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Getting back to the original question, the link below is an older one, but it's still an excellent primer for beginner / intermediate players on how to handle long pips: https://gregsttpages.com/archives/equipment/rubbers/how-long-pips-really-work/#more-11 Greg is one of the best players in...

I would need to take the rubber off my blade to check, and I'm also unsure which hardness scale Loki uses sorry. All I know is it is harder than the R3 black by a significant measure. I'm hesitant to say that it's any harder than say a 50 would be, but to play with, it certainly felt about that...

I haven't tried the Rxton 5 yet - only the Rxton 1 in red and black, and the Rxton 3 in black and blue. I note the blue and pink Rxton 3 are being sold on Aliexpress at a $10 premium to the black and red. Whether this is a sign of their popularity or just a positioning / marketing thing, I'm...

What thickness is your WRC blade may I ask? I've built and trialled a couple of one-ply blades from WRC, but I found they flexed and vibrated a bit too much for my liking. Is that your experience (ie that your WRC one ply is very flexy / springy compared to other blades?) I suspect mine may...

For those who are fans of the Rxton 3, there's a new version out now with blue and pink topsheet, - but don't be fooled: it's a Rxton 3 in name only.. and in my opinion it's pretty damn good - better than the original version certainly. The blue and pink versions of the Rxton 3 have a harder...

Thanks for that. What do hinoki outer plies play like, compared to a hinoki one-ply? How much does the catapult effect of hinoki translate at thinner widths?

Do people here think hinoki one ply blades would be more popular if they were less prone to breakage?

My father in law has one of these - apparently they're not bad for practicing a return of a no-spin ball or a drop shot, but otherwise they are pretty limited. The model he has does not spin the ball, and has only one speed... but it still beats having nothing at all. 🙂

I'm not that angry really, just very disappointed I guess (Cripes... I sounded a bit like my father there 😁) I'll admit though, on re-reading my own earlier posts, they do come across as hugely angry. My apologies for that everyone... blame it on an extended lack of both sleep and coffee. 😆 I...

I honestly couldn't tell you I'm sorry. The large blade producers buy their fibers from DuPont (and others manufacturers like them) in very large quantities, so I imagine they get great economies of scale as well. My business is very small - I only buy synthetic fabric I need sparingly, by the...

Thank you SO MUCH for those research papers on emerging recycling processes for synthetic composites!... That is extraordinarily useful. 😀 (I'm aware lithium isn't a rare mineral BTW - my home state contains something like 15% of the world's entire reserves of spodumene ore... we're drowning in...

Oh I couldn't agree with you more - wood IS only sustainable if it is used sustainably - that's why I referenced the use of plantation timbers. I actually wasn't aware Gibson using Madagascar ebony in their guitars illegally in the late 2000 - thanks for the heads up, and I agree that is...

You make a good point about rubber prices dropping - the top end ones are so expensive. Also having rubbers being integrated into the blade is an interesting idea as well, but sadly they're not talking about that at this point. Maybe I'm just reacting to an unforeseen change here. I just love...

In reply to the ITTF's seven point rationale, I would say the following: 1: "It is believed?" Oh Really? By Whom? 2: Authorisation is not necessary. Existing rules over blade composition are more than sufficient to ensure consistency of product between manufacturers, and protect integrity of...

Attention all my fellow small blade smiths / blade makers... it's time to get angry. At its upcoming AGM, the ITTF are going to vote on radically loosening the rules around blades... and I mean radically. Under the new proposed rules, there will be no requirement to use timber in a blade at...

It also gives you more real estate on your blade during a pendulum serve. Some people make contact with the ball at the tip of their blade during serve, and rely on fast head speed to generate a lot of spin. Others with high-spin rubbers don't need high speed, but instead rely on long...

I know its a bit off topic, but as a professional bladesmith, the thing that raises my eyebrows most out of all those proposals, is NOT the talk about celluloid balls. It's the complete and utter redrafting (and MASSIVE loosening) of all the rules about blade construction. All the current...

I agree the F3S doesn't compare to the OP rubber cited, but I'm not suggesting them for tournament use. Perhaps I have misread the OP, but it seemed to be asking for good quality, cost-effective Training rubber alternatives. Having used a large number of common Chinese training rubbers myself...

Try a sheet of Friendship 729 Focus III Snipe in 2.3mm sponge (now just called the Focus III). Been using it for years, and when cleaned daily it lasts a long time, and is made by ESN now, so it's a good quality rubber. You should get six months of use out of it at the practice rates you...

The Friendship 729 Focus III Snipe 2.3mm sponge (now just called the Focus III apparently) is pretty light at circa 47gms cut. Non-tacky Euro style rubber, it has a *very slight* tensor-style catapult effect to it, but it's definitely far more linear than almost all other large pore sponge...