How does blade influence gameplay?

[chiz]

BH: Dawei 2008 XP Power Sponge (approx $8.00 USD)

Is this rubber grippy? Is it hard? How long can it last (hrs)?

 

[TableTennisNerd]

/I was wondering how the blade influences our shot? As long as I can remember I have always used pre-made bats and didn't really look at blades,rubbers..etc
I once bought Galaxy Yinhe T11 with HN3 and Galaxy Moon with max thickness and degree. The result was disastrous, I wasted $70 and couldn't play properly with it.

My first custom bat was stiga allround classic with joola energy xtra in 2mm on fh and bty tackifire drive in 1.9 on bh.

 

[Kaizoku]

I just graduated and just started working but I still can't fork out hundreds of $ on TT equipments(at least not now).
896 vs W6, Which would be better? I'm not talking cost-wise, I can afford both.

Well, in terms of the ratings from tabletennisdb, the w6 has both more speed and control. (though that could be questioned concidering who voted)
But, the w6 is rated 22 times, the other 12 times and the w6 is more used aswell.
Considering the reviews and ratings I would definitely go for W6.
The dwell time I believe is superior on 896 though, without saying anything certain, more people has mentioned the great dwell time of 896.

And concerning the Dawei, (know nothing about it personally) but I believe it's this one. http://www.tabletennisdb.com/rubber/dawei-2008-xp.html

 

[chiz]

I'm thinking about trying out:
Blade: W6/896
BH: Dawei
FH: HN3 (An old 42 degree rubber that I already have on my T-11)

Isn't there a way to make the sponge softer?

 

[Kaizoku]

I'm thinking about trying out:
Blade: W6/896
BH: Dawei
FH: HN3 (An old 42 degree rubber that I already have on my T-11)
Isn't there a way to make the sponge softer?

There is no way (that I know of, or can find through searching) to make the sponge softer.
Most rubbers have info on what kind of sponge they have, you'd have to buy a rubber with soft sponge if you desire so.
It seems like a great set up from my perspective. Considering the price I believe it to be well worth it.

 

[chiz]

There is no way (that I know of, or can find through searching) to make the sponge softer.
Most rubbers have info on what kind of sponge they have, you'd have to buy a rubber with soft sponge if you desire so.
It seems like a great set up from my perspective. Considering the price I believe it to be well worth it.

I saw people saying that boosting make the sponge more elastic or something like that.

 

[Kaizoku]

I saw people saying that boosting make the sponge more elastic or something like that.

hmm, Boosting is not something I have experience with. I know it makes it faster. That's all I know.
I stick to Tensor rubbers, so no need for boosting anyhow. Though I'm certain someone else can answer that more thoroughly than me. :x
Google'ing info about it wouldn't be so bad either.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

I really don't know how the Galaxy W6 feels. I do know the 896 is totally a decent blade FOR THE PRICE. However, I see that the Galaxy W6 costs just under $40.00. My thought on that is, if that is the case get one of these:

Stiga Allround Evolution
Stiga Tube Allround
Stiga Offensive Classic
or
Avalox P-500

The W6 is in the same price range as those and those are way better than the price they charge for them. But, the W6 might be a good blade. I know the 896 is not as good as the Stiga blades I mentioned, but, it is $16.00 and more than good enough.

To get anything better than one of those blades by Stiga or Avalox that I just mentioned you usually would have to spend a lot more.

XP 2008, the rubber is totally decent for a rubber that costs $8.00. Way better than the price. Is it as good as Tenergy: NO. But it is $8.00.

With table tennis equipment, if you want to go budget, you might as well go all the way. If you don't go budget, you should forget about the difference between $100.00 and $200.00 and just get something good.

Because, if you spend $32.00 and just get the 896 with the XP 2008 it won't be great but it is almost as good as something you pay $100.00 for. And to get something noticeably better, you need to pull out your wallet and think of spending between $150.00-$250.00.

