LOKI RXTON 3 PRO Blue Sponge is a tacky Chinese-style offensive rubber aimed at players who want the grip and directness of a Chinese topsheet with a more elastic blue sponge underneath. At £19.99 in the current TT Hub range, it sits in an interesting value position for intermediate and advanced attackers.
LOKI RXTON 3 PRO Blue Sponge
Current TT Hub specification: black, 2.1 mm / MAX, 40° Shore A, tacky inverted rubber, blue NEGH Sponge I.
View RXTON 3 PRO →RXTON 3 PRO Ratings
What Makes RXTON 3 PRO Different?
Tacky topsheet
The sticky surface is designed around spin generation, serving, short play and active looping rather than relying on a strong automatic catapult.
Blue porous sponge
LOKI pairs the topsheet with its 40° Shore A NEGH Sponge I. The larger-pore construction is intended to provide more elasticity than a very dense traditional Chinese sponge.
Internal-energy construction
LOKI describes the rubber as using 1H-2T internal-energy technology. In practical buying terms, the important point is the combination of tacky contact with a more responsive sponge underneath.
Control-led OFF profile
The manufacturer's ratings place control slightly ahead of speed and spin, which fits the rubber's balanced offensive positioning rather than an all-out speed-first design.
How Does It Play?
Serving & short game
The tacky topsheet is well suited to players who want to use the surface actively on serves, pushes and touch shots. Compared with a very bouncy tensioned rubber, the response is more linear, which can make short placement easier once you are accustomed to the tacky contact.
Opening topspin
This is one of the more natural uses for RXTON 3 PRO. Brushing contact engages the tacky surface, while stronger acceleration brings the blue sponge into play. Players with an active forehand technique should get more from it than players who depend on the rubber to supply pace automatically.
Driving & counter-looping
The 40° sponge gives the rubber enough firmness for direct attacking strokes without moving into the extremely hard territory associated with some demanding Chinese forehand setups. On stronger swings it should feel more rewarding than on passive contact.
Blocking
The comparatively controlled response is useful for placement, but players coming from a lively tensor should expect less free rebound. Active blocks and counters suit the rubber better than simply holding the racket in the ball's path.
Forehand or Backhand?
Forehand: Strong fit
The tacky surface, medium-hard blue sponge and loop/fast-attack positioning make forehand the clearest role. It suits opening loops, third-ball attacks, drives and active counters.
Backhand: More specialised
It can work for technically confident players who deliberately prefer a firmer, direct backhand. Players wanting easy catapult from compact backhand strokes will usually find softer or more elastic alternatives easier.
RXTON 3 PRO vs Standard RXTON 3
TT Hub also carries the standard LOKI RXTON 3. The standard model is currently £12.99 with red and black variants, while RXTON 3 PRO is £19.99 and uses the blue-sponge construction described above.
| RXTON 3 | RXTON 3 PRO Blue Sponge | |
|---|---|---|
| Current TT Hub price | £12.99 | £19.99 |
| Colours | Red / Black | Black |
| Positioning | Accessible Chinese-style / all-round-offensive option | More performance-focused tacky OFF option |
| Sponge | Standard RXTON 3 construction | 40° Shore A NEGH Sponge I blue sponge |
| Best reason to upgrade | Lower-cost starting point | Blue-sponge response and stronger forehand focus |
What About RXTON 3 Blue or Pink?
Do not confuse RXTON 3 PRO Blue Sponge with the LOKI RXTON 3 Blue or Pink. Those names refer to the topsheet colour. RXTON 3 PRO is currently a black rubber in the TT Hub catalogue; “Blue Sponge” refers to the sponge underneath the topsheet.
Who Should Choose It?
It is less obvious for beginners who need maximum forgiveness, or for players specifically seeking the strong automatic catapult of a soft European/Japanese-style tensioned rubber.
Specifications
| Brand | LOKI |
|---|---|
| Model | RXTON 3 PRO |
| Type | Inverted / tacky |
| Classification | OFF |
| Sponge | NEGH Sponge I blue sponge |
| Hardness | 40° Shore A |
| Thickness | 2.1 mm / MAX |
| Technology | 1H-2T internal-energy technology |
| Playing style | Loop / fast attack |
| Current colour | Black |
Is RXTON 3 PRO Good Value?
At its current £19.99 TT Hub price, the main attraction is that it offers a specialised tacky blue-sponge setup without moving into the price bracket of many premium competition rubbers. The trade-off is that it asks the player to create more of the acceleration themselves. For the right technique, that is part of the appeal rather than a weakness.
Not sure if RXTON 3 PRO suits your game?
Use the TT Hub Rubber Finder to match your playing level, style, side, priority and preferred feel to suitable rubbers from the current range.
Try the Rubber Finder →Build a Custom Bat →FAQs
Is RXTON 3 PRO a forehand rubber?
Forehand is its clearest fit because the tacky topsheet and 40° blue sponge reward active looping and acceleration. It can also be used on backhand by players who deliberately prefer a firmer, more direct response.
Is the rubber itself blue?
No. The current TT Hub RXTON 3 PRO variant has a black topsheet. “Blue Sponge” refers to the sponge underneath it.
Does RXTON 3 PRO have a strong catapult effect?
Its character is more linear and Chinese-style than a soft, highly tensioned European/Japanese rubber. The sponge provides elasticity, but the player still benefits from using active acceleration.
What do the TT Hub ratings come from?
They are direct mathematical conversions of LOKI's published 15-point ratings: Speed 11, Spin 11 and Control 12 become 7.3, 7.3 and 8.0 out of 10.
Is RXTON 3 PRO the same as RXTON 3 Blue or Pink?
No. RXTON 3 Blue or Pink refers to coloured topsheets. RXTON 3 PRO Blue Sponge is a separate model with a black topsheet and blue sponge in the current TT Hub catalogue.
Conclusion
LOKI RXTON 3 PRO is a compelling option for players who specifically want tacky Chinese-style grip, a blue sponge and a controlled offensive response at a relatively accessible price. It makes most sense for an active forehand rather than as a shortcut to effortless speed.
For a wider explanation of tacky rubbers, sponge hardness, thickness and forehand/backhand selection, see our Complete Guide to Choosing Table Tennis Rubber.