I’ve always been interested in the various long-pips rubbers on the market, and I’ll buy and try them whenever I hear about a good one. Recently, coloured rubbers became a trend in table tennis. Seeing my teammates switch to blue and green rubbers, I wanted to try one myself. I’ve tried the green Tibhar Grass D.TecS long-pips before, and it was good, but a bit pricey. A few days ago, while shopping online, I saw the green long-pips rubber Saviga V made by China’s Dawei.
Actually, I’ve used this rubber before, and I even listed it as one of the top 12 best long pips rubbers. But that was a long time ago, and it was the traditional red and black colours. I also heard that Dawei made some improvements to this rubber in recent years, and since it’s very affordable, I quickly ordered a green, OX version.
Star Player of Saviga V
This rubber is well-known because of Zhou Xingtong, born in 1983, from the Chinese national team. While she might not be as famous as Wang Nan or Zhang Yining, most table tennis enthusiasts who love long-pips have heard of her. Zhou Xingtong once reached the 36th spot in the world rankings, according to ITTF. The equipment of Zhou Xintong is that she uses a Nittaku R5 blade, with Saviga long-pips on her forehand and TSP Spectol short-pips rubber on her backhand.
She joined the Bayi Team in early 2004, and the national second team in September 2011. Zhou Xingtong not only uses a penhold racket, but both sides are pimpled rubber. Because of this unique and rare style, she was borrowed by the men’s team for training a few times. Her play style is rare in men’s table tennis, so she has served as a sparring partner for the men’s team, defeating main players like Zhang Jike and Ma Long in internal training matches.
In fact, many players get nervous when facing a pimpled rubber style and often choose an inverted rubber on one side and a pimpled rubber on the other to find a shortcut.
With fair skin and a sweet smile, Zhou Xingtong is considered a beauty in the women’s team. Since her name sounds like the Hong Kong actress, Gillian Chung (known as “Ah Gill” in Cantonese), her teammates jokingly call Zhou Xingtong “Ah Gill” as well.
Who is suitable for using Dawei Saviga V?
Dawei Saviga V is ideal for players who enjoy actively attacking with long pimple rubbers. They have the option to either push and block near the table or go on the offensive. The rubber offers a good balance of control and speed, making it suitable for chopping as well. However, it may not be the best choice for close-to-the-table chopping. Players can select between sponge and non-sponge versions based on their playing style and personal preference.
Appearance of Dawei Saviga V
I received the rubber and touched it. It feels a bit harder than the Dawei 388D-1. I stretched it and it was very resilient. The green surface is very eye-catching. Comparing it with the top sheet, it seems like the base of the Saviga V is a bit thicker (this is based on visual observation, and since it’s just compared with the top sheet, there might be some inaccuracies). The surface and pimples feel very soft when squeezed. The height, diameter, and spacing are probably the same as the 388D-1, with 14 full pips per square centimetre (12 when not squeezed to the edge).
Speed Performance
I personally feel that the Saviga V long pips rubber is designed for an attacking style, perfect for taking advantage in matches. When I tested it, I found that while using the Saviga V for straight pushes or diagonal flicks, it’s best to apply light but active force. Instead of trying to win with speed, focus more on where the ball lands. This way, it makes it harder for the opponent to use force in their defense. This can cause their return shots to go high, making it easier for you to score with a smash by long pips rubber or the inverted rubber.
To me, the best feature of this Saviga V long pips rubber sponge is how well it performs when attacking. It allows the energy to pass through the paddle easily, resulting in a decent ball speed and a solid sinking feel. After the ball lands, it doesn’t bounce up much, but rather falls forward. This can make it tough for your opponent to defend.
If you hit the ball towards the two large corners, the opponent usually can’t return the ball, leading to a high success rate. In a match, if the opponent’s return shot is a little high, or if the ball lands near the net, it’s a great opportunity to use the long pips to attacking, making use of this rubber’s strength to your advantage.
Control Performance
When pushing the ball, the Saviga V long pips rubber seems to have a decent performance in reversing the spin, and the return shots often float. Every now and then, shots may go a little high, which is pretty similar to what happens with the Dawei 388D-1. For low and spinny shots, it’s best to hold the paddle a bit more upright to push it.
This rubber seems pretty good for cutting the ball, though I’m not the best at it and often have to step back a little to hit it. But when the ball is cut perfectly, it can return high-quality shots near the table, and the return shots float rapidly, making it difficult for the opponent to keep up their attack.
Overall, this rubber has pretty good control, but the Saviga V side-cut is a little bit challenging for me. It’s easy to overshoot sometimes when the timing is not correct. The block shots don’t have too much threat and the opponent can easily keep up their attack. I think that without a sponge, it requires a better feel and solid basic skills from the player. Otherwise, shots can easily go too high or be overshot. For beginners or players who lack great control ability, this rubber might not be the best fit. It would be better to choose one that comes with a sponge.
Spin reversal Performance
Chopping is the most effective way to showcase spin reversal. When you chop from the middle court, the ball follows a low trajectory and quickly drops instead of moving forward after crossing the net. However, it’s crucial to push slightly forward or adjust your paddle angle to avoid hitting the white line and failing to pass the net.
However, when chopping near the table, the rubber’s faster speed reduces the ball’s contact time with the table tennis paddle, resulting in less spin. Chopping from a distance produces much better results as the ball gains significant spin, making it challenging for opponents to return. Therefore, my suggestion is to focus on blocking or seizing opportunities to attack when near the table. If you anticipate your opponent’s attack, it’s wise to step back in advance and be ready for defensive chopping.
Conclusion
In general, Dawei has produced several classic long pimple rubbers. Compared to 338D-1, Saviga V is more suitable for aggressive attacking play and is recommended for players who prefer not to retreat from the table. Personally, I prefer 338D-1 because chopping from a distance is my main scoring technique in matches. However, it’s unfortunate that Dawei 338D-1 is not available in a green version, otherwise, I would have purchased one for competition use.
