Help me with equipment (2 years exp player)

[ginny]

Hello everyone ! I'm 25 years old, 185 cm and 100 kg (I have some trouble with my heart so I physically can't play active table tennis like chinese players, very aggressive style with top spin shots).
I've been playing for 2 years (only 10-15 min on a laucnbreak at work) so I don't have much experience.
My playstyle in general : short game, with pushes with backspin, mainly from my backhand side, because I can easily miss from forehand push, also I feel confident with undercuts, and i'm very afraid of missing high balls, afraid to do some heavy shots, so I just push and push >_<.
Sometimes I go a little bit far from the table and play blocks, my opponents do some strong shots and I just push and brushing my racket upwards on the ball to counter, I don't do top spins, because my technique is not that good and I'm afraid to miss, so I play only counterattacks and pushes. I don't know how to properly do FH topspin and BH topspin, I'm still learning.
My first blade was yasaka ma lin carbon + 2 yinhee moon (max). I've played for 6 months, I felt that something was wrong, I didn't have feeling of the ball, so I changed my racket (my current racket) Butterfly Korbel (Japan) + 2 Nittaku Fastarc G-1.
With my Korbel setup, the ball always files into the net from BH, and form my FH the ball files behind the table, I think that blade or rubbers are too fast for my level of play. Also I don't like tensor catapult effect (feels like racket play for you and you don't have control) and I also didn't like rotten effect from sticky rubber, It was very slow, but my Fastarc is very fast. (also I'm not physically good because of my heart and my weight, so I can't hit strong with sticky rubbers to create spin and speed).
I play for 9 months fastarc G-1 and I used to tensor effect, but I can't generate spin with my current level and can't generate speed.
Some people say play with fastarc G-1 and korbel japan and you'll be good, and also a lot of people say that rubbers are too fast, change to something like xiom vega europe, can someone help please.

 

[Tyce]

Honestly, if you only play shortly during lunch break, I understand quite well that you found your equipment to be inappropriate.

Ideally, you want equipment that gives you confidence to fully commit to your shots, but with a little bit of room to learn.

Here's the best idea: get some coaching. A couple of months of doing 2-3 hours a week will surely help you to make better use of your current setup. You can probably improve a lot just by better understanding of the basic strokes and spin.

If that's not an option, then the suggestions are highly dependent on your actual level of play.
Without being able to judge on footage, this is going to be inaccurate but here goes:

1. Keep the blade you like best. Honestly, either one is fine.
2. If you are OK with a little bit of tensor, Xiom Vega Europe is good.
3. If you just want something that's easier to control, and not be very sensitive to spin, get the absolute classic Mark V.

Don't go under 1.8mm sponge for either.

 

[ginny]

Honestly, if you only play shortly during lunch break, I understand quite well that you found your equipment to be inappropriate.

Ideally, you want equipment that gives you confidence to fully commit to your shots, but with a little bit of room to learn.

Here's the best idea: get some coaching. A couple of months of doing 2-3 hours a week will surely help you to make better use of your current setup. You can probably improve a lot just by better understanding of the basic strokes and spin.

If that's not an option, then the suggestions are highly dependent on your actual level of play.
Without being able to judge on footage, this is going to be inaccurate but here goes:

1. Keep the blade you like best. Honestly, either one is fine.
2. If you are OK with a little bit of tensor, Xiom Vega Europe is good.
3. If you just want something that's easier to control, and not be very sensitive to spin, get the absolute classic Mark V.

Don't go under 1.8mm sponge for either.

Hello ! What's the difference between max sponge and 2.0 sponge? For example if I take xiom vega europe for my BH, what should I take, 2.0 or MAX? Will I be able to handle speed of MAX sponge, or there is other difference, not the speed ?

 

[Tyce]

Hello ! What's the difference between max sponge and 2.0 sponge? For example if I take xiom vega europe for my BH, what should I take, 2.0 or MAX? Will I be able to handle speed of MAX sponge, or there is other difference, not the speed ?

Max sponge is usually around 2.2mm. According to rules, sponge+topsheet must be a maximum of 4mm, so the MAX sponge depends on the thickness of the topsheet.

More sponge brings more speed and spin. Less sponge brings more control. But if the sponge is too thin, you can hit the wood of the blade too easily and that brings less control.

I would suggest 1.8 or 2.0 for Xiom Vega Europe, and 2.0 or MAX for Yasaka Mark V.

