Browsing: Tenergy

Released in 2021, the Butterfly Tenergy 19 is the most recent addition to the Tenergy line.

Soon after its initial release, hundreds of world-class professional players, including Kanak Jha, Kirill Gerassimenko, Marcelo Aguirre, and Gustavo Tsuboi started utilizing it on either the forehand or the backhand side of their rackets.

It is advertised as the spinniest rubber in the whole Tenergy line and Butterfly states that the Tenergy 19 is faster than the Tenergy 05.

However, most reviewers agree that the Tenergy 19 is slower and more controllable than the Tenergy 05.

To clear all doubts we had about the Tenergy 19, we bought a sheet specifically for this review, testing it for 10+ hours to discover exactly how it behaves.

BUTTERFLY TENERGY 19 REVIEW SUMMARY

Launched 2 years after the introduction of the Dignics line, the Butterfly Tenergy 19 is the latest and presumably final addition to the Tenergy line. Its sponge is medium-hard and it has lots of inbuilt tension. It is a fast and spinny rubber, which combines a medium-high arc with a pronounced parabola. The strongest attributes of this rubber are its spin, its safety when looping, and its power. It excels at all kinds of loops, be it open-ups, counters close and away from the table, brushed loops, and power loops. The Tenergy 19 is known as the controllable Tenergy, and for good reason. It has a longer dwell time than all of the other Tenergies. This means that it is more controllable in shots such as open-ups, counter topspin shots, the short game, and blocking. In addition, it has a lower throw than the Tenergy 05, which makes it a more direct rubber. All of these attributes make it a superb rubber not only for rally play but also for 3rd ball attacks. The only cons of the Tenergy 19 are its steep price and its sensitivity to incoming spin.

Perfect for:Intermediate and advanced attackers on the forehand side, intermediate and advanced offensive players on the backhand side, intermediate and advanced defenders on the forehand side. 4-10+ years of playing.

Benefits

Very high speed and spin levels.

Superb for backhand exchanges.

More dwell time than the other Tenergy rubbers.

Great control and safety when looping..

Very confidence-inducing.

Great for chopping.

Excels at all kinds of loops.

Serves carry tons of spin.

Ball slippage is non-existent.

Durability.

Drawbacks

Price.

Spin sensitivity.

Unforgiving for players with timing issues or improper technique.

About the Reviewer

Alvaro Munno - Table Tennis Player & AuthorAlvaro Munno - Table Tennis Player & Author

Alvaro brings 7+ years of playing experience. He’s tested 20+ rubbers for Racket Insight and his style is The Controller.

About the Review

Blade Used: Stratus Power Wood
Rubber Thickness: 2.1mm
Hours Tested: 10+

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Recommended Playstyles

We recommend the Tenergy 19 to players who want to attack their opponents with great speed and spin on their loops and counterloops while retaining good touch and control.

Design of the Butterfly Tenergy 19

The Butterfly Tenergy 19 comes in a high-quality sealed package.

A picture of Butterfly Tenergy 19 PackageA picture of Butterfly Tenergy 19 Package

Upon opening the package, we find the rubber. The version we ordered is a shiny black 2.1mm sheet of Tenergy 19.

A picture Butterfly Tenergy 19 Package InsideA picture Butterfly Tenergy 19 Package Inside

The topsheet of the Tenergy 19 is extremely grippy and slightly tacky, and its sponge is an intense orange color. Its hardness is medium-hard, around 48 degrees ESN.

The Tenergy 19 incorporates two of Butterflyâ€s groundbreaking innovations: the High Tension technology and the Spring Sponge. These technologies allow for powerful, versatile offensive play.

The Tenergy 05 was first released with these two technologies in 2008. To this day, most manufacturers are still trying to recreate its playing characteristics, and they still havenâ€t been able to achieve them.

This explains the steep price of the Tenergy line. Itâ€s simply that thereâ€s nothing out there quite like these rubbers.

The difference between the 5 models of Tenergy rubbers (05, 19, 25, 64, and 80) lies in their pimple structure.

The distance between the pimples makes a huge difference. The closer the pimples are, the more contact they will have with the ball, producing a harder feel and more rotation.

The more spread apart the pimples are, the more spin insensitivity, speed, and softer feel the rubber will have.

