Beating the plateau at low intermediate level

[BackhandSteve]

I've tested this on Korbel, Innerforce ALC (which I both still have) and a couple of others (Yinhe Pro 01, Timo Boll ZLC, I think I even tried it on my Appelgren lol).

The challenge with this is I felt I had to commit 100% to every shot, which is not something that comes natural to me.

Hello friend! I understand that you are having difficulties adapting to the fast developing modern equipment.

I have played Petr Korbel with Tenergy 05 FX and 1,9mm sponge. Was lovely. Seems like your problem is also to do with the new tackiness of the rubbers.

I do recommend Rakza rubbers. They are not so sticky! Forget sticky rubbers if they don't suit you

There are soo many combinations of rackets to try. Its like Pokemon - Gotta catch em all. But in this case - Try them all. Which we can't. I have come to the conclusion myself that, I am satisfied with my equipment even though there might be something better out there for me.

It also sounds like an all wood blade would suit you better based on your playing level! Petr Korbel is a good blade that you already have.

Tenergy 05 also as a special kind of arc which all rubbers do not have. Normal rubber might be more easily played with.

All the best

 

[Yuomay]

I really think the adaptation should be to the game and not the rubber. The game is faster with less spin.. You simply have less time to organise yourself.

And the biggest difference between divisions I note is speed and placement. (Or placement and speed more precisely).

 

[Tyce]

I've just taken off all the non-tensors I had. Have been playing around the past weeks testing the waters between H3N and G-1 on equal blades (Mercury 2 and C-1 BH respectively) and while I *could* use both, the Fastarcs are just so much more useful on those shots where I can only just get my bat in.

The biggest change I'm working on right now is my grip. Someone posted a video recently about putting the emphasis on index+thumb, on the rubber, and letting the rest of the fingers only doing a loose guiding job, and the sensation of that gives me a big boost of confidence. Gripping that way also makes me feel like I could do with a much slower blade and not lose all that much attacking power. And, perhaps, a key in getting the right feeling of control over tensor rubbers?

I've dug up my stash of used sheets and stuck T19/T05 on my spare IFL ALC (instead of H3N and Mercury 2) to see if a more confident grip helps in handling this type of rubber. Also curious to feel the differences between both Tenergies as I haven't tried them together yet.

Not sure where I'm gonna go from here. I will finish the season with my current G-1 and C-1 combo which I think I'm getting a better grip on (pun intended) judging from the lack of wild misses and presence of quite some small-motion spin balls that audibly made the rubber snap properly, during matches, since I've started the grip change. I guess I'm getting another puzzle piece in place now and hopefully that will make things work.
I'm also still on the fence about using a different blade for matches next season. If I do, it's probably going to be Korbel as I've had some good mileage on it already. But if things are starting to fall into place with this IFL ALC then why change at all? Maybe a new Spring Sponge experience will convince me to go in that direction.

 

[MOJOJOJO-74]

I've just taken off all the non-tensors I had. Have been playing around the past weeks testing the waters between H3N and G-1 on equal blades (Mercury 2 and C-1 BH respectively) and while I *could* use both, the Fastarcs are just so much more useful on those shots where I can only just get my bat in.

The biggest change I'm working on right now is my grip. Someone posted a video recently about putting the emphasis on index+thumb, on the rubber, and letting the rest of the fingers only doing a loose guiding job, and the sensation of that gives me a big boost of confidence. Gripping that way also makes me feel like I could do with a much slower blade and not lose all that much attacking power. And, perhaps, a key in getting the right feeling of control over tensor rubbers?

I've dug up my stash of used sheets and stuck T19/T05 on my spare IFL ALC (instead of H3N and Mercury 2) to see if a more confident grip helps in handling this type of rubber. Also curious to feel the differences between both Tenergies as I haven't tried them together yet.

Not sure where I'm gonna go from here. I will finish the season with my current G-1 and C-1 combo which I think I'm getting a better grip on (pun intended) judging from the lack of wild misses and presence of quite some small-motion spin balls that audibly made the rubber snap properly, during matches, since I've started the grip change. I guess I'm getting another puzzle piece in place now and hopefully that will make things work.
I'm also still on the fence about using a different blade for matches next season. If I do, it's probably going to be Korbel as I've had some good mileage on it already. But if things are starting to fall into place with this IFL ALC then why change at all? Maybe a new Spring Sponge experience will convince me to go in that direction.

