Hi all,
as the title says - it's been a while and I could really use some help in finding the right gear now.
I used to play very actively (singles ... training twice a week and tournaments on the weekends) in my teens.
It must have been 89-95 ... yes end of last century.
I was playing close to the table some, but preferred to play from way down town and do loops and top spins. I had decent speed for my age on my forehand top spins and did backhand top spins closer to the table - mostly out of my wrist. When playing defensively I mostly used my backhand to do undercuts but of course when needed used that with my forehand as well.
I also am used to play with A LOT of spin.
I played butterfly rubbers. Max on forehand and slightly less thick on my BH.
Both rubbers were shiny and a lil see through and I used cleaning liquid and a sponge to maximize spin.
I loved the thick forehand rubbers for hard and fast top spins and was thinking to get my backhand the same thickness.
Both forehand and backhand could create a lot of spin - with slow serves as well hard and fast returns.
They also dealt really well with incoming spin.
Unfortunately I do not remember the name of the rubbers, just that they were butterflies - however, I don't remember there being as many options as I am finding today.
I have played 3-4 days/week for 3hours each for the last few weeks. I am immensely enjoying it again and after all this time strangely enough muscle memory is as good as if I had never stopped - or so I tell myself.
I have played a few raquettes of people I am playing again and I am happy with where I am at. However, I have not been able to find a setup that suits what I am used to.
Fast topspins and smashballs work around 75% of the time forehand and backhand, BUT the newer rubbers I played don't feel the same and I am not as in control as I was with my old racket - no, I am not talking about needing to relearn, it just feels different.
Also, my old serves barely give me any spin or at least nowhere near what I am used to and I am having difficulty returning spinny serves, that I know didn't used to be a problem at all.
The rubbers I have played recently seem to be non-tacky (if my research serves me right). So when I gently move the back of my fingers over the rubber, it doesn't feel like the rubber has any spin and only seems to create proper spin when I hit harder.
Also, back then I don't remember hearing about carbon blades. I haven't tried one, but based on my research so far, I should probably get one as I am more of an offensive player.
Now, I have been reading a bit to find what I am after but ... there is a lot.
I am hoping/praying/manifesting or whatever I need to do, that somebody here used to play back then, knows what I am on about and can point me into the right direction.
It almost feels like at least for my forehand I should be getting a more tacky rubber and am thinking about a Dignics 09c max (the thickest I have found are the 2.1mms, correct?)
And for my backhand I am thinking either a Rozena or a Dignics05.
And maybe a carbon fibre enforced offensive blade.
Could somebody by any chance tell me if I am on the right track before investing the money to get the above and/or tell me about alternatives that would suit my overly long description from above?
very very much appreciated
a long lost but now returning son
P.S.: I'm in NewZealand so unfortunately not a big selection for me to test here before I order.
as the title says - it's been a while and I could really use some help in finding the right gear now.
I used to play very actively (singles ... training twice a week and tournaments on the weekends) in my teens.
It must have been 89-95 ... yes end of last century.
I was playing close to the table some, but preferred to play from way down town and do loops and top spins. I had decent speed for my age on my forehand top spins and did backhand top spins closer to the table - mostly out of my wrist. When playing defensively I mostly used my backhand to do undercuts but of course when needed used that with my forehand as well.
I also am used to play with A LOT of spin.
I played butterfly rubbers. Max on forehand and slightly less thick on my BH.
Both rubbers were shiny and a lil see through and I used cleaning liquid and a sponge to maximize spin.
I loved the thick forehand rubbers for hard and fast top spins and was thinking to get my backhand the same thickness.
Both forehand and backhand could create a lot of spin - with slow serves as well hard and fast returns.
They also dealt really well with incoming spin.
Unfortunately I do not remember the name of the rubbers, just that they were butterflies - however, I don't remember there being as many options as I am finding today.
I have played 3-4 days/week for 3hours each for the last few weeks. I am immensely enjoying it again and after all this time strangely enough muscle memory is as good as if I had never stopped - or so I tell myself.
I have played a few raquettes of people I am playing again and I am happy with where I am at. However, I have not been able to find a setup that suits what I am used to.
Fast topspins and smashballs work around 75% of the time forehand and backhand, BUT the newer rubbers I played don't feel the same and I am not as in control as I was with my old racket - no, I am not talking about needing to relearn, it just feels different.
Also, my old serves barely give me any spin or at least nowhere near what I am used to and I am having difficulty returning spinny serves, that I know didn't used to be a problem at all.
The rubbers I have played recently seem to be non-tacky (if my research serves me right). So when I gently move the back of my fingers over the rubber, it doesn't feel like the rubber has any spin and only seems to create proper spin when I hit harder.
Also, back then I don't remember hearing about carbon blades. I haven't tried one, but based on my research so far, I should probably get one as I am more of an offensive player.
Now, I have been reading a bit to find what I am after but ... there is a lot.
I am hoping/praying/manifesting or whatever I need to do, that somebody here used to play back then, knows what I am on about and can point me into the right direction.
It almost feels like at least for my forehand I should be getting a more tacky rubber and am thinking about a Dignics 09c max (the thickest I have found are the 2.1mms, correct?)
And for my backhand I am thinking either a Rozena or a Dignics05.
And maybe a carbon fibre enforced offensive blade.
Could somebody by any chance tell me if I am on the right track before investing the money to get the above and/or tell me about alternatives that would suit my overly long description from above?
very very much appreciated
a long lost but now returning son
P.S.: I'm in NewZealand so unfortunately not a big selection for me to test here before I order.