Ideal setup for your level: Nittaku Acoustic ($165.00), Xiom Vega Pro FH, Xiom Vega Europe BH ($38.00 each). (Total $241.00)

Solid basic Setup: Stiga Allround Evolution ($40.00), Xiom Vega Pro FH, Xiom Vega Europe BH ($38.00 each). (Total $118.00)

Der_Echte budget special: Galaxy 896 ($16.00), FH Tibhar Aurus ($50.00), BH Dawei XP 2008 ($8.00). (Total $74.00)

Too many choices. Just get something simple. That Aurus rubber and the 2008 XP goes great on the 896. Der_Echte is actually an equipment genius for figuring that setup out. No joke. If you got one where he weighted the handle it is even better.

 

[Kaizoku]

I really don't know how the Galaxy W6 feels. I do know the 896 is totally a decent blade FOR THE PRICE. However, I see that the Galaxy W6 costs just under $40.00. My thought on that is, if that is the case get one of these:

The W6 is in the same price range as those and those are way better than the price they charge for them. But, the W6 might be a good blade. I know the 896 is not as good as the Stiga blades I mentioned, but, it is $16.00 and more than good enough.

To get anything better than one of those blades by Stiga or Avalox that I just mentioned you usually would have to spend a lot more.

XP 2008, the rubber is totally decent for a rubber that costs $8.00. Way better than the price. Is it as good as Tenergy: NO. But it is $8.00.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Galaxy-W-6-...209?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2599792489
Actually, it goes for about 15$ If you use economical places <:

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Galaxy-W-6-...209?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2599792489
Actually, it goes for about 15$ If you use economical places <:

Cool. Then it is worth a try.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Der_Echte]

You can go for an all around blade.. a slow one so that later on you can mix and match with better rubbers

That is such a Pundit's response... and I am SOOOOO against pundits fro my own reasons....

BUTTTTTTTTTT, Rajah is so right for your situation (you, the one looking for a new starter setup)

Ideally, a player who does not yet know their exact playing style and needs perfectly can NOT go wrong with an ALL+ or so blade and control rubbers. That allows the maximum possible amount of flexibility in learning strokes so that when one finds his "zone" he can move directly into the equipment suitable for that and keep training.

Most new players do NOT want to spend a lot of money on their first bat. I get that. Why would a player risk a lot of money for something he doesn't yet know will work?

That is why it is a good idea to get a very inexpensive All+ to low OFF bat to start with and get inexpensive control rubbers to start with.

The "Der_Echte Special" that I have become credited with didn't originate with me, but it is a suitable starter setup. Any ole inexpensive medium speed blade with inexpensive control rubbers - SIMPLE.

For me, often it is 896 blade with a recycled FH rubber and a new sheet of XP 2008, sometimes it is Instinkt+, sometimes a $3 Wallmart blade I removed the SP crap and glue from and put on some used rubbers I had laying around.

On the other end, some players want established Big Company branded stuff and spend $300 on blade and rubber, sometimes moar. That is OK too if it is suitable and the player is OK with that. Many equipment company WANT a player to go premium right away. I say whatever, less risk at first better. MANY players, when they get comfortable with TT and want to try new equipment, they all become EJs (Equipment Junkie) anyway, so the TT equipment companies all make out good money anyway.

One important thing to consider is if a player cannot get his stuff locally and must order online, it really helps to buy everything from one place if possible. Particularly important is shipping costs. It is much less expensive to order from one's own country or in the case of Europe, from Europe. International shipping can make a bargain buy into an average or slightly expensive buy.

it is unfortunate that sometimes we have to order from outside our country and pay high costs of shipping.

 

[Der_Echte]

Rajah puts into practice what he "preaches" with his advice and so do I... Sometimes.

I use the modified Der_Echte special when I am in between main blades that seem to never survive the combat battle damage of TT warfare. The "last time" was almost a year long, so I made and played with a LOT of Der_Echte specials. You all thought I waz bored or something. Heck, when it snows more than a full meter of snow at a time and you cant go out anywhere for a day or two, then you forum members would get bored too!

I now have a Nexy Kanaph as my main weapon of mass destruction, so I do not use my "specials" as much at the moment.

 

[Der_Echte]

Here is the thing, if you want a blade that is really good and has really good feeling, most of the time you have to pay a lot. The Galaxy 896 blade is the cheapest thing that is as good as it is. Is it great: NO. But if you are good, it is more than good enough. Der_Echte is at least 1900 (USATT rated) and he can rip people apart with that blade, that $8.00 rubber on the backhand, and Aurus for his forehand.

