The “DO Knuckle” Shock: the rubber that can control “variation” has captured victory in the world final

The shock of T ‘DO Knuckle’: “My opponent in the World Championships final disliked my backhand Chop and Push.”

Hashimoto Honoka talks about how to use ‘DO Knuckle,’ the rubber that creates magic balls

Hashimoto Honoka

Born July 5, 1998, from Aichi Prefecture. She started playing bordtennis at age 5, paired with Sato Hitomi in 2019 to finish third in the women’s world Dubbel, and contributed to Japan’s runner-up finish at the World Team Championships London in May 2026. World ranking: 15th (announced September 21, 2026)

Hashimoto’s racket. ‘DO Knuckle’ is a two-way rubber for “variation” and “control”

Hashimoto Honoka talks about the backhand side ‘DO Knuckle’.

“For ‘DO Knuckle,’ I use an ultra-thin Sponge. It makes it easier for me to create spin changes between ‘Chop’ and no Chop, and it’s also a rubber I can attack with. Even in the World Championships final against China, my opponent, Kuai Man (world rank 7 at the time), disliked my backhand Chop and Push, and there was a tendency for her to send Pushes and Topspins to my forehand side. So I was conscious of using as much backhand variation as possible.