A new hardbat rubber : the Valor Premier

[Francis]

Valor Table Tennis, an American blade maker and TT seller, specialised in hardbat, sells a new hardbat rubber, called Valor Premier. It looks like the Reisman rubber, but according to Valor, it's slower and has more control.
There's a cloth-backed version (http://store.valortabletennis.com/servlet/-strse-91/Valor-Premier/Detail) and a clothless one (http://store.valortabletennis.com/servlet/-strse-92/Valor-Premier/Detail).

CAUTION : this rubber is not ITTF approved.

[Crispione]

Merci, Francis, tres gentile.

Je vais regarder le plus tard aujourd'hui Valor website.

Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee a vous et Michelle.

[Francis]

Thank you Chris, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too (and to U2 :pleasantry: ).

[Boneman]

Ordered up a couple of sheets myself just moments ago. Should be most excellent rubber. Will post back once I get a chance to swing at a few with it. :coin:

[Crispione]

Ordered up a couple of sheets myself just moments ago. Should be most excellent rubber. Will post back once I get a chance to swing at a few with it. :coin:

Be very interested to hear what you think, Larry.

[Francis]

Me too. ;)

[Boneman]

Yeah... I'm enthused for sure. Very much enamored of my Reisman rubber and if this has even more control I'll be all over this stuff!!!!:drummer:

[Boneman]

The Valor Premier arrived on Saturday. Cobbled the bat together and she's ready to roll. Jay had mentioned on our US Hardbat forum that I would love the smell of the freshly cast natural rubber and he was absolutely spot on there. It's wonderful. OK... so perhaps that sounds a bit daft but that's my impression.

Upon close examination (i.e. jewelers' loupe) the pip configuration seems identical to the ATP Reisman... with perhaps slightly less draft angle. Only other thing that I can really say is that the pip tops might not be dimpled as much as the Reisman as well.

A difficult comparison as the Reisman I have has been used quite a bit and I really have no idea as to how long ago it may have been manufactured.

I will be swinging it in earnest this evening. Looking forward to it with great aniticipation actually.

Stay tuned.......

[Trottski]

Ok, made my debut in the Batts event yesterday and still aching today. Can someone tell me what the light blue and maroon rubbers that various players were using are and where to get them?

[The Scoop]

I think a few were using this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TABLE-TENNIS-HARDBAT-RUBBERS-Sale-Price-Limited-Offer_W0QQitemZ190289981128QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_S ports_TableTennis_RL?hash=item2c4e2aaec8

[Boneman]

I think a few were using this http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TABLE-TENNIS-HARDBAT-RUBBERS-Sale-Price-Limited-Offer_W0QQitemZ190289981128QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_S ports_TableTennis_RL?hash=item2c4e2aaec8

Interesting.... seems nameless but is this not the "ATP" Prototype Rubber? Would it not prove problematic (at least for me here) as it's not carrying any sort of USATT or ITTF approval? I know that in local tournaments here the Tournament Director can grant "approval" for pre-made hardbats. Also, the ATP Prototype rubbers (and Reisman) are all "Hardbat Committee Approved" over here as well. So some form of pedigree may be in order.

So here's the review of the Valor Premier:

Thus far, as best as I can tell it performs almost exactly the same as the ATP Reisman. At first on Monday night I thought I was having issues with it so I switched back to my Reisman shod bat. Issue was not with the rubber but more with myself.

There was a young lad there that evening of about 10 years and I got to warm him up (did nothing for me, I assure you!) and boy oh boy it took me about 1/2 an hour to get my pace back!

I digress....

So out to the table yesterday afternoon.... about 20 degrees F under the tent mind you (yes we break balls this time of year especially with hardbats). Got to swing the Premier in earnest and it performed precisely as expected.

I don't know what it is about the Premier as well as the Reisman.... perhaps it's due to the "natural" rubber.... not sure, but it has a very particular "feel" to it when you hit the ball. Hard to describe and the only other rubber that comes close (thus far) would be Butterfly OX. Still not the same though.

Both the Valor and the Reisman are mounted to LKT Instinct 5-ply blades (described as "Controlled Attack") and have afforded me an amount of control that I've never had before. Blocking and pushing I can consistently place the ball within 4" of the end of the table. Or the sides on angled shots. It's uncanny. Addionally, the in-hand feedback is most excellent. I know immeidately when I've hit a miss. You just know... damn... that's off.

It's a wonderful product that Alberto's managed to bring to market as otherwise, I would be scouring the globe in search of more Reisman rubber. I daresay the two are interchangable. Only difference that I notice might just be that the Valor is "fresh"... as opposed to not at all knowing when the Reisman was manufactured.

Interestingly enough and I'm not sure how it could be worked for all my mates in the UK.... I procure it through Valor here in the US, yet it's made in the UK. Perhaps some arrangements can be made with Valor to have a "central distributorship" over there. I mean really... would it make sense to pay the freight over the atlantic both ways? Not to mention import taxes, etc.

Unless there's something magical that happens to the rubber en-route, I daresay.... no. ;-)

[Jay Turberville]

Interesting.... seems nameless but is this not the "ATP" Prototype Rubber? Would it not prove problematic (at least for me here) as it's not carrying any sort of USATT or ITTF approval? I know that in local tournaments here the Tournament Director can grant "approval" for pre-made hardbats. Also, the ATP Prototype rubbers (and Reisman) are all "Hardbat Committee Approved" over here as well. So some form of pedigree may be in order.