If you feel Tenergy 05 is too bouncy for you, them you can try out Hurricane on your backhand, then you definitely don't have to worry about bounciness 😂
In terms on getting used to different rubbers, just watch reviews to get different opinions, keep practicing with them, and make sure to be more confident in yourself, otherwise your mentality will not allow you to become better.

 

[jonol]

I've just taken off all the non-tensors I had. Have been playing around the past weeks testing the waters between H3N and G-1 on equal blades (Mercury 2 and C-1 BH respectively) and while I *could* use both, the Fastarcs are just so much more useful on those shots where I can only just get my bat in.

The biggest change I'm working on right now is my grip. Someone posted a video recently about putting the emphasis on index+thumb, on the rubber, and letting the rest of the fingers only doing a loose guiding job, and the sensation of that gives me a big boost of confidence. Gripping that way also makes me feel like I could do with a much slower blade and not lose all that much attacking power. And, perhaps, a key in getting the right feeling of control over tensor rubbers?

I've dug up my stash of used sheets and stuck T19/T05 on my spare IFL ALC (instead of H3N and Mercury 2) to see if a more confident grip helps in handling this type of rubber. Also curious to feel the differences between both Tenergies as I haven't tried them together yet.

Not sure where I'm gonna go from here. I will finish the season with my current G-1 and C-1 combo which I think I'm getting a better grip on (pun intended) judging from the lack of wild misses and presence of quite some small-motion spin balls that audibly made the rubber snap properly, during matches, since I've started the grip change. I guess I'm getting another puzzle piece in place now and hopefully that will make things work.
I'm also still on the fence about using a different blade for matches next season. If I do, it's probably going to be Korbel as I've had some good mileage on it already. But if things are starting to fall into place with this IFL ALC then why change at all? Maybe a new Spring Sponge experience will convince me to go in that direction.

Sounds like a good improvement. Definitely if your grip was incorrect, it's going to be very hard to play the modern game.

My advice would be to play with the same setup again, or if you change anything make it only one variable. Either move to a different blade with the same rubbers, or change only your BH or FH rubber. When changing equipment I think it's really important to keep majority of the setup the same so that you have a clear reference point.

Changing both wings at once, or blade + rubber at once means you lose your point of reference for how the game is "supposed" to feel.

If you have a stronger attacking side that is working well - do not change that, experiment only with changing the rubber on your weaker side, with the goal of finding something that lets you play comfortably and consistent. If you are comfortable with the overall setup, you can then start working on improving your attacking shots etc. without feeling like your game is falling apart.

Of course, this is all just my own experience and also observations of what happens to other people who change equipment too frequently or drastically. I personally limit myself to changing 1 variable (blade, FH, BH) every 6 months, that way I have room to experiment, but always have a solid consistent frame to work with.

 

[NetProphet]

Background: I played from 1997 to 2010, quit the sport and returned in 2024.
So I've seen the changes from 21 to 11, 38 to 40mm (celluloid), the fall of glue and the early rise of tensors.

I have always played in the lower regional leagues, and also always felt like I was capable of more. But when push comes to shove, I keep finding myself missing simple balls yet landing the difficult ones.
I am on my best rating ever, but I feel like more and more of a beginner making so many stupid misses and half-assed balls, being on the back foot, out of place, and just winning the points on a combination of grit, luck and outright serves. Simply put, I don't feel a solid base that will help me if I do manage to promote. It doesn't help that I've been structurally losing in training matches to those players that are on a rating and playing level where I feel I should be.

It still feels however, like the game I used to play doesn't exist anymore, it's physically impossible with today's balls, but I think I lost it already when I made my first switch to (light) tensors. I read something the other day about classic rubbers depending heavily on the flex of the blade, and the introduction of tensor rubber switching the focus to engaging the rubber. After I switched from using Tibhar Vari Spin and Donic Vario (back in the 2000s) to more dynamic rubbers, I just feel like I never made it click properly. (I never used speed glue myself)

Coming back to the current day, I still feel like none of the gear I've tried so far is making me feel comfortable. The transition from mainly using "blade whip" (I had a very flexy Appelgren Allplay) to using "rubber snap" (what the tensor feeling is to me) just outright kills the feeling of stability and confidence for me.
However, playing Tenergy 05, when I play completely loose, and commit to every single shot, the results are wonderful. That's very demanding though.

