What is your equipment journey?

[mamedium]

Hi all,
A lot of talks (probably 90%) of TTD is about equipment as we are too lazy to put in the work in training in order to get better.
I am just curious about everyone’s journey in equipment. For me, I started with… a Sardius with T64 both sides when I was 600 USATT! classic mistake if you know what i mean

Then i went on to a tournament where my result was not too bad (beat a 700 little girl) - started getting serious about table tennis after that by… switching T64 to T05.

Going through all sort of blades and rubbers (All wood, 5 - 7 ply, TMB, Viscaria then Ma Long 5 where i discovered the holy grail H3). This was year 2.

Then my friend asked me one day “have you heard of booster”?

Can of worm opened. Falco, Seamoon, Haifu speedglue, you name it.

I stuck with H3 and ML5 for a couple years until i cracked 2000. What a journey with lots of training, tears and blood along the way.

Managed to make it to 2200 after switching to outer with tensor (currently FZD + C2 and 09C). I would say while I love the H3 holding the ball feel, tensor with outer give me more option esp with BH rallies.

About H3. In my opinion, if your level is not 2300 and up or you didn’t have proper training in the young age, H3 is holding you back because its demanding physical condition and correct technique.

I asked my coach about cracking 2300 and 2400. He said “2300 is possible for club player but it is also the ceiling. 2400 is only possible when you have had training at young age”

Guess what i did after that conversation?
w968

 

[Archo]

You've done really well; maybe more people need to use equipment that's not at their level LOL.

I think the important part here is "stuck with for a couple years", though.

What rating were you when you switched to HL5 and H3?

EDIT: Forgot my own:

Started with Stiga Allround Evolution + 729 Super FX in different sponges. Used that for about 3 years as a rec player who trained with a partner. Took an 8 year break, and got back to it this year as a club player. Tried everything under the sun and then some, have settled at Acoustic + H3.

That's probably the level-appropriate blade pick, but a part of me wants to use that for a while until I get a groove, then switch to something crazy like HL5 and get very adept at using only that for a couple years and try to make the performance work for me and not against me.

I tried a DHS B2, but I think mine is defective or something because it's insanely fast (at least +30% compared to outer + tensor) without any spin in the mid power shots, and players around 1600-2000 standard couldn't make it work when they hit with it. It's only reliable in very brushed or very strong shots. I can't imagine that's how they're supposed to be.

 

[joshmak10]

Blade Journey: FZD ALC -> Tibhar Felix Lebrun OFF- -> Viscaria Super ALC -> FZD ALC -> Provincial W968 -> Viscaria -> Hurricane King ACB -> Xiom Cho Daeseong TMX Pro -> FZD ALC -> Synteliac VCI -> Viscaria -> Xuperman S1 -> Viscaria -> Provincial Q968 -> Viscaria -> DF Project Z ZQH -> JOOLA Hugo Inner KLC -> Tibhar Darko Jorgic Infinity Carbon

FH Rubber Journey: Rozena -> D80 -> H3 -> T05H -> K3 -> G1 -> H3 -> NUZN 55 -> H3 -> JOOLA Trinity Charged

BH Rubber Journey: Rozena -> D05 -> Xiom Vega X -> D05 -> K3 -> P1 -> H3 -> D09c -> D80 -> H3 -> O7P -> D09c -> NUZN 55 -> H3 -> T05 -> D09c -> H8-20 -> H8-80 -> Genextion -> D09c -> NUZN 55 -> Zyre -> JOOLA Trinity Dynamic

All in a span of 3-4 years ish and still a bum haha

 

[imbadatlooping]

(Bear with me, this is gonna be a long one)
First ever racket was a good ol Joola Infinity Balance premade racket, then went to yasaka sweden extra with battle 2 fh xiom vega europe. Didnt like the soft rubber on backhand and thought i was so good the blade was too slow💀 , so guess what i did... bought another setup.

