Dr. Neubauer · Explosion · Short pips

Explosion

The balanced Explosion: a controlled disruptive short pips for close-table blocking and hitting.

Explosion balances disturbance and control. Returns leave the racket flat and low, which upsets loopers used to reading a normal arc, while the medium sponge keeps the rubber predictable during passive blocks. It attacks best over the table with a punching action rather than a brushing one. Own spin is limited and reversal is moderate.

Dr. Neubauer product photography is not licensed for TTDNA, so TTDNA renders its own neutral topsheet visualisation generated from verified construction data.

Official Dr. Neubauer data

CategoryShort pips
Surface classPips-out
Surface frictionNot applicable
SpongeMedium sponge
Sponge hardnessMedium (TTDNA band)
Thicknesses1.2 mm · 1.5 mm · 1.8 mm · 2.0 mm · 2.2 mm
ColoursRed · Black
Competition statusITTF approved
Approval checked2 August 2026
PriceVaries by retailer

Approval status follows the Dr. Neubauer catalogue check recorded on the date shown. Dr. Neubauer sells its competition range as ITTF-approved coverings; any covering the catalogue lists as training-only is shown as not ITTF approved. No reliable official Dr. Neubauer list price is published per region, so no price is shown rather than an invented one.

TTDNA ratings

Confidence: Medium

Speed90
Spin65
Control91
Power82
Grip49
Tackiness0
Arc63
Catapult59
Throw angle60
Elastic75
Spin sensitivity51
Short game67
Blocking74
Backhand flip70
Counterloop81
Opening loop70
Chop59
Serve62
Service receive80
Difficulty61
Beginner friendly48
Durability73

TTDNA values are TTDNA's own editorially normalised 0–100 ratings. They are never an official Dr. Neubauer rating and never a conversion of the Dr. Neubauer manufacturer scale.

Effect profile

Disruption68 / 100
Spin reversal25 / 100
Chop control60 / 100
Attackability90 / 100

Spin reversal is the returned rotation of the incoming ball. It is stored separately from the TTDNA spin rating, which measures the rubber's own spin production.

Strengths

  • Very high control for its category
  • High speed on active strokes
  • Genuinely usable for attacking

Best for

  • Close-table hitters and counter-attackers
  • Close-table attack players
  • Counter-hitting players

Data confidence

ConfidenceMedium
ReferenceDr. Neubauer official product page
Source prioritydr_neubauer_official_product_page → dr_neubauer_official_category_page → current_ittf_larc_approval_list → official_regional_dr_neubauer_page → specialist_retailer → independent_expert_review → community_feedback
Last checked2 August 2026

Variants and configurations

5 variants

Colour, thickness and configuration are variants of one model — never separate products. Colour never changes a rating, MAX and OX stay qualitative labels, and OX carries no sponge hardness.

Black · Red · 1.2 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium (TTDNA band)

Speed 86 · Spin 62 · Control 95

Black · Red · 1.5 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium (TTDNA band)

Speed 90 · Spin 65 · Control 91

Black · Red · 1.8 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium (TTDNA band)

Speed 90 · Spin 65 · Control 91

Black · Red · 2.0 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium (TTDNA band)

Speed 90 · Spin 65 · Control 91

Black · Red · 2.2 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium (TTDNA band)

Speed 92 · Spin 66 · Control 89

Known users

Fast-block and hitting players — pen-hold forehands and close-to-table backhands that punish topspin early.

Dr. Neubauer publishes no athlete roster for this sheet, so TTDNA shows the player profile it is built for instead of invented names.

Rest of the Explosion family

69 Dr. Neubauer models in TTDNA · Compare the range