But using sticky rubbers just feels way too demanding to get the ball going reliably. I have a desk-job physique, and as much as I like these rubbers when I *can* deliver the shot, most of the time I can't.
Now, it's easy to just give up and go back to classic rubbers. And truthfully, I would probably make it work and never miss out on anything spin- or speedwise on my current play level. I encounter plenty of people using the likes of Sriver, Mark V, Vari Spin and Vario.
But I don't want to stay at my current play level.

I've tried a lot of rubbers, and to be honest I just don't think the problem is in any specific rubber, but in my adaptation of them. So before springing on yet another set of rubbers and making a gamble on what I want to try and adapt to next, I need to figure out what I'm missing in properly adapting to using dynamic rubber because at this point I'd much rather learn what to do to grow into my gear instead of changing something *again*.
I feel like most things I can do at home without a table just don't really have enough impact to train the feeling of engagement. Whereas when I was starting as a kid, bouncing the ball was a very simple method that allowed me to time my blade's whip, and it translated to table play very well. Now it just feels like I'm feathering the rubber when I keep up a ball. Unless I want to hit the ceiling every single time of course. If anything, that teaches me to hold back.

So what helped you to adapt to tensors? Or what would you do to teach someone to build up their feeling of reliability?

I like the Innerforce ALC blade a lot and although it's not a 'slow' blade, relatively speaking, it seems a good choice for the plastic ball imo.
I think the best stick em and forget rubbers you could try as a baseline for moving forward would be Rakza 7 and Rakza X. I played them a few years back and they are (imo) the perfect rubbers to develop a feel and consistency with. They're springy but not too fast, can generate lots of spin and are very linear. They also very playable for the short game and block very well. Forget rockets like Tenergy 05 or hard topsheet G1 that demands forward engagement. Nothing wrong with fwd engagement but it's nice that the ball doesn't just fall when you don't manage it.
With those rubbers in place you're good to start investigation and reconstruction of your shots. You can never blame the rubbers from here and they will allow you to confidently learn every shot.
The jump from Mark V and cell 38mm 20 -30 yrs ago to 40+mm and Rakzas isn't really that great, I think you've just convinced yourself it is because your game has stagnated.
Use Racket Insights training plans to tackle your development seriously for the next 6 mths and I reckon you'll crack it no problem at all. Get some coaching too if you can, so you know that you are practicing the right things.
You mentioned desk job physique. You say that as if it's something that can't be changed or something you're stuck with.
Desk Job physique is a choice. It's very very easy to increase strength by using just body weight, some light weights and 30 minutes a day, every day. 30 minutes.
Honestly, 6 months at this will absolutely transform you! I'm not an expert but I've been training for so long and seen so many transformations with that little amount of time, once people actually commit, there is nothing to stop you unless you have real a physical impairment.
The last line is (a bit blunt maybe)
- to choose solid dependable predictable rubbers,
- get absolutely serious with your training/coaching/drills and
- work on your body so it's all easier and more enjoyable.

The key is 100% commitment. It's the only way to break a plateau that I've ever seen. And that applies to almost everything.

 

[Tyce]

I like the Innerforce ALC blade a lot and although it's not a 'slow' blade, relatively speaking, it seems a good choice for the plastic ball imo.

It's definitely on the edge of "definitely not too slow, perhaps a bit too much" but since it's been my staple for a good while now I think it's best to stick to it for the foreseeable future.
As people are saying, don't change too many elements.

You mentioned desk job physique. You say that as if it's something that can't be changed or something you're stuck with.
Desk Job physique is a choice. It's very very easy to increase strength by using just body weight, some light weights and 30 minutes a day, every day. 30 minutes.

It's creeped up on me and I absolutely need to work it off again. I used to be a good 10kg lighter, even more when I was still frequently running.
Step one is cutting snacks and alcohol, and I'm working out but need a more solid routine to improve my ability to stick to it.
Working the core with calisthenics and resistance bands right now.

Honestly, 6 months at this will absolutely transform you! I'm not an expert but I've been training for so long and seen so many transformations with that little amount of time, once people actually commit, there is nothing to stop you unless you have real a physical impairment.
The last line is (a bit blunt maybe)

Heh I'm Dutch, go ahead 😅

- to choose solid dependable predictable rubbers,

This is where I'm in doubt at the moment. I think for next season I will prepare my second bat with Rakza 7 and keep the current one intact, see if it makes things easier.

