Choosing Blades and Rubbers for a Beginner Table Tennis Player

[Lazer]

Thank you for your response. What rubber thickness would u recommend on both sides?

Not too much difference between 1.8 and 2.0. If you want to be offensive choose 2.0. If you want to be defensive 1.5 or 1.8.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Sherzy]

Not too much difference between 1.8 and 2.0. If you want to be offensive choose 2.0. If you want to be defensive 1.5 or 1.8.

Cheers
L-zr

Ok thank you. I’ll go for 2.0, I’ve heard the blade you start with it’s important. Should I go with the Sweden Yasaka Extra or a different one?

 

[Lazer]

Ok thank you. I’ll go for 2.0, I’ve heard the blade you start with it’s important. Should I go with the Sweden Yasaka Extra or a different one?

That blade is fine, good blade should last you a long time…

If you are serious get two and use the second one as a backup or even to try out cheaper rubbers, it’s fun…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[golden_son]

I genuinely don't believe Rakza 7 would be too much for someone coming from a Stiga Royal 3-Star and looking for more spin. The Royal is a premade, yes, but it's a modern one and around $50 USD; the S3 rubber on it is 2.0mm and likely not that much worse than the generations-old Mark V. If they were a true novice who'd never picked up a paddle I would feel differently, but if they can control a mid-range premade and be dissatisfied with it I don't think it's a stretch to say they should be able to acclimate to a fairly linear rubber like R7, especially on a 5-ply all-round blade.

Actually, Rakza 7 Soft on both sides could be a good middle ground.

 

[Sherzy]

I genuinely don't believe Rakza 7 would be too much for someone coming from a Stiga Royal 3-Star and looking for more spin. The Royal is a premade, yes, but it's a modern one and around $50 USD; the S3 rubber on it is 2.0mm and likely not that much worse than the generations-old Mark V. If they were a true novice who'd never picked up a paddle I would feel differently, but if they can control a mid-range premade and be dissatisfied with it I don't think it's a stretch to say they should be able to acclimate to a fairly linear rubber like R7, especially on a 5-ply all-round blade.

Actually, Rakza 7 Soft on both sides could be a good middle ground.

Ye i dont want the soft version, either the Rakza 7 on both sides or Mark V on both sides and for the thickness on both I think 2.0

 

[riemsesy]

I’ve noticed that most people playing low-level club or competition table tennis don’t really care about what blade or rubber they’re using. When I was EJ-ing (equipment junkie, past tense), I was super curious about what setups they had — but most of the time, the answer was just “whatever.”

Only the players for whom table tennis is more than just a hobby — the ones who not only play league matches but also enter tournaments — tend to go for the expensive blades and rubbers, because they can actually make use of the performance.

For us regular club players, those in lower-level competition just playing for fun, a basic blade and not-too-fancy rubbers are more than enough. Something like the Appelgren Allplay or Yasaka Sweden Extra you mention does the job perfectly.

Even Mercury II (very cheap chinese rubber) is good enough for beginners or casual club-level players.

 

[Sherzy]

I’ve noticed that most people playing low-level club or competition table tennis don’t really care about what blade or rubber they’re using. When I was EJ-ing (equipment junkie, past tense), I was super curious about what setups they had — but most of the time, the answer was just “whatever.”

Only the players for whom table tennis is more than just a hobby — the ones who not only play league matches but also enter tournaments — tend to go for the expensive blades and rubbers, because they can actually make use of the performance.

For us regular club players, those in lower-level competition just playing for fun, a basic blade and not-too-fancy rubbers are more than enough. Something like the Appelgren Allplay or Yasaka Sweden Extra you mention does the job perfectly.

Even Mercury II (very cheap chinese rubber) is good enough for beginners or casual club-level players.

Thank you for your time and response. Do you also recommend the mark v on both sides or rakza 7 or another one? And which thickness. Trying to see what the majority says since a lot of different opinions

 

[MarekD]

I recommend my players to use Frienship 729 FX soft rubbers for their first bat, or the aforementioned Mercury soft on both sides. They are sufficiently rotating, but slower rubbers that will force them to develop the correct hand movement habit while playing. I do not recommend tensor rubbers because they do a lot of work for the player and therefore do not force them to develop the correct habit.

 

[Lazer]

Ye i dont want the soft version, either the Rakza 7 on both sides or Mark V on both sides and for the thickness on both I think 2.0

Correct, the soft version is even more reactive…
A reactive rubber will make serve receive a lot harder….

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Tyce]

Ye i dont want the soft version, either the Rakza 7 on both sides or Mark V on both sides and for the thickness on both I think 2.0

Mark V sponge is 40-45 degrees hard in ESN terms, which is the same as Rakza 7 Soft.
Rakza 7 "regular" is 45-50 degrees.

Just because it's called "soft" doesn't make it soft in comparison to the stuff on premades or classic rubbers. Also softer sponges will generally be lighter.

