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Review: BUTTERFLY ZYRE 03

Butterfly ZYRE 03 Review: Huge speed, massive arc, and a record-breaking sponge. Expert analysis by Karel Malík.

I know, I took my time with this review, but there was a reason for it… In my opinion, the Zyre 03 is such a remarkable rubber that I wanted to understand it and "read" it as best as I could. Judging by various discussions on international TT websites, this rubber divides fans, and I believe it will be no different here because it is truly controversial.

Even before its market launch on October 1, 2025, a number of Butterfly contract players—such as Harimoto, Franziska, Ovtcharov, and Togami—were already playing with it (and very successfully). So, is the ZYRE 03 the next "big thing" among rubbers, or is it just a temporary trick and clever marketing by Butterfly? Let’s dive in.

ZYRE 03

According to Butterfly, this is a completely new and revolutionary concept. The thickness of the Spring Sponge X (44° hardness) has been increased up to 2.7 mm, while the thickness of the top sheet has been reduced to just 1.3 mm (non-sticky). Butterfly calls this the "Ricosheet," and it is, of course, patented. It features a narrow pimple profile (1.3 mm width) arranged at the maximum density allowed by ITTF.

I can’t help but note that, in my opinion, a 2.7 mm sponge isn't entirely revolutionary. There were past attempts to increase sponge thickness, such as the Andro Maxcell SuperSponge or Donic Supersonic, which were produced with 2.6 mm sponges.

I won't break down every technical parameter here—that would take too long. Curious readers who want the nitty-gritty details can click the link below to see the technology and performance benefits analyzed in detail: https://www.butterfly-global.com/en/product/zyre03/performance/ I chose this page intentionally because it best illustrates what Zyre 03 can do. I will refer back to it occasionally.

In short: Everything is better—highest spin, highest speed, highest arc, longest distance, longest durability. Now, let’s see how it actually plays.

ZYRE 03 – Red 2.7 mm

Although the manufacturer declares a 44° Spring Sponge X (with a significantly darker shade than Dignics 09C), the rubber as a whole does not feel hard at all. The top sheet is matte red, non-tacky, with a shade similar to Bryce High Speed. Looking at the new rubber, it almost seems to say: "Look, I’m the top tier... for the pros... try to tame me."

Tested for about a month with players having an ELO of approx. 1700 – 2000. I ask for the readers' indulgence—I believe my technical skills simply don't allow me (especially in a match) to extract everything this rubber is capable of.

Speed

The manufacturer lists the speed at 88—the same as Dignics 80. This makes it faster than Dignics 05 (86) and certainly faster than Dignics 09C (79). I agree. The rubber is definitely faster than both. In power shots, I think it can generate even more speed than Dignics 80. It’s a very fast rubber that occasionally reminds me of the "speed gluing" era.

Spin

Butterfly gives it a spin value of 100! (Dignics 09C is 96, Dignics 05 is 85, Tenergy 05 is 76). Here, as usual, I disagree with the manufacturer. The spin is indeed brutal, but I definitely don't think it surpasses Tenergy 05 by that much. However, for topspin and counter-topspin from any distance, it is a phenomenal rubber. This is where I'd refer you to the manufacturer's link to see the depicted racket angle—Zyre 03 handles this exceptionally well compared to others.

Arc (Flight Path)

Butterfly claims the arc is the same as Dignics 09C (both rated 96) and higher than Dignics 05 or Tenergy 05. The arc is indeed high, but personally, I don’t think it’s higher than the 09C. If anything, slightly lower. I noticed that with power topspins, the arc flattened out significantly, which the 09C doesn't do. However, the flight path is substantially longer—I fully agree with the manufacturer there. The ball lands very deep in the opponent's half, making it extremely difficult to play against.

A quick side note on the flight path: Back in early August, during the Champions in Yokohama, Harimoto beat Wang Chuqin in the final. Watching it, I wondered why Wang was making so many mistakes—it looked like Harimoto's rubber was bothering him. The balls were landing deep, and Wang seemed visibly surprised. Plus, there must have been more rotation, as his returns often went long. Harimoto was playing with ZYRE 03, which I didn't know at the time...

Hardness

Despite the 44° sponge, it doesn't feel hard. On the contrary, it felt very pleasant—softer than 09C or Dignics 05 on all types of blades. I suspect the sponge is technologically different (even if not stated), and the top sheet is unusually flexible. Because the top is thinner, the ball sinks into the sponge more easily, creating a very nice "feel" on impact.

Catapult

In passive play, it’s easily controllable and predictable. As you add power and swing, the catapult increases linearly. But beware: in high-power rallies, Zyre 03 is a BEAST that is hard to tame. In plain English—it's hard to hit that green thing you're playing on.

Accuracy

For its speed, it’s very accurate. Most inaccuracies came from me being late to the ball or from my imperfect, "old-school" technique. In standard play, it’s precise; in intense play, if you don't keep up, it forgives nothing.

Sensitivity to Incoming Spin

This is a huge plus. This rubber doesn't "eat" spin much, making it very strong on service returns and against heavy-spin players. If you are fast enough and your footwork is on point, you don't have to worry about incoming spin—you just fire it back.

Climate & Humidity

Again, excellent. I tested it in quite humid environments and it didn't seem to care. This is a massive advantage compared to Tenergy 05.

Durability

Butterfly claims 40% longer life than Dignics 05. If true, it would be a bombshell and would partially justify the price, which is truly for the "top ten thousand" (the wealthy). I can't judge this fully yet. After testing, the rubber showed no signs of wear, though a stronger professional player might have different results. For the average competitive player, I think it will last a very long time without losing its optimal properties.

Stroke-by-stroke Breakdown:

The Verdict:

While I’ve mostly praised the rubber, playing with it isn't as easy as the ratings might suggest. You must always be perfectly positioned for the shot—then it’s a gem. If you are out of position and just try to "nudge" it (as we hobbyists often do), the rubber will tell you: "Sorry, go buy some ESN 'all-rounder' for that, not me." It simply doesn't forgive laziness—not in the legs, and not in the arm.

Who is it for?

Blade choice: It works best on a stiffer composite blade. I think it was specifically designed for this type of equipment. It is a rubber for pros and high-performance players—just look at what the top guys are using.

Final Summary: A top-tier rubber primarily for pros, young elite players, and anyone with the technique for the modern game. How it will fare among the wider TT community is hard to say. The "un-democratic" price (approx. $95 / €90) and high demands on technical and physical readiness are hurdles. Plus, for some shots, a change in technique is required compared to standard rubbers, which is always a tough battle—especially for those of us who have been playing the "old way" for a long time.

Thanks to the "All for Table Tennis" shop for the opportunity to publish this, and as always, thanks to all of you for sticking with me until the end.

Karel Malík