Sriver EL (Butterfly)

Butterfly proudly introduces the newest member of the SRIVER family, SRIVER-EL (ELastic). The latest genre combines SRIVER's top sheet with a medium-soft elastic sponge that until recently had been specially selected only for our leading world ranked players. Do you prefer a hard or soft sponge? If you like a hard sponge, then you can choose the "normal" SRIVER. If you prefer a soft one, then SRIVER-FX is ideal for your play. But, if your requirement is in between the two (and this is where most of the top players are placed) then we recommend the new SRIVER-EL.

Speed: 100
Spin: 80
Control: 83
Density: 35
Reglue Effect: High

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Average user rating from: 8 users

Overall rating		3.7
Speed (8 ratings)		3.5
General spin (8 ratings)		3.6
Mechanical spin (5 ratings)		3.4
Topsheet spin (5 ratings)		3.3
Sponge hardness (7 ratings)		2.9
Topsheet hardness (5 ratings)		3.0
High throw angle (7 ratings)		3.1
Weight (6 ratings)		2.3
Reglue effect (4 ratings)		4.6
Speed glue effect: feel (4 ratings)		4.4
Speed glue effect: sound (4 ratings)		4.4
Control (7 ratings)		4.0
Durability (7 ratings)		4.4
Serve (6 ratings)		3.4
Short game (7 ratings)		3.6
Flip (Flick) (7 ratings)		3.6
Over the table loop (7 ratings)		3.4
High arc loop (6 ratings)		3.3
Counterloop (6 ratings)		3.8
Smash (7 ratings)		3.8
Block (7 ratings)		4.3
Chop (6 ratings)		2.6
Value for money (7 ratings)		4.4

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Saturday, 09 April 2011

Written by AllezCho - Top 50 reviewer - View all my reviews

Overall rating		3.4
Speed		3.5
General spin		3.5
Mechanical spin		3.0
Topsheet spin		3.5
Sponge hardness		3.5
Topsheet hardness		3.0
High throw angle		2.5
Weight		3.0
Reglue effect		4.5
Control		4.0
Durability		4.0
Serve		3.5
Short game		4.0
Flip (Flick)		3.5
Over the table loop		3.0
High arc loop		2.5
Counterloop		3.0
Smash		3.0
Block		4.0
Chop		3.0
Value for money		3.5

Sriver EL is the "elastic" medium-sponge variant of the Butterfly Sriver family. This rubber is medium-hard and moderate in speed. I would rate it as the best out of the Sriver series for having more power if you swing harder than Sriver FX, and more versatile in its capabilities than the regular Sriver-L. In other words, it is the ultimate all-around rubber. The EL is an excellent choice for beginning to intermediate players, and will suit anyone looking for a classic rubber. The topsheet has a good amount of grip, yet has a high amount of control. It excels in the short game, as well as in the counterhit and blocking department. Looping is also do-able, although in this non speed-glue era, there are countless tensor, tuned, and spring sponge rubbers out there that outperform Sriver EL in this area. I would recommend this rubber for anyone looking for a classic, controllable rubber that can enhance and develop your game. However, if you are looking for a fast, tacky, or speed-glue replacement rubber. I advise you to look elsewhere because there are cheaper and more suitable alternatives in today's equipment market.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Sunday, 21 March 2010

Written by U.K. Looper - Top 50 reviewer - View all my reviews

Overall rating		4.0
Speed		3.0
General spin		4.0
Topsheet spin		4.0
Sponge hardness		2.5
Topsheet hardness		4.0
High throw angle		4.5
Weight		2.5
Durability		4.5
Serve		2.5
Short game		3.5
Flip (Flick)		4.5
Over the table loop		4.5
High arc loop		5.0
Counterloop		3.5
Smash		4.0
Block		5.0
Chop		2.0
Value for money		5.0

This was a review I wrote before the speed glue ban.

Sriver EL has something that very few other rubbers can match. Every top brand has a classic rubber in their range that remains the most popular amongst players no matter what other products they produce; Butterfly's is the Sriver series.

I started using Sriver EL seven years ago but went away from it to try other rubbers, now I'm back on the Sriver EL. This rubber lets me play the shots I want to play unlike other rubbers

Note from member: this review was much longer but it looks like the moderator has removed most of it because it has references to speed glue. Please disregard this review. Thanks.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Thursday, 14 January 2010

Written by iamj8 - Top 50 reviewer - View all my reviews

Overall rating		3.9
Speed		3.0
General spin		4.0
Mechanical spin		4.0
Topsheet spin		3.0
Sponge hardness		2.0
Topsheet hardness		2.0
High throw angle		3.0
Weight		2.0
Reglue effect		5.0
Speed glue effect: feel		5.0
Speed glue effect: sound		5.0
Control		5.0
Durability		5.0
Serve		4.0
Short game		3.0
Flip (Flick)		3.0
Over the table loop		3.0
High arc loop		1.0
Counterloop		4.5
Smash		3.5
Block		4.5
Chop		4.0
Value for money		5.0

For the first time, a table tennis company correctly advertised a rubber! It is truly a compromise between Sriver L's and FX's sponge. The result is a spinny, control, speed glue weapon.

As with most, Srivers, EL isn't the best at everything but is good at a lot of things.

Possessing the Sriver top sheet, its spin is generally good. During the days where speed gluing were allowed, this rubber was like my best friend. It was perfect for my backhand. It had an elastic sponge meaning looping, smashing and serving were never difficult and with speed glue, this rubber was simply beastly.

After the glue ban, EL was never quite the same. While I could play my regular tactics in game, I felt it was too slow. I went on to look for substitutes but none were quite the same. At the moment I'm using Sriver G2 FX, opting G3 provided I can have a hit with it before buying it. I felt it was slow even on a fast blade.

Sriver EL makes a reliable companion to many beginning players and even intermediate players provided you can play around the mediocre speed. EL is also a forgiving rubber and tolerant of different strokes and playing styles.

As mentioned, EL isn't fast so if you have an overly aggressive or simply an offensively oriented style, this rubber is not for you. On the other hand, if you like to take things slow, play defensively most of the time, or are looking for a versatile beginners rubber, this rubber is for you. Butterfly seriously needs to consider a tensor version of this. It would sell so well!

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Wednesday, 29 April 2009

Written by t3h anarchist - #1 reviewer - View all my reviews

Overall rating		3.7
Speed		4.0
General spin		4.0
Control		3.0
Value for money		4.0

The sriver EL is a part of the sriver family of rubber by butterfly. Take note that this sriver does need zpeed glue or booster or some other kind of speed enhancer. The sriver EL is not as fast as teh sriver FX and some of the other sriver rubbers. in general, i would say it is the slowest out of the sriver family. But compared to others, it is not slow at all. It still a very good attacking and offensive rubber. I think it is a pretty good backhand rubber, because the control is very good for blocking and counterlooping, but all in all good for controlling the game. It is relatively cheap too.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Saturday, 25 April 2009

Written by cstt - Top 50 reviewer - View all my reviews

Overall rating		3.9
Speed		3.5
General spin		3.5
Sponge hardness		3.5
High throw angle		3.0
Weight		3.0
Control		4.5
Durability		4.5
Serve		4.0
Short game		4.0
Flip (Flick)		3.5
Over the table loop		3.0
High arc loop		3.5
Counterloop		3.5
Smash		4.0
Block		4.5
Value for money		4.0

A perfect choice if you are still developping your shots, but also a fine choice as an intermediate player. The sponge takes the glue very well, including the water based ones.
There are faster rubbers and spinnier rubbers, but this one combines them both quite well.

All in all a very safe choice when you're looking for a rubber which can do everything.

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