Thinking about getting this setup, any suggestions

Reirom · Jul 3, 2017

Andro Rasant 2.1mm (FH)
Donic Baracuda 1.9mm (BH)
Stiga Allround Classic

Total: 92 dollars on table tennis 11.

This is my first real setup after playing with a pre-made bat for a while. Looking to get the best price/performance. Any suggestions appreciated. I'm a beginner so I don't really have a style.

yogi_bear · Jul 3, 2017

if I were you i would make the baracuda as my forehand rubber because it is spinnier and slower than the rasant. also, make the rasant at 1.9mm thickness.

UpSideDownCarl · Jul 3, 2017

If you are coming from a pre-made, why are you looking to have two different rubbers for FH and BH? Do you know what your FH and BH do well? I would choose one rubber an get the same rubber for FH and BH. Unless you actually know how your FH or BH is specialized, and what specifically they need that are different from each other, I would get the same for both. As you develop you may learn what they need that are different. Until then, you are better off using the same rubber for both wings.

The blade is a good one for you to get as a first blade. I would think about getting Baracuda for both sides. Or perhaps getting Vega Europ or Vega Pro and whichever one you get, getting the same on both sides.

I personally think max is fine on that blade. But thickness is your choice. If you are trying to learn to spin, max is useful. If you are more driving the ball and not really working on changing that, thinner rubbers make more sense.

yoass · Jul 3, 2017

yogi_bear said:
if I were you i would make the baracuda as my forehand rubber because it is spinnier and slower than the rasant. also, make the rasant at 1.9mm thickness.

Rasant is fast, it's a beast at 2.1; a little thinner might work out better. Carl does not agree, and his point about not differentiating BH and FH makes sense to me.

Barracuda is a fine rubber, with moderate speed and great spin; for me, it suited better for looping/pushing/chopping than for driving/hitting/blocking. The same goes for Rasant, which is slightly less spinnier (until fully engaged) and really, really fast. The Vega rubbers Carl mentioned are, I think, slightly better suited for direct play.

That blade is excellent and has years of fun development to offer.

anchorschmidt · Jul 3, 2017

I would advise against Baracuda at this stage because as spinny as that rubber is, it's a nightmare to control incoming spin with it. Would recommend something like Vega Intro (minimally softer and more forgiving version of the Vega Pro) or Vega Europe DF/Asia DF.

If you want to order Andro rubbers, Andro Hexer Duro is also a good choice.

Airoc · Jul 3, 2017

UpSideDownCarl said:
If you are coming from a pre-made, why are you looking to have two different rubbers for FH and BH? Do you know what your FH and BH do well? I would choose one rubber an get the same rubber for FH and BH. Unless you actually know how your FH or BH is specialized, and what specifically they need that are different from each other, I would get the same for both. As you develop you may learn what they need that are different. Until then, you are better off using the same rubber for both wings.

The blade is a good one for you to get as a first blade. I would think about getting Baracuda for both sides. Or perhaps getting Vega Europ or Vega Pro and whichever one you get, getting the same on both sides.

I personally think max is fine on that blade. But thickness is your choice. If you are trying to learn to spin, max is useful. If you are more driving the ball and not really working on changing that, thinner rubbers make more sense.

Could. Not. Agree. More.

Really, Carl, thank you. Now I know I am not alone in my thinking.

anchorschmidt · Jul 3, 2017

I also started out with same rubber on both sides (Mark V). I mostly agree with Carl's post. I think it's mostly good to take the same rubber on both sides as a beginner for the reasons that Carl mentioned

However, if you are choosing a harder rubber on the FH (like Rasant Grip), I don't think it's that great of an idea to take a rubber with >45° hardness ESN scale for the backhand. It's hard to get that much acceleration on the backhand side, especially if you are not in the right position.

On the other hand, I wouldn't go too soft on the backhand side either. I feel that it leads to a lot of bad habits (such as just tapping the ball over with the catapult of the soft rubber) rather than really trying to loop more.

Footwork and technique are punished more severely on the backhand side. At least that is my feeling. Would love to hear your thoughts on this.

UpSideDownCarl · Jul 3, 2017

anchorschmidt said:
I would advise against Baracuda at this stage because as spinny as that rubber is, it's a nightmare to control incoming spin with it. Would recommend something like Vega Intro (minimally softer and more forgiving version of the Vega Pro) or Vega Europe DF/Asia DF.

