Choosing Blades and Rubbers for a Beginner Table Tennis Player

[Lazer]

Genuinely just no. H3 is not fast at all? Are we talking about the same thing? Anyway, H3 teaches you to develop a full and compete stroke for forehand, which many euro rubbers prevent, mostly tensors.

That's why I recommended a coach xd

it turned you off? That's some freaky vocab right there buddy 😭

Bla bla bla,
You need a good technique regardless of rubber.

Yes absolutely… I like to do the boosting and gluing myself…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[latej]

For rubbers, I am looking at either the Mark V on both sides or Rakza 7 on both sides. I am not sure if these are the best options for my current level and for improving my skills. If not, I would appreciate any recommendations for blades and rubbers that would be suitable for learning and developing my game.

If you want to go fancy and cheap, I'd suggest this blade, and Yinhe Mercury 2 rubbers, medium for FH and soft for BH so that you can try to feel the difference. You get the whole package under 17 EUR, still cheaper than just 1 rubber you are thinking about. There are other cheap 5-ply blades, just got Loki Kirin (with smaller handle for children) for my daughter.

 

[golden_son]

From what I've learned, there are still some players using Mark V, even though it's an older rubber (since 1970). I guess if I say Mercury II is very playable for beginners and club players who just want to enjoy the game, then Mark V is definitely suitable too, though it's outdated.
Rakza 7 seems to be more popular among serious beginners these days. It's faster, spinnier and more dynamic than Mark V.
I haven't found a cheaper online shop for these rubbers than Topsas.lt

I think this sums it up. Having used Mark V I have a hard time recommending it for anyone serious, especially when it's still $35 a sheet and newer, better rubbers can be had for cheaper. Even Xiom Musa I--which I've heard compared favorably to Mark V--is ~$28 USD on tt11. Palio AK47 is even cheaper than that, though I wouldn't recommend starting with it. Vega Intro is around the same price as Mark V but is a more modern design.

They're right that there are tons of options and it can be hard to decide, but that's why I don't really recommend Mark V. It's a perfectly passable rubber that provides perfectly passable speed and spin, but I've used newer premades--Stiga Raptor comes to mind--that were cheaper and played more dynamic than my YSE+MV combo did; so for someone who isn't enjoying a premade anymore, Mark V to me doesn't feel like much of a step up especially for the price.

 

[PenHoldSandro]

Bla bla bla,
You need a good technique regardless of rubber.

Yeah for sure, but some rubbers don't punish you for bad technique. I've tried some of them tensor rubbers, and as long as I hit them the ball goes in with decent quality. Doing this to H3 sends the ball to who-knows-where.

 

[PenHoldSandro]

I think this sums it up. Having used Mark V I have a hard time recommending it for anyone serious, especially when it's still $35 a sheet and newer, better rubbers can be had for cheaper. Even Xiom Musa I--which I've heard compared favorably to Mark V--is ~$28 USD on tt11. Palio AK47 is even cheaper than that, though I wouldn't recommend starting with it. Vega Intro is around the same price as Mark V but is a more modern design.

They're right that there are tons of options and it can be hard to decide, but that's why I don't really recommend Mark V. It's a perfectly passable rubber that provides perfectly passable speed and spin, but I've used newer premades--Stiga Raptor comes to mind--that were cheaper and played more dynamic than my YSE+MV combo did; so for someone who isn't enjoying a premade anymore, Mark V to me doesn't feel like much of a step up especially for the price.

That's quite interesting... for me Mark V is a very good rubber with great control, good speed and nice spin. It had tons more control than the Tenergy I used before, and it helped me develop my backhand stroke all the way (training is left). But hey, that's just me, everyone's different.

 

[PenHoldSandro]

If you want to go fancy and cheap, I'd suggest this blade, and Yinhe Mercury 2 rubbers, medium for FH and soft for BH so that you can try to feel the difference. You get the whole package under 17 EUR, still cheaper than just 1 rubber you are thinking about. There are other cheap 5-ply blades, just got Loki Kirin (with smaller handle for children) for my daughter.

What even is Boki man 😭

This looks like a real beginner racket, and its good at being one. But I think OP is looking for something slightly more advanced with more dynamics, speed, spin, and control than that...

ill check it out tho

 

[chandyrandy]

This poor guy is getting bombarded by opinions,
and i'm gonna keep them coming xD.
Your blade choice is great,
Both Yasaka sweden and rakza 7 are great just get them in 2.0 cause its better for the 40+ modern ball.
Good luck on your tt journey !

 

[PenHoldSandro]

This poor guy is getting bombarded by opinions,
and i'm gonna keep them coming xD.

Truly unfortunate, indeed.

Blades:
Stiga Clipper
Butterfly Petr Korbel
Butterfly Primorac
Nittaku Acoustic
Yasaka Ma Lin Extra Offensive
Yasaka Sweeden Extra
DHS Power G7
DHS Power G9
Yinhe N10s
Yinhe N11s
Gewo Power Offense

Rubbers:
DHS Hurricane III NEO
DHS Skyline II/III
729 Battle II
Yasaka Mark V
Yasaka Rakza 7
Yasaka Rakza Z
Yasaka Xtend
Nittaku Fastarc G1
Nittaku Fastarc C1
Butterly Rozena
Butterfly Glayzer
Yinhe Mercury II
Yinhe Big Dipper
Yinhe Saturn Pro
Yinhe Jupiter II/III

Your idea is great though, you should get that! Mark V, Rakza 7, doesn't matter too much they both work perfectly fine.

 

[impluse101]

I am a beginner currently using a premade racket, the Stiga Royal 3 Star, which I find does not generate much spin. I am considering upgrading to either the Donic Appelgren Allplay or the Yasaka Sweden Extra for the blade.


For rubbers, I am looking at either the Mark V on both sides or Rakza 7 on both sides. I am not sure if these are the best options for my current level and for improving my skills. If not, I would appreciate any recommendations for blades and rubbers that would be suitable for learning and developing my game.

You dont need to get back on this thread, and have so many input and info. Your options for Blade and rubber choices are already optimal! Only thing need to add is coaching and more playing time. You will grow and improve and be used to your setup - as long as you do the coaching and more playing time.

 

[Perure85]

I am a beginner currently using a premade racket, the Stiga Royal 3 Star, which I find does not generate much spin. I am considering upgrading to either the Donic Appelgren Allplay or the Yasaka Sweden Extra for the blade.


For rubbers, I am looking at either the Mark V on both sides or Rakza 7 on both sides. I am not sure if these are the best options for my current level and for improving my skills. If not, I would appreciate any recommendations for blades and rubbers that would be suitable for learning and developing my game.

I'm playing with a PimplePark Murus blade and PimplePark Bloxx rubbers and gotta say it really like it alot, the blade is according to Revspin faster and stiffer than the Yasaka but it suits me as the rubber is slower and just a tad less "spinny"...

 

[PenHoldSandro]

You dont need to get back on this thread, and have so many input and info. Your options for Blade and rubber choices are already optimal! Only thing need to add is coaching and more playing time. You will grow and improve and be used to your setup - as long as you do the coaching and more playing time.

Absolutely true! Even with less expeience with equipment, I am EXTREMELY impressed with your (@Sherzy 's) choices. Beginners tend to pick the faster option, and that doesn't help. Your choice of Rakza 7/Mark V with YSE is absolutely perfect. If I were you, I'd switch it up though with different rubbers on both sides (thats just me tho).

I would get a YSE with Mark V forehand and Rakza 7 backhand.

 

[olive-nguyen]

Genuinely just no. H3 is not fast at all? Are we talking about the same thing? Anyway, H3 teaches you to develop a full and compete stroke for forehand, which many euro rubbers prevent, mostly tensors.

That's why I recommended a coach xd

it turned you off? That's some freaky vocab right there buddy 😭

I think it meant turned away。

 

[olive-nguyen]

That’s a lot of choices, would it be better to stick to a brand? If the Blade is established at Yasaka Sweden Extra, I think just try Rakza 7 forehand and Mark V backhand. Maybe 2.0 on both sides is good enough.

 

[olive-nguyen]

Absolutely true! Even with less expeience with equipment, I am EXTREMELY impressed with your (@Sherzy 's) choices. Beginners tend to pick the faster option, and that doesn't help. Your choice of Rakza 7/Mark V with YSE is absolutely perfect. If I were you, I'd switch it up though with different rubbers on both sides (thats just me tho).

I would get a YSE with Mark V forehand and Rakza 7 backhand.

I used my pe teachers bat, a xiom jpen, and he had Rakza 7 on forehand. Anyways, I could barely hit onto the table due to the high throw angle, but the catapult is nice. I’ve tried mark v before, and I found that Rakza seems better for forehand. Maybe because I like heavier and powerful loops, but that’s my opinion

 

[PenHoldSandro]

I think it meant turned away。

He said what he said bro 😭

That’s a lot of choices, would it be better to stick to a brand? If the Blade is established at Yasaka Sweden Extra, I think just try Rakza 7 forehand and Mark V backhand. Maybe 2.0 on both sides is good enough.

Personally, I don't stick to a brand like that. I actually prefer using different brands since they specialize in different things. Nittaku makes perfect blades, but Fastarc G1 (their best), gets outclassed by multiple other rubbers. Butterfly makes very VERY good carbon blades and very VERY good fast rubbers, but what about all woods or slower rubbers?

But sticking to one brand works, but I would suggest putting rakza on the back

I used my pe teachers bat, a xiom jpen, and he had Rakza 7 on forehand. Anyways, I could barely hit onto the table due to the high throw angle, but the catapult is nice. I’ve tried mark v before, and I found that Rakza seems better for forehand. Maybe because I like heavier and powerful loops, but that’s my opinion

That's interesting, I'd prefer the faster one the backhand, and the more controlled on the forehand. It works though so it's fine. The high throw angle gets fixed easily with just time getting used to it.

 

[Sherzy]

Thank you for all your replies. I will be going for the YSE and Rakza 7 2.0 on both sides since thats what most of the replies agrees with.

 

[Windkanal]

It might be a more popular recommendation on reddit but it reminds me of a specific post even.

Mark V recommendations in 2025 are so wild. What people should recommend instead is either:
Fastarc G1 / Rakza 7 or
Fastarc G1 / C1

 

[PenHoldSandro]

Mark V recommendations in 2025 are so wild. What people should recommend instead is either:
Fastarc G1 / Rakza 7 or
Fastarc G1 / C1

I still like Mark V because it gives so much control! Of course compared to more modern rubbers like Fastarc, Mark V doesn't work nearly was well in the speed and spin department. However, for developing, it's very easy to place, loop, and attack with Mark V!

Fastarc and Rakza 7 are goated too, basically faster versions of Mark V

 

[Windkanal]

a while ago i watched a video from someone doing comparisons on butterfly rubbers and beginner talks and whatnot. He had a point i tend to agree with. A rubber changes your playstyle and the feeling way more than a blade does. Now when you take the approach of playing with a slow rubber and a few months later you want to upgrade, you will end up in a very weird position where changing rubbers changes your entire blades feel and playstyle.

i think, especially with the plastic ball. its just a way better aproach to straight up start with fast rubbers that you like the feel of and then stick to them through your career so you can pretty much grow with your rubbers from the start and even if you hit high levels of play, your rubbers can still be with you.

and instead, simply start on a slower blade to tame them a bit.
its way easier to increase speed by upgrading to a faster blade, while still keeping the same playing feel from your rubbers instead of the other way around.

rubbers play different. you need to get used to way the grip the ball, the arc they play and all sorts of things. so get used to that as early as possible. if you like how a tenergy feels, heck... go with tenergy from the start and really learn and get used to them and go with slow blades if they are still a bit too fast.

 

[Tyce]

a while ago i watched a video from someone doing comparisons on butterfly rubbers and beginner talks and whatnot. He had a point i tend to agree with. A rubber changes your playstyle and the feeling way more than a blade does. Now when you take the approach of playing with a slow rubber and a few months later you want to upgrade, you will end up in a very weird position where changing rubbers changes your entire blades feel and playstyle.

i think, especially with the plastic ball. its just a way better aproach to straight up start with fast rubbers that you like the feel of and then stick to them through your career so you can pretty much grow with your rubbers from the start and even if you hit high levels of play, your rubbers can still be with you.

and instead, simply start on a slower blade to tame them a bit.
its way easier to increase speed by upgrading to a faster blade, while still keeping the same playing feel from your rubbers instead of the other way around.

rubbers play different. you need to get used to way the grip the ball, the arc they play and all sorts of things. so get used to that as early as possible. if you like how a tenergy feels, heck... go with tenergy from the start and really learn and get used to them and go with slow blades if they are still a bit too fast.

Interesting philosophy, I think it's a valid route just as much as the "blade first, rubber later" one. They both depend on having good training resources available in order to get through the first steep parts of the learning curve.
You have to learn either to consistently engage a high level rubber, or to play compact yet effective shots on a faster blade. Those are not easy to learn without guidance.

Using Tenergy on a slower blade sounds just as difficult as using Vega Europe on a Viscaria tbh. But it's good to pick a route you feel good about.