My next setup was yasaka ma lin carbon with g1&c1.
Then after a good 5-6 months id say, in no order, i bought fangbo b2x with h3n fh glayzer 09c bh, andro treiber fo with rasanter r48 both sides, then for some reason a ma lin extra offensive with rozena fh r47 bh, then the xiom hayabusa zl pro with rakza z fh vega x bh, then for some ungodly reason i bought a freitas alc with gold arc 9 rubbers which i absolutely hated. Pretty much have a like new freitas alc in a TT case just sitting there. Hated how the bh feels on the Freitas, but then again i suck so what do i know. Anyways sorry for venting. (Just to clarify I didnt buy all this all at once, it was during the span of about 1-2.5/3 years)

Please keep in mind, this was during a time where im in college, no tournament experience, no training, nothing. All i was doing was playing at my colleges TT club and when i go home i played at my local club with very few members (no one above 1600 usatt). Yes looking back now i was very much an ej with very little brain.

Now finally graduated, I went home and finally decided to take the game seriously while playing at my local club, so i eventually bought a petr korbel with nittaku G1 fh C1 bh. Switched the c1 to a rakza z i had lying around because i didn't like C1 and stuck with this setup in order to improve (Rakza Z on the fh and G1 bh).

After a bit of time getting used to the feeling of the blade and actually taking things seriously and going to a couple tournaments, things finally started to click. I beat a 1600 usatt player with this setup as a 1000 usatt level player and had a couple compliments saying i looked more like a 1400-1500 player (even though i lost against an 800 usatt LP player straight after my game against the 1600 😒).

My current setup now is the Petr Korbel with boosted H3N Prov BS 39d and hurricane 8-80. Currently at 1230 usatt but that's partly due to my lack of attendance in tournaments and still not experienced enough to deal with all the awkward playstyles (pips and flat hitters are the bane of my existence). Also ive been pretty much self taught this whole time.

I know I over did it on the equipment, but im glad that ive finally gone back to a good setup for beginner/intermediate level. Ive made so much progress in such a short time ever since i switched to the petr korbel and im glad i did so.

Who knew listening to everyone and their mom saying go back to a controllable setup actually helped me improve.

*** Looking back on this post after typing it, it was a very bad addiction. Kind of making me reflect on how bad i had it during college.

*** If your wondering what i did with the blades and rubbers, most of them I donated to my local club since their available rackets for free play had all dead rubber, also it was a good way for other club members to try out other rubbers and blades cause dang didn't i have a good amount of everything lol. I kept the Freitas alc (to expensive to donate, and haven't posted to sell it yet), the b2x (just a good blade in general), and the xiom hayabusa zl pro (just liked the blade).

 

[RPB Enthusiast]

Blade Journey: FZD ALC -> Tibhar Felix Lebrun OFF- -> Viscaria Super ALC -> FZD ALC -> Provincial W968 -> Viscaria -> Hurricane King ACB -> Xiom Cho Daeseong TMX Pro -> FZD ALC -> Synteliac VCI -> Viscaria -> Xuperman S1 -> Viscaria -> Provincial Q968 -> Viscaria -> DF Project Z ZQH -> JOOLA Hugo Inner KLC -> Tibhar Darko Jorgic Infinity Carbon

FH Rubber Journey: Rozena -> D80 -> H3 -> T05H -> K3 -> G1 -> H3 -> NUZN 55 -> H3 -> JOOLA Trinity Charged

BH Rubber Journey: Rozena -> D05 -> Xiom Vega X -> D05 -> K3 -> P1 -> H3 -> D09c -> D80 -> H3 -> O7P -> D09c -> NUZN 55 -> H3 -> T05 -> D09c -> H8-20 -> H8-80 -> Genextion -> D09c -> NUZN 55 -> Zyre -> JOOLA Trinity Dynamic

All in a span of 3-4 years ish and still a bum haha

How is the Darko Infinity Carbon blade? One of the two blades I had from NEXY was inner carbon forehand and outer carbon backhand and it was nice, but I probably should've gotten them to make the blade harder (not too sure how that process goes tbh).

