Sauer & Tröger · Short Pips · Short pips

Zargus

A highly controlled short-pips rubber with tightly packed, firm pimples and more disruption than a conventional offensive short-pips sheet.

Zargus prioritises security, placement and disruptive blocking. Its tightly packed and relatively stiff pimples reduce incoming spin and provide a more stable passive response than Hass, while still allowing flat attacking strokes.

Also written as Zargus Short Pimple · Zargus Short Pips · Sauer & Tröger Zargus

ALLBeginnerIntermediateAdvanced

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

Official Sauer & Tröger data

CategoryShort pips
SurfacePips-out
SpongeStandard sponge
Sponge hardnessMedium+
Thicknesses1.5 mm · 1.8 mm · 2.0 mm
ColoursRed · Black
Competition statusListed for competition play
Approval checked3 August 2026
Approval sourceSauer & Tröger catalogue
PriceVaries by retailer

Competition approval is only shown once it has been checked against the current ITTF list of authorised racket coverings. A shop listing on its own is not treated as proof, and an unverified covering is never shown as illegal. No reliable official Sauer & Tröger list price is published per region, so no price is shown rather than an invented one.

Construction characteristics

  • Tightly packed pimples
  • Relatively stiff pimples
  • Wide pimple geometry
  • Control and disruption focus
Play stylesControlled short-pips play · Blocking · Placement · Flat attack
Recommended sideBackhand · Forehand
Throw angleMedium-Low

TTDNA ratings

Speed80
Spin58
Control93
Power76
Grip44
Tackiness0
Arc53
Catapult53
Throw angle51
Elastic66
Spin sensitivity45
Short game71
Blocking75
Backhand flip67
Counterloop74
Opening loop64
Chop64
Serve58
Service receive83
Difficulty58
Beginner friendly51
Durability75

TTDNA values are TTDNA's own editorially normalised 0–100 ratings. They are never an official Sauer & Tröger rating and never a conversion of the Sauer & Tröger manufacturer scale. 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
  • Strong blocking
  • Low incoming-spin sensitivity
  • Good disruption
  • Forgiving contact

Weaknesses

  • Lower maximum speed than Hass
  • Moderate spin production
  • Less explosive during full attack

Best for

  • Control-focused short-pips players
  • Close-table blockers
  • Players transitioning to short pips

Not ideal for

  • Maximum-speed attackers
  • Spin-heavy loopers

Data confidence

ConfidenceHigh
ReferenceSauer & Tröger official product page
Source prioritysauer_troeger_official_product_page → sauer_troeger_official_rubber_collection → current_ittf_larc_approval_list → official_downloadable_product_material → official_regional_page → specialist_retailer → independent_expert_review → community_feedback
Last checked3 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 · 1.5 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium+

Speed 76 · Spin 55 · Control 97

Black · Red · 1.8 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium+

Speed 80 · Spin 58 · Control 93

Black · Red · 2.0 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium+

Speed 82 · Spin 59 · Control 91

TTDNA ratings

Speed80
Spin58
Control93
Power70
Grip44
Tackiness0
Arc53
Catapult58
Throw angle55
Elastic69
Spin sensitivity45
Short game71
Blocking79
Backhand flip67
Counterloop74
Opening loop64
Chop64
Serve58
Service receive83
Difficulty51
Beginner friendly56
Durability75

Known users

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

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

Rest of the Short Pips family

11 Sauer & Tröger models in TTDNA · Compare the range