The pimple structure of the Tenergy 19 is unlike any of the other Tenergies.

The Tenergy 19 features thinner pimples in comparison to the rest of the Tenergies, and they are allocated as densely as the ITTF equipment rules allow.

An image of the Butterfly Tenergy 19 Density PimplesAn image of the Butterfly Tenergy 19 Density PimplesSource: Butterfly

These thinner pimples are easier to bend and depress. When the ball contacts the rubber, the pimples bend back, so the ball stays on the rubber for a fraction longer, which gives the rubber a noticeably longer dwell time.

An image of the Butterfly Tenergy 19 Hitting Ball EffectsAn image of the Butterfly Tenergy 19 Hitting Ball EffectsSource: Butterfly

The Butterfly Tenergy 19 weighs in at 49 grams, a good weight for a rubber with these playing characteristics.

Similar medium-hard high-end rubbers such as the Tibhar Evolution MX-P (51 grams) and the Andro Rasanter R47 (49 grams) weigh the same or more than the Tenergy 05.

The Tenergy line is often compared with the Hurricane 3 given that professional players in Europe use Tenergy rubbers and professional players in China use Hurricane rubbers.

There is a substantial weight difference between the Tenergy 19 and the Hurricane 3 NEO (53 grams). This is one of the advantages European rubbers have over Chinese rubbers: their lower weight.

Specifications

Butterfly Tenergy 19Butterfly Tenergy 19

  • Weight (Cut): 49g
  • Speed:High
  • Spin:High
  • Control: Medium
  • Tackiness:Slightly Tacky
  • Hardness: Medium-Hard
  • ITTF Approved:Yes
  • Sponge Thickness:1.7mm, 1.9mm, or 2.1mm

Summary:Best your opponents by attacking powerfully and consistently with this excellent medium-hard offensive rubber.

Playtesting the Butterfly Tenergy 19

Before analyzing the rubber, I must mention that we tested the Tenergy 19 on a Tibhar Stratus Power Wood, a balanced, all-wood OFF- blade.

The Tenergy 19 can be paired with ALC blades for extreme power and spin (most professional players favor this combination), or it can be paired with defensive blades to perform vicious chops.

Itâ€s a medium-hard, fast rubber thatâ€s known for its control relative to its speed levels. Its throw lies between that of the Tenergy 05 and the Tenergy 64.

As we previously mentioned, the Tenergy 19 has a longer dwell time than all the other Tenergies.

Because of this, it is more controllable but not as explosive as all the other offerings in the Tenergy line.

Some people say that the Tenergy 19 is a tamer version of the other Tenergies, and I can see why.

Even if itâ€s a very fast and spinny rubber, it doesnâ€t have as much of that bounce and “pop†that other Tenergies have.

As a result, playing with the Tenergy 19 feels a lot safer and more predictable, but it doesnâ€t feel as dangerous as all the other Tenergies.

The Tenergy 05 has tons of spin and explosive power. The Tenergy 64 has very high speeds.

The Tenergy 19 doesnâ€t feel like it has an “extreme†quality to it, as the other Tenergies do.

It is, in my opinion, like a hybrid between an ESN rubber like the Fastarc G-1 or the Rasanter R47 and a Tenergy 05. It feels like it sits exactly in the middle of both worlds.

It clearly has more speed and spin than most ESN rubbers but not as much as the Tenergies. The upside to this is that it has more control than the other Tenergies.

Driving and looping

The Tenergy line is made for aggressive looping. Driving with the Tenergy 19 is great and so is looping.

It delivers a lively feel in the hand, but it isnâ€t that bouncy. The rubber feels stable and firm, and not as reactive as the other Tenergies. Drives travel with a nice arc and have good speed.

The Tenergy 19 is made for looping. Loops travel with good clearance over the net and instill confidence in the player from the word go.

It doesnâ€t offer as much clearance over the net as the Tenergy 05, but its throw is still medium-high, allowing for plenty of safety in your shots.

The arc on the Tenergy 19 is longer and flatter than that of the Tenergy 05, so youâ€re a bit more likely to overshoot the table or dump the ball into the net.

However, you do have more control over your shots due to the longer dwell time it offers.

Forehand loops with the Tenergy 19 carry great speed and spin, noticeably more than conventional ESN rubbers. Loops had noticeably more speed and spin than those played with the Rasanter R47 or the Fastarc G-1.

