Sauer & Tröger Zargus is a professional-class table tennis rubber with short pips, designed for versatile players seeking balanced play with maximum control, high disruption effect, and precise ball placement. ITTF approved, this rubber’s medium-hard sponge (~47° on the ESN scale, calculated as Medium+) combined with the unique pip structure ensures balanced speed (85/100, ~10.5/20), good spin (87/100, ~8.7/20), and excellent control (97/100, ~12.5/20). The special pip geometry (densely arranged, wider necks than heads) creates a high disruption effect (87/100, ~8.7/10) and allows precise blocks, pressure pushes, and topspin strokes close to the table. Optimized for the plastic 40+ ball, Zargus offers the ideal balance between offensive and passive strokes, making it a great choice for players seeking versatility and control. Due to its light weight (~42 g trimmed) and durability, Sauer & Tröger Zargus is a high-quality option suitable for high-level competition.
Key Features:
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Rubber type: Short pips
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Rubber category: Allround (ALL)
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Characteristics: Allround (ALL)
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Speed: 85/100 (~10.5/20 on the general scale)
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Spin: 87/100 (~8.7/20 on the general scale)
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Control: 97/100 (~12.5/20 on the general scale)
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Störfaktor (disruption effect): 87/100 (~8.7/10)
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Accuracy: 9.0/10
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Trajectory: 7.5/10 (medium, suitable for blocks and topspin strokes)
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Sponge hardness: ~47° (medium-hard, according to ESN scale, calculated)
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Sponge type: Medium-hard (Medium+)
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Sponge thickness: 1.5 mm, 1.8 mm, 2.0 mm
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Cover type: Short pips, sticky, trimmed cone-shaped pips
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Pip dimensions: Densely arranged, wider necks than heads, larger diameter than Hass
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Colors: Red, black
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Country of origin: Germany
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Approvals: ITTF approved
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Weight: ~62 g (untrimmed, 180x170 mm), ~42 g (trimmed, Stiga standard, 157x150 mm)
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Technologies: Special pip geometry, optimized for 40+ balls
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Category: Allround (ALL)
Sauer & Tröger Zargus stands out with its unique construction combining a medium-hard sponge (~47° on the ESN scale) and densely arranged short pips, ensuring maximum control, disruption effect, and versatility:
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Sponge (~47°): The medium-hard sponge provides balanced speed (85/100) and excellent control (97/100), allowing precise ball handling in blocks, topspin strokes, and pressure pushes. Compared to Sauer & Tröger Hass (96/100 speed, 92/100 control), Zargus is slower but offers more control and forgiveness. Compared to JOOLA Express Ultra (~40°, 104/200 speed), Zargus’s sponge is harder, offering shorter dwell time but more control and precision. Compared to Butterfly Impartial XS (~41°), Zargus offers lower speed but higher control and disruption effect.
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Cover: Sticky short-pip cover with pips having wider necks than heads (trimmed cone shape) ensures good spin (87/100) and high disruption effect (87/100). The pips are densely arranged, and their larger diameter compared to Hass effectively reduces the speed and spin of incoming topspin strokes while generating strong spin on topspin or push strokes. Compared to Sauer & Tröger Hass (83/100 spin), Zargus offers slightly more spin and lower speed. Compared to TSP Spectol, Zargus’s cover is more controllable, enabling more precise strokes.
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Pip structure: Densely arranged, trimmed cone-shaped pips (wider necks than heads) are stiffer than Hass, ensuring high control (97/100) and disruption effect (87/100). This structure effectively stops topspin strokes by reducing their spin and allows precise blocks and pressure pushes. The pips compensate for imperfect player positioning, providing forgiveness and stability.
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Weight and durability: Sauer & Tröger Zargus is light (~42 g trimmed), similar to JOOLA Express Ultra (~42 g) and lighter than JOOLA MAXXX 500 (~45 g). This lightness allows pairing the rubber with heavier blades like Butterfly Timo Boll ALC without losing racket balance. The rubber is durable, maintaining its pip grip and elasticity even after intensive use, making it an economical choice.
