Yasaka Rakza PO is a high-quality short-pips offensive table tennis rubber developed by the Japanese manufacturer Yasaka, designed for players who excel in fast-paced close-to-the-table play. ITTF-approved, this rubber features a unique short-pips structure with a tacky natural rubber topsheet, combined with a medium-hard (~42.5°) Power Sponge, ensuring explosive speed, strong spin, and disruptive blocks. With a 2.0 mm thickness, Yasaka Rakza PO boasts high speed (80/100, ~10.0/20), good spin for a short-pips rubber (53/100, ~6.6/20), and stable control (63/100, ~7.9/20), making it an ideal choice for aggressive players seeking fast counterattacks, precise blocking, and spin-generating shots. The rubber stands out with its low-arc trajectory, disruptive blocks, and excellent short-game control, making it suitable for attacking players, especially on the forehand side, as used by 2019 World Vice-Champion Mattias Falck. Yasaka Rakza PO is all about speed, spin, and disruptive attacking!

Key Features:

• Rubber Type: Short Pimples (Short Pips)

• Sponge Hardness: Medium-hard (~42.5°)

• Sponge Thickness: 2.0 mm

• Speed: 80/100 (~10.0/20 on the general scale)

• Control: 63/100 (~7.9/20 on the general scale)

• Spin: 53/100 (~6.6/20 on the general scale)

• Top Sheet Properties: Tacky natural rubber surface, unique pip geometry, low-arc trajectory, disruptive effect

• Technologies: Hybrid Energy, Power Sponge

• Color: Red, Black (top sheet)

• Country of Origin: Japan

• Certifications: ITTF-approved

• Suitability: Fast counterattacks, disruptive blocking, topspin shots, serves, flick shots, close-to-the-table play

Yasaka Rakza PO distinguishes itself with its unique short-pips structure, tacky surface, and medium-hard sponge, making it ideal for players seeking speed, spin, and a disruptive effect:

• Top Sheet Composition: The tacky natural rubber top sheet, made using Hybrid Energy technology along with a specialized short-pips geometry, ensures strong grip, allowing for more spin generation than traditional short-pips rubbers. The surface enables spin-oriented serves, topspin shots, and precise flicks. Compared to Yasaka Rakza 7 (~45° sponge, ~10.9/20 speed), Rakza PO offers slightly lower speed (~10.0/20), less spin (~6.6/20 vs. ~11.0/20), and similar control (~7.9/20), but provides a disruptive effect and lower trajectory typical of short pips.

• Sponge: The medium-hard (~42.5°) Power Sponge ensures a stable and solid feel, facilitating flat hits, fast drives, and disruptive blocks. The sponge delivers explosive speed while maintaining control in fast rallies. Compared to Yasaka Rakza 7 Soft (~40° sponge, ~10.5/20 speed), Rakza PO offers similar speed (~10.0/20), less spin (~6.6/20 vs. ~11.0/20), and comparable control (~7.9/20 vs. ~8.4/20), but is more focused on speed and disruptive play. Compared to Friendship 729 FX (~40° sponge, ~6.0/20 spin), Rakza PO provides more spin and better stability.

• Hybrid Energy & Power Sponge Technologies: Hybrid Energy combines the tacky top sheet with the medium-hard sponge, creating a synergistic effect that enhances spin and speed while maintaining stability. The low-arc trajectory (7.5/10) facilitates disruptive blocks and fast drives, while the Power Sponge delivers an explosive feel suited for fast attacks. Compared to Butterfly Tenergy 05 (~36° sponge, ~15.0/20 spin), Rakza PO offers less spin but higher speed (~10.0/20 vs. ~11.8/20) and a disruptive effect typical of short pips.

• Spin & Trajectory: The tacky surface and unique pip geometry produce a lower arc (7.5/10) compared to Yasaka Rakza 7 (9.0/10), making it suitable for fast hits, disruptive blocks, and precise counterattacks. The rubber is effective in generating spin on serves and topspin shots compared to other short-pips rubbers. Compared to Donic Bluefire JP 01 (~9.0/10 trajectory), Rakza PO has a lower arc but more spin in the short-pips category.

• Control: Due to the tacky surface and medium-hard sponge, the rubber provides good control, especially in short-game play, serves, passive returns, and disruptive blocks. Compared to Yasaka Rakza X (~8.8/20 control), Rakza PO offers slightly less control (~7.9/20) but greater speed and a disruptive effect.

Technical Specifications & Playing Characteristics:

• Speed (80/100, ~10.0/20): Yasaka Rakza PO is a fast short-pips rubber, ideal for flat hits, drives, counterattacks, and disruptive blocks close to the table. The Power Sponge ensures explosive speed, allowing players to pressure opponents. Compared to Yasaka Rakza 7 (~10.9/20 speed), Rakza PO is slightly slower but more disruptive. Compared to Friendship 729 FX (~9.0/20 speed), Rakza PO offers higher speed and more spin.

• Control (63/100, ~7.9/20): The tacky surface and medium-hard sponge ensure good control, particularly in short-game play, serves, passive returns, and disruptive blocks. Compared to Yasaka Rakza 7 Soft (~8.4/20 control), Rakza PO offers slightly less control but more speed and disruption. Compared to Butterfly Tenergy 05 (~12.0/20 control), control is lower, but handling is more stable in fast short-pips play.

• Spin (53/100, ~6.6/20): The tacky surface and unique pip geometry generate strong spin for a short-pips rubber, especially on serves, topspin shots, and flicks. Compared to Donic Bluefire JP 01 (~10.0/20 spin), spin is lower, but control is easier, and the disruptive effect is stronger. Compared to Friendship 729 FX (~6.0/20 spin), Rakza PO provides more spin and better stability.

• Trajectory (7.5/10): The low-arc trajectory facilitates disruptive blocks, flat hits, and fast counterattacks. Compared to Yasaka Rakza 7 (9.0/10 trajectory), Rakza PO has a lower arc, making it better for aggressive close-to-the-table shots. When blocking, the trajectory is low and disruptive, making it harder for opponents to counter.

• Sponge Thickness: The 2.0 mm thickness ensures a balanced combination of speed, control, and spin, making it ideal for fast close-to-the-table attacks.

Playing Aspects:

• Topspin Shots (8.8/10): The rubber is effective in executing topspin shots, especially on the forehand, due to the tacky surface and unique pip geometry, which generate more spin than traditional short-pips rubbers. Suitable for opening shots against backspin balls.

• Blocking (9.5/10): Highly effective in blocking topspin shots close to the table, thanks to the low trajectory and disruptive effect, making it difficult for opponents to counter.

• Pressure Push (8.9/10): Allows precise pushes against backspin or dead balls, especially due to the tacky surface’s spin potential.

• Counter-Hitting (9.4/10): Extremely effective for fast counterattacks close to the table, particularly due to the Power Sponge’s explosive speed and stability.

• Attacking Shots (Smashing) (9.5/10): Effective in flat hits and drives, generating fast and low-trajectory shots with high power.

• Serves & Receives (9.0/10): Allows precise control on serves (9.0/10) and is effective in passive receives (9.0/10) and active receives (8.9/10) due to spin and control.

• Flick Shots (9.2/10): Banana flicks are easy to execute due to the tacky surface and medium-hard sponge, ensuring accuracy and spin.

Compatibility with Blades:

Yasaka Rakza PO pairs well with fast and all-round blades that complement its speed, spin, and disruptive effect:

• Nittaku Eto 2025 Snake (~13.0/20 speed, OFF+): Enhances the rubber’s speed and disruptive effect, ideal for forehand play by aggressive players.

• Donic Skachkov Carbospeed (~13.1/20 speed, OFF+): Complements the rubber’s explosive power, suitable for forehand fast attacks.

• DHS Q968 Hurricane King National (~12.9/20 speed, OFF+): Provides an excellent balance of speed and spin, suitable for forehand play.

• Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC (~12.8/20 speed, OFF+): Enhances the rubber’s speed and stability, ideal for aggressive players like Mattias Falck.

• Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive (~11.5/20 speed, OFF): Perfect for players emphasizing spin and fast attacks.

It is recommended to use Rakza PO 2.0 mm on the forehand side with faster blades (e.g., Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC), as used by Mattias Falck, to maximize speed and disruptive potential. Due to the rubber’s speed and low trajectory, choosing a blade that enhances control and stability is important, especially if used as an all-round rubber on the backhand.

Additional Information:

Yasaka Rakza PO is a unique short-pips rubber developed in collaboration with World Vice-Champion Mattias Falck, utilizing Hybrid Energy technology that combines a tacky natural rubber top sheet with a medium-hard Power Sponge, ensuring speed, spin, and a disruptive effect. Compared to Yasaka Rakza 7 (~10.9/20 speed, ~11.0/20 spin), Rakza PO offers slightly lower speed (~10.0/20) and spin (~6.6/20) but a stronger disruptive effect and lower trajectory, making it ideal for fast close-to-the-table attacks. Compared to Friendship 729 FX (~9.0/20 speed, ~6.0/20 spin), Rakza PO provides more spin and higher speed, making it a modern short-pips alternative. Users highlight the rubber’s "explosive speed," "disruptive blocks," "spin potential on serves," and "durability," but note that it requires proper technique to fully utilize its spin potential. The rubber is long-lasting and offers excellent value for money, making it suitable for players seeking speed and disruption. Regular cleaning with a specialized cleaner (e.g., Yasaka Rubber Cleaner) and protective film use are recommended to prevent damage. ITTF-approved, Yasaka Rakza PO is suitable for high-level competition, especially for players emphasizing speed, disruption, and spin in short-pips play.

Who is Yasaka Rakza PO For?

Yasaka Rakza PO is designed for players seeking speed, disruption, and spin:

• Advanced players (2–15+ years of experience): Those looking for a fast short-pips rubber with spin potential, especially on the forehand.

• Fast close-to-the-table attackers: Players emphasizing flat hits, drives, disruptive blocks, and flicks.

• Players seeking spin in short-pips rubbers: Suitable for generating spin on serves and topspin shots.

• Close-to-the-table play: Effective in fast hits, disruptive blocks, serves, and flicks.

• Serves & receives: Allows precise serve control (9.0/10) and is effective in passive (9.0/10) and active (8.9/10) receives.

• Players seeking a disruptive effect: Optimal for those who want a rubber with a low trajectory and strong attacking potential.

Advantages of Yasaka Rakza PO:

• Speed (10.0/20): High speed, suitable for flat hits, drives, counterattacks, and disruptive blocking.

• Control (7.9/20): Good control, especially in short-game play, serves, passive returns, and blocks.

• Spin (6.6/20): Strong spin for a short-pips rubber, particularly on serves, topspin shots, and flicks.

• Trajectory (7.5/10): Low arc, facilitating disruptive blocks and fast attacks.

• Hybrid Energy technology: Combines a tacky surface with Power Sponge for speed and spin.

• Unique pip geometry: Provides more spin and disruption.

• Durability: Natural rubber top sheet ensures long lifespan.

• Value for money: Affordable for its high quality and performance.

• High quality: ITTF-approved, suitable for high-level competition.

Compared to Yasaka Rakza 7, Rakza PO offers slightly lower speed and spin but a stronger disruptive effect and lower trajectory, making it better for fast close-to-the-table attacks. Compared to Friendship 729 FX, it provides more spin and speed, making it a modern alternative. Yasaka Rakza PO is ITTF-approved, ideal for high-level play, especially for players emphasizing speed, disruption, and spin in short-pips play. Its Hybrid Energy technology and unique pip geometry ensure exceptional performance and feel. Yasaka Rakza PO is all about speed, spin, and disruptive attacking!

Yasaka Rakza PO

Yasaka Rakza PO

Yasaka Rakza PO