Nittaku Fastarc G-1 Evaluation • Racket Perception

The Nittaku Fastarc G-1 is without doubt one of the hottest rubbers on the earth.

Between 2019 and 2021 it was the best-selling rubber on tabletennis11.com. What made this rubber the most well-liked for 3 years in a row?

Properly, the overwhelming majority of desk tennis gamers have an offensive type and search for rubbers which have excessive velocity and spin values ​​with good consistency. That’s precisely what the Fastarc G-1 gives.

I’ve gone via 3 sheets of the Nittaku Fastarc G-1 and might confidently say that the rubber is without doubt one of the greatest choices available in the market for offensive gamers, not solely due to its efficiency but in addition due to its excellent worth for cash.

In regards to the Reviewer

Alvaro brings 7+ years of taking part in expertise. He’s examined 20+ rubbers for Racket Perception and his type is The Controller.

In regards to the Evaluation

Blade Used: Stratus Energy Wooden
Rubber Thickness: 2.0mm
Hours Examined: 10+

Really helpful Playstyles

We suggest the Fastarc G-1 to gamers who need to assault their opponents with quick, spinny, high-arcing loops and counterloops.

Design of the Nittaku Fastarc G-1

The Nittaku Fastarc G-1 is available in a blue and gilt-sealed bundle.

Inside, we are able to discover the rubber. 

We bought a 2.0mm “Tremendous Thick” black Fastarc G-1 particularly for this overview. 

If we rub our fingers throughout the rubber, we discover that it’s barely cheesy, across the similar degree because the MX-P or Rakza 7. 

Nevertheless, like most European rubbers, this rubber depends extra on its grip than on its tack to spin the ball.

The Fastarc G-1 consists of a shiny, extraordinarily grippy floor and a porous orange sponge.

Additionally, if we flip the rubber the other way up, we’ll discover that it has a great deal of inbuilt pressure, and the sides curl in direction of the middle of the rubber. That is frequent to see on high-performance offensive rubbers.

The Fastarc G-1 weighs in at 49 grams, which is analogous to or lighter than different rubbers on this hardness vary, such because the Rasanter R47 (49 grams), the Yasaka Rakza 7 (50 grams), the Tibhar Evolution MX-P (51 grams) and the Yasaka Rakza Z (53 grams).

Talking of rubber hardness, the Nittaku Fastarc G-1’s sponge hardness is 47.5°, making it a medium-hard rubber.

One other factor I need to point out concerning the Nittaku Fastarc G-1 is its sturdiness.

Having gone via 3 sheets of it myself, I can attest to this rubber’s wonderful sturdiness. I’d go so far as to say that it’s the most sturdy ESN rubber I’ve ever had. 

For me, forehand rubbers have a tendency to wear down shortly compared to my backhand rubbers, as I hit extra typically and with extra energy on my forehand facet.

A Fastarc G-1 rubber normally final me round 6 months in good situation. I contemplate this to be exceptional.

The Yasaka Rakza 7 and the Rakza Z final me round 4 months, whereas the Tibhar Evolution MX-P solely lasts me round 6 weeks.

If we issue within the value of the Fastarc G-1, which is even decrease than the MX-P, we are able to perceive that this rubber is unimaginable worth for cash.

The sturdiness of the Fastarc G-1 is much like that of the Tenergy line. 

Tenergy rubbers drop off in efficiency very slowly and even once they’re worn out, they nonetheless grip the ball.

The identical factor occurs with the G-1, it drops off very slowly in efficiency and it’s nonetheless usable after many months of intensive utilization. 

The topsheet has actually exceptional ranges of grip, and ball slippage is non-existent when the rubber is new or just a few months previous.

Specs

• Weight (Minimize): 49g
• Velocity: Excessive
• Spin: Excessive
• Management: Medium
• Tackiness: Barely Cheesy
• Hardness: Medium-Exhausting
• ITTF Accepted: Sure
• Sponge Thickness: 1.4mm, 1.8mm, 2.0mm, or MAX

Abstract: Be proactive and outplay your opponents with this constant, quick, spinny European rubber.

