We have these kind of threads on the forum like EVERY WEEK. Experienced players reply every week, and the syndrome seems to spread worse than a Sexually Transmitted Disease or Government Propaganda.
It is almost like an enemy of Table Tennis development flew a helicopter all over the world and sprayed confusion dust into the breathing air.
So many experienced players have replied with sound advice week after week after week after week... so much that many experienced players absolutely will not come on the TT forums and share their good knowledge and motivation. I know so many in this situation, both members and perspective members. In fact, all this EJ and fan-boy talk about equipment dominating 75% of all TT discussions is a big turn-off and is in my opinion the number one reason why good and elite amateur players do not participate in TT forums. Pros... another matter - the same fanboy crowd tries to TELL THEM how to play TT... so for obvious reasons, you see damn few pros on TT forums... and when you do, their stay is VERY SHORT.
Many coaches will disagree upon EXACTLY what is slow equipment and the right blade/rubber/sponge thickness… and with time this will change too. Sriver and Mark V used to be the top end offensive rubbers and some OFF- to OFF blades used to called missile launchers.
What is tried and true is to use equipment (combination of blade/rubber, but mostly rubber here) that allows you to feel the ball, NOT have crazy rebound, is EASIER to generate spin, and EASY to control the height, depth, and placement of your shots.
Usually, this means a blade with feel, some flex, feedback, and controllable speed. Usually, this is a 5 or 7 ply blade in the ALL to OFF- range. Not always, but mostly. This allows a player a great chance to feel the ball and develop strokes with effective coaching.
Usually, this means a middle of the road modern Offensive Control rubber. Often it means use a soft to medium soft sponge, but not always. (Some players have a better impact early and can use harder sponged rubbers) Usually, it is a control rubber in the class of Vega Europe - a rubber that is not ridiculous in speed, has a good topsheet that is supple, a pip structure that allows the topsheet to easily wrap the ball, a sponge that is dynamic enough to give an OK top end, and a sponge that is not high catapult.
I could pimp up Nexy Karis M (the least hard version), that rubber is absolute tops when it comes to handling incoming spin... and it is absolute linear totally void of any catapult (that is why many players hate on it... they all want a catapult missile launcher)… but you do not see me promoting that rubber much.
Exactly which rubber one decides to use is not nearly as important as SELECTING AN APPROPRIATE middle of the road control rubber and blade.
This last sentence is pretty much spoken loud and clear EVERY DAMNED WEEK, if not every day... YET, the confusion dust spread by the enemies of TT is worse and worse.
I blame several things for this
- TT Companies... they make money every time this dust is sprayed... KA-CHING !!! I say that freely and truthfully... and I am an equipment re-seller.
- TT Forums... forums make it SO DAMN EASY to share the EJ virus and incubate it with threads fretting over this and that.
- TT Players... Ultimately, it is the player's crazy desires to find that ULTIMATE WEAPON that so totally over-ride logic and sound advice.
There are HUNDREDS of rubbers in this class. Every maker makes several of this class. I believe Sriver and Mark V are on the very low end of this class (in terms of dynamic sponge and topsheet) (but not in ease of control - these are still up there). I lot of coaches will want to cane me for saying and believing that.
