Almana Sound (Stiga)

Almana and Almana Sound with NC sponge feature a fantastic new sponge that is great for speed-gluing, regular gluing, and even the water-based glues that the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) is proposing as a replacement for speed glue. We’ve paired the sponge with an advanced top sheet that is a blend of natural and synthetic rubber.The result is a rubber sheet that you have to try to believe. Almana and Almana Sound are the fastest rubber sheets we have ever produced. Both are very bouncy and give a tremendous catapult effect. They are excellent for topspinning, looping, and counterlooping. Even though the top sheet is not tacky, both produce more spin than other very spinny world-class rubbers. Almana Sound has a softer sponge than Almana.

• User reviews

Average user rating from: 4 users

Overall rating		3.9
Spin reversal effect (1 rating)		4.0
Confusion factor (1 rating)		2.0
Speed (4 ratings)		4.8
General spin (4 ratings)		3.5
Mechanical spin (2 ratings)		3.3
Topsheet spin (2 ratings)		2.0
Sponge hardness (3 ratings)		2.5
Topsheet hardness (2 ratings)		3.3
High throw angle (2 ratings)		2.8
Weight (1 rating)		1.0
Reglue effect (1 rating)		5.0
Speed glue effect: feel (3 ratings)		3.2
Speed glue effect: sound (3 ratings)		4.2
Control (4 ratings)		3.0
Durability (3 ratings)		4.0
Serve (1 rating)		5.0
Short game (2 ratings)		3.8
Flip (Flick) (1 rating)		4.0
Over the table loop (2 ratings)		4.8
High arc loop (2 ratings)		4.8
Counterloop (1 rating)		5.0
Smash (2 ratings)		5.0
Block (2 ratings)		4.0
Chop (2 ratings)		4.0
Value for money (4 ratings)		3.8

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Sunday, 12 April 2009

Written by elmo51 - Top 5 reviewer - View all my reviews

Overall rating		4.1
Speed		4.5
General spin		4.0
Sponge hardness		3.0
Speed glue effect: feel		4.5
Speed glue effect: sound		4.5
Control		3.0
Short game		3.5
Over the table loop		4.5
High arc loop		4.5
Smash		5.0
Block		4.0
Chop		4.0
Value for money		4.0

The stiga almana sound is a very fast rubber although the sponge is not really hard what you might have expected from such a fast rubber.
Spinning and looping is very easy to do with this rubber but you have to have a proper technique our else it may seem that you can not get any spin out of it.
The strang thing is that because of the soft to medium hard spong it is also very easy to chop with this rubber wich makes it quite usable for many gameplay styles,
It is good for hitters loopers and more controlled attackers who rely on a stabile block and good chop once in a while. short game is not his best point but good enough for an attcking rubber,
Good job from stiga athough i stick with my tenergy

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Tuesday, 23 December 2008

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

Overall rating		4.5
Speed		5.0
General spin		4.5
Control		3.5
Durability		4.0
Serve		5.0
Short game		4.0
Flip (Flick)		4.0
Over the table loop		5.0
High arc loop		5.0
Counterloop		5.0
Smash		5.0
Block		4.0
Chop		4.0
Value for money		5.0

Almana sound is definitely one of the top choices for speed gluing rubber.

It does need speed glue, so this is all with speed glue.

The rubber is extremely fast, as well as spinny. It is absolutely awesome for players who like to use killer loops to win balls. It is great for looping all kinds, underspin, top spin, high arc high spin, counterloop, etc. the control is also not bad at all. It is pretty good for blocking, especially because you can add spin and speed without losing control of the ball. the rubber is also good for serves. i recommend on the forehand, its a little too fast without enough control for backhand rubber. It is definitely worth the money.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

Wednesday, 05 March 2008

Written by Anonymous

Overall rating		2.7
Speed		4.5
General spin		1.5
Mechanical spin		3.5
Topsheet spin		1.0
Sponge hardness		1.5
Topsheet hardness		2.5
High throw angle		1.5
Reglue effect		5.0
Speed glue effect: feel		2.0
Speed glue effect: sound		4.0
Control		2.5
Durability		4.0
Value for money		3.0

Tried it in 2.0mm on a Wavestone. Great stability on BH punch, but when looping with it, it's all speed and very little spin. Non suitable for players who brushes the ball thinly to gain spin, rather, if you like to hit through the ball, it'd suit you.

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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Sunday, 27 January 2008

Written by Anonymous

Overall rating		3.4
Spin reversal effect		4.0
Confusion factor		2.0
Speed		5.0
General spin		4.0
Mechanical spin		3.0
Topsheet spin		3.0
Sponge hardness		3.0
Topsheet hardness		4.0
High throw angle		4.0
Weight		1.0
Speed glue effect: feel		3.0
Speed glue effect: sound		4.0
Control		3.0
Durability		4.0
Value for money		3.0

the almana sound was with a 2.0 mm sponge
played on a bty cpl blade

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