Playtesting the Nittaku Fastarc G-1

I used all three sheets of the Nittaku Fastarc G-1 on my forehand facet.

This rubber will also be used on the backhand facet when you can hit onerous sufficient, however I personally desire softer rubbers than this one.

The factor that makes the Fastarc G-1 so distinctive is its excessive throw. This attribute makes it play like few different rubbers and offers this rubber some key benefits (and one drawback).

I discovered that to make use of the Fastarc G-1 to its fullest potential, it is best to contact the ball thinly when going for powerloops.

For those who’re going to play a high-power shot, you have to graze the highest of the ball, or in any other case, you’ll overshoot the desk. This rubber isn’t your best option for hit-loopers as a result of its excessive throw will make these gamers ship the ball lengthy.

This rubber works nice for gamers who’ve a ahead looping movement somewhat than a vertical movement, and it additionally favors gamers who play with a closed racket angle.

With rubbers such because the Hurricane 3 NEO, you may hit with a vertical movement and a comparatively open angle and the ball will go in with tons of spin.

In order for you spin with the Fastarc G-1, it’s all about closing the racket angle.

The topsheet has tons of grip and the rubber’s throw is tremendous excessive, so you may contact on high of the ball and it’ll go in.

Round 90% of my misses with this rubber have been from overshooting the desk or sending it extensive, and 10% or much less from dumping the ball into the online.

As for velocity and spin, this rubber behaves like a median European tensor rubber. It has sufficient velocity and spin for each degree of play, together with superior ranges.

The Nittaku Fastarc G-1 is significantly quicker and better throwing than the Yasaka Rakza 7, quicker however not greater throwing than the Rakza Z, ever so barely quicker than the Donic Baracuda and round as quick because the Rasanter R47.

It doesn’t have the efficiency ranges of the Tenergy line, the Dignics line, or an MX-P, nevertheless it’s much more controllable. I’d say the Tibhar Evolution MX-P is round 20% quicker and spinnier than the Fastarc G-1. The MX-P can be extra direct and has a decrease throw.

Driving and looping

As a result of the Nittaku Fastarc G-1 has manageable quantities of velocity and spin and a really excessive throw, the primary attribute of this rubber is its security.

If something, the one actual hazard is overshooting the desk, which could be corrected with slight technical changes.

The Nittaku Fastarc G-1 behaves very effectively when driving the ball as its excessive throw provides drives tons of security and management. 

The one factor that the Fastarc G-1 might use with reference to driving is a little more velocity. 

The perfect factor concerning the Fastarc G-1 is its looping capabilities.

The Fastarc G-1 makes it straightforward to place lots of topspin on the ball whereas sustaining tons of security as a consequence of its excessive arc.

Loops journey with superb energy and are very constant. In contrast to with the MX-P or with ultra-fast tensors, I really feel like I can get as many loops on the desk as I need with the Fastarc G-1.

I believe the Fastarc G-1 is a very good coaching rubber as a consequence of its consistency. This rubber induces confidence within the participant due to its grip and arc. 

It’s onerous to overlook the desk, and once you do miss it, it’s fairly clear why: most instances you’ll overshoot the desk since you contacted the ball too thickly otherwise you hit upwards somewhat than forwards.

You’ll by no means have to fret about clearing the online due to the Fastarc’s immense grip and excessive arc.

The Fastarc G-1’s excessive arc additionally helps when performing counterspin pictures, each near the desk and away from the desk.

Near the desk, the Fastarc has tons of security, much more than with rubbers with a flatter throw such because the Rasanter R47.

With rubbers such because the Rasanter, it’s important to get the timing good to clear the online and never overshoot. 

With the Fastarc, the ball will go up, then down, as an alternative of touring with a flat trajectory. This, added to the rubber’s hardness and velocity ranges makes it a complete lot simpler to land countertopspin pictures.

I additionally loved utilizing the Fastarc G-1 away from the desk.

It’s not as quick as an MX-P, for instance, however given its excessive throw, it behaves significantly better than rubbers at its velocity class, just like the Rasanter R47.

