Nexy Amazon CPen + MX-P - Day 4 Thoughts
Having not been playing in 30 yrs, I've not kept up with the technology/equipment. Was never a EJ to begin with.
Der, Carl, PingPongHolic and 3 clubmates advised that I should put on a backsheet because the Amazon is too light. I'm an oldschool penholder and used to the weight of a single sheet.
One clubmate also mentioned that I may damage the blade with repeated play from the smashes/blocks. He said something to the effect that the vibration will loosen the carbon and we can't see what's happening inside the blade. The extra rubber will preserve the blade as well as minimize the vibration.
With that in mind, i added a used DHS H3, the one i've been using on my Avalox P700. Last night was the 2nd night of playing with this setup. Previous night, I couldn't hit a basic FH nor smash and loop due to the unaccustomed added weight. BH blocking was fine and punching was good but not perfect.
Last night, played a set with a gentleman i lose to so far - i'm around his level, but his illegal serves are very spinny which i eat most of the time. While warming up, i was spastic with my FH, still not quite used to the weight. I closed the blade a tad more than usual and the ball landed consistently enough. Perhaps the switchover from H3 to MX-P affected my FH a little... perhaps the added weight affected my stroke. Unclear for now. The MX-P i thought would be way more bouncier than the H3, but the first night I used the Amazon with the MX-P with no backsheet, i was surprised at how very little adjustment i had to make, it played just like my Avalox/H3 setup.
So instead of forcing my FH, i resorted to BH blocking to warm up.I was using the Amazon with 2 sheets of rubber, but using one-sided only. My grip is more of a loose curled fingers grip on the back. The added weight eventually made my grip/hand weaken.
During the match, i lost 3 straight, mostly at -6. Got some smashes and some loops in, but mostly i missed. Still getting used to the weight.
QUESTIONS
1) Does playing without a 2nd rubber affect the wood/carbon adversely?
2) Playing without a 2nd rubber produces a lot of vibration, which I will get used to in time. Without the 2nd rubber, I felt like I've been playing with the Amazon/MX-P forever, meaning, i play well with it.
3) I probably won't be embracing the RPB any time soon (sorry JeffM!), still trying to get my oldschool game consistent. If I absolutely need to put on a 2nd rubber mostly for weight and/or preserving the blade, any reco's for a lesser weighted rubber than the H3 with an eye at eventually trying the RPB, but just not anytime soon?
Thank you in advance.