When I decided to give up Tenergy 05 (I used to get it for $50 a sheet when I lived in Korea) I tried out several modern rubbers. I settled on Calibra LT at first when I was using TBS (before it broke
) and liked it for counterlooping and power shots. You had to be much more precise on opening loops. That got me to test Aurus and I loved it. Demian II+ is a medium soft sponge very grippy rubber that is easy to generate spin.. very important for me, my preference for first topspin is HEAVY, then I break out artillery and fire away.
Aurus on the other hand was like a Swiss Army knife, did a lot of things very well with control. Wasn't the spiniest rubber out there or the fastest, but I realized it worked for my game. After testing a lot of blades, I discovered it was very consistent on many different blades and I could rely upon it. I also liked Evolution series, FX-P in particular. nexy in Korea sold those rubbers and sponsored me, so of course I liked them, but NexyUSA does not have the marketing rights to sell Stiga and Tibhar like they do in Korea, but we can sell the Tibhar blades that Nexy designed for them.
That mod I do isn't for everyone to try at home, especially on an expensive blade when you do not have the confidence and experience to attempt it.
I call things as I see them.
It is odd that an equipment company President who is supposed to pimp up his brand every chance would advocate the inexpensive "Der_Echte Special" where I get the blade (896 for $16) and BH rubber (XP 2008 at $8) from colestt.com or eacheng.net and re-use a FH rubber (usually Aurus)... yet this simple combination works great as a bat to use when you are in between main bats, like when your main bat cracked beyond repair and you haven't replaced it yet. Experimenting with equipment that is inexpensive is a good way to gain experience with low money risk. it does add up over time though, but it is good experience. Plus, Cole is real kind to Military. I have done 30 yrs in Army and am about to retire soon, Cole has always hooked me up with extra free stuff for me or Soldiers when I was in Iraq, Korea, or even Stateside.
It sounds really crazy I would advocate alos inexpensive stuff being a President of a TT equipment company, but the market goes into several segments.
Many, the great majority of new players, generally want to spend the absolute minimum money on their equipment. For this I would say go to Walmart, get a $3,58 FL bat with SP , peel off the SP, and slap on what rubbers you like, problem solved for very little money. Some people do not have rubbers laying around, but Cole sells XP2008 at $8 a sheet and that isn't much at all, but still too much for some.
Military people particularly want their stuff for free for some unknown reason. Cole and other forumers have helped me with stuff to build bats for dozens of Soldiers to give them their own bat to play with when they were unwilling to purchase their own. Carl will tell you, I carry 3-5 "Der_Echte Specials" with always so someone can have a bat to use until they can get their own.
Then you got the segment of the market that wants a new bat, but will spend moderate low amount of money. Colestt.com is an outstanding place for the player who wants a functional bat at minimum cost... some bats are $30-$40 range... they wont have modern rubber on them like Claibra or whatever, but they will play and I have built many of these for personal use and for others, or simply advised them to buy from Cole.
Then you got the segment of the market that YOU are in... a player who has played a while... and who now wants a new bat, is willing to pay for top quality, but doesn't want the most absolute expensive stuff out there. Usually, such a bat with rubbers is in the $125 to $300 range. Not many are willing to invest this kind of money right away. Many new players get the inexpensive stuff at first, test out about everything there is cheap, then buy some moderate expensive bat. Such a player is right to be cautious like he is and tried out less expensive stuff first.
Some players are EJs... Equipment Junkies and will buy anything and everything TT themselves.. and love the life of it. I am an EJ myself, but it helped that I built my own stuff, recycled my rubbers, and chose not so expensive rubbers, picked up friends' stuff, and got sponsored and got a big discount. that allowed me to be constantly building and trying out stuff, then I became a tester.
Some players right away will go for the absolute most famous expensive stuff because that is wither their idea of quality (it is, but at a real top end price) or because they know their friends do not have such expensive stuff. That gives them the edge in the bragging rights.
Every company has a few blades and rubbers to match up well with your described playing style. If you go BTY USA, then a Timo Boll W5 or TBS with T05 or G3 and Sriver is just one of the possible combinations. You compare that to my recommendation of Peter Pan or Kanaph blades and Demian II+ rubbers. Either are suitable and will not cost you the super premium money, but none are basement bargain stuff either. You prolly know by now the entire TT industry has been trying for years to make a rubber like T05, (and never quite made it) but there is only one T05, I just don't want to pay what they are asking for it and it made me discover other rubbers I like.