In addition, forehand loops felt safe and stable. It doesnâ€t have as much bounce and explosive power as the other Tenergies, but the difference between them is not too drastic.

However, I donâ€t feel that the Tenergy 19 is a rubber Iâ€d choose for the forehand side of my racket.

I think that the Tenergy 05 is very controllable already when playing topspin shots. The Tenergy 05 has a higher arc and the ball doesnâ€t bounce as deep on the table.

In practice, I feel like the Tenergy 05 is at least as safe as the Tenergy 19, probably even more. It doesnâ€t have as much dwell time, but the arc is a lot better in my opinion.

When forehand looping, the Tenergy 05 produces more speed, more spin, and it is as safe as the Tenergy 19. Thatâ€s why weâ€ve given the latter 4/5 for looping.

Playing away from the table doesnâ€t require much effort and the rubber feels perfectly safe and stable. The Tenergy 19 is very consistent and reliable when hitting the ball from longer distances.

Its arc is also really good for playing from a distance. Itâ€s not too high nor too low. I find that rubbers with a medium-high arc are very good for playing away from the table and the Tenergy 19 is no exception.

Another attribute thatâ€s very satisfying about it is its “cracking†sound.

Counterlooping close to the table is one of the main strengths of the Tenergy 19 rubber. Iâ€d say that it has the upper hand when countering compared to the Tenergy 05, due to its higher control.

Open-ups were also an area of strength for the Tenergy 19.

Open-ups carried great spin and felt overall more stable than with all the other Tenergies. The Tenergy 19 doesnâ€t produce as much power, however. If you want to score a power loop against backspin, youâ€d be better off choosing the Tenergy 05.

The star of the show, however, were backhand exchanges, without a doubt.

Playing backhand exchanges with the Tenergy 19 feels amazing. It has the perfect arc. It doesnâ€t have an arc thatâ€s too high, like the Tenergy 05, nor too flat, like the Tenergy 64.

The arc on the Tenergy 64 is arguably the best in the right hands since it is the most direct.

Even though the Tenergy 19 is not as fast, itâ€s a lot more forgiving and it has much more dwell time than the Tenergy 64.

In addition, it is ideal for punch-type shots, active blocks, loops, and counterloops. It just suits the backhand wing marvelously, and thatâ€s why lots of professional players are using it on that wing.

Serve and receive

Serving and receiving are very good with the Tenergy 19.

In terms of serving, it is excellent. Serves carry noticeably more spin than your average rubber.

Iâ€d say that the Tenergy 19 is probably the best Tenergy rubber for serving. It produces as much spin as the Tenergy 05 while being less bouncy.

This makes it easy to load serves with spin while making it easier to keep them short.

Active serve receives are great with the Tenergy 19. Passive receives are just OK. Even if it isnâ€t as bouncy, itâ€s still a Tenergy, and you have to know what youâ€re doing to receive serves properly.

The Tenergy 19 is a great flicking rubber on either wing. Itâ€s a good rubber for both the backhand and the forehand flick.

It has the stability needed to perform forehand flicks confidently while it also has the spin generation and the arc needed to perform banana flicks against backspin serves. Its grip levels make it really easy to turn backspin into topspin when flicking.

Passive serve receive with the Tenergy 19 is better than with all the other Tenergies but you still have to pay close attention to what youâ€re doing, as it is a very spin-sensitive rubber.

If you slightly misjudge the spin on the ball, youâ€re going to give your opponent an easy chance to win the point.

It did help, however, that it isnâ€t as bouncy as the other Tenergies or the Tibhar Evolution MX-P, for example. It is bouncier than average, but the effect is not as extreme.

Blocking and chopping

I really liked blocking with the Tenergy 19.

It has great stability due to its hardness, and its throw is long and relatively direct. It feels stable and it has the right dwell time for blocking.

Active blocks also work very well with the Tenergy 19. You can easily add power to incoming attacks with a short motion of the wrist.

The only time when the Tenergy 19 was hard to control is when trying to block very spinny shots.

However, it is a lot easier to block with the Tenergy 19 than with all the other Tenergies.

This rubber is clearly the most controllable rubber in the series when it comes to blocking.