If you want to order Andro rubbers, Andro Hexer Duro is also a good choice.

I think this is a good post.

anchorschmidt · Jul 3, 2017

Congrats on 10,000 likes @Carl. Are you the first?

UpSideDownCarl · Jul 3, 2017

anchorschmidt said:
Congrats on 10,000 likes @Carl. Are you the first?

Dan is sneaky. He has two accounts: Dan and TableTennisDaily. If you add the likes from both accounts, he has more than me. But he is too modest for that. [emoji2]

Sent from The Subterranean Workshop by Telepathy

ttmonster · Jul 3, 2017

boy o boy .... talk about sneaky .....

UpSideDownCarl said:
Dan is sneaky. He has two accounts: Dan and TableTennisDaily. If you add the likes from both accounts, he has more than me. But he is too modest for that. [emoji2]

Sent from The Subterranean Workshop by Telepathy

ttmonster · Jul 3, 2017

Yes , I agree with most of what has been said above , I saw the post and went to table tennis 11 to pick up a combo for the OP , then figured more qualified people will be forthcoming ...
I saw they have Yasaka Sweeden on discount too ... you could get that as well . Two simple things I would keep in mind if I were you :

1. When I hit the ball , can I tell I am hitting the sweet spot on the paddle or not , both on BH and FH side.
2. Can I spin the ball on both sides

yogi_bear · Jul 4, 2017

baracuda 1.9mm for the fh is fine. it is not as sensitive as the max version although i agree there are other rubbers that would be easier for him to use like mark v.

Der_Echte · Jul 4, 2017

Get a Stiga Allround Evo on the cheep for 40 Teuros... Add some middle of the road allround OFF rubbers for 20 to 30 Teuros each... BANG... You are on budget.

Wait a minute... There is more... you can always do the infamous BEAST MOD to the blade... To make it easier to whip and loop.

I am on mobile... Someone c~n search and link...

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

Der_Echte · Jul 4, 2017

Teuro = Expensive Euro.

Some of the Germans on TTD who were alive when the Deutsch Mark converted to Euro can tell you all a few stories...

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MindTrip · Jul 4, 2017

Der_Echte said:
Get a Stiga Allround Evo on the cheep for 40 Teuros... Add some middle of the road allround OFF rubbers for 20 to 30 Teuros each... BANG... You are on budget.
Wait a minute... There is more... you can always do the infamous BEAST MOD to the blade... To make it easier to whip and loop.
I am on mobile... Someone c~n search and link...
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

I agree with the Allround Evo suggestion. Having over $1k worth of equipment in my drawer and 10 years of playing experience, I always turned up my nose to cheap blades. That is, till my daughter learned to play. I bought her an Evolution and after some time she agreed to trade me her Evo for a new OC. I have put away my Violin, Viscaria and Freitas ALC ever since. Matched with medium-soft rubber, this blade offers the best balance of touch, control, feeling and speed for a loop style of play.

As I mentioned, my daughter plays with the Offensive Classic now. It is a decent blade, but needs sealing prior to gluing rubbers. I can play well with it as far as keeping the ball in play, but feel it lacks power. My loops don't land deep enough on the table for them to be troublesome. I can't go without saying how awful the noise is when contacting the ball. Sounds like a loud hollow "PIIINNNKK!!" Probably worse than the Infinity VPS. My daughter likes it, but I think it's because the OC looks better than the Evolution when sealed.

Reirom · Jul 4, 2017

Thanks for all the help. Whats the difference between Stiga Allround Classic vs Stiga Allround Evolution? They are really close in price so I could get either one. Also, if I get any of those blades should I ask for lacquering?

Der_Echte · Jul 4, 2017

Allround evolution is a tiny bit faster on the middle strokes... But the Allround Evolution is a TTD forum legend once modified a certain way to solidify the handles and throat.

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Der_Echte · Jul 5, 2017

I would ask for the free protective coating if you have no coating available to you... Classic Stiga blades have a razor thin outer veneer and with no coating, will self shred each rubber change.

Der_Echte · Jul 5, 2017

Some Nexy blades are like that too, Nexy Korea will seal those blades before they ship them to me for re-sale.

Thinking about getting this setup, any suggestions

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