New BH rubber

[Fruitlover]

Hi,

I am still very unsure about the BH rubber I should use. I am testing different rubbers at the moment for my backhand.
The problem: I am much better in flicking (banana/strawberry/normal) over the table than in the short game with pushes, therefore I preferred very grippy rubbers in the past. However I am really bad in BH serve-receive, especially fast serves, because my feet are old and slow. For this reason a rubber that is less spin sensitive would be better. Any recommendations? For blocking I actually always preferred to block with backspin. In general my BH style is to try to win the point with spin and placement. My FH rubber is the Hammond Z2 (max), my BH-rubber should be softer. I tested the soft version of the Z2 (available only in max) on the BH side. It was great against players, who play/serve with not so much spin, but against fast/spinny serves it really was a desaster . So I tested short pips (Andro Blowfish 1.8) with the idea to twiddle for low, slow short balls. Its so slow compared to the Z2 and you need to go through the ball so much for an attack. Should I maybe test the Blowfish in max or another short pip, maybe the Spinfire?
Another idea for testing is something like a tenergy in 1.7 mm.

 

[Crillo]

Tibhar Hybrid MK is a very good option!

 

[Tyce]

Hammond Z2, Blowfish and Tenergy are such wildly different options that it's really hard to understand what you're trying to do here.

If you're so all over the place, chances are you don't need to change rubber at all, but rather could use experience and good, targeted training for your weak points.

 

[Fruitlover]

Hammond Z2, Blowfish and Tenergy are such wildly different options that it's really hard to understand what you're trying to do here.

Yes, I am testing very different stuff in order to find the (new?) right way for me.

 

[Sriver1]

I am still very unsure about the BH rubber I should use. I am testing different rubbers at the moment for my backhand.
The problem: I am much better in flicking (banana/strawberry/normal) over the table than in the short game with pushes, therefore I preferred very grippy rubbers in the past. However I am really bad in BH serve-receive, especially fast serves, because my feet are old and slow. For this reason a rubber that is less spin sensitive would be better. Any recommendations? For blocking I actually always preferred to block with backspin. In general my BH style is to try to win the point with spin and placement.

What does "block with backspin" mean?

 

[Tyce]

Yes, I am testing very different stuff in order to find the (new?) right way for me.

What does "block with backspin" mean?

It means not doing much conventional training with a coach but just slapping on different stuff and hoping something is a magic miracle, curing all of the issues instead of putting work into training and learning.

 

[Scarfed Garchomp]

If you want to try another short pip I think VO>102 is a quintessential rubber to try. Fast and dynamic with good spin. Moristo SP if you're looking for something a bit less spinny and more straightforward

 

[Fruitlover]

It means not doing much conventional training with a coach but just slapping on different stuff and hoping something is a magic miracle, curing all of the issues instead of putting work into training and learning.

It means chop block. Either with sidespin or without sidespin and in this case with the racket pointing completly downwards. A bit unconventionally maybe, okay .

 

[Fruitlover]

If you want to try another short pip I think VO>102 is a quintessential rubber to try. Fast and dynamic with good spin. Moristo SP if you're looking for something a bit less spinny and more straightforward

My problem with the Blowfish is that the pimples loose friction if I brush too fast (even if the contact is good and I go through the ball), so I always have to be careful, especially with the wrist. Is this typical for all short pimple rubbers incl. the VO>102? Or which one is the most grippy one?

 

[Lazer]

Hi,

I am still very unsure about the BH rubber I should use. I am testing different rubbers at the moment for my backhand.
The problem: I am much better in flicking (banana/strawberry/normal) over the table than in the short game with pushes, therefore I preferred very grippy rubbers in the past. However I am really bad in BH serve-receive, especially fast serves, because my feet are old and slow. For this reason a rubber that is less spin sensitive would be better. Any recommendations? For blocking I actually always preferred to block with backspin. In general my BH style is to try to win the point with spin and placement. My FH rubber is the Hammond Z2 (max), my BH-rubber should be softer. I tested the soft version of the Z2 (available only in max) on the BH side. It was great against players, who play/serve with not so much spin, but against fast/spinny serves it really was a desaster . So I tested short pips (Andro Blowfish 1.8) with the idea to twiddle for low, slow short balls. Its so slow compared to the Z2 and you need to go through the ball so much for an attack. Should I maybe test the Blowfish in max or another short pip, maybe the Spinfire?
Another idea for testing is something like a tenergy in 1.7 mm.

Tibhar Hybrid MK is a very good option!