You might argue that the Tenergy 64 is a better blocking rubber because it is more insensitive to incoming spin, but the Tenergy 19 is a lot more controllable.

Chopping is great with the Tenergy 19.

This rubber is, again, one of the best rubbers to chop with in the Tenergy line, especially because of its control.

You get quite a bit of sink on the rubber and it also feels firm and stable enough.

It must be noted that we reviewed a 2.1mm sheet of Tenergy. Thinner variants of the Tenergy 19 would be a lot better for chopping, especially when paired with a defensive blade.

Alternatives to the Butterfly Tenergy 19

Overall reflections on the Butterfly Tenergy 19

The Tenergy 19 is a superb rubber, especially for players who are looking for top-tier performance while sacrificing as little control as possible.

This rubber has all the trademark characteristics of the Tenergy line, but itâ€s slightly toned down, allowing for greater touch and control.

I especially liked it on my backhand side. I felt that its arc, its added dwell time, and its spin made it a superb rubber for backhand exchanges, open-ups, and blocks on the backhand side.

Alvaro Munno - Table Tennis Player & AuthorAlvaro Munno - Table Tennis Player & Author

Alvaroâ€s a qualified ITTF Level 1 Coach who’s been playing Table Tennis since he was 15 and is now ranked within the top 50 in his native Argentina. He loves to compete in provincial tournaments and is always looking for ways to improve. Alvaro made his favorite memories with a racket in hand, and he joined the RacketInsight team to share his passion with other players!

Blade: Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC | Forehand: Butterfly Dignics 09c | Backhand: Butterfly Tenergy 19
Playstyle: The Controller

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The Butterfly Tenergy 64 is one of the best offensive rubbers that money can buy, often used by the best table tennis players of the last 20 years.

The Tenergy 64 is the fastest, softest feeling, lowest-throwing, and most spin-insensitive rubber in the Tenergy line.

Is it the right rubber for you?

We bought a sheet specifically for this Tenergy 64 review, testing it for 10+ hours to discover exactly how it behaves, and who should be playing with it on their blade.

BUTTERFLY TENERGY 64 REVIEW SUMMARY

The Butterfly Tenergy 64 is one of the most popular offensive rubbers. Its sponge is medium and has lots of inbuilt tension. The Tenergy 64 is a rapid rubber. The strongest attributes of this rubber are its speed and its relative spin insensitivity. It is a great rubber for most offensive strokes, be it loops, drives, flat hits, or smashes. Whatâ€s really unique about the Tenergy 64 is its acceleration, which paired with its spin insensitivity, makes for a deadly weapon in the right hands. All of these attributes make it a superb rubber mostly for rally play but also for 3rd ball attacks. The only cons of the Tenergy 64 are its steep price and its unforgiving nature.

Perfect for:Intermediate and advanced attackers on the forehand side, advanced offensive players on the backhand side, intermediate and advanced defenders on the forehand side. 4-10+ years of playing.

Benefits

Superb speed.

Excels at blocks and flat hits.

Great for backhand exchanges.

Great for chopping.

Serves carry tons of spin.

Ball slippage is non-existent.

Relative spin insensitivity.

Durability.

Drawbacks

Price.

Hard to control the passive serve receive.

Unforgiving for players with timing issues or improper technique.

About the Reviewer

Alvaro Munno - Table Tennis Player & AuthorAlvaro Munno - Table Tennis Player & Author

Alvaro brings 7+ years of playing experience. He’s tested 20+ rubbers for Racket Insight and his style is The Controller.

About the Review

Blade Used: Stratus Power Wood
Rubber Thickness: 2.1mm
Hours Tested: 10+

Page Contents (Quick Links)

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Recommended Playstyles

We recommend the Butterfly Tenergy 64 to players who want to attack their opponents with rapid direct shots, be it loops, punches, active blocks or counterloops.

Design of the Butterfly Tenergy 64

The Butterfly Tenergy 64 comes in a high-quality sealed package.

A picture of the Butterfly Tenergy 64 PackageA picture of the Butterfly Tenergy 64 Package

Upon opening the package, we find the rubber. The version we ordered is a shiny red 2.1mm sheet.

A picture of the Butterfly Tenergy 64 Package InsideA picture of the Butterfly Tenergy 64 Package Inside

The topsheet is grippy and slightly tacky to touch.

