DONIC LIGA PLUS

Donic Liga Plus – is an inverted table tennis rubber designed for beginners, young players, and adult amateurs seeking an all-round playing style (DEF, DEF+, ALL-, ALL). This rubber is an improved version of Donic Liga, featuring a medium-hard, more flexible sponge (~45°, Medium), tested grippy topsheet, excellent control, good spin, and an affordable price. ITTF approved and made in Germany, Liga Plus offers more dynamics and playing pleasure while maintaining high control, making it an ideal choice for learning techniques and seeking great value for money.

Main features:

• Rubber type: Inverted

• Speed: 80

• Spin: 90

• Control: 80

• High tension: No

• Tackiness: No

• Strategy: DEF, DEF+, ALL-, ALL

• Surface: Grippy

• Sponge hardness: Medium (~45°, Medium)

• Sponge thickness: 1.8 mm, 2.0 mm

• Colors: Red, black

• Country of origin: Germany

• Certifications: ITTF approved

Donic Liga Plus features an updated construction focused on control and dynamics:

• Sponge (medium-hard, more flexible): The medium-hard sponge (~45°, Medium) with a flexible, fine-pored structure provides a soft catapult effect, ensuring controlled speed and better ball feel compared to the original Donic Liga. Compared to Desto F4 (~40°, soft) or Liga (~45°, less flexible), Liga Plus sponge is more dynamic, close to Yasaka Mark V (~45°) but with a more modern feel. Sponge thickness (1.8 mm, 2.0 mm) offers a choice: 1.8 mm for maximum control, 2.0 mm for more power. The structure is optimized for learning topspin strokes, blocking, and all-round play.

• Top sheet: Tried and tested Donic Liga topsheet, relatively grippy with improved grip, ensures good spin in serves, topspin shots, and blocking. The surface is grippier than Liga, but less aggressive than Desto F4 or Coppa X3 Silver, suitable for 40+ plastic balls. The topsheet is highly durable (~100–150 hours of light play) and requires minimal maintenance when cleaned with Donic cleaner.

• Starter Technology with improvements: Liga Plus uses an updated beginner-level technology that combines a more flexible sponge with a grippy topsheet, providing more dynamics and playing pleasure compared to Liga. The rubber is not tensioned like the Desto series, making it suitable for beginners transitioning to modern rubbers without speed-glue effect.

• High arc: Liga Plus generates a high ball trajectory, ensuring stability and easy attacks against backspin. The arc is similar to Liga or Desto F4 but slightly more dynamic—ideal for learning to block, hit, and perform topspin strokes at the table.

• Spin sensitivity: Due to the improved grippy topsheet, the rubber is slightly more sensitive to incoming spin than Liga, but the flexible sponge helps with blocking and serve returns, making it suitable for beginners and amateurs.

The rubber weighs about 40–45 g (cut, 2.0 mm thickness), lightweight like Liga (~40–45 g), lighter than Desto F4 (~43–47 g), making it suitable for young players and amateurs looking for a light racket. Available in red and black colors, compliant with ITTF rules. Water-based glue (e.g., Donic Vario) and protective film are recommended.

Donic Liga Plus features the following technical characteristics:

• Speed: 80 (controlled). The rubber is faster than Donic Liga (70), suitable for learning topspin strokes, blocking, serve returns, and all-round play at the table. Speed is lower than Desto F4 (96) or Desto F3 BigSlam (97), making it ideal for beginners who prioritize control but want more dynamics.

• Spin: 90 (medium-high). Thanks to the improved grippy topsheet, the rubber generates better spin than Liga (69), suitable for serves, topspin strokes, and blocking. Spin is lower than Desto F4 (103) or Desto F3 BigSlam (102) but sufficient for learning techniques and offensive play. The high arc enhances spin.

• Control: 80 (high). The rubber offers good control due to its flexible sponge and stable topsheet, especially when blocking, returning serves, and executing precise shots. Control is lower than Liga (97) or Desto F4 (99), but sufficient for beginners seeking a more dynamic game.

Trajectory: High arc, suitable for learning strokes, blocking, and executing topspin shots. The arc stabilizes ball flight, facilitates play against backspin, and ensures precision, making it suitable for beginners and amateurs. Users praise the “dynamics,” “control,” and “value for money.”