- get absolutely serious with your training/coaching/drills and
- work on your body so it's all easier and more enjoyable.

The key is 100% commitment. It's the only way to break a plateau that I've ever seen. And that applies to almost everything.

I don't attend coaching but I could start that again once my feet are a bit better. I do approach every single free table session with a goal to work on. Usually that would be something like finding the limits to opening up on BH, playing mainly open rallies (not pushing), playing good short balls etc. There aren't many nights where I just go and play whatever.
That's still not as good as having a coach focus on your game of course.

 

[Archosaurus]

For people who find Tenergy 05 too jumpy there is always Tenergy 19. Easy to spin with, juat not as easy to get amazing shots with. In the emd though, I usually find that Tyce is discussing a game that has changed so much in nostalgic terms. There really is no answer loss of old school spin even in coaching, Timo Boll made me accept it. Accepting that the old school game is dead is hard. I have a friend who can't accept that his spin game can no longer keep 2300 players under control. But over time, when you have tried everything, you just accept the reality with each new loss.

What coaching (and it has to be really good coaching) can do is open up new possibilities for your game. But whether that solves or addresses dissatisfaction with being unable to beat the players you want to beat or your ability to play the balls you once used to be able to play. I don't know.

Oh, so this is why my serves have no spin anymore? /s

re: OP, I think posting/linking to some playing footage would allow people to make a more informed comment about what might help you.

 

[Tyce]

OK, I've been approaching this topic again today in as much of an open and objective perspective as possible. I have written down what I want and need in my equipment for different kinds of strokes and speeds, the feeling I want etc.

Here's a short version of the points that aren't super obvious:
- I do want clear feeling.
That doesn't necessarily mean a *lot* of vibrations as those tend to drown out the details of feeling.
- I want predictable behaviour.
Linear gear is one way to approach it, but more importantly I want to be in charge of when my gear activates.

This is the most important point right now. I feel like the activation points of both my rubbers *and* blade are in the area of the power curve where I am already unsteady. Meaning, sometimes I can grab the sponge, sometimes I can't. Sometimes I hit the ball a little too directly and the blade shoots it out, sometimes I just get the right angle on and it works.
This sounds like a me-problem, and of course it is. But the activation points of my gear aren't doing me favours here either. They're making an area that's already difficult for me, more difficult.

It seems I need to be making a choice here. Either I tune down the blade choice and stick more tolerant tensors on them, or I tune UP the blade choice and choose much slower (Chinese) rubbers. Either way will make the mid power range more predictable. And frankly, since I still don't feel at home with tensors I might actually go that way in the long term.

 

[golden_son]

I agree with NetProphet here.

I played Sriver EL in the celluloid days. I've been chasing that same hand feeling I got when playing with it for the first time. (I think I've found it in my current blade + Glayzer, but that's my personal feeling.) When I came back to the game in the plastic era, I built a "beginner" racket with 2x Mark V on a Yasaka Sweden Extra 5-ply. After a few sessions my new coach wrinkled his nose and said "Get Rakza 7 FH and whatever softer modern rubber [meaning R7 Soft, Vega Europe, etc.] for BH." I did so and never looked back. It felt like a direct progression of Mark V, which I kinda think it was meant to be. Rakza 7 has a linear input/output curve, good grip for every type of shot, and enough power to produce meaningful attacks on the plastic ball. Is it always a one-shot killer? No. Does it let you lift heavy underspin in your sleep? No. Does it provide predictable playing characteristics and enable every shot you need? Yup. Feedback has a lot to do with the blade, but because R7 is medium-hard and not too tense, I think it provides a good hand feedback as well.

I think you mentioned in another thread that G-1 was a little weird in the middle gears and a bit springy at the top; R7 is easier to activate at lower effort and with less spring than G-1 (but consequently less lethal). But it's still tensioned and plenty usable up through intermediate levels. Once it starts to feel slow, that's a good sign it's time to move to something like a G-1 (or maybe the new R7 hard!).

Then again, it seems you had good things to say about Glayzer? I recently switched to "G05" and am really loving it, but to me the tradeoff is that it's easy to produce safe, very meh balls with it and harder to produce quality balls than, say, T05.

 

[Angerer]

There really is no answer loss of old school spin even in coaching, Timo Boll made me accept it. Accepting that the old school game is dead is hard. I have a friend who can't accept that his spin game can no longer keep 2300 players under control. But over time, when you have tried everything, you just accept the reality with each new loss.