 

[joshmak10]

How is the Darko Infinity Carbon blade? One of the two blades I had from NEXY was inner carbon forehand and outer carbon backhand and it was nice, but I probably should've gotten them to make the blade harder (not too sure how that process goes tbh).

It’s still on its way, I’ll lyk when I receive it and try it

 

[andymagata]

When I started late in life 2 years ago, I was desperate to find my style. So I usually played max 1 month with any kind of equipment. Tried it all except short pips. After 18 months, in March, I reached a dead end and tried short pips out of desperation. And it felt great! Short pips both sides, I eventually settled on Stiga Pure Cybershape! 180 g In total. Wrist pain. So I did another ”stupid” thing - glued on my long pips, this time on forehand side. And it was great! I think I never looked for a style - what I was looking for was a feeling in the hand when I play. And thin sponge and spin insensitive long pips give me exactly that - a great feeling.

 

[J-fed]

‘A lot of talks (probably 90%) of TTD is about equipment as we are too lazy to put in the work in training in order to get better’

LOL. Great comment.

 

[Haito]

I started off with Appelgren Allplay with Yinhe Big Dipper on BH and Jupiter on FH. Terribly slow...

Then I got some fake HL5, it was nice. I also tried the Innerforce ALC, Gewo Aruna, Joola ZeLeBRO, Yinhe V14. In that time I always played a tacky FH and ESN BH. I also tried a Tenergy 05 and 19 at some point. I was switching blades for a while, later switched to Tibhar Curious, I had like 4 of those, played them for 4 years.

In 2024 I got the K3, like it but killed it off too quickly. I think K3 was the last rubber on Curious. I switched to the Vodak Horejsi Super ALC I had bought earlier. I glued up the Vodak with C53 and FX-D / Vega Japan. Used that a yaer or so, I had a spare Donic Ovtcharov No.1 Senso.

This summer I switched to Loki W81 ADC and tried different rubbers with it, settled on Rxton 9. Will keep it longer term, it has a metric ton of spin and much slower. Easier to keep the ball on the table. It helps me to rally more and keep developing. Previously it was often all or nothing game. Not very productive.

(journey from 2019 ish, till now)

 

[Oliverpool]

Blade Journey: FZD ALC -> Tibhar Felix Lebrun OFF- -> Viscaria Super ALC -> FZD ALC -> Provincial W968 -> Viscaria -> Hurricane King ACB -> Xiom Cho Daeseong TMX Pro -> FZD ALC -> Synteliac VCI -> Viscaria -> Xuperman S1 -> Viscaria -> Provincial Q968 -> Viscaria -> DF Project Z ZQH -> JOOLA Hugo Inner KLC -> Tibhar Darko Jorgic Infinity Carbon

FH Rubber Journey: Rozena -> D80 -> H3 -> T05H -> K3 -> G1 -> H3 -> NUZN 55 -> H3 -> JOOLA Trinity Charged

BH Rubber Journey: Rozena -> D05 -> Xiom Vega X -> D05 -> K3 -> P1 -> H3 -> D09c -> D80 -> H3 -> O7P -> D09c -> NUZN 55 -> H3 -> T05 -> D09c -> H8-20 -> H8-80 -> Genextion -> D09c -> NUZN 55 -> Zyre -> JOOLA Trinity Dynamic

All in a span of 3-4 years ish and still a bum haha

Continue to work on the list Bro. You are still no where near the character limit of a post 😂

 

[Tiber1337]

So my first blade when I started in law school was a premade Joola Carbon, then took a long break, after which I asked on discord for blade suggestions and bought a TSP Swat + Xiom Vega Intro both sides .

After I joined a amateur club, this setup did not suit me on serve returnes, so I bought Hugo HAL + Hurricane 8-80 both sides, learned short game and top spins. After I got better I changed to Hugo HALL + Victas 22Double Extra had too much catapult for me, the I bought a harimoto szlc + d80 both sides which was better, and then my EJ-ing went in more directions.