+1
Hybrid MK FX is softer and slower, but not slower than you can make BH kills with it. It plays excellent on a 7ply allwood blade…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Scarfed Garchomp]

My problem with the Blowfish is that the pimples loose friction if I brush too fast (even if the contact is good and I go through the ball), so I always have to be careful, especially with the wrist. Is this typical for all short pimple rubbers incl. the VO>102? Or which one is the most grippy one?

This is unfortunately kind of typical for short pips, they simply have less surface area that contacts the ball so you always have to kind of 'hit' to get the rubber to grab. 102 is perhaps the most grippy short pip I've used so you might not face the same issues as with Blowfish, but at the end of the day short pips do function differently than smooth

 

[K.K]

tibhar mx-s is a very grippy rubber with a soft topsheet that makes it easier to receive heavy spin and pretty easy to flick but has enough bounce to kill a ball and a deadly flight curve. i think this would fit way better than switching to short pips that is difficult to truly master

tibhar hybrid mk has soft topsheet too, but less grip and is less bouncy and deadly. a lot of players that i know who switched to that rubber play rather slow and more an control allround game and use it to prepare their forehand

 

[al_111]

I think you might be searching for a lower throw middle-of-the-road eurojap rubber. It will be less spin sensitive at the expense of its own spin, but brush loops will still be much spinnier compared to short pips, not so much of technique change will be required, too. Blocking, including chop blocks, and strawberry flicks should be easier compared to a high throw rubber; some adjustment might be needed for pushes.
If you are able to borrow your clubmates' rubbers to test them out or ask to have a hit with their bats, you can compile a list of lower throw medium speed rubbers on Revspin and then see what is available for you to test - I would first try out the concept to see if a random rubber of this sort actually suits you before deciding what to get specifically (the difference with Z2 might be significant).

 

[Fruitlover]

Thank you all for the suggestions.
Lets summarize: What properties should my new rubber have for a safe backhand flick (for safe serve receive, where I am sometimes a little bit out of position or cannot judge the amout of spin very precisely):
- medium/medium-soft sponge
- good friction in order to overwrite the incoming spin
- not too slow (-> tensor rubber or something similar from japan), not too fast

In order to be not too fast I could choose between hybrids, not so fast ESN-rubbers, or maybe thinner sponge.
What do you think about choosing a thinner medium sponge (1.8 mm)?
Searching the database (more spin than speed and not too slow or too fast) I found Joola tronix CMD. What do you think about this rubber?

 

[Lazer]

Thank you all for the suggestions.
Lets summarize: What properties should my new rubber have for a safe backhand flick (for safe serve receive, where I am sometimes a little bit out of position or cannot judge the amout of spin very precisely):
- medium/medium-soft sponge
- good friction in order to overwrite the incoming spin
- not too slow (-> tensor rubber or something similar from japan), not too fast

In order to be not too fast I could choose between hybrids, not so fast ESN-rubbers, or maybe thinner sponge.
What do you think about choosing a thinner medium sponge (1.8 mm)?
Searching the database (more spin than speed and not too slow or too fast) I found Joola tronix CMD. What do you think about this rubber?

A softer rubber is generally more spin sensitive than a harder…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Der_Echte]

@Fruitlover There are TWO rubbers come IMMEDIATELY to mind.

original HAMMOND.

That rubber has a VERY soft sponge... VERY easy to block off bounce, VERY easy to counter on the rise, VERY easy to open vs underspin balls.

Tibhar AURUS SOFT (or even softer SOUND)

So damn easy to get the topsheet to wrap around ball and even EASIER to get into sponge to do its thing.

BOTH rubbers are VERY inexpensive if ordered through Tabletennis11.com

 

[tzifos]

soft doesn't always give good control, and a very controllable rubber might not be soft.

 

[K.K]

i think you misread the answers, you need a soft topsheet and not a soft sponge

 

[Fruitlover]

Oh, ok. I just checked, all the mentioned rubbers (Tibhar hyprid mk, mk fx, mx-s, joola tronix cmd/acc, tenergy 19) have a soft topsheet but different sponge hardnesses. So better a medium sponge, maybe 45 degree (ESN scale)? Hard sponges need a lot of effort... The Hammond Z2 (my FH rubber) is actually advertised with a soft topsheet, too, probably a mistake. Or just all rubbers have a soft topsheet

 

[K.K]

who wrote joola tronix line or tenergy 19?
those rubbers are not in the mentioned list so why bother?

hammond z2 is way harder and faster then hybrid mk and mx-s (53 vs 47)