Dr. Neubauer · Tarantula · Anti-topspin

Tarantula

A frictionless anti with very high reversal and strong pace absorption across three sponge thicknesses.

Tarantula is a frictionless anti-topspin rubber intended for close-table disruption. Against a loop it returns the incoming rotation with very little added, and the dampening sponge takes the sting out of the ball so returns stay short. The 1.2 mm build is the most disruptive and controlled, 1.8 mm adds speed for players who want to punch the ball back. Spin has to come from the other side of the blade.

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

CategoryAnti-topspin
Surface classAnti-spin
Surface frictionFrictionless
SpongeDampening sponge
Sponge hardnessMedium (TTDNA band)
Thicknesses1.2 mm · 1.5 mm · 1.8 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-high

Speed50
Spin0
Control94
Power47
Grip0
Tackiness0
Arc28
Catapult43
Throw angle26
Elastic46
Spin sensitivity0
Short game81
Blocking80
Backhand flip38
Counterloop39
Opening loop26
Chop76
Serve24
Service receive88
Difficulty36
Beginner friendly69
Durability79

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

Disruption96 / 100
Spin reversal97 / 100
Speed absorption99 / 100
Attackability64 / 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 spin reversal on passive contacts
  • Strongly disruptive ball quality
  • Very high control for its category
  • Absorbs almost all incoming pace

Weaknesses

  • Produces essentially no spin of its own
  • Limited speed; points have to be won by placement

Best for

  • Players who disrupt rather than out-spin opponents
  • Defensive players
  • Blocking players
  • Disruptive players

Not ideal for

  • Players expecting the rubber to generate its own spin
  • Players who want to hit through opponents
  • Players who dislike an unpredictable return from their own racket

Data confidence

ConfidenceMedium-high
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

3 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 46 · Spin 0 · Control 98

Black · Red · 1.5 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium (TTDNA band)

Speed 50 · Spin 0 · Control 94

Black · Red · 1.8 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium (TTDNA band)

Speed 52 · Spin 1 · Control 92

Known users

Blockers and disruptive all-round players who kill incoming spin and change rhythm.

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

69 Dr. Neubauer models in TTDNA · Compare the range