I am only listing blades I have participated in tournaments

TSP SWAT + 2xXiom Vega Intro
Hugo HAL + 2xHurricane 8-80
Hugo HALL + 2xVictas 22Double Extra
Harimoto szlc + 2xDignics 80
Harimoto szlc + 2xDignics 09c
Fan Zhendong + Hurricane 3 Prov BS NEO + 09c backhand
W968 + national h3 fh ,national h3 backhand
Viscaria ALC + national h3 fh ,09C backhand
Viscaria ALC + 2x09c
Cho Daesong
Liang Jinkun ADC special + 2x 09c
Viscaria SALC + 2x 09c
Fan Zhendong SALC + 2x 09c
Victas Magnass + 2x 09c
Fan Zhendong SALC + 2x 09c - current setup

I am still not happy with SALC speed and will soon change to a Mizutani SZLC or xiom TMX + helix hibrid H

My testing contains much more tho

 

[piligrim]

Tried 100+ blades then changed to defensive style, tried around 10 defensive blades. Now stick to 08X

 

[piligrim]

It’s still on its way, I’ll lyk when I receive it and try it

Before you mentioned you stop playing becaouse of school. So you keep playing

 

[belllfador]

I have been searching for the best pips for 18 months. Changing blades and inverted rubbers is nothing in comparison.

 

[J-fed]

I have been searching for the best pips for 18 months. Changing blades and inverted rubbers is nothing in comparison.

Short or long?
My under rated rec for SP is Hammond FA

 

[belllfador]

Short or long?
My under rated rec for SP is Hammond FA

I like D3 in 1.5, but with any faster SP I am losing hard. Enjoyed the most several MP and LP with mid to hard pips. Now discontinued Ilius S and B, Super Do Knuckle, Pimple Slide with harder custom sponge. Have 3-4 new pips for testing, still in the EJ rabbit hole.

 

[TampaBayTableTennis]

Blade Journey: FZD ALC -> Tibhar Felix Lebrun OFF- -> Viscaria Super ALC -> FZD ALC -> Provincial W968 -> Viscaria -> Hurricane King ACB -> Xiom Cho Daeseong TMX Pro -> FZD ALC -> Synteliac VCI -> Viscaria -> Xuperman S1 -> Viscaria -> Provincial Q968 -> Viscaria -> DF Project Z ZQH -> JOOLA Hugo Inner KLC -> Tibhar Darko Jorgic Infinity Carbon

FH Rubber Journey: Rozena -> D80 -> H3 -> T05H -> K3 -> G1 -> H3 -> NUZN 55 -> H3 -> JOOLA Trinity Charged

BH Rubber Journey: Rozena -> D05 -> Xiom Vega X -> D05 -> K3 -> P1 -> H3 -> D09c -> D80 -> H3 -> O7P -> D09c -> NUZN 55 -> H3 -> T05 -> D09c -> H8-20 -> H8-80 -> Genextion -> D09c -> NUZN 55 -> Zyre -> JOOLA Trinity Dynamic

All in a span of 3-4 years ish and still a bum haha

to Infinity... and beyond! lol

 

[J-fed]

I like D3 in 1.5, but with any faster SP I am losing hard. Enjoyed the most several MP and LP with mid to hard pips. Now discontinued Ilius S and B, Super Do Knuckle, Pimple Slide with harder custom sponge. Have 3-4 new pips for testing, still in the EJ rabbit hole.

IDK D3.
I used SP on BH for many years. Now LP. Might go back to SP just to see if I can win without the cheat code.
P.S. SP is 1.5 FS. I hate 2.0.
L.P. I like 0.5 but can stretch to 0.7.

 

[kindof99]

From a lot to a lot more...

 

[passifid]

Shakehand
Boll all+
Waldner legend carbon
Infinity VPS
Waldner wc89
Long III
Boll spirit
Hurricane bo carbon
Clipper wood
Alpelgren wc89
W968
Artemis alc

Chopping
Kmzc

Penholder
Mleo
Xiom power hinoki
Boll spirit
Athena platinum
Hurricane hao 2
Hurricane king AcB

Currently in rotation
Artemis alc with H3 41 and 37
W968 with z03 2.7
Kmzc as per flair
Hurricane hao 2