Smelly Sriver

Aaron San Asked 12 years ago

Dear Coach,

I just bought a fresh Sriver and it smells almost as bad as a Chinese rubber would- like fish. The spin and speed seem decent, but I don't have anything to compare it to since I've never bought a fresh sheet of Sriver of my own, and the last one I used was a long time ago, on an offensive + blade (Timo Boll W7) My current blade is the XIOM Jazz, a considerably slower blade. Basically, I'm asking, could there be a possibility of a counterfeit Sriver, or is it normal for it to be this smelly? I do doubt that it's a counterfeit, since all the logos seem right, but the smell makes me suspicious. PS: This one came without the thin plastic film protecting the rubber. 

Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago

Hi Aaron,

Rubber does really smell a lot when it is new.  I suppose I have learned to like the smell because I remember how excited I used to get when I got a new sheet of Mark V or Sriver when I was younger.  I associate the smell with that excitement.

I doubt it is a counterfeit rubber.