Help me to choose a Nittaku inverted rubber coming back from short pips

[xavi]

Hello everyone, I "was" a topspin oriented JPEN player. Since COVID I've been playing with short pips on forehand (and True Penhold Backhand). I've been learning to hit, block... but finally I got tired and went back to inverted topspin oriented 3 weeks ago.

In 3 weeks I am playing better with inverted than with short pips. I think I have never been good on block, hit, and I have not forgotten how to do topspin with inverted.

I like Nittaku equipment. I play with Hinoki 3 ply Revofusion MF R. My hand likes it, do not need to change the wood. I grip it correctly and also it is nice for the occasional use of long pips on the back.

Three weeks ago I tried Fastarc S1 2.0. rubber (forehand and TPB), because I knew this rubber it will be easier coming from short pips. What I like a lot from Fastarc S1:

- Very direct (low throw) so very good for backhand front hit TPB.
- Lots of control.
- Easy to spin, easy to play.
- Fast.
- Light.

The problem is the 2.0 flies too much, too much catapult. The low throw is very good for TPB but too risky on forehand topspin. So in 3 days I changed to 1.8 and I played two weeks with this and I am playing nicely. But I think it will be better to play with 2.0 to have a bit more margin in gripping ok the ball when I do topspin on receiving serve.

Now I have to decide if:

- Continue with S1 1.8.
- Go to S1 2.0 and do the swing shorter (to have less catapult effect).
- Try C1 2.0 or G1 2.0. I played with G1 on the past, good for serves, hit, topspin, but I think for TPB it has too high throw.
- Try Z2 or Z2 special (both in 2.0). Z2 special 2.0 seems it just have been released. I think the grip will be much better but maybe too fast.
- Try Nittaku Hurricane 3 NR-8669 2.0

Thanks for your help!

 

[Zezima]

you should stick with a rubber around 45° atleast (on FH) and 2.0mm atleast and hit the training grounds. I also doubt you can bring a lot of Topspin with a 1,8mm Rubber. The thicker the sponge the more spin you can produce - control comes by practising.

 

[xavi]

Hello Zezima, Right now I'm not doing "a lot of topspin" with the 1.8. I am just returning the serve with a light topspin, and then do another topspin with correct placement or as smash. S1 is amazing for smash, and hinoki dwell time helps to do the topspin even with 1.8. S1 has low spin so if you do not place it correctly or fast, you have no advantage.

I think I will try Hammond Z2 2.0.

 

[PenHoldSandro]

Go for the basic Fastarc G1 in 2.0, overall great rubber!

 

[xavi]

Today I've been trying a Genextion and a Z2 (both 2.0 and already used). I used two different blades:

A) Multifunction MF-R (Hinoki 3 ply 8,5 mm, the racket I am playing since 2025) with Genextion.

Really easy to topspin any backspin ball (but this is not very important to me). At the beginning the ball was a bit dead. I do not know if I had not applied the force correctly with Genextion, is the overweight or the glue (I glued just before). Later the topspins where nicer and the combination do not seem very fast. But maybe too heavy, or the ball falls if you play a bit passive.

B) Excellent A (Hinoki 1 ply 9mm) with Z2. The touch is VERY nice a beautiful click. Very nice topspins but soooo fast. I have not used this wood for 7 years but I control it much better on backhand and I move better the fingers on the back. So I'm getting in love again with my 1 ply hinoki.

Friday I will try the opposite combination. I think Excellent A with Genextion could be good if is not too heavy.

I have a competition next week (not important) maybe I will play there with Excellent A and S1 1.8 as I am used to this rubber. But this rubber is not my dream rubber as it has a throw too low and in 2.0 it has too much catapult.

I think my best combination will be excellent A blade with something spinny, controlled, not heavy, not very fast and 2.0. Maybe G1, maybe C1. Not sure if 8-80 can be a good option.

The rubber it has to be controlled because if I go to 1 ply hinoki then I will not use the long pips in the back. So I need a rubber to receive the serve with confidence.

Thanks for your comments. I will keep you posted!

 

[tzifos]

check also Nittaku Goriki Kaisoku rubber, which is something in between modern inverted rubbers and short pimples rubber. Check https://blog.tabletennis11.com/nitt...nverted-rubber-with-short-pip-characteristics

 

[xavi]

check also Nittaku Goriki Kaisoku rubber, which is something in between modern inverted rubbers and short pimples rubber. Check https://blog.tabletennis11.com/nitt...nverted-rubber-with-short-pip-characteristics

Hello tzifos

I know this rubber, I played with it after G1and before short pips. I played with it using a Rutis Revo J.
It is a nice rubber to hit, quite spinny, easy, a bit similar to short pips.

But as this rubber is not in the Nittaku catalogue anymore, I prefer to use a rubbers that will have continuity. But thanks for your message.