Almana (Stiga)

Almana and Almana Sound both have the new revolutionary NC "Nano Composite" technology. NC sponge uses a new mixing technique to create extremely small grains (as small as 50-100 nanometers) during the vulcanization process. Until recently table tennis manufacturers were limited to using large granularity chemicals when creating porous sponge cells. Using techniques from the emerging field of nano technology, STIGA has found a way to control the formation of rubber chemicals at much smaller scales. The result is stronger and tighter bonds that produce maximum dynamic effect. Great for all gluing methods, even the water-based glues.

Speed: 92
Spin: 90
Control: 69

• User reviews

Average user rating from: 2 users

Overall rating		3.6
Speed (2 ratings)		4.0
General spin (2 ratings)		3.8
Mechanical spin (1 rating)		3.5
Topsheet spin (1 rating)		2.5
Sponge hardness (2 ratings)		3.3
High throw angle (2 ratings)		2.3
Weight (2 ratings)		3.0
Reglue effect (2 ratings)		4.8
Control (2 ratings)		3.3
Durability (2 ratings)		3.0
Serve (2 ratings)		3.8
Short game (2 ratings)		4.0
Flip (Flick) (2 ratings)		4.0
Over the table loop (2 ratings)		2.8
High arc loop (2 ratings)		3.3
Counterloop (2 ratings)		4.3
Smash (2 ratings)		4.3
Block (2 ratings)		4.5
Chop (2 ratings)		3.0
Value for money (2 ratings)		3.5

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful

Sunday, 07 December 2008

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

Overall rating		4.1
Speed		3.5
General spin		4.0
Sponge hardness		2.5
High throw angle		3.5
Weight		1.0
Reglue effect		5.0
Control		4.5
Durability		4.0
Serve		4.0
Short game		4.5
Flip (Flick)		4.5
Over the table loop		3.5
High arc loop		3.5
Counterloop		4.5
Smash		3.5
Block		5.0
Chop		4.0
Value for money		4.0

The Stiga almana is a pretty good rubber, if speed glued. I think its a pretty good backhand rubber, since it has high spin and great control.

The rubber is a little on the softer side, and i found it extremely light weight as well. It gives you great control, making it great for blocking and or counterlooping. Its also good for creating lots of spin with a small stroke, so it allows for really fast rallies. The speed is pretty good, but not like unholy, so it gets the job done.

Io mostly use my backhand to counterloop and just place balls at angles, this was a great rubber for me. But be aware that it probably sucks without speed glue!

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Thursday, 06 March 2008

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

Overall rating		3.1
Speed		4.5
General spin		3.5
Mechanical spin		3.5
Topsheet spin		2.5
Sponge hardness		4.0
High throw angle		1.0
Weight		5.0
Reglue effect		4.5
Control		2.0
Durability		2.0
Serve		3.5
Short game		3.5
Flip (Flick)		3.5
Over the table loop		2.0
High arc loop		3.0
Counterloop		4.0
Smash		5.0
Block		4.0
Chop		2.0
Value for money		3.0

The ratings and review I'm giving for the Almana are for using it with regular glue.

After having played with regular-glued Almana max on both FH and BH, my conclusion is that it's not good without solvents. (Forget the marketing hype that it's great with regular glue.) The speed is great, but spin is pathetic and control is dodgy. It's pretty much as bad as Bryce unglued, but faster and less controllable (speed/control is generally a trade-off with table tennis rubbers anyway). The very low throw angle goes hand-in-hand with the high speed.

Soaking both sheets in 6 ml of limonene about 4 hours before playing, they were fantastic. The red sheet stretched more than the black side and played like it - much more of a glue effect. Sound was very loud, and control and spin were markedly increased. Speed - as has been reported before by me and others - is better than Bryce, and spin, well, that goes without saying.

Since the topsheet is not tacky at all, nor can you impart much mechanical spin unless you hit it hard, it's not too good in any of the short game playing qualities. For an over the table loop, it's not spinny enough to give much control. It's pretty good for counterloops, as that's when you can dig the ball into the sponge and use your power to impart some decent spin.

The bottom line is that Almana is indeed a great rubber glued up, but < 2 months of useful life doesn't impress me. My experience with one good glue effect rubber, Donic Desto F1, was that it doesn't even retain its effect for as long, so the F1 is effectively more expensive (higher cost of ownership).

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