Recently I have been testing the TIBHAR Evolution EL-P rubber.
EL-P has been around for a long time, having launched in 2013. But it has been overshadowed by the huge success of the TIBHAR Evolution MX-P rubber (max power).
But of all the rubbers I have tested over the years, it’s quite possibly one of the best for intermediate players.
In this review, I explain more about the playing characteristics of EL-P, why I rate it so highly and what sort of player should consider using it.
The Elastic Middle Ground
There are four TIBHAR Evolution ‘Power’ rubbers. There is FX-P (flexible power), which is a soft rubber. There is MX-P and MX-P 50 (max power), which are hard rubbers. And then there is ‘EL-P’ (elastic power), which sits nicely in the middle.
EL-P has a medium sponge hardness of 42°-44°, which means the ball doesn’t catapult out too fast, but there is enough spring to help you develop decent spin shots. This is ideal for players who are developing their topspin technique.
For example, when you are developing your loop against backspin, your stroke mechanics are not always going to be perfect. With the EL-P, the slightly softer, highly elastic sponge allows the ball to sink deeply into the rubber surface. This prolonged contact gives you a high, safe arc over the net.
Speed
The speed of EL-P is slightly better than average. It’s not the fastest rubber, but also not the slowest. It sits nicely in the middle, which is ideal for developing players. I find my attacking shots have decent enough speed and there is that extra gear if I really go for it.
But EL-P is not super fast out of the box. You need to put some effort in to find that top gear. On the plus side, this means EL-P is quite forgiving for technique which isn’t fully formed. You will be able to keep more balls on the table compared to a rubber with lots of speed and catapult.
Speed score = 7 / 10
Spin
The spin is quite impressive. The top sheet has decent levels of grip, similar to the other power rubbers FX-P and MX-P. I can feel the rubber pick up the ball and create rotation. The throw angle is medium-to-high, which makes it suitable for many developing players. It gives a nice safety margin when doing topspin vs backspin and also in topspin to topspin exchanges.
The rubber automatically adds height to my topspin shots, ensuring the ball safely clears the net even when out of position. Upon bouncing, the high-spin arc translates into a forward-jumping kick. This makes the trajectory challenging for opponents to block.
Spin score = 8/10
Control
EL-P has high levels of control. Blocking is really easy. Its medium sponge hardness acts as a natural dampener when I return high speed topspins, preventing the ball from overshooting the table.
When pushing, I find it easy to control the depth – either keeping the ball short or doing a more aggressive long push.
EL-P also performs well when returning serves. Again, that natural dampener helps absorb some of the incoming service spin. I don’t have to work as hard in getting serves back, compared to faster rubbers.
Control = 9/10
Who should use EL-P?
TIBHAR Evolution EL-P is an excellent allround rubber. It has decent speed, impressive spin and excellent control. It’s an ideal rubber for any intermediate level player who is developing a more aggressive, spin-based attacking game. With its generous throw angle, you will feel confident of landing lots of topspin shots and it will help prepare you to play with a faster rubber in the future.
But EL-P isn’t just a rubber for intermediate players. If you’re an advanced player who has a more controlled style on one wing, this may be an ideal choice. It will allow you to push and block with high levels of consistency, but still give you enough penetration when choosing to attack.
EL-P could also work well for mid-distance attackers, as the elastic sponge provides enough power and a high arc to safely guide the ball over the net.
TIBHAR Evolution EL-P is available to buy from Bribar Table Tennis.
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