I would also recommend Vega Europe (same 42-43 hardness level) for its affordability.

I honestly found Rakza 7 2.0 to be an uncomfortable step at the time. I still think it's relatively unpredictable and spin-sensitive compared to alternatives like Tibhar Aurus, Fastarc C1 and Vega Europe. R7 regular is also on the heavier side and I found it to dampen a lot of feeling. Going 1.8 might help.

I see plenty of club players with this kind of setup - a blade like the YSE and any of these rubbers including Mark V - who outclass me by miles. Don't be afraid you get something "not good enough" because that's just not gonna happen.

TL;DR:
Mark V - not a Tensor rubber - 2.0mm
Rakza 7 Soft - Tensor - same hardness as Mark V - 1.8 might help with feeling
Rakza 7 - Tensor - step harder than the above - I'd recommend 1.8 for weight and feeling
Vega Europe - Tensor - comparable to Rakza 7 Soft - usually lower priced - still recommend 1.8.

 

[PenHoldSandro]

I thought hurricane was extremely hard to control for a beginner so didn’t think about it

Well, it is. That's why you should buy it. Mess up a stroke and you miss. There you go, you know what does NOT work! Try it again and again until you find what is the CORRECT stroke! Get a coach for that tho

 

[Tyce]

Thank you for your time and response. Do you also recommend the mark v on both sides or rakza 7 or another one? And which thickness. Trying to see what the majority says since a lot of different opinions

Nail on the head here.

Stick with the opinion that you like - for convenience you can use the opinion of the rest of the club, the opinion of the available coach, but if you have a strong preference for something else, that's fine too.

BUT: stick with it. Unless it really bites you in the ass for months on end, do. not. change.

 

[Lazer]

I recommend my players to use 729 soft rubbers for their first bat, or the aforementioned Mercury soft on both sides. They are sufficiently rotating, but slower rubbers that will force them to develop the correct hand movement habit while playing. I do not recommend tensor rubbers because they do a lot of work for the player and therefore do not force them to develop the correct habit.

Thank you for your time and response. Do you also recommend the mark v on both sides or rakza 7 or another one? And which thickness. Trying to see what the majority says since a lot of different opinions

Something to consider, Neottec Katana, a step down from Mark V but a lot cheaper, if you don’t like it just change it.
Another thing , if don’t know already check out Tabletennis11 in Narva Estonia. It’s the best store on the planet.
For Chinese rubbers check out chtt.se also a great store….

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Lazer]

Well, it is. That's why you should buy it. Mess up a stroke and you miss. There you go, you know what does NOT work! Try it again and again until you find what is the CORRECT stroke! Get a coach for that tho

I hope this was sarcasm…
If your equipment is too fast you will start hesitating that’s a guarantee for screwed up technique…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Tyce]

I hope this was sarcasm…
If your equipment is too fast you will start hesitating that’s a guarantee for screwed up technique…

Cheers
L-zr

H3 is hardly too fast - but learning to play with it from scratch and without a Chinese coach drilling you... That's just frustrating.

 

[Lazer]

H3 is hardly too fast - but learning to play with it from scratch and without a Chinese coach drilling you... That's just frustrating.

That’s a bit exaggerated, I don’t think H3 is any harder to play with, at least the non Neo orange, never played with Neo. The pretreatment turned me off…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[riemsesy]

Thank you for your time and response. Do you also recommend the mark v on both sides or rakza 7 or another one? And which thickness. Trying to see what the majority says since a lot of different opinions

From what I've learned, there are still some players using Mark V, even though it's an older rubber (since 1970). I guess if I say Mercury II is very playable for beginners and club players who just want to enjoy the game, then Mark V is definitely suitable too, though it's outdated.
Rakza 7 seems to be more popular among serious beginners these days. It's faster, spinnier and more dynamic than Mark V.
I haven't found a cheaper online shop for these rubbers than Topsas.lt

 

[riemsesy]

That’s a bit exaggerated, I don’t think H3 is any harder to play with, at least the non Neo orange, never played with Neo. The pretreatment turned me off…

Cheers
L-zr

What she said 😁

 

[Lazer]

What she said 😁

Woawh, dirty are we 🤣

Cheers
L-zr

 

[PenHoldSandro]

I hope this was sarcasm…
If your equipment is too fast you will start hesitating that’s a guarantee for screwed up technique…

Genuinely just no. H3 is not fast at all? Are we talking about the same thing? Anyway, H3 teaches you to develop a full and compete stroke for forehand, which many euro rubbers prevent, mostly tensors.

H3 is hardly too fast - but learning to play with it from scratch and without a Chinese coach drilling you... That's just frustrating.

That's why I recommended a coach xd

That’s a bit exaggerated, I don’t think H3 is any harder to play with, at least the non Neo orange, never played with Neo. The pretreatment turned me off…

it turned you off? That's some freaky vocab right there buddy 😭