The very last thing I’d like to say with reference to looping with this rubber is that it behaves quite a bit higher in match play than I anticipated.

Attributable to its grip ranges and excessive throw, it’s tremendous straightforward to choose up low balls, raise underspin balls and play tough angles.

I felt a complete lot extra assured when pivoting with my forehand as a result of even when I caught the ball on its approach down, I might nonetheless get the ball on the desk 9/10 instances.

This can be a shot that quicker and decrease throwing rubbers wrestle with, such because the MX-P and the Rasanter R47.

For those who wished to hit a ball that’s round desk top with the MX-P, it’d be a complete lot more durable to get it on the desk due to its excessive velocity and medium throw angle.

This enabled me to really feel far more assured with my forehand and to execute numerous onerous pictures with relative ease in match conditions.

The velocity degree and the arc of the Fastarc G-1 make it an extremely secure and constant rubber.

The very last thing I observed with the Fastarc G-1 is that I acquired balls at the next top than I used to be used to.

Attributable to this rubber’s excessive spin and excessive arc, my opponent’s blocks got here again to me greater than regular. 

This helped me capitalize on extra probabilities than with different rubbers, as I had a better margin of error.

Serve and obtain

By way of serve and obtain, the Fastarc G-1 is a good rubber.

Beginning with the serves, the Fastarc G-1 has tons of grip and it’s very straightforward to imprint numerous spin on the ball. 

My serves stayed shorter than with the MX-P and had extra spin than with the R47.

I additionally discovered the Fastarc G-1 incredible at receiving the ball. It’s fairly straightforward to play out the brief sport with pushes and it’s additionally straightforward to flick the ball. 

It’s not quick to the purpose you lose management nevertheless it’s additionally not gradual to the purpose that your flicks don’t have energy.

The one factor I observed is that my receives are likely to pop up a bit extra with this rubber so I needed to angle my racket a bit much less to counteract its excessive throw.

Blocking and chopping 

Blocking with the Fastarc G-1 is nice. 

The rubber feels agency and secure and it has the proper velocity for blocking. Once more, it’s not quick to the purpose you lose management however not gradual to the purpose that your blocks aren’t harmful.

Blocks do journey greater than regular due to the rubber’s excessive throw, although.

Chopping with this rubber was higher than common. 

I discovered that if I caught the ball between waist and knee top, this rubber was nice for chopping.

The Fastarc G-1 produced tons of spin and acquired the ball to clear the online much more simply than with flatter throwing rubbers.

It is very important point out, although, that chops with this rubber needs to be performed at a low top.

For those who contact the ball greater than waist top, your chops will certainly pop up.

Various to the Nittaku Fastarc G-1

Total reflections on the Nittaku Fastarc G-1

Earlier than this overview, I had already used 2 sheets of Fastarc G-1, and I’ll maintain this third one on my most important racket.

The primary promoting factors of this rubber are its consistency, its excessive throw, its velocity, and its spin.

Nevertheless, what I discover differentiates the Fastarc G-1 from different rubbers at a sensible degree is its worth and its sturdiness.

There are extra superior and extra highly effective rubbers on the market such because the Tibhar Evolution MX-P or the Butterfly Tenergy 05. 

The factor is, the MX-P lasts little or no whereas the Tenergy 05 is double the price of a Fastarc G-1.

This all explains why the Fastarc G-1 is so in style. 

There are many nice offensive rubbers available in the market, however no different rubber is as fairly priced, lasts as lengthy, and is from such a good model as Nittaku.

Alvaro’s been taking part in Desk Tennis since he was 15 and is now ranked throughout the high 100 in his native Argentina. He likes to compete in provincial tournaments and is at all times in search of methods to enhance. Alvaro made his favorite recollections with a racket in hand, and he joined the RacketInsight staff to share his ardour with different gamers!

Blade: Butterfly Fan Zhendong ALC | Forehand: Butterfly Dignics 05 | Backhand: Butterfly Rozena
Playstyle: The Controller