The sponge is an intense orange color. Its hardness is medium-hard, around 48 degrees ESN. Because of its pimple structure, it does feel softer during play at around 45 degrees ESN.

Technology used in the Tenergy 64

The Tenergy 64 incorporates two of Butterflyâ€s groundbreaking innovations: the High Tension technology and the Spring Sponge. These technologies allow for powerful, versatile offensive play.

The Tenergy 05 (review) was the first rubber released with these two technologies in 2008. To this day, most manufacturers are still trying to recreate its playing characteristics, and they still havenâ€t been able to achieve them.

This explains the steep price of the Tenergy line. Thereâ€s simply nothing else out there quite like these rubbers.

The difference between the 5 models of Tenergy rubbers (05, 19, 25, 64, and 80), lies in their pimple structure.

The distance between the pimples makes a huge difference. The closer the pimples are, the more contact they will have with the ball, producing a harder feel and more rotation.

The more spread apart the pimples are, the more spin insensitivity, speed, and softer feel the rubber will have.

The Tenergy 64 has a structure in which the pimples are more spread apart than those in the Tenergy 80 and the Tenergy 05. This makes the Tenergy 64 the fastest of all the Tenergies and also the softest and less spin-sensitive offering in the Tenergy line.

The Tenergy 64 is also the least spinny rubber in the Tenergy range but its spin is more than adequate when compared to the average offensive rubber.

A picture of the Butterfly Tenergy 64 BalanceA picture of the Butterfly Tenergy 64 Balance

Its arc is also the lowest in the Tenergy series:

A picture of the Butterfly Tenergy Arc ComparisonA picture of the Butterfly Tenergy Arc Comparison

The Butterfly Tenergy 64 weighs in at 48 grams, a great weight for a rubber with these playing characteristics.

A picture of the Butterfly Tenergy 64 WeightA picture of the Butterfly Tenergy 64 Weight

Similar medium-hard high-end rubbers such as the Tibhar Evolution MX-P (51 grams) and the Andro Rasanter R47 (49 grams) weigh more than the Tenergy 64.

The Tenergy line is often compared with the Hurricane 3 given that professional players in Europe use Tenergy rubbers and professional players in China use Hurricane rubbers.

There is a substantial weight difference between the Tenergy 64 and the Hurricane 3 NEO (53 grams). This is one of the advantages European rubbers have over Chinese rubbers: their lower weight.

Specifications

Butterfly Tenergy 64Butterfly Tenergy 64

  • Weight (Cut): 48g
  • Speed:Very high
  • Spin:High
  • Control: Low
  • Tackiness:Slightly Tacky
  • Hardness: Medium-Hard
  • ITTF Approved:Yes
  • Sponge Thickness:1.7mm, 1.9mm, or 2.1mm

Summary:Outpace your opponents with this rapid top-of-the-line offensive rubber.

Playtesting the Butterfly Tenergy 64

Before analyzing the rubber, I must mention that we tested the Tenergy 64 on a Tibhar Stratus Power Wood, a balanced, all-wood OFF- blade.

The Tenergy 64 can be paired with ALC blades for extreme power (most professional players favor this combination), or it can be paired with defensive blades to perform vicious chops.

The Tenergy 64 is a medium hardness, medium-throwing, rapid rubber thatâ€s known for its direct, spin-insensitive characteristics.

Lots of professional players made use of this rubber for a long time, especially on the backhand wing.

The direct throw, the spin insensitivity, and the acceleration this rubber imparts on the ball meant that this was and still is one of the best rubbers for backhand exchanges and counter topspin rallies.

Ma Long, the greatest player of all time, used it for years on the backhand side.

A picture of Ma Long using the Butterfly Tenergy 64A picture of Ma Long using the Butterfly Tenergy 64

In addition to this, Jun Mizutani, one of the all-time greats from Japan, utilized the Tenergy 64 on both sides of his racket.

A picture of Jun Mizutani using the Butterfly Tenergy 64A picture of Jun Mizutani using the Butterfly Tenergy 64

As evidenced by the number of professional players using it on either side, itâ€s an amazing rubber on both wings.

Driving and looping

The Tenergy line is made for aggressive looping, so unsurprisingly driving and looping with the Tenergy 64 is great.