In which case, you could probably just keep the wood (blade) that you have and just get rubbers that better suit you.

Because, if you get a blade that is more than $40.00 and want to keep the total cost under $100.00 you are handicapping yourself unless it is something like the Der_Echte special.

That is what is seems like to me at least.

haha, I rip-apart opponents (like Godzilla), haha good one.

Well, I do that on BH wing anyway with cheep-azz blade and a really inexpensive BH rubber there. Thing is, I just "see" the ball better on BH wind and when I decide to attack on that wing, it is point over... at least most of the time it is. Carl saw that personal. He would give me a short underspin low to my BH, normally a "safe" return, but it wasn't safe to me. Carl would try to serve long to my BH, as most players even 1900 USATT will not threaten you consistently with a BH attack vs that ball... wrong answer for me, I am strong there with 896 and XP 2008 and will spin the cover off the ball, often it is blocked out long and high... all with a $7 or $8 rubber that is just medium in speed and not well known or flashy.

For the record, I prefer a somewhat expensive $100-$200 main blade, with an average priced modern SGE rubber like Aurus or Evo series on FH, which would make my main setup cost around $230 USD. Nexy Kanaph: $150, Tibhar Aurus $40 in Korea, over $50 in USA, XP 2008 : $8 and add in international shipping and separate shipping for XP 2008, $230 is a realistic price point for my bat.

This is the bat I prefer to go to war with and fight with. However, when my main weapon is too damaged to fight on, I can play with my "Der_Echte Special" and still play well enough. it is not the exact specs I want, but with the mod to make it heavier and lower, I get by with that setup just fine until I can source another main battle ax.

After I had a two minute hit with Carl's Allround Evolution, I just had to get one and see for myself what it is to me over time. I messed around and seriously mutated the daylights out that sucka and now it is more mutant than the HULK & Frankenstein his-self combined... and plays GREAT even if you think you would need a bionic arm from Steve Austin becoming a Hulk to use it !! (Hint, the power comes from my legs and waist (and wrist right before impact) ) (If you ever saw my legs/waist in action, you wouldn't want to be round house kicked by me)

Carl is a genius more than I am. He found a way to live in a TT rich area and play at SPin when he wants and be around GREAT TTers a LOT haha. he also knows hiz stuff too. He also got a better off the bounce BH counter topspin vs a heavy loop than I do. And I consider myself to be above my level on that wing haha and he is better on that one.

Der_Echte is not a genius (like Carl), I simply refuse to accept the limits of something without trying more to make it closer to my specs. So what if I mess up and fail and lose the value of a $15 blade, I am not out that much money and it is good self-education. Sometimes we gotta fail before we grow. I simply discovered for myself that HEAVY down low on a lot of handle hollow blades is SOOOO much better feeling and performing to me.

 

[Der_Echte]

Haha, I look like such a hypocrite being all over the forum making and advocating inexpensive blades, (and tearing them apart to add stuff inside to make them HEAVY) when I prefer and actually have for a main blade something that is many times more expensive !!!

The shoe fits and I wear it daily. I like and use my main expensive weapon and love it. Yet, they never seem to survive long in my hands in prolonged battle. Then I fall back on my "Special" setups until I get a new expensive main blade I like. (then pimp that one to forums)

OK, guilty, but I am true to what I say still, even if I do not use exactly the same stuff al the time.

Nexy has got to hate on me fierce for talking about inexpensive blades and equipment, (when they supply me with free expensive stuff here and there) but I think that once players get comfy with TT, they experiment for themselves and buy all kinds of expensive stuff to tryout hearing about it on the forums, so it is still all good at the end of the day.

 

[Pnachtwey]

I just graduated and just started working but I still can't fork out hundreds of $ on TT equipments(at least not now).
896 vs W6, Which would be better? I'm not talking cost-wise, I can afford both.

I would buy the W6. I think you would stick with it longer.
Rubbers wear out but blades last a long time. I would spend more for a quality blade that is keeper.

Your ability will have a much greater affect on how well you play.
You sweat the hardware details too much.

 

[Der_Echte]

What about the dwell time with that blade?

The 896 will have enough dwell for you, even the newer generation of them that are stiffer ALL or OFF- speed class blades. By now, everyone knows the mod I make on that blade to make it play better (for me... and Carl agrees, so it's decided, eh?)

