Nittaku Hammond Z2 Special Version

A Moderately Fast and Soft Control Rubber

     In this post, I am reviewing the Nittaku Hammond Z2 Special Version (Z2S), i.e., the softer version of the regular version of the Nittaku Hammond Z2. 

     Nittaku describes the regular Z2 as having a fantastic sponge – capable of creating maximal power and a strong repulsive force, while reducing energy loss – and a topsheet that is constructed using a high proportion of natural rubber, which supposedly gives it high grippiness. Nittaku rates Z2 at 16.0 in speed and 13.0 in spin, as compared to corresponding ratings of 16.5/13.5 for the Nittaku GeneXTion, 15.0/12.5 for the Nittaku FastArc G-1, and 14.75/15.0 for the Nittaku Hurricane Pro 3 Turbo Orange. I was unable to find separate ratings for the Z2S, but given that it is a softer version of the Z2, it stands to reason that the Z2S will be a little slower than the Z2. 

    The Z2S, which is made in Japan, arrives in a glitzy gold-on-red cardboard wrapper, which lists the rubber name on the front and provides a brief description of the regular Z2 on the back. A little, white, rectangular sticker, written in Japanese, presumably clarifies that this is the special version of the Z2. Inside the wrapper, you’ll find the Z2S covered with a simple paper sheet. In what I consider a very nice touch, Nittaku provides a sheet of their high-quality adhesive plastic film that you can use to protect the rubber following game play. The Z2S has a strong rubbery scent, indicating that it is factory-boosted. The pimples are clearly visible below the matte black topsheet, which is grippy but not sticky. The wine-red sponge is medium-soft and has a high density of tiny pores. The Z2S weighs ~67 grams uncut (168 mm x 168 mm, width x height) and 48 grams when cut to the 158 mm x 151 mm test blade, which renders it on the lighter side compared to many other recent rubbers.    

Testing Procedure

    I evaluated the Z2S (black, max) using the Tibhar Szocs Signature 1 7-ply all-wood blade with Spinlord Waran II or Spinlord Mantikor short pips in my BH. I attached the brand-new Z2S onto the blade using two layers of the Revolution 3 normal viscosity glue. I tested the set-up over 4-5 sessions, playing a mix of regular and match-like drills against my regular high-level practice partner (two-winged looper) and practice matches against intermediate-level clubmates, using Neottec Neoplast Pro 40+ training balls.

Playing Impressions for the Z2S

Driving

   Doing FH warm-up drives revealed that the Z2S is a light and moderately fast (OFF- range) rubber with excellent control values. Thus, I enjoyed excellent consistency on my warm-up FH drives, which seemed to have a high throw angle but merely a medium-long trajectory. The Z2S feels and plays like a rather soft rubber. More aggressive FH drives activate a trajectory-lengthening catapult effect and are accompanied by a very noticeable and satisfying clicking sound. 

Looping

    The Z2S performs very predictably on FH warm-up loops played with medium effort. The topsheet grips the ball well to produce a high arc with a medium-long trajectory, resulting in excellent consistency and clearance over the net. However, my practice partner remarked that my warm-up loops seemed slightly slower and less spinny than usual. 

    My FH 3rd ball attacks against long pushes seemed to be loaded with spin, especially when striking the ball with medium effort in the descending phase. Full effort FH loop drives lacked top-end speed as the softness of the Z2S resulted in incomplete power transfer between player, blade, and ball. However, I was able to place my FH attacks in hard-to-reach places with excellent precision and consistency, though this requires a good feeling for the ball and soft hands. The rubber behaved less predictably whenever I tried to strike the ball with maximal effort, at times causing me to overshoot the table. 

    The Z2S performs admirably in FH loop-to-loop rallies, but its moderate top-end speed and spin means that you are unlikely to overpower your opponent from this distance. Once again, however, it is an excellent high-throwing rubber that enables you to extend the rally going. I found it important not to strike the ball with full effort, as the strong catapult otherwise is activated, resulting in the shots going too long.   

Blocking

    The Z2S produces a prominent clicking sound on passive FH blocks, presumably due to the soft sponge. However, the sponge provides enough support to absorb the incoming kinetic energy from high-quality FH loops and redirect it as secure warm-up FH blocks. Blocking during match play proved slightly trickier. The Z2S’s relatively high throw angle and strong catapult meant that several of my passive FH blocks overshot the table. I found it necessary to use a more active stroke with a more closed bat angle. Once I made this adjustment, I was able to execute very fast, hard-to-return blocks. 

Smashing

    Whilst not being a top-end speed monster, the Z2S is plenty fast enough to kill off any balls that sit up too high. Along similar lines, I found the Z2S to work well on FH flat hits (fishing shots) that I occasionally had to play when caught out of position in mid-distance.   

Flicking

    The soft nature of the rubber, coupled with its grippy topsheet, allowed me to execute high-quality mini-loop style FH flicks against short pushes. The flicks had plenty of clearance over the net, and the lack of catapult activation on these low-to-medium effort shots meant that fewer of the FH flicks overshoot the table. Strong wrist engagement allowed for the execution of fast pancake-type flicks. 

Pushing

    The topsheet of the Z2S gripped the ball well when I played long FH pushes against backspin serves. Accordingly, my FH pushes proved to be quite spinny and flat, and somewhat difficult for my practice partner to attack. However, the use of soft, relaxed hands proved important. Whenever I used a wristier motion, the catapult was more likely to be activated, resulting in some FH pushes sailing long. My short pushes with the Z2S were of good quality, low, and difficult to attack. 

Serving

    The Z2S proved to be a very capable service rubber, producing respectable amounts of spin on short serves, whilst proving predictable and spinny on long side/top-spin serves. Once again, the Z2S produces a relatively high amount of spin on low-to-moderate effort shots.    

Conclusion

    The soft version of the Nittaku Hammond Z2 rubber is grippy, lightweight, high-throwing, moderately fast, and generally reasonably predictable for a controlled spin-offensive game style. The Z2S will be best suited for players with soft, relaxed hands, whereas hard-hitters likely will feel that the Z2S lacks top-end punch. The Z2S is in the same category as the Yasaka Rakza 7 and Xiom Vega Pro H rubbers (though they have weaker catapults), and the Victas V > 22 Double Extra and Nittaku’s GeneXTion (though these are bouncier and less controllable than the Z2S). The Z2S is a good FH rubber for intermediate-level players, and it will likely cater to an even broader player group as a BH rubber, given its relatively bouncy nature. 

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