Can't agree more. As a big guy, who focuses on spinning from both wings, I miss the days when Baracuda could overwhelm people with spin. I have accepted the reality of not keeping up with modern league players with harder rubbers--every time I tried D05/D09C and committed, I just involved myself into playing the style that was never mine, and it was too late to master it against people who perfected it.
In the end, I turned to the likes of Tenergy 19, Dignics 80, Dignics64 (and to a lesser extent Tenergy 05 and Tenergy 05FX) which are the middle ground--they accelerate the plastic ball well, while spinning is relatively effortless. They allow to play spin-focused game by overwhelming the opponents with aggression, although you need to attack virtually everything (over the table, under the table, 2nd/3rd row) and choose placement wisely. Playing the top-to-top diagonal against rubbers which are 10 degrees harder is a dead end.

 

[Tyce]

Yeah I think I've reached some sort of conclusion.

The spin vs speed balance has shifted a lot more than I initially thought coming back two years ago.

This fact is obscured by a lot of people holding on to old playstyles and classic rubbers, but a telltale sign is how people playing with classic (pre-tensor) rubbers are generally just not dangerous. It always feels like a watered-down game, because that's what it is in the current meta. Not enough spin capacity to provide danger that way, and their most effective play is to use their lower spin levels to hit flatly through your spin like some sort of weak anti or pips.
Producing a fast loop that is actually hard to block due to the spin on the ball is no longer a feasible tactic in most regional levels. Balls come back, and usually quickly, too. So one has to adjust to that.

Also, push rallies to exhaustion are almost non existent. While good pushers used to be able to win on sheer backspin dominance, developments like banana flicks have made this a losing strategy. I seem to have naturally evolved to prefer a more open rally (which is great because it fits the meta) and mainly use pushes as setups or time savers to get myself into better position.

Against those players who are stuck in their old game, things get dangerous when they suck the energy out of the ball, because I am coming up short in the ability to loop dead balls confidently. Resorting to flat, low-medium power balls would be OK if my equipment was more suited to playing those but it's really not. More often than not, I have to actually resort to letting the ball drop so there's some kinetic energy I can use.

So in essence, the game has evolved to one where stroke commitment is essential, regardless of using tensors, Chinese or even classic rubbers. The ball doesn't get that minimum amount of spin you want to keep it secure, just by popping it on your rubber anymore. This is something that really worked in the celluloid age, letting a ball passively sink into your rubber just a little bit was enough to produce a light arc.

This mechanic though is what has caused many, many players to never evolve past the point of learning strokes by moving your arm from A to B. We never learned to grip the ball, we learned to meet it at a certain point. Except, when you just meet it at a certain point with a tensor, the ball will shoot off. (And if you do it with Hurricane, it will drop dead.)
I've had to learn this concept of grip, creating friction, basically by myself. Now I need to make it so that this concept of grip, friction, grabbing the ball, that it actually replaces the idea of just meeting the ball somewhere. Currently, these two things are still both options in my head and that needs to evolve.
Generating power, and not only high power, is going to be a big part of that, too. Especially the low- and mid-range application of a little bit of power to the ball, that's where I need to learn a lot.

I think it's also a very good idea to "pick a school", meaning to either go tensor, or go Chinese, and stop switching back and forth. Given my old habit of passively meeting the ball, it might be a safer idea to use Chinese rubbers. The feedback of having the ball drop dead is a very intuitive sign to increase the amount of swing, whereas the feedback of having a ball pop off in whatever direction will signal me to be even more cautious next time.

 

[TackyForehand]

I understand a bit where you are coming from since I came back to the game myself a few years ago. You don't feel confident due to lack of stability and consistency in your shots.

Having gone through an EJ period, I found a rubber that is semi sticky gives the most confidence boost. Not so sticky the ball is dead, but not so absent you cannot feel the grip on the ball. A balance of speed, spin, and control.

Furthermore, you want something you can activate while on the move. For your level, I imagine something mid hard like Glayzer 09c, Hybrid MK, or Gear Hyper. Using them with your current Inner Force is perfectly fine.

Such a setup won't give you anything for free but will meet you in the middle for everything, giving you control without over- exertion.

 

[Tyce]

I understand a bit where you are coming from since I came back to the game myself a few years ago. You don't feel confident due to lack of stability and consistency in your shots.

