How do I know if a rubber type is for me?

[PenHoldSandro]

Hello! I am a Jpen SP player, but maybe that'll change depending on this thread

See, what I want to find out is: how do you know if a certain type of rubber is for you?

I mainly play closer to the table using smaller shots (probably from the SP), and smashing obviously.

Should I use inverted, SP, MP, LP, or anti-spin? What play style is the best fit for each of them?

 

[Gozo Aruna]

Hello! I am a Jpen SP player, but maybe that'll change depending on this thread

See, what I want to find out is: how do you know if a certain type of rubber is for you?

I mainly play closer to the table using smaller shots (probably from the SP), and smashing obviously.

Should I use inverted, SP, MP, LP, or anti-spin? What play style is the best fit for each of them?

After many hundred of hours and thousands of dollars, you will know, my padawan, you will definitely know...

 

[Ultravisitor]

You start with a middel of the road setup. I my eyes thats a SH all+/off- blade with not to fast inverted rubber.
Learn all the strokes.
Get some match/ tournament experience.
Then figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are and try to compliment your playstyle with fitting equipment.
SP is a offensive style most of the time, LP, MP, Anti are more fitting for a defensive style. But its hard to make generalizations. You'll find offensive and defensive rubbers in all categories.
The last part is not as significant as one might think. You can get very far with so called "beginner setups".

 

[Jan_]

That's what we all wonder. So if you find the answer let us know👍

 

[Tyce]

Knowing if a certain type of rubber is for you, that's a matter of trying it out.
Of course there's some general stuff:

Do you want to attack or defend
Do you like to make spin, or is it something you "need to deal with"
Do you like making big strong movements or keep it small
Do you want to be able to master it straight away, or do you want to grow into it

 

[Silver Server]

Compile vids of you playing. Post it here and wait for suggestions on equipment, but only if you don’t have a coach or a trainer that can guide you.

 

[Der_Echte]

OP,
You should send up secret smoke signal and assemble the Goon Squad... they will have the answer.

Otherwise, there is always USA's leading expert on H3 Sergey sign me up, you could track him down too.

 

[Aizen]

If you ask me, I would tell the cold truth.

As you are a beginner, you should play double inverted cpen or shakehand for at least couple years.
Taste the bh topspin and flick, enjoy spiny fh loops etc. TT is a spin based sport.

Then you may consider 1 side pips option as twiddler.

Or, of course try each option (inverted, sp, lp) choose which you like more.

But without any inverted rubber you are missing a lot.

 

[lodro]

If you choose not to take the long way of patiently trying many different rubbers , the only other option is to become a believer. You will have to listen to a lot of specialists and experts and then believe what they say is supposed to work for you , it hardly ever does.
Give the process its time and make sure to have fun every time you play.

 

[PenHoldSandro]

After many hundred of hours and thousands of dollars, you will know, my padawan, you will definitely know...

Yes, Sir Gozo, I shall.

 

[PenHoldSandro]

You start with a middel of the road setup. I my eyes thats a SH all+/off- blade with not to fast inverted rubber.
Learn all the strokes.
Get some match/ tournament experience.
Then figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are and try to compliment your playstyle with fitting equipment.
SP is a offensive style most of the time, LP, MP, Anti are more fitting for a defensive style. But its hard to make generalizations. You'll find offensive and defensive rubbers in all categories.
The last part is not as significant as one might think. You can get very far with so called "beginner setups".

Well I've already decided on Jpen, (I used to be a shake hander, so ik how it feels like)

For the rest though, that's great advice. Thanks man!

My plan right now is:
- Replace my SP with inverted (some double fish rubber)
- Play for three months
- Decide then

 

[PenHoldSandro]

That's what we all wonder. So if you find the answer let us know👍

ok

 

[PenHoldSandro]

Knowing if a certain type of rubber is for you, that's a matter of trying it out.
Of course there's some general stuff:

Do you want to attack or defend
Do you like to make spin, or is it something you "need to deal with"
Do you like making big strong movements or keep it small
Do you want to be able to master it straight away, or do you want to grow into it

I guess I'll have to try it out. Any cheap suggestions for each?