The Tenergy 64 delivers a lively feel in the hand, one thatâ€s softer and bouncier in contrast to the Tenergy 05 and the rest of the Tenergy line. Drives travel with a medium arc, feel stable, and have lots of speed.

Youâ€ll find that there isnâ€t that much dwell time and the ball shoots off the rubber quite violently, so itâ€s ideal for flat hits as you can make use of its direct throw and high speeds.

The Tenergy 64 is great for looping. Itâ€s an excellent rubber with plenty of unique strengths but it also has some quirks.

Loops travel with enough safety and instill a sense of confidence in the player from the word go.

The arc on the Tenergy 64 is flatter than the rest of the Tenergy line. I would say that the arc on the Tenergy 64 is what Iâ€d expect to find in a high-end offensive rubber like the Rasanter R47.

Compared to the unique arc provided by the Tenergy 05 where the ball flies up and down rapidly, this rubber feels a lot more “standardâ€.

The arc on the Tenergy 64 is a lot more direct, and this, added to the higher speed, has many side effects. Some are positive, others are negative.

I found that the Tenergy 64 is quite unforgiving when trying to pick up low balls.

The Tenergy 64 has a medium throw and itâ€s also very fast, so you have to brush the ball upwards with excellent touch to get enough clearance over the net.

Itâ€s very easy to overshoot the table because of its speed and its flatter throw. Other rubbers in the Tenergy line are a lot better in this respect.

However, the Tenergy 64 works amazingly when you contact the ball on top of the bounce, which is the main advantage of this rubber.

If you wait for the ball to rise and then contact the ball with a forward motion, then you get direct, rapid loops that you canâ€t get with any other rubber.

If you catch the ball on top of the bounce, the Tenergy 64 is very consistent and produces very high-quality loops. You can shoot direct bullets at your opponent.

I think that timing the ball correctly is essential with the Tenergy 64, and itâ€s a lot more important than with any other rubber Iâ€ve tried.

With the Tenergy 05, for example, you can wait for the ball to drop a bit, hit more upwards and youâ€ll get a consistent, spinny loop.

If youâ€re looping in position and with correct timing, the Tenergy 64 works like no other, but when looping out of position itâ€s more unforgiving than most rubbers.

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The arc on the Tenergy 64 has the least clearance over the net and the ball also bounces the deepest on the table. This makes the Tenergy 64 more unforgiving but also more dangerous when used correctly.

Forehand loops with the Tenergy 64 carry lots of speed and more than adequate spin, a lot more than conventional ESN rubbers. Loops had a lot more speed and slightly more spin than those played with the Rasanter R47 or the Fastarc G-1.

In the following clip, Iâ€m performing an irregular drill (1-2 wide forehands, 1-2 forehands from the middle)

As you can see, I was very consistent with the Tenergy 64.

If I got to the correct position to play the shot, Iâ€d hit forwards and the ball would fly rapidly and directly. Otherwise, Iâ€d hit the ball upwards while controlling the speed of my shot so that I didnâ€t overshoot the table.

Playing away from the table requires little effort and the arc is ideal. In addition to this, the Tenergy 64 is quite spin-insensitive. This means that you can simply put your weight behind the ball, hit forwards and the ball will almost always land on the table if you contact it right.

I found that if I contacted the ball on top of the bounce and just hit forwards, the ball would land on the table with great consistency and speed.

If you have good timing, then the Tenergy 64 is one of the best rubbers for playing away from the table, but again, it can be quite unforgiving if you catch the ball while itâ€s on its way down

Counterlooping close to the table with the Tenergy 64 was also great.

If you let the ball rise and hit forwards when it reaches the top of the bounce, you can get great consistency and tons of pace on the ball.

The Tenergy 64â€s spin insensitivity also helps when countering close to the table.

Opening up required little effort but good timing. As the rubber is very fast, you donâ€t get as much dwell time on the ball which forces you to have great timing and technique on your stroke.

Also, the Tenergy 64 doesnâ€t have as pronounced a parabola as say, the Tenergy 05, so you have to be more precise to get open-ups on the table.

When you contact the ball correctly, open-ups carry good spin and speed.

The star of the show, however, were backhand exchanges.

If you asked me, Iâ€d use the Tenergy 19 over the Tenergy 64 on my backhand side because itâ€s a lot more controllable.

