What is a good beginner paddle for a defensive player?

Get 1.5 not 2..0

You can do anything with LP with the right attitude. No need to buy these modern sandwich rubbers

delerious said:

What do you guys think about thickness in terms of blocking? If a lot of my blocks/retrievals go long, does that mean I need a thicker or thinner rubber?

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Very often, the reason for a block going long was (one or more)

- Grip Pressure TOO TIGHT at impact
- Blade angle too open
- Moving forward and up at impact
- Did not block ball off the bounce (possible to block further away, but that requires much more precise control of grip pressure and blade angle)

The sponge thickness has little to zero to do with how well or poorly you can block.

Any control oriented modern rubber in max or the next lowest thickness on a medium speed blade will give a developing player a chance to learn all strokes and later settle in on equipment more suited to what they discover they do well after a period of learning.

I loop to 2000+ USATT rated players who block with .5, OX, 1.0, and 1.5 sponge... ALL of them can block my fast or heavy slow topspin attacks long. An inverted rubber with 1.5 or 2.2 can get the blocking job done, just requires effective technique.