Having gone through an EJ period, I found a rubber that is semi sticky gives the most confidence boost. Not so sticky the ball is dead, but not so absent you cannot feel the grip on the ball. A balance of speed, spin, and control.

Furthermore, you want something you can activate while on the move. For your level, I imagine something mid hard like Glayzer 09c, Hybrid MK, or Gear Hyper. Using them with your current Inner Force is perfectly fine.

Such a setup won't give you anything for free but will meet you in the middle for everything, giving you control without over- exertion.

I've honestly been all over the place which is not only due to being kind of lost after my break, but I was already kind in a rabbit hole of bad gear fits before I quit.

Having tried most archetypes of blades and several archetypes of rubbers, I still can't say what fits my game well, because at the current point I'm simultaneously trying to figure out how to make my game fit the current meta. Complicated, right?

I used to LOVE thin and flexy 5ply with soft rubbers - but growing up and the rise of 40mm cell grew a need for more power.
I had a thin "7ply" (11ply officially, such a weird construction) which felt excellent but was also just so different from what I had before (hard surface, crisp, different balance you name it) that I never really adjusted to it in the celluloid era before I quit TT.

In the plastic era, I've played the same thin&flexy 5ply, I played a Clipper, several random other thinner 5ply blades, Korbel as a faster 5ply, outer ALC, inner ALC and various other fibers... All while also trying to get used to the new meta of rubber styles, AND while what I actually had to do is figure out how to play now.

In all honesty, I think I did too much in too little time, but it did result in learning a sh*tload of separate things that I have to tie together now.

One, I keep coming back to "crisp" and the sensation of ball contact as it is transferred through a Hurricane rubber.
Two, I always thought I liked thin blades better but my past personal favourite sensation-wise was 6.5mm.
Three, my brush-and-curve style from the past is outdated and I already know it, because I changed how I play. I just need to consciously accept that decision and move from there.

My gut feeling has been subconsciously steering me towards a Viscaria for quite some time. I think it's time for another visit to the shop in the near future and playtest one.

 

[Jslick89]

I've honestly been all over the place which is not only due to being kind of lost after my break, but I was already kind in a rabbit hole of bad gear fits before I quit.

Having tried most archetypes of blades and several archetypes of rubbers, I still can't say what fits my game well, because at the current point I'm simultaneously trying to figure out how to make my game fit the current meta. Complicated, right?

I used to LOVE thin and flexy 5ply with soft rubbers - but growing up and the rise of 40mm cell grew a need for more power.
I had a thin "7ply" (11ply officially, such a weird construction) which felt excellent but was also just so different from what I had before (hard surface, crisp, different balance you name it) that I never really adjusted to it in the celluloid era before I quit TT.

In the plastic era, I've played the same thin&flexy 5ply, I played a Clipper, several random other thinner 5ply blades, Korbel as a faster 5ply, outer ALC, inner ALC and various other fibers... All while also trying to get used to the new meta of rubber styles, AND while what I actually had to do is figure out how to play now.

In all honesty, I think I did too much in too little time, but it did result in learning a sh*tload of separate things that I have to tie together now.

One, I keep coming back to "crisp" and the sensation of ball contact as it is transferred through a Hurricane rubber.
Two, I always thought I liked thin blades better but my past personal favourite sensation-wise was 6.5mm.
Three, my brush-and-curve style from the past is outdated and I already know it, because I changed how I play. I just need to consciously accept that decision and move from there.

My gut feeling has been subconsciously steering me towards a Viscaria for quite some time. I think it's time for another visit to the shop in the near future and playtest one.

man, it sounds like you have an EJ disease lol. I know you have been playing a lot longer than me, and it sounds like you've tried a lot of different set ups. I've been playing for almost five years. I had a cheapy chinese set up for before i switched to viscaria.

Then on viscaria ive only used on my
forehand: tenergy 05 (2.5 years) -> DHS hurricane 3 (2ish years)
backhand: tenergy 19 (2.5 years) -> D09C (1ish years) -> DHS hurricane 3 (38 degree) -> approx 1 year (maybe a lil less?)

so because i dont have a ton of experience with a lot of different rubbers i cant help you with your EJ bug, but i can highly recommend picking one set up and sticking with it for as long as possible. i think you can adapt to new rubbers / set up after a couple sessions, but it takes longer than to truly gain a feeling for that set up.