I donâ€t have the required timing to make use of the Tenergy 64 to its fullest potential on the backhand side.

While playing backhand exchanges, I would constantly overshoot the table or send the ball wide. You donâ€t have much margin for error as the ball shoots out very quickly.

However, when I contacted the ball correctly, I could understand why this rubber is so good for the backhand side.

With a very short stroke, you can generate tremendous amounts of power.

Itâ€s a double-edged sword, really. In the right hands, Tenergy 64 can produce shots that no other rubber can (especially on the backhand side). However, if you donâ€t have the necessary skills and experience, you’ll find this rubber quite unforgiving.

Serve and receive

Serving and receiving are quite impressive with the Tenergy 64.

I found that serves carry more spin than your average rubber. However, serves donâ€t carry as much spin as those played with the Hurricane 3 NEO or the Tenergy 05, for example.

In addition to this, the Tenergy 64 is quite bouncy, so itâ€s harder to serve short with it than with most other rubbers.

In short, you can get a lot of spin on your serves but youâ€ll have to get used to the bounciness of the Tenergy 64 when trying to serve short.

Active serve receives are great with the Tenergy 64. Passive serve receives are better than with other Tenergies, but theyâ€re still tricky to pull off.

The Tenergy 64 is a superb flicking rubber. Its speed, spin insensitivity, and hardness make it a great rubber for the backhand banana flick.

The passive serve receive with the Tenergy 64 is average. The rubber isnâ€t affected as much by incoming spins but you still have to know what youâ€re doing.

Even if itâ€s more spin insensitive, the Tenergy 64 is still a Tenergy, and itâ€s the fastest Tenergy at that.

If you slightly misread spin, you donâ€t get as punished as with the Tenergy 80 or 05, for example. However, touching short is harder because of its speed.

Blocking and chopping

I really liked blocking with the Tenergy 64.

The Tenergy 64 can cause lots of trouble to opponents because of its speed levels, and it isnâ€t as hard to block with because of its flatter throw and relative spin insensitivity.

The rubber is designed for direct shots. Active blocks and punch-type shots are spectacular with the Tenergy 64. With a slight flick of the wrist, you can add speed to your opponentâ€s shots, making your blocks very dangerous.

Blocks do require good touch, though, as the ball shoots off the rubber rapidly. The speed of the Tenergy 64 will reward good blockers but itâ€ll penalize players who donâ€t feel as confident in their blocking abilities.

If you have the required skills, the Tenergy 64 is one of the best blocking rubbers you can get.

You can feel that the Tenergy 64 is more spin insensitive than all the other Tenergies when chopping. Despite it being the fastest Tenergy of all, it´s a lot easier to chop with than the other Tenergies.

You can slow down a Tenergy 64 by using it on a defensive blade, but you canâ€t make the other Tenergies more spin-insensitive. Lots of high-level defenders are using it, and the best defender of all time, Joo Se Hyuk used it for years.

In this clip, we can see the great touch and safety the Tenergy 64 has.

It must be noted that we reviewed a 2.1mm sheet of Tenergy. Thinner variants of the Tenergy 64 would be a lot better for chopping, especially when paired with a defensive blade.

Alternatives to the Butterfly Tenergy 64

Overall reflections on the Butterfly Tenergy 64

The Butterfly Tenergy 64 is a superb rubber for anyone that can make use of its unique characteristics.

In short, Iâ€d recommend the Tenergy 64 for hitters, high-level defenders, loopers who value speed more than spin, blockers, and high-level players on their backhand side.

If you’re still not sure whether Tenergy 64 is right for you, we also have our comparison of all Tenergy rubbers to help you out.

Alvaro Munno - Table Tennis Player & AuthorAlvaro Munno - Table Tennis Player & Author

Alvaroâ€s a qualified ITTF Level 1 Coach who’s been playing Table Tennis since he was 15 and is now ranked within the top 50 in his native Argentina. He loves to compete in provincial tournaments and is always looking for ways to improve. Alvaro made his favorite memories with a racket in hand, and he joined the RacketInsight team to share his passion with other players!

Blade: Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC | Forehand: Butterfly Dignics 09c | Backhand: Butterfly Tenergy 19
Playstyle: The Controller

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