Hammond Pro Alpha (Nittaku)

A tackier version of Hammond, this fast rubber is often used by World #1 Wang Liqin on his Stiga Offensive Classic. Nearly all rubbers are made up of a combination of natural rubber and synthetic rubber. Usually most of the mix is natural rubber (probably around 60%). Nittaku Hammond Pro Alpha is the exception. 60% of the Hammond Pro Alpha is synthetic rubber, the inverse of normal rubbers. The theory behind this is increased durability and speed since synthetic rubber can be made thicker than natural rubber. Most sponges on rubbers are exactly that; just sponge. On the Hammond Pro Alpha, the sponge is comprised of 50% synthetic rubber, thus adding more propulsion and speed to the rubber layer.

Sponge Thickness: 2.0mm, 2.2mm
Speed Gluing: Optional
Rubber weight: 43 grams
Spin: 8
Speed: 11
Control: 8

• User reviews

Average user rating from: 6 users

Overall rating		3.2
Speed (6 ratings)		4.5
General spin (6 ratings)		3.2
Mechanical spin (5 ratings)		4.3
Topsheet spin (5 ratings)		2.3
Sponge hardness (4 ratings)		3.4
Topsheet hardness (4 ratings)		3.1
High throw angle (3 ratings)		2.0
Weight (4 ratings)		2.9
Reglue effect (3 ratings)		1.0
Speed glue effect: feel (3 ratings)		1.2
Speed glue effect: sound (3 ratings)		1.7
Control (6 ratings)		3.7
Durability (4 ratings)		3.3
Serve (3 ratings)		2.2
Short game (3 ratings)		3.2
Flip (Flick) (2 ratings)		3.8
Over the table loop (3 ratings)		4.5
High arc loop (3 ratings)		2.5
Counterloop (3 ratings)		4.3
Smash (2 ratings)		4.3
Block (4 ratings)		4.1
Chop (2 ratings)		1.8
Value for money (5 ratings)		3.7

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Saturday, 29 May 2010

Written by icontek - Top 10 reviewer - View all my reviews

Overall rating		2.5
Speed		4.0
General spin		2.5
Mechanical spin		3.5
Topsheet spin		1.0
Sponge hardness		2.5
Topsheet hardness		2.0
Weight		2.0
Control		1.5
Durability		4.0
Serve		1.0
Short game		3.5
High arc loop		3.5
Counterloop		3.5
Block		2.5
Chop		1.0
Value for money		2.5

Hammond Pro Alpha, perhaps more than most rubbers, is very sensitive to the blade it's on. On slower ALL blades with soft outer plies, it will only have one gear. *KILL*. In order to engage the sponge you'll need to have a very fast stroke and contact. It will reward you by providing exceptional power with good control. On a soft blade, it is below average for most strokes. However, on a blade with a harder top ply or even just a stiffer blade (like the Stiga OC CR or Clipper, respectively) this rubber starts to shine as the medium sponge becomes more engaged, and the rubber shows how capable it is. The flipside of course is that for the rubber to reach that performance level (for pushing, blocking and smashing) you need to have the skills to control one of those blades. On the whole, very easy to loop with (compared to classic rubbers), but requires better than beginner technique to get the most out of it.

Was this review helpful to you?    

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

Saturday, 14 November 2009

Written by Anonymous

Overall rating		3.4
Speed		4.0
General spin		3.5
Mechanical spin		4.5
Topsheet spin		2.5
Sponge hardness		3.5
Topsheet hardness		3.5
High throw angle		2.0
Weight		3.0
Reglue effect		0.5
Speed glue effect: feel		0.5
Speed glue effect: sound		0.5
Control		3.5
Durability		3.0
Serve		4.5
Short game		3.0
Flip (Flick)		3.5
Over the table loop		5.0
High arc loop		2.0
Counterloop		5.0
Smash		4.5
Block		4.5
Chop		2.5
Value for money		4.5

Contrary to what most people say, Hammond Alpha Pro has a surprisingly grippy top sheet. Its not tacky at all but not smooth either. You could compare it to that of Bryce if it is well maintained. Not exposed to dust, water, oil, those shenanigans.

Great for your backhand, you can create backspin serves near the net and even kill with them if your opponent is bad enough. They're great for killing, blocking and counter looping.

Only true disappointment is its no where near as grippy (not tacky) as Tenergy and there is no speed glue effect but because of the glue ban its all good.

Overall nice rubber, good value for money, greatbackhand rubber for smashing, looping, counter looping and blocking.

Was this review helpful to you?    

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Saturday, 28 March 2009

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

Overall rating		4.1
Speed		4.5
General spin		3.0
Control		4.0
Over the table loop		4.5
Block		4.5
Value for money		4.5

The nittakku pro hammond alpha is a very elastic rubber. The sponge is very elastic, meaning that the ball seems to soak into it, and then explode off. As with all hammond rubbers, this one also seems to be a very good backhand rubber, espeically for looping and smashing.

The spin is pretty good, it is quite tacky, more than typical offensive rubbers, but not quite as tacky as, for example, hurricane. These characteristics make it great for looping, especially with the pretty good control it has as well. Many people who i have played with in china use this on the backhand, because you can easily put spin, or loop very powerful shots. I recommend it for offensive players.

Was this review helpful to you?    

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

Tuesday, 11 March 2008

Written by Anonymous

Overall rating		3.5
Speed		5.0
General spin		3.5
Mechanical spin		5.0
Topsheet spin		2.0
Control		4.0
Serve		1.0
Short game		3.0
Flip (Flick)		4.0
Over the table loop		4.0
High arc loop		2.0
Counterloop		4.5
Smash		4.0
Block		5.0

I recommend this rubber to use on backhand, where it is excellent. On forehand, the design of the rubber limits it significantly. It is extremely elastic and fast, even without speed glue. Actually, does not react well at all to speed glue anyway. The surface is very smooth, and not grippy, so it is not good for serving at all. However, the mechanical spin is excellent. When the ball digs deeper into the sponge, it generates amazing spin and speed. Smashes are very powerful, but because there is so little topsheet grip, the throw angle is very low and easy to go into the net. Much more control on defense than on offense. Block is amazing, fast and easy to control. Because the surface is not grippy, on defense it almost feels like antispin. Much easier to loop fast than it is to loop slow. But the fast loops are indeed incredibly fast and spinny. But good players know that slow loops are more important to set up the point. Serves and pushes have little spin, because the ball doesn't go deep into the sponge.

Was this review helpful to you?    

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

Tuesday, 11 March 2008

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

Overall rating		3.4
Speed		4.5
General spin		2.5
Mechanical spin		3.5
Topsheet spin		4.0
Sponge hardness		4.5
Topsheet hardness		4.0
High throw angle		3.0
Weight		3.5
Reglue effect		1.5
Speed glue effect: feel		2.0
Speed glue effect: sound		3.5
Control		4.5
Durability		3.0
Value for money		4.0

It's a very bouncy rubber with good control and speed. I'm not pleased with the spin since the angle it make is very low which could be a good thing and a bad thing. But anyways, for my looping, I'm disappointed with the spin it makes.

Was this review helpful to you?