Defensive setup advice

[blindstrike]

Hi!

i would like some advice on my defensive setup:

FH: Victas VS 401 1.8
BH: Victas curl P1V 0.5
Blade: Butterfly Diode V

I have played with pips in general for about 5 months now, this setup is 1.5 months of those. Should i change anything about this? My first tournament with this setup was a big upset one. Beat a lot of players who on paper were better than me.

Anything to change? (all help is appreaciated)

Edit: I chop with both sides, i have a hard time looping, but that might be technice.

 

[Grahf]

thats a really great set tbh, just imo I never liked the diode blades from butterfly and as the innershield layer ZLF its kinda expensive, I always recommend the yinhe 980xx blade which its really outstanding on price, quality and craftsmanship, but the one you currently have its really good, and the forehand rubber its really your choice.
yinhe 980xx

 

[blindstrike]

thats a really great set tbh, just imo I never liked the diode blades from butterfly and as the innershield layer ZLF its kinda expensive, I always recommend the yinhe 980xx blade which its really outstanding on price, quality and craftsmanship, but the one you currently have its really good, and the forehand rubber its really your choice.
yinhe 980xx

why did you not like them? I dont have any yinhe blades at the place i bought my setup from, but if i couldve, i probs wouldve gone with something victas related.

 

[Archosaurus]

You didn't post video of yourself playing and nothing indicates you need to change, so I suggest you buy a #1 W968/Golden Viscaria and slap on 9 layers boosted Hurricane 3 player edition and Dignics 09c national team version onto it.

 

[blindstrike]

You didn't post video of yourself playing and nothing indicates you need to change, so I suggest you buy a #1 W968/Golden Viscaria and slap on 9 layers boosted Hurricane 3 player edition and Dignics 09c national team version onto it.

what the hell are you saying... 😭 H3 player edition? that does not exist... why is it real and so expensive...yeahhh, no thank you

 

[Archosaurus]

what the hell are you saying... 😭 H3 player edition? that does not exist... why is it real and so expensive...yeahhh, no thank you

Silly questions get silly answers.

 

[blindstrike]

Silly questions get silly answers.

sooo if i posted a clip of me playing i would get some actual advice?

 

[Archosaurus]

sooo if i posted a clip of me playing i would get some actual advice?

It'd help, but you said you're playing well with them; so what makes you feel you need to change? You've only used them for 1.5 months, there will still be good performance left for at least 2-3 more.

 

[blindstrike]

It'd help, but you said you're playing well with them; so what makes you feel you need to change? You've only used them for 1.5 months, there will still be good performance left for at least 2-3 more.

maybe there are some other rubbers that are less known. maybe i should try diffrent thicknesses, maybe its perfect. thats what i want to know

 

[just_one_more_chop]

I have never tried the blade and Victas curl only for one session, but Victas 401 was my facourite rubber for quite some time. It was stable for chops, great control and really forgiving.

If you enjoy to play with it and the results are good, I dont see a reason to change. EJ sure is fun, but 99% its technique and not equipment issues.
I would say the 401 is more than capable to produce any kind of shot (maybe not the highest speed). For me it was great to play and learn the basics. If you get at the point where you are stable at the basics there is surely potential to change to a more aggressive FH rubber.
Most Victas rubbers in general for me are really good to play from the start, I would recommend any rubber I have ever tried of them, so even if I dont have much personal experience for the Curl, I think for learning pips it should be sufficient to just keep them on.
If you play the setup for another few months and feel that your missing something you can still fine-tune and test different pips if you still think you need to.
I always wanted to try Diode, but have not yet played it. I think Hitomi Sato is playing it (at the moment the highest ranked female defender), so the blade should not be the issue in terms of capabilities.

Without further information like seeing you play or knowing how you and your opponents are rated, many people will find it hard to go into detail.

 

[blindstrike]

At the start of the tourney, i was rated at 861 (higher the number worse you are ( max is 1107)) and in my first round i lost 3-0 in a very close set (all games 11/9). second set against some very new player was a 3-0 win. now the fun part. i won 3-2 against a 351 rated player, a very close set. the 4th one was a 3-0 win against a 352 rated player. then i lost to a 300 rated player 3-1. i don tknow my new rating after this tourney.

these are the tournament results.

 

[Tyce]

At the start of the tourney, i was rated at 861 (higher the number worse you are ( max is 1107)) and in my first round i lost 3-0 in a very close set (all games 11/9). second set against some very new player was a 3-0 win. now the fun part. i won 3-2 against a 351 rated player, a very close set. the 4th one was a 3-0 win against a 352 rated player. then i lost to a 300 rated player 3-1. i don tknow my new rating after this tourney.

these are the tournament results.

This is me being pedantic, but you're talking about ranking, not rating. Winning against someone 500 spots higher is awesome though, congratulations!

 

[just_one_more_chop]

At the start of the tourney, i was rated at 861 (higher the number worse you are ( max is 1107)) and in my first round i lost 3-0 in a very close set (all games 11/9). second set against some very new player was a 3-0 win. now the fun part. i won 3-2 against a 351 rated player, a very close set. the 4th one was a 3-0 win against a 352 rated player. then i lost to a 300 rated player 3-1. i don tknow my new rating after this tourney.

these are the tournament results.

It sounds like the current setup is already working decently for you. One tournament result can always have many factors deciding though. For example you having a good day, or opponents having a bad day and so forth. When you keep practicing with the current setup for another month or two (especially things you feel currently unconfident in like looping), you will have a better understanding where your setup fits you and where it doesnt.
If you can keep those results up for more tournaments I dont see any reason for you to change something that works 😅

 

[greenbeanmachine]

If you want to play a defensive chopping game, 0.5 sponge is not enough. Go for max sponge ideally.

If you want to play close to the table with spin reversal, then Curl P1v is the wrong rubber. Get one of the weird rubbers from Spinlord or Dr Neubauer.

 

[ZSQ]

You didn't post video of yourself playing and nothing indicates you need to change, so I suggest you buy a #1 W968/Golden Viscaria and slap on 9 layers boosted Hurricane 3 player edition and Dignics 09c national team version onto it.

Haha, the way you reply is a lot like my friends on another forum. I almost thought I was in the wrong place.

 

[mamedium]

Silly questions get silly answers.

there are no silly questions...

 

[belllfador]

Hi!

i would like some advice on my defensive setup:

FH: Victas VS 401 1.8
BH: Victas curl P1V 0.5
Blade: Butterfly Diode V

I have played with pips in general for about 5 months now, this setup is 1.5 months of those. Should i change anything about this? My first tournament with this setup was a big upset one. Beat a lot of players who on paper were better than me.

Anything to change? (all help is appreaciated)

Edit: I chop with both sides, i have a hard time looping, but that might be technice.

Do you know the weight of your Diode V? I have it at 106g and is a very solid blade that is stiffer and faster than 980xx. Closer to inner carbon blades. IMO, Diode V is for very advanced choppers that need extra speed for contra offense. For pure chopping at amateur level, 980xx is the better option. Another defensive blade with a good price is Vistas Blockman, stiffer but slower than 980xx. Both had soft wood for top layers and required sealing.

I like your rubbers. At some point in time, just for fun, you can try P3aV in 1mm and 401 in 2mm or 1.5mm.