 

[PenHoldSandro]

Compile vids of you playing. Post it here and wait for suggestions on equipment, but only if you don’t have a coach or a trainer that can guide you.

I do have a coach but he focuses more on technique rather than equipment. He says something like, "It's ok, use whatever you like"

Maybe I'll post a video sometime for equipment help

 

[Gozo Aruna]

after hundred hours, after thousand of dollars I learned my forehand goldilock zone is Tensor / Spring Sponge 42 - 45 ESN hardness while my backhand is 42 below with or without tensor. I have tried 47, 48, 50 and chinese tacky as well... such a long journey I have walked...

 

[ViperTableTennis]

If you ask me, I would tell the cold truth.

As you are a beginner, you should play double inverted cpen or shakehand for at least couple years.
Taste the bh topspin and flick, enjoy spiny fh loops etc. TT is a spin based sport.

Then you may consider 1 side pips option as twiddler.

Or, of course try each option (inverted, sp, lp) choose which you like more.

But without any inverted rubber you are missing a lot.

This is standard advice, but I do wonder whether this has something to do with non-topspin oriented styles not doing as well as perhaps they could in competitive scenarios. Why should every player start in this way and only then after a few years switch to an alternative style, when every year spent playing double inverted is a year of training they've then lost training with SP's or LP's etc? Imagine how much better the "non-conventional" styles might prove to be in competitive situations if double inverted was only considered one of multiple styles to pick from, rather than the style that everyone had to train in before considering a switch to any other style!

Imagine we were talking about martial arts and the consensus was that no one should start training in Judo until they'd trained for a few years in Karate. That Judo player will never be as good at Judo as they could have potentially been had they gone straight to Judo to begin with!

 

[Aizen]

I do have a coach but he focuses more on technique rather than equipment. He says something like, "It's ok, use whatever you like"

Maybe I'll post a video sometime for equipment help

Does it sound interesting only to me?

Okay, using tenergy or hurricane, viscaria or korbel don't make difference for a coach as training curriculum,

but using LP or inverted, and jpen or double sided changes significantly.

 

[Aizen]

This is standard advice, but I do wonder whether this has something to do with non-topspin oriented styles not doing as well as perhaps they could in competitive scenarios. Why should every player start in this way and only then after a few years switch to an alternative style, when every year spent playing double inverted is a year of training they've then lost training with SP's or LP's etc? Imagine how much better the "non-conventional" styles might prove to be in competitive situations if double inverted was only considered one of multiple styles to pick from, rather than the style that everyone had to train in before considering a switch to any other style!

Imagine we were talking about martial arts and the consensus was that no one should start training in Judo until they'd trained for a few years in Karate. That Judo player will never be as good at Judo as they could have potentially been had they gone straight to Judo to begin with!

I agree this is standart advice also because OP situation seems not a player have experienced and confused, instead just haven't experienced yet enough.

I'm not against the different styles but TT is a spin game. I can't imagine a setup without any inverted rubber, also the game itself is designed for spin. Not have to but an individual should play with an inverted rubber, not only competing also for fully enjoying.

So the training time issue, as because majority of players are double inverted, I don't see this time a waste, you would get know your opponent, how the ball reacts etc. Also If we think, this player will play with at least one side inverted rubber, will have boarder arsenal.

Again, I'm not against the jpen + pips style, everyone is free to choose but I think it's not only disadvantaged also, missing out the Fun of TT. Otherwise it will be hardbat.

Additionally, as I remember, OP is complaining about jpen and pips for a quite time in the forum.

 

[Lazer]

I do have a coach but he focuses more on technique rather than equipment. He says something like, "It's ok, use whatever you like"

Maybe I'll post a video sometime for equipment help

That's an excellent advice. Short pips are no hugely different, You can use more or less the same technique. But since the speed is normally higher it will be in some parts a little more difficult. The good part is that serve receive will be easier. We have BH SP player in my club, he doesn't even twiddle (when serving with BH) but does excellent anyway.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[merlin el mago]

First and only question: are you smasher or looper?

Your answer will tell you the kind of rubber.

N. B. Blade matter a lot depending your way of play.