
While the initial tackiness does decrease somewhat after the first few sessions, regular cleaning helps maintain good spin generation for serves.
Service returns showcased another strength of this rubber. The topsheet provided excellent touch for short pushes, while the medium-hard sponge helped absorb incoming spin effectively. I particularly appreciated how I could feel exactly what spin was on the ball, making it easier to adapt my returns accordingly. This proved especially valuable against today’s super-spinny serves, where the rubber’s grip and control really shine.
The rubber does have a learning curve in the short game. It took me several sessions to adjust to the dwell time, particularly when trying to keep serves and pushes extremely low over the net. Players coming from pure European tensors may need time to adapt their touch on delicate shots.
Flicking required some adjustment coming from bouncier tensors. The rubber demands more active acceleration to generate the same speed, but the trade-off is better control. Once adapted, I found myself executing more consistent flicks, especially against long serves.
Blocking and Chopping
Blocking proved to be one of this rubber’s unexpected strengths during my testing. The medium-hard sponge offered exceptional stability and feedback, giving me great confidence in both passive and active blocks.
Against heavy topspin loops, I found I could redirect pace effectively while maintaining excellent control over placement. That said, the medium-low throw keeps most blocks flat, but the tacky topsheet can cause balls to kick up if the racket angle isn’t precise, especially when I wasn’t perfectly set for the shot.
What particularly impressed me was the rubber’s ability to produce aggressive blocks. The topsheet grips the ball just enough to add extra spin when blocking actively, often catching my opponents off-guard with the pace and spin combination.
For chopping, while not the rubber’s primary strength, I found it capable in defensive situations. I was able to produce decent backspin when forced away from the table.
However, the rubber’s relatively low inherent speed meant I had to chop more forward than I’d like, which limited the amount of spin I could generate. Against very heavy topspin, I noticed the rubber’s harder sponge made it more challenging to absorb power compared to softer alternatives.
Alternatives to the Sanwei Target National
Overall Impressions
From my experience, the 2nd-generation Target National successfully bridges the gap between Chinese and European rubber characteristics. I found it offers good spin potential and control without requiring the constant maintenance of traditional Chinese rubbers.
The rubber’s main strengths lie in its predictable power delivery and stability during topspin play. It won’t match the raw speed of European tensors or the maximum spin of boosted Hurricane 3, but it provides consistent performance that works well for controlled offensive play.
I particularly enjoyed its reliability in counterlooping exchanges and its ability to handle different playing situations effectively.
Value for money is another strong point. At around half the price of premium alternatives, it delivers solid performance and good durability.
While not perfect (the throw angle takes some getting used to and it demands proper technique to perform well) these compromises feel reasonable given its price point.
For players with decent fundamentals looking for a reliable offensive rubber that balances spin and control without breaking the bank, the new Target National offers a practical choice for your forehand side.
Check Latest Price at a Local Seller
Find out how much the Sanwei Target National costs on a localised Table Tennis store.
David’s been playing Table Tennis since he was 12, earning his first coaching license in 2012. He’s played in national team & individual competitions, although he prefers the more relaxed nature of a local league match! After earning his umpiring qualification in England, David moved to Australia and started Racket Insight to share information about the sport he loves.
Blade: Stiga WRB Offensive Classic | Forehand: Calibra LT | Backhand: Xiom Musa
Playstyle: The All-Rounder
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