Butterfly Tenergy 05 is a revolutionary high-tension table tennis rubber with pimples-in (smooth surface), famous for its unique feel and exceptional spin potential. Developed using Spring Sponge and High Tension technologies, Tenergy 05’s tacky surface enables huge spin generation and ensures a high trajectory, making it suitable for aggressive attackers emphasizing topspin strokes as well as defenders seeking versatility. Since its release in 2008, Tenergy 05 has become the choice of professionals such as Timo Boll, Ma Long, Koki Niwa, and Joo Se Hyuk, and remains one of the best-selling rubbers worldwide. Made in Japan and ITTF approved, Tenergy 05 is ideal for players seeking spinny, powerful, and reliable shots, especially when playing with 40+ plastic balls.

Key Features:

• Rubber type: High tension pimples-in

• Speed: 83/100

• Spin: 76/100

• Trajectory: 79/100

• Sponge hardness: 36° (medium hardness)

• Sponge thickness: 1.7 mm, 1.9 mm, 2.1 mm

• Colors: Red, black

• Country of origin: Japan

• Certifications: ITTF approved

• Technologies: Spring Sponge, High Tension

Technology Highlights:

• Sponge (36°): Medium-hardness sponge (36° on Butterfly scale, close to 48° on ESN scale) known as Spring Sponge. It has an intense orange color and a unique combination of elasticity and hardness. This sponge prolongs ball contact time (dwell time), allowing maximum spin generation and ensuring stable rebound throughout the rubber's life without fast glues or boosters. Compared to Tackiness Chop II (41°), the Tenergy 05 sponge is slightly softer, offering more forgiveness and safety in looping shots, while maintaining enough hardness to avoid being easily “bottomed out.”

• Tacky Surface: The surface is slightly tacky with maximum friction optimized for spin. It grips the ball effectively, eliminating ball slippage, allowing strong topspin, backspin, and sidespin generation. Compared to Sriver FX, Tenergy 05’s surface is much tackier and more sensitive to incoming spin but maintains high control during spin shots. The surface is durable and wear-resistant but requires regular cleaning to maintain tackiness.

• Pimple Geometry: The pimples (coded No. 05) are medium-length, densely packed, optimized for speed (83/100), spin (76/100), and trajectory (79/100). Their close arrangement (compared to Tenergy 64 or Tenergy 80) increases ball contact, maximizing spin but making the rubber more sensitive to incoming spin. This structure facilitates all types of topspin strokes—from open-up loops to counter-topspins at or away from the table—as well as backspin chops and blocks. Compared to Tenergy 80, Tenergy 05 pimples generate more spin but less speed.

• High Tension Technology: The rubber is tensioned at the factory, enhancing elasticity and speed without extra boosters. Together with Spring Sponge, it creates a unique feel—firm yet lively—allowing players to feel the ball and precisely control stroke power. These technologies made Tenergy 05 the benchmark that others still try to replicate.

Available Sponge Thicknesses:
1.7 mm for maximum control and backhand use,
1.9 mm for balanced play,
2.1 mm for aggressive forehand attacks.

The rubber weighs about 49 g (trimmed), lighter than Hurricane 3 NEO (~53 g) but similar in weight to Tibhar Evolution MX-P (~51 g). Colors (red and black) meet ITTF standards. Butterfly recommends using Free Chack II glue when mounting the rubber.

Performance Metrics:

• Speed (83/100): Very fast rubber, suitable for powerful topspin strokes, counterattacks, and third-ball attacks at or away from the table. Compared to Sriver (speed 38/100), Tenergy 05 is significantly faster but remains controllable due to its high trajectory. Compared to Tenergy 64 (fastest in Tenergy series), Tenergy 05 is slightly slower but offers more spin.

• Spin (76/100): Generates exceptional spin in topspins, serves, and pushes due to tacky surface and dense pimples. Compared to Tackiness Chop II (spin 30/100), Tenergy 05’s spin is much higher, enabling looping shots difficult to return. Spin is effective for opening attacks, counter-topspins, and strong backspin serves.