Donic Liga Plus is suitable for entry-level and all-round foundations:

• Donic Waldner Youngstar: Maximizes control, suitable for DEF+ players.

• Stiga Allround Classic: Balances speed and control, ideal for ALL players.

• Butterfly Addoy P3: Offers stability, suitable for ALL- play.

• Yasaka Sweden Classic: Emphasizes control, suitable for DEF+ players.

• Donic Appelgren Allplay: Balances control and dynamics, suitable for ALL players.

The rubber pairs best with DEF, DEF+, ALL-, or ALL blades, as the flexible sponge and grippy topsheet ensure stability and control. Suitable for forehand or backhand sides, especially for young players learning techniques.

Donic Liga Plus is designed for players seeking control and dynamics:

• Beginners, young players, and amateurs (DEF, DEF+, ALL-, ALL) aiming for an offensive style, learning strokes, blocking, returning serves, and topspin shots.

• Learning basic techniques, suitable for forehand or backhand, especially for learning topspin shots, serves, and blocking.

• Table play: Effective for blocking, returning serves, executing strokes, and light topspin shots.

• Serves and returns: Improved grippy topsheet allows spinny serves, and the flexible sponge aids precise serve returns.

• Attacking backspin: High arc and grip help lift low balls, suitable for learning.

• Blocking: Good control and stability ensure easy blocking.

The rubber is effective in blocking (9.5/10), serve returns (9.3/10), serves (9.2/10), hitting (9.0/10), and topspin strokes (8.8/10). In looping (8.5/10) and smashing (8.0/10), the limited speed requires technique. Users highlight “easy handling,” “better spin,” and “great price.”

• Speed (80): Controlled, suitable for beginners and amateurs.

• Spin (90): Medium-high, suitable for learning serves and topspin strokes.

• Control (80): High, suitable for blocking and returning serves.

• Grippy topsheet: Enhanced friction, good spin.

• Sponge: Flexible, soft catapult effect, modern feel.

• Lighter: Balanced weight (~40–45 g cut).

• Durability: Highly resistant to wear (~100–150 hours).

• Affordable: Excellent value for money.

• Limited speed: Not suitable for aggressive looping or attacking.

• Limited spin: Less spin than tensioned rubbers like Desto F4.

• Spin sensitivity: Grip is limited against strong looping shots.

• No glue effect: Lacks the dynamics of the Desto series.
  

  Summary: Donic Liga Plus is ideal for:

• Beginners, youth, and recreational players (DEF, DEF+, ALL-, ALL) seeking a dynamic yet controlled playing experience

• Learning basic strokes, blocking, receiving serves, and practicing topspins

• All-round play close to the table: solid in blocks, returns, shots, and gentle topspins

• Serve and receive training: spin-friendly surface supports spin generation and flexible sponge aids in accurate returns

• Attacking backspin balls: high arc and grip help lift low balls and develop offensive strokes

• Blocking: excellent control and stability offer ease of passive and active blocks

Performance Ratings (out of 10):

• Blocking: 9.5

• Serve receive: 9.3

• Serving: 9.2

• Hitting: 9.0

• Topspin: 8.8

• Looping: 8.5

• Smashing: 8.0
  (Note: Lower speed demands better technique on power shots)

Key Takeaways:

• Speed (80) – Controlled, suitable for beginners and recreational players

• Spin (90) – Medium-high, ideal for learning serves and topspins

• Control (80) – High, especially good for blocking and returning serves

• Grippy surface – Improved friction for effective spin

• Sponge – Flexible, soft catapult effect, modern feel

• Lightweight – Balanced weight (~40–45 g cut), great for younger players

• Durability – Highly resistant to wear (~100–150 hours of light play)

• Affordable – Excellent value for money

Limitations:

• Limited speed – Not suitable for aggressive looping or high-speed offensive play

• Moderate spin – Lower spin than high-tension rubbers like Desto F4

• Spin sensitivity – Grip is limited against strong loops

• No glue effect – Lacks the dynamic boost of tensioned rubbers like those in the Desto series