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In returning to play TT after many years away, it's unbelievable how much has changed with availability of blades and rubbers. After 37 year absence, and now being 66 years old, I had these questions. Are my reflexes sufficient to still play? Can my body take the physical demand?
In my first time playing since the 1980's, two months ago, I played at a local club, and played at best okay with an old paddle, an old rubber club rental. I still had good enough reflexes to play. Step two was purchasing a $20 Stiga combo paddle from a local sports store. I played a little better but after a couple of weeks of play, and continued reading here, online, and watching YouTube videos, I realized I had gone from a ratty club paddle, to a mushy mass produced recreational setup, a small improvement.
I saw fairly rapid improvements in my game, and then I reached a peak. I noticed when using my mushy, mass-produced inexpensive Stiga how I had to hit the ball harder than others. And I still did not know the type of paddle to buy and rubber to add. So the decision was made, I know to the angst to some here, to purchase a used combo racquet on eBay, that would be inexpensive. The key for me was finding the right circumstance.
I purchased a Sanwei Fextra paddle with MX-P on both sides. The seller had purchased it for his daughter a couple of month ago, it had very little play and he now wanted to sell it. After the exchange of several emails, I made the purchase. The logic on the Fextra was that it was all round blade and not a faster carbon blade and would be a good blade for me at my stage of play. The Tibhar MX-P reviews were favorable and I thought a good mix. The combo arrived just as described and both the paddle and rubbers were in excellent condition.
So here's where I am asking for advice. What critique does one use on a back-up or second setup? Does one purchase a different setup to work on different parts of one's game or closely resembling, or identical to the first setup? Does one use one setup for certain players and a different one for others? Is the back-up setup significantly different or similar from the primary setup?
I realize these questions are more related to players like myself entering or re-entering game, and making larger improvements rather than accomplished players making smaller incremental advancements.
In my first time playing since the 1980's, two months ago, I played at a local club, and played at best okay with an old paddle, an old rubber club rental. I still had good enough reflexes to play. Step two was purchasing a $20 Stiga combo paddle from a local sports store. I played a little better but after a couple of weeks of play, and continued reading here, online, and watching YouTube videos, I realized I had gone from a ratty club paddle, to a mushy mass produced recreational setup, a small improvement.
I saw fairly rapid improvements in my game, and then I reached a peak. I noticed when using my mushy, mass-produced inexpensive Stiga how I had to hit the ball harder than others. And I still did not know the type of paddle to buy and rubber to add. So the decision was made, I know to the angst to some here, to purchase a used combo racquet on eBay, that would be inexpensive. The key for me was finding the right circumstance.
I purchased a Sanwei Fextra paddle with MX-P on both sides. The seller had purchased it for his daughter a couple of month ago, it had very little play and he now wanted to sell it. After the exchange of several emails, I made the purchase. The logic on the Fextra was that it was all round blade and not a faster carbon blade and would be a good blade for me at my stage of play. The Tibhar MX-P reviews were favorable and I thought a good mix. The combo arrived just as described and both the paddle and rubbers were in excellent condition.
So here's where I am asking for advice. What critique does one use on a back-up or second setup? Does one purchase a different setup to work on different parts of one's game or closely resembling, or identical to the first setup? Does one use one setup for certain players and a different one for others? Is the back-up setup significantly different or similar from the primary setup?
I realize these questions are more related to players like myself entering or re-entering game, and making larger improvements rather than accomplished players making smaller incremental advancements.