The rubber is available in 1.5 mm, 1.8 mm, and 2.0 mm thicknesses, allowing selection between greater control (thinner sponge) and more power (thicker sponge). Colors — red and black — meet ITTF standards. Recommended to use water-based glues such as Sauer & Tröger Glue or JOOLA Lex Glue when mounting the rubber.
Technical indicators and gameplay characteristics:
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Speed (85/100, ~10.5/20): Sauer & Tröger Zargus is a medium-speed rubber suitable for counterattacks, pressure pushes, blocks, and topspin strokes close to the table. Compared to Sauer & Tröger Hass (96/100 speed), Zargus is slower but offers more control (97/100). Compared to Butterfly Impartial XS (~10/20), speed is similar, but Zargus offers more precision and forgiveness.
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Spin (87/100, ~8.7/20): Thanks to the sticky cover and densely arranged pips, the rubber generates good spin on topspin strokes, pressure pushes, and serves, especially on backspin or low-spin balls. Compared to Sauer & Tröger Hass (83/100), Zargus offers slightly higher spin. Compared to TSP Spectol (~8/20), Zargus offers similar spin but more control and disruption effect.
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Control (97/100, ~12.5/20): The medium-hard sponge (~47°) and stiff pips ensure excellent control, especially when blocking, counterattacking, and pressure pushing. Compared to Sauer & Tröger Hass (92/100), control is higher, making Zargus suitable for players seeking forgiveness. Compared to JOOLA Express Ultra (83/200), control is significantly higher, making Zargus more versatile.
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Störfaktor (disruption effect, 87/100, ~8.7/10): The rubber generates a high disruption effect, especially when blocking and pressure pushing, making it difficult for the opponent to predict ball spin and speed. Compared to Sauer & Tröger Hass (83/100), Zargus’s disruption effect is slightly higher, especially on topspin balls.
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Trajectory (7.5/10): Medium arcing trajectory, suitable for blocks, topspin strokes, and pressure pushes close to the table. Compared to Sauer & Tröger Hass (8/10), trajectory is slightly lower, facilitating precise blocks and flat strokes. The trajectory is stable when blocking, suitable for effective blocks against topspin strokes.
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Accuracy (9.0/10): High accuracy allows players to direct the ball to the desired spot on the table, especially when blocking, pressure pushing, and topspin stroking.
Gameplay aspects:
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Blocking: 9.5/10 – Sauer & Tröger Zargus is highly effective at blocking topspin and fast strokes close to the table, absorbing spin and ensuring stability and precision. Densely arranged pips compensate for imprecise positioning, providing forgiveness.
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Counter-hitting: 9.3/10 – The rubber allows fast counterattacks close to the table, especially on non-spin or backspin balls, generating precise strokes with disruption effect.
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Pressure pushes: 9.4/10 – The rubber is effective in aggressive pushes on backspin or non-spin balls, generating strong spin and disruption effect that interrupts the opponent’s play rhythm.
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Topspin strokes: 9.2/10 – Zargus enables topspin strokes on backspin or low-spin balls, generating good spin and precise trajectory.
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Flat strokes (smashing): 9.0/10 – Suitable for flat strokes producing fast and precise trajectories, especially close to the table.
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Serves and returns: 9.1/10 – Serves generate good spin, especially side spin, suitable for disruption play. Passive returns (9.4/10) are stable due to reduced spin effect, and active returns (9.0/10) are effective due to speed and control.
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Flick strokes: 9.0/10 – Banana flick strokes are effective due to the sticky cover facilitating topspin on backspin balls.
Compatibility with blades:
Sauer & Tröger Zargus suits various blades, especially those emphasizing control, spin, and versatile play:
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Sauer & Tröger Hellfire X: Provides control and disruptive effect, suitable for technical players.