Actually, the USATT Hardbat Committee recommended and got approval for all ATP rubbers. So the ATP Prototypes on ebay are USATT approved for hardbat and hence for regular play when used as part of a legal hardbat.

[Gnopgnipster]

Interestingly enough and I'm not sure how it could be worked for all my mates in the UK.... I procure it through Valor here in the US, yet it's made in the UK. Perhaps some arrangements can be made with Valor to have a "central distributorship" over there. I mean really... would it make sense to pay the freight over the atlantic both ways? Not to mention import taxes, etc.

I already have something in the works to facilitate European distribution. I will have something finalized in about two weeks.

CHEERS and a Happy New Year to ALL!!!

Alberto http://www.tabletennistalk.co.uk/forum/images/icons/pingbat.gif

[Boneman]

I already have something in the works to facilitate European distribution. I will have something finalized in about two weeks.

Alberto.... interested in making a run for the Presidency in 2012? You'd get my vote!:rocker:

[Boneman]

Actually, the USATT Hardbat Committee recommended and got approval for all ATP rubbers. So the ATP Prototypes on ebay are USATT approved for hardbat and hence for regular play when used as part of a legal hardbat.

Absolutely. Thing is... I don't recall seeing any reference to ATP on that auction. Could be I just missed it though. May have had the wrong glasses on at the time I read it.

Age.... eeesh....

[Jay Turberville]

Absolutely. Thing is... I don't recall seeing any reference to ATP on that auction. Could be I just missed it though. May have had the wrong glasses on at the time I read it.

Age.... eeesh....

Yer right. No mention of ATP on the ebay page. But the rubbers do say ATP on them. I believe that are labelled ATP Leland. Note the intentional misspelling of the Leyland name.

[Boneman]

Yer right. No mention of ATP on the ebay page. But the rubbers do say ATP on them. I believe that are labelled ATP Leland. Note the intentional misspelling of the Leyland name.

That is interesting. My Uncle from Lake Valleyfield, Canada... spelled his name Leland. Perhaps it was developed for the Canadian market.:joker:

[Jay Turberville]

That is interesting. My Uncle from Lake Valleyfield, Canada... spelled his name Leland. Perhaps it was developed for the Canadian market.:joker:

No. I'm pretty sure that they were just trying to avoid any legal entanglements. Anyway, I suggest that people purchase the Valor Premier rubber instead if it essentially plays the same ( I haven't played with Premier yet, but have played with ATP Reisman and the ATP Leland). First because it supports a fellow/company that is supporting hardbat in a direct and active way, and second because the use of oddly colored rubbers tends to distance hardbat from the mainstream even more than it is already distanced.

[Tinykin]

Where did the name Leyland come from? Did the the old Leyland motor company make tyres in competition with Dunlop?

[Jay Turberville]

Where did the name Leyland come from? Did the the old Leyland motor company make tyres in competition with Dunlop?

From the Leyland Rubber Company. I don't know if there is any relation to Leyland motor company or not. My assumption is that there is not. I've been told that Leyland rubber was originally not produced for table tennis but was produced for use in medicine. Table tennis use was just an off-shoot. I think the Leyland name came quite simply from the location.

The Leyland Rubber Company went into bankruptcy a few years ago, but does appear to have resurrected itself in some form - possibly an amalgam of companies? I'm not sure.

I think Scott Gordon knows much more about Leyland rubber and the company than the little bit that I know. Marty Reisman claims to be an expert on the subject. So he might know tons more.

[Boneman]

From the Leyland Rubber Company. I don't know if there is any relation to Leyland motor company or not. My assumption is that there is not. I've been told that Leyland rubber was originally not produced for table tennis but was produced for use in medicine. Table tennis use was just an off-shoot. I think the Leyland name came quite simply from the location.

I'm sure there's some affiliation with the "Conglomerate" that was formed in part in the British Automotive... there was BMC, Triumph... and I forget what other Marques... that all eventually fell under the "British Leyland" moniker circa 1970....

I bet it's fascinating history.... not at all unlike the rise and eventual fall of one of the most venerable industrial entities in the U.K..... ITC... or as it was better known..... The Raleigh Bicycle Company.

[Crispione]

Yer right. No mention of ATP on the ebay page. But the rubbers do say ATP on them. I believe that are labelled ATP Leland. Note the intentional misspelling of the Leyland name.

Jay, these are definately the prototype ATP rubbers that were eventually marketed as the Reisman rubbers.

Mark Johnson of ATP tells me that this is the bloke who is the original toolmaker for ATP, and who is probably selling off the rubbers produced in the initial prototype stage of it's development.

[Boneman]

Hmmm... I may have to procure a couple of sheets then.

[Boneman]

My latest tournament completed last Sunday, I finally put the Reisman bat away and struck out with a goodly harbat vs hardat match yesterday. Used the LKT Instinct 5-ply blade with the NEW Valor Premier (cloth backed) rubber sheets.

I actually had forgotten I wasn't playing the Reisman bat and the Valor Premier performed WONDERFULLY. Pretty much if not exactly the same as my Reisman rubber, so darn close as to not be at all noticable. Outstanding control, just the right amount of friction to allow for whatever spin I need put on the ball. An excellent rubber! For me it's a GREAT relief as I'm hooked on the Reisman (and now the Valor) as being for me THE hardbat rubber. Now I know that it's available thanks to Alberto and his partners in crime that manufacture the stuff. :-)

I do still want to procure a couple sheets of the ATP Prototype material on Ebay... just to see how it compares but for now, I know where I stand rubber wise and it is a considerable relief that it's available for procurement.:rocker::rocker::rocker: