confusing.. bh rubber.. harder faster softer

[riemsesy]

when I read the different topics I see people looking for different kind of rubbers (duh)
But the reasoning is also different.. some say I want more control, but others say,, hey backhand is weaker so I need something faster
Which one is it? What do you use?
Like many that use a DHS H3 version on the forehand combine it with a tensor like rubber on the backhand.

 

[Attitude]

That is an interesting topic. Especially because i am on the verge of switching 🤦

End of the last season i made the switch from outer alc with tensor bh to inner ac with h3 37 on bh for several reasons:
More control and higher quality fh
Easier to counterattack especially with the bh
Better overall defense options and more room for errors.

Now the tradeoff i am currently kinda wanting to have back:
Way harder bh opening abilities
More overall and easier to access power and speed.

I still developed my bh within the h3 times but either way i wont get it as lethal as it is in the openers. In the open rallyes it equals out but in my matches i am usually the one who dictates and decides who attacks first and i like to have that opener hard^^
I traded it for a better fh and more control which is good either way but probably doesnt win me more games.

So yeah there are several reasons why you could chose either way^^

 

[Kopp]

IMO use medium hardness both sides. Train FH/BH for few months. One should know which hardness to change on the next rubbers.

 

[lodro]

Even though I can accept that likely the majority of players are using the system of the softer/tensor backhand, I never got anywhere with this. I am a left hander and my BH rubber of choice is an unboosted commercialH3 /39or 40 with a 2.1 sponge. This gives me the control, the blocking power, the chance to attack a serve using BH flick AND if I ever here anybody say that unboosted H3 are slow I shall screeeaam 😂🤣
There is really no rule and if there is one it is there to be broken. One has to give the time to try what work best and then stick with it .

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

when I read the different topics I see people looking for different kind of rubbers (duh)
But the reasoning is also different.. some say I want more control, but others say,, hey backhand is weaker so I need something faster
Which one is it? What do you use?
Like many that use a DHS H3 version on the forehand combine it with a tensor like rubber on the backhand.

The best answer is: it depends on your personal preference. Now, the answer given isn't very helpful right?

• The text-book or internet standard answer is: BH is a short-stroke and you need a BH rubber with strong trampoline effect to propel the ball over the net easier and with little effort.
• So, this is the end of the story right? Happy?
• Hold on, not quite... this is not the end of the story yet.
• The standard answer is true for people who already know how to play properly, that is those who are above average Hobby / Club level player.
• So what about those regular Hobby Players? For a regular hobby players, if you try to use a strong rubber with super trampoline effect like Tenergy 05, Donic Bluefire M1 or Tibhar's MX-P, your ball will be flying to Melbourne one moment and to Buenos Aires the next.
• Hence, how do you fix this problem?
• Get proper coach to teach you the proper stroke.
• Some use chinese tacky rubber to avoid the super trampoline effect and learn how to use own power to propel the ball onwards.
• Some use ol'skool or classic rubber from the old era, that is, grippy Japanese rubber without the added high tension or special trampoline effect. They will rely on own power to propel the ball onwards.
• To each, his own, which brings us back to my first point, at the end of the day, it all depends on individual preference.

Personally, I am experimenting with ol'skool / classic grippy rubber at the moment. It does seems to work for me. This rubber, being much much slower than modern high tension version does alter the pace and can catch many players by surprise by the sudden change in pace.

Have fun experimenting.

 

[Tyce]

@riemsesy here's what I did to figure this out, not sure if you want to follow the footsteps but it's an idea

I got a rubber, in this case Palio Ak47, in 3 hardness variants (red, yellow and green sponge) of ~46, ~43 and ~39 degrees "ESN".
Put them on a couple of blades, and try it out. You could even put two on a single blade and twiddle to get a more accurate comparison.

Spoiler: I think blue is way too soft for the topsheet, yellow I like, red too but it's too hard making the contact time too small.

 

[kapahoo]

Softer will be easier to open up and drive for most people. Harder will be easier to use in the short game, service receive etc.
People, including myself, tend to test rubbers an decide from the active, full strokes. Nothing wrong with that, it is the fun part of playing, but matchplay, when the opponent does everything so that you cannot do full swings, is different.

 

[riemsesy]

@riemsesy here's what I did to figure this out, not sure if you want to follow the footsteps but it's an idea

I got a rubber, in this case Palio Ak47, in 3 hardness variants (red, yellow and green sponge) of ~46, ~43 and ~39 degrees "ESN".
Put them on a couple of blades, and try it out. You could even put two on a single blade and twiddle to get a more accurate comparison.

Spoiler: I think blue is way too soft for the topsheet, yellow I like, red too but it's too hard making the contact time too small.

I destroyed the Xiom Vega intro I had on one of the Violins I have and glued bloom power and Ak47 red on it because that is what I had laying around. I thought I would use bloom power as FH and AK47 Red as the BH rubber but noticed I automatically twiddled the blade to Red on the FH.

 

[Tyce]

Bloom power should be decently bouncy for BH use

 

[jammmail]

That is an interesting topic. Especially because i am on the verge of switching 🤦

End of the last season i made the switch from outer alc with tensor bh to inner ac with h3 37 on bh for several reasons:
More control and higher quality fh
Easier to counterattack especially with the bh
Better overall defense options and more room for errors.

Now the tradeoff i am currently kinda wanting to have back:
Way harder bh opening abilities
More overall and easier to access power and speed.

I still developed my bh within the h3 times but either way i wont get it as lethal as it is in the openers. In the open rallyes it equals out but in my matches i am usually the one who dictates and decides who attacks first and i like to have that opener hard^^
I traded it for a better fh and more control which is good either way but probably doesnt win me more games.

So yeah there are several reasons why you could chose either way^^

This is my dilemma also atm - I've slowed my setup down, which gives me better consistency and performance in rally. But openers and pushes seem to be countered and smashed past me easier. I feel i set people up to easily essentially.

 

[lodro]

This is my dilemma also atm - I've slowed my setup down, which gives me better consistency and performance in rally. But openers and pushes seem to be countered and smashed past me easier. I feel i set people up to easily essentially.

You already know the answer to this dilemma and I AM quoting YOU here : Spin to win 😁