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Butterfly Innerforce Layer ALC: Balances speed and control, suitable for counter-attacks.
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Nittaku Acoustic Carbon: Offers good feel, suitable for topspin strokes and pressing pushes.
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Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive: Maximizes speed, suitable for flat hits.
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Donic Ovtcharov True Carbon: Provides dynamics, suitable for counter-attacks.
Due to its light weight (~42 g trimmed), Sauer & Tröger Zargus pairs well with heavier blades like Butterfly Timo Boll ALC or Stiga Carbonado 145 without losing racket balance. Users recommend using this rubber on the forehand or backhand side with a sponge thickness of 1.8 mm or 2.0 mm for balanced speed and control, or 1.5 mm sponge for more control.
Additional information:
Sauer & Tröger Zargus stands out for its ability to balance offensive and passive strokes, ensuring high control (97/100) and disruptive effect (87/100). Compared to Sauer & Tröger Hass (96/100 speed, 92/100 control), Zargus is slower but offers more control and forgiveness, suitable for a wider range of players. Compared to JOOLA Express Ultra (104/200 speed, 83/200 control), Zargus offers less speed but significantly more control and disruptive effect. Compared to TSP Spectol, Zargus is more controllable and precise, especially when blocking and performing pressing pushes. The rubber is durable, maintaining its grip and elasticity even after intensive use, making it an economical choice. Users emphasize the rubber’s "excellent control," "high disruptive effect," "precise trajectory," and "versatility," especially for those who enjoy counter-attacks, blocks, and pressing pushes close to the table. Additionally, Zargus is suitable for players seeking an alternative to other short-pip rubbers like TSP Spectol or Yasaka Rakza PO, but with a unique German feel and balanced gameplay.
Who is Sauer & Tröger Zargus suitable for?
Sauer & Tröger Zargus is designed for players seeking balanced play with control and disruptive effect:
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Advanced and intermediate players: Looking for a versatile short-pips rubber suitable for forehand or backhand.
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All-round players: Emphasizing counter-attacks, blocks, pressing pushes, topspin strokes, and short play near the table.
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Close-to-the-table play: Effective for blocking, counter-attacks, pressing pushes, and topspin strokes.
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Service and reception: Allows generating good spin on serves (9.1/10) and is effective in passive (9.4/10) and active reception (9.0/10).
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Players seeking control and versatility: Optimal for precisely directing the ball with minimal errors.
Advantages of Sauer & Tröger Zargus:
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Speed (10.5/20): Moderate speed, suitable for counter-attacks, pressing pushes, and topspin strokes.
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Spin (8.7/20): Good spin for a short-pips rubber, suitable for topspin and pressing pushes.
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Control (12.5/20): Excellent control, forgiving due to stiff pimples and medium-hard sponge.
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Disruptive effect (8.7/10): High disruptive effect, disturbing opponents with spin and speed.
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Accuracy (9.0/10): High precision, reducing shot dispersion.
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Lightweight: ~42 g (trimmed), suitable for pairing with heavier blades.
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Durability: Maintains properties after intensive use.
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Unique pimple geometry: Maximizes control and disruptive effect.
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High quality: ITTF approved, suitable for high-level competition.
Compared to Sauer & Tröger Hass, Zargus offers less speed but more control and forgiveness. Compared to TSP Spectol, Zargus is more controllable and precise. Users emphasize the rubber’s "excellent control," "high disruptive effect," "precise trajectory," and "versatility," especially for all-round players. Sauer & Tröger Zargus is ITTF approved and suitable for high-level competitions, especially for intermediate and advanced players focusing on control, disruptive effect, and versatile play. Its balance of speed, spin, and control allows for precise blocks, effective pressing pushes, topspin strokes, and counter-attacks, while the special pimple geometry ensures exceptional feel and performance.
Sauer & Tröger Zargus – control, disruption, and German craftsmanship!