The W6 is an outstanding continuous looping machine with the right rubber on it, like anchor from Germany suggests (or hiz coach / Bezirksliga friend suggests) a somewhat softish rubber on that blades works great. Too hard a Chinese or Euro rubber (Calibra is the worst thing for that blade, but great on Timo Boll Spirit) on the W-6 and it will feel hard and sound weirder and FEEL like a brick. Unless you are deadest on H3 and soften it up by priming or oil on the sponge, go for a softer rubber like the decent level player from Germany suggests.

It is almost mission impossible to get a suitable blade and rubber combo put together and shipped for under $30. It is hard to find a decent blade for $30.

There is the lifelong argument of getting good quality somewhat expensive stuff from the beginning, or go with something that will allow you to grow some then move on (Like the German friend so nicely teaches us).

At the end of the day, many of us go for ultra inexpensive gear, and that stuff is usually hot garbage and we are not only upset, we are even more confused. That is understandable and why it is nice to be able to ask in a forum if you already do not have knowledgeable players around you.

Whatever way you go, make sure it is quality enough and suitable. XP 2008 S. Power... I can do all sorts of BH shots with that rubber, and it really isn't such a special rubber, it is just medium in speed and controllable.

You have a lot of good suggestions and options available to you. That is one of the problems of the modern world developing, so many stuff one must consider to make a decision, but it is really simple. Find something suitable at an acceptable price point, then later move up to a more expensive and quality blade and rubbers. That, or start right away with what you will eventually use the first time and save the trouble, but spend the money.

Almost everyone who stays with the sport goes into a phase where they tryout new gear, and since they cannot tryout at a club, they buy it, then buy more and more and become EJ masters.

You got a head on Ur shoulders, consider what is around you, get what you are of a mind of, and tell us all about it. That would be a good story.

Everyone understands why you are careful and asking questions first, we were all at that stage of our development once.

 

[Der_Echte]

Now what I said is truth (or at least Der_Echte and a few trusted friends see it that way).

I probably just pissed of Nexy by not promoting their nice gear as a first choice. That is OK if Nexy get upset with me in that way. I believe strongly that a beginning player has to consider money options as first priority. Nexy doesn't make the bottom low dollar equipment. Neither do Stiga, Tibhar, BTY, Donic, Joola, or any other major player, only a few Chinese outfits make that stuff, high production, low profit, high volume and they make enough money to stay alive. Most major equipment companies will not go into that market. Nexy doesn't, President Moon wants to make his company distinguished by innovation, design, and new thought. These kind of products will not be on the bottom spectrum of the market, they will be equal to or exceed many company's high end stuff without the ultra high end price.

I could easily say to you "Dude, get the Nexy Arirang with their new Elpis rubber and call it a day" and you would have a great setup and spend the even less money that you would picking up the AWESUM Timo Boll ALC with Sriver and G3, but both setups obviously cost more than $100 USD.

It is mighty difficult to find big brand quality equipment and make a bat for under USD $100, only when a company is running a promotion.

You already see the Allround Evolution is a universally praised as a great suitable blade at $40 and Xiom rubbers at $35 each, then shipping... that is still over $100.

Quit sweating it out to such detail is good advice. the two directions to go are pay minimal money and get the best you can, then change it when you got money to more expensive stuff, or sacrifice the money right now and go get your setup of the present and future.

 

[lycaon]

I saw people saying that boosting make the sponge more elastic or something like that.

boosting/speed glue does make it more elastic and softer

also DHS has some nice low budget blades. i recommend the PG3 and PG7 even the PG8
they all go for under $30USD and pretty sure you can find them easily on tabletennis11

 

[chiz]

boosting/speed glue does make it more elastic and softer

also DHS has some nice low budget blades. i recommend the PG3 and PG7 even the PG8
they all go for under $30USD and pretty sure you can find them easily on tabletennis11

How do I boost?What materials do I need?

 

[lycaon]

you need booster, which you have to buy separately something like falco booster or the seamoon/dianci boosters.
you add it onto the rubber in a similar fashion to glue but you are supposed to apply it over the a glue layer to protect your rubber or something like that
search the forum pretty sure there is a tutorial out there somewhere
boosting will take up to a week before the rubber is useable