That being said, i can def recommend viscaria! it has taken all of the new rubbers ive tried beautifully. although if i was going to buy a new paddle today, it would be the FZD ALC because i think its more beautiful than the viscaria.

 

[TackyForehand]

Don't worry about the meta and focus on what you can do to improve your own game. If Ma Long used anti spin, the meta would be anti spin. It's the player, not the equipment.

Get something decent and go knock some balls. Stop worrying so much and enjoy the game. 👍

 

[Tyce]

Maybe meta is a confusing term. I mean to say that the way you can effectively manipulate the ball has changed, and it has made some old (bad) habits into high risk, low efficacy shots rather than the safe crutches they used to be.

I need to adjust that, otherwise I will leave so many gaping holes that I will get killed by both higher and lower players.

 

[golden_son]

Maybe meta is a confusing term. I mean to say that the way you can effectively manipulate the ball has changed, and it has made some old (bad) habits into high risk, low efficacy shots rather than the safe crutches they used to be.

I need to adjust that, otherwise I will leave so many gaping holes that I will get killed by both higher and lower players.

What I find funny about this at least in regards to my game is that even though I learned to play during the celluloid era I didn't have any formal training and didn't really know any better. Never even heard of a "loop." I just knew I liked to smack the ball hard on FH and that I had a wicked BH counter. Now that I've picked the game up again and started really learning it, I often find myself thinking "I wish the game were just a bit slower and more spin-oriented"...but here we are.

 

[Amayzde]

I want to be in charge of when my gear activates.

Im not sure if this is what you actually want. I could reccommend H3 unboosted. That is a rubber that doesnt do anything unless you commit an put effort in a shot 100%.

think you do want a rubber that does the work for you in some instances so that the rubber can assist you in all instances we are not able to play a shot 100% correctly. Which for us amateurs probably counts for 50% of all match situations.

I think you also underestimate the importance of your blade you pair with the rubbers. If you pick a blade that is too fast its difficult to slow it down with slower rubbers.
For example: I would recommend a Korbel with Tenergy over a Viscaria with C-1.

My recommendation still stands:
Ma Lin Carbon or Korbel with Rakza 7.

If you are confident in your forehand ability, then maybe G-1 which is more linear and has more spin, but also requires better activation.

If you are already comfortable with C-1 on your backhand then Id suggest you keep that.

 

[Tyce]

Im not sure if this is what you actually want.

Not in the unboosted Hurricane sense, no. But jumps, gear shifts in the power curve, they make for unpredictability in my game. If I want to make a controlled placement shot, but I hit slightly too direct sending the rubber or blade into second gear, that's just going to kill too many points.
I want to know when I'm in first, second, third, whatever gear and what's most important there (apparently) is to not have the shifting points in critical places.
In the case of G-1 and Innerforce Layer ALC, the shifting point (mostly G-1's) is at quite a critical part.

Comparing that to Tenergy 05 on a much slower blade, the output of Tenergy is very predictable: it engages pretty much right above the level of a push. Using that combo last night has made a lot of things click about brushing forward and using dwell time to my advantage.
I think I am dialing in on what I would like to play with that is both safe and capable of producing danger.

Rakza 7 is a good choice, but the feeling it gives is not up to my taste. Same with C-1, I *can* play with it, but it's just not speaking my language completely. This is the ballpark of rubber that I need to be looking at, though.

As for blades, I am currently dressing up the Ma Lin Carbon with T19/T05 to see how it feels with this. I can tell both by sound and bounce that my MLC is significantly faster than the Waldner Senso Carbon that's still laying around here half chopped up, so I wasn't dreaming that one up. Getting a proper WSC could be the end of the blade story as it just feels like a modern Appelgren Allplay.
Korbel is still "OK" but again, not quite up to taste. I don't know if it's the larger head or simply the thickness of the plies, but it doesn't want to click comfortably despite having played it for quite a bit. I also have a Sanwei Fextra coming to give the slower 7-ply idea a second chance.
The Innerforces are almost certainly going on the market. I'll wait at least until after the last league game though.

Anyway, back to the feeling of using tensors, I think by far the most important change I have made is the improved grip, putting the emphasis on index and thumb (on the rubber) and having the other fingers only loosely cradling the handle. Combined with brushing forward, and staying within my circle of balance, the results are feeling really good. I think I'm falling for the spring sponge.