• Control: Not explicitly rated, but Spring Sponge and High Tension ensure high control in looping and blocking despite the rubber’s speed and sensitivity to incoming spin. Compared to Sriver FX, Tenergy 05 is less forgiving and requires precise technique but offers more safety due to its high trajectory and arched flight curve.

• Trajectory (79/100): High and arched, suitable for topspins, looping strokes, and backspin chops. Trajectory is higher than Tackiness Drive (15/100), offering large margin for error and safety over the net, especially in looping away from the table. Users emphasize the rubber’s “spin potential,” “safety,” and “power,” especially in topspin rallies and third-ball attacks.

Compatibility with Blades:

Tenergy 05 is versatile, suitable for various blades, especially those emphasizing speed and spin:

• Butterfly Timo Boll ALC: Extreme power and spin, favored by Timo Boll.

• Butterfly Viscaria: Balanced speed and feel, ideal for aggressive looping.

• Butterfly Zhang Jike Super ZLC: Maximizes speed, for professional attackers.

• Butterfly Hadraw Shield: Defensive blade emphasizing backspin chops, used by Joo Se Hyuk.

• Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC: Control-oriented, good for all-round players.

It also fits stiff carbon blades like Nittaku Acoustic Carbon, as Spring Sponge provides feel and control, while High Tension utilizes blade speed. Users recommend 2.1 mm sponge for forehand to maximize speed and spin, and 1.9 mm for backhand for more control and fast counterattacks, as Ma Long did.

Target Players:

• Intermediate and advanced attackers aiming for topspin strokes, looping, and third-ball attacks.

• Professionals managing fast rallies close to or away from the table (e.g., Timo Boll, Lin Yun-Ju).

• Defenders seeking versatility on forehand side, performing backspin chops and counter-looping (e.g., Joo Se Hyuk).

• Play styles: Effective for opening topspins, counter-topspins, blocks, looping, counterattacks, and backspin chops.

• Serves and returns: Tackiness allows strong spin serves and precise returns but requires technique due to sensitivity to incoming spin.

User Ratings (out of 10):

• Looping: 9.5 — safe trajectory and spin potential.

• Third-ball attacks: 9.3 — power and accuracy.

• Blocking: 8.7 — stable but sensitive to incoming spin.

• Serves: 9.0 — strong spin, disruptive for opponents.

Compared to Tenergy 80, Tenergy 05 is spinnier but less versatile for fast flat shots. Users praise its “spin potential,” “safety,” and “confidence,” especially in looping and rallies.

Summary:

Butterfly Tenergy 05 stands as the spin rubber benchmark with:

• Speed (83/100) suitable for powerful topspins and counterattacks.

• Spin (76/100) outstanding in topspins, backspin, and serves.

• High control in looping and safe trajectory.

• Spring Sponge: Unique feel, prolonged ball contact, stable rebound.

• High Tension: Increased speed and elasticity.

• Japanese quality: ITTF approved, durable.

Compared to Hurricane 3 NEO, Tenergy 05 is lighter and more versatile for European playing style. Compared to Tibhar Evolution MX-P, it offers higher trajectory and more safety. Users highlight its “spin potential,” “power,” and “reliability,” especially among professionals and advanced players.

Use in Competitions:

ITTF approved and used by top pros like Timo Boll, Ma Long, Lin Yun-Ju, Omar Assar, and Joo Se Hyuk. Its spin potential dominates rallies with looping shots difficult to return. High trajectory and arched flight ensure safety in opening shots and counterattacks, while speed facilitates effective third-ball attacks. The rubber suits forehand and backhand for attackers and even forehand defenders like Joo Se Hyuk. Tenergy 05 remains a standard-setting rubber shaping modern table tennis.

Butterfly Tenergy 05

Butterfly Tenergy 05

Butterfly Tenergy 05