Remember, I can only judge what you type. I could easily misjudge your level.

 

[JJ Ng]

Hello ! What's the difference between max sponge and 2.0 sponge? For example if I take xiom vega europe for my BH, what should I take, 2.0 or MAX? Will I be able to handle speed of MAX sponge, or there is other difference, not the speed ?

2.0 = 2.0mm

Max sponge = 2.2mm or 2.3mm (most manufacturers don't put that info on the packaging other than "MAX").

Do not go for Xiom Vega Europe.

Go with Mark V 2.0mm sponge. You will play better and enjoy the sport that way.

 

[ginny]

2.0 = 2.0mm

Max sponge = 2.2mm or 2.3mm (most manufacturers don't put that info on the packaging other than "MAX").

Do not go for Xiom Vega Europe.

Go with Mark V 2.0mm sponge. You will play better and enjoy the sport that way.

What about Rakza series from Yasaka? Because I read a lot and I saw that many people say, "Mark V was good for 38+ balls, now this rubber is too old for new wtt 40+ balls", does it matter for my rubber choise ?

 

[Ultravisitor]

What about Rakza series from Yasaka? Because I read a lot and I saw that many people say, "Mark V was good for 38+ balls, now this rubber is too old for new wtt 40+ balls", does it matter for my rubber choise ?

At your lvl of play it doesn't matter. Better get a classic rubber like Yasaka Mark V or Xiom Musa, Spinlord Tiger or DHS Goldarc 5 and learn all the strokes, without getting super frustrated. You can always upgrade rubbers, because you have to replace them anyway.

If you don't have the aerobic capacity to play offensive tabletennis maybe those slower rubber will fit you better anyways. They are great for close to the table play.

 

[jk1980]

i would not get a Mark V. It is outdated and hard to play especially without technique and physique.
Go for the Vega Europe if you still want the rubber to do something for you. If you dont want that you can go for the Vega Intro which has less tensor effect and is more controllable. perhaps Vega Europe for the BH and Vega Intro for your forehand.

 

[Lazer]

What about Rakza series from Yasaka? Because I read a lot and I saw that many people say, "Mark V was good for 38+ balls, now this rubber is too old for new wtt 40+ balls", does it matter for my rubber choise ?

Don’t believe the bs about MarkV being outdated. It has one of the best topsheet in the industry (yes it does). It last longer than any other rubber I know… The sponge is a bit old fashioned but this will work to your benefit. It doesn’t bounce much.
It’s a little less spinny than the spinniest rubbers but this also works for your benefit. A less spinny rubber is also less sensitive to spin…
It also a bit expensive…

It’s still a bestseller in the Japanese market…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[mamedium]

who still plays Mark V? does anyone that give the advice getting Mark V, actually play Mark V at the moment??

 

[Julzig]

I suggest Gewo Thunderball². Very cheap and quite durable if I remember correctly. Safe play and pushes work great. When I used to play this rubber I barely made mistakes. It is very slightly sticky/tacky that gives a bit more control. This in 2.0 or 1.8mm should have very little catapult.

 

[Tyce]

who still plays Mark V? does anyone that give the advice getting Mark V, actually play Mark V at the moment??

I play against it regularly.

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

changing to Mark V or sticking with G1 is irrelevant coz' the root cause is not an material issue but rather the user issue. If you are a casual player, just enjoy it with whatever material you have on hand. If you, one day decide to take up the game seriously, seek a legit trainer.

 

[Lazer]

who still plays Mark V? does anyone that give the advice getting Mark V, actually play Mark V at the moment??

When I want to make a reset, I always go back to Mark V. One of my partners swears by it, and he’s got more spin than most other players I train with. And this is with thickness 1.5mm.

The only limiting factor with Mark V is the price… You can get similar rubbers cheaper (but of course they won’t last as long)…

Cheers
L-zr

 

[Tyce]

changing to Mark V or sticking with G1 is irrelevant coz' the root cause is not an material issue but rather the user issue. If you are a casual player, just enjoy it with whatever material you have on hand. If you, one day decide to take up the game seriously, seek a legit trainer.

I wouldn't say irrelevant if they're unable to play with G1. Other than that, agreed

 

[WadaWada]

not physical is the key here, get a fzd alc with 09c fh and bh call it a day , very automatic set up