Damien Éloi: Are the top players’ rubbers different?

This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Apr 2024
79
145
241
If you buy 2 blades in store there is high chance one will feel better than other. They all different
Not really, unless there are huge differences in the build process. For example, I used to play with Nittaku Latika before this. I had bought 3 of the same weight: 87g. Two for me, one for another person. Played with all of them, didn't feel a difference.

For ZQH, the weights were almost same. If I, being an amateur, can feel a small difference, I imagine that a pro might as well consider these two different blades.
 
says Shoo...nothing to see here. - zeio
says Shoo...nothing to see here. - zeio
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Jan 2018
12,910
12,852
28,945
Only 4/7= ~57% high level players got it right in one blind experiment. That's not convincing.

Vibro-acoustic of Table Tennis Rackets. Influence of the Plywood Design Parameters. Experimental and Sensory Analyses
https://www.researchgate.net/public..._Parameters_Experimental_and_Sensory_Analyses
2.3. Laboratory experiments vs. sensory analysis

A sensory analysis has been conducted in order to study if any correlation existed between the vibro-acoustic
laboratory experimental results and the player opinions on the rackets tested. Ten different racket blades have been
selected for this analysis. The same rubbers were glued on all rackets, and some tape was stuck on the blade edge
so that all the rackets look identical. Seven players were asked to classify the rackets by their sound similarity
according to two criteria: plain/hollow sound and low/sharp sound. Three players have given a non-consistent
sensory analysis
, i.e. for each of them there was no good repeatability observed for a same racket tested, therefore
they were not taken into account in the synthesis.
The results presented in figure 6a correspond to a synthesis made
among four players for which the sensory analyses were estimated reliable.

...

3. Conclusion

...

A sensory analysis, implying high level players, was conducted. The players were asked to classify the rackets
by sound similarities for two criteria: plain/hollow and low sharp sound. The comparisons between the sensory
analysis and the vibro-acoustic laboratory experimental results have shown a good consistency. Moreover it
appears that the ball impact sharpness can be related to the membrane mode vibration frequency of the racket
blade.
 
says Fair Play First
says Fair Play First
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Jan 2012
2,193
727
3,077
Research Gate -- reclusive group of geeks and pseudo-pundits. 😆
 
Last edited:
says nothing
says nothing
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Apr 2021
1,105
1,277
3,973
Read 1 reviews
Sorry not familiar who is Tiger Wood, Fan Sigi and not familiar with Blue Ribbon story.

I have another question. Lets say all TT brands cancel this tuning services and don't make anymore personal blades and rubbers so all elite players should buy from store. They wont be able to play? I really don't understand is rubbers we use so bad so even pro players who train 10 hours every day from age 5 not able to use this rubbers?
why ? if you are sponsored and they ask if you want to have your customized blades and rubbers, would you deny and said "No, commercial equipment are fine for me" ?
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
🏆 Top 1% Commenter
Well-Known Member
Sep 2017
2,229
1,552
4,776
Read 1 reviews
Not really, unless there are huge differences in the build process. For example, I used to play with Nittaku Latika before this. I had bought 3 of the same weight: 87g. Two for me, one for another person. Played with all of them, didn't feel a difference.

For ZQH, the weights were almost same. If I, being an amateur, can feel a small difference, I imagine that a pro might as well consider these two different blades.

I had many same blades and always feel difference. Its technically impossible to make from wood 2 exactly same blades. They all different
 
  • Like
Reactions: lightspin
Top