How to know if D09C sponge is degrading

[Kobehan27]

I have a tournament I’m preparing to play in about 5 weeks from now and wondering what the signs are to put new rubbers on. I keep my Dignics 09C very tacky and it just keeps getting tackier with proper maintenance. These have been used for about 6 months now.

My question is- can anyone tell if the sponge is degrading in the 09c? In many cases, rubbers are replaced usually because we can see the top sheet degrade faster than the sponge. I know I can keep these 09c rubbers tacky for more than a year.

Should I just put on a new pair of 09c a couple weeks before just in case or just keep these current ones on? I’m a beginner/intermediate bordering 1200-1300 usatt.

 

[Jslick89]

How much do you play every week on that rubber?

If you can’t tell it’s degraded then you’re probably good (or you’re not good enough where the degradation has negatively effected your game play…I mean that in the most respectful way possible…at USATT 1200-1300 you’re losing more points from inconsistent techniques than old rubbers).

I usually replace my rubbers when I feel like I hit too many balls into the net that I believe would have or should otherwise landed on the other side.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

rule of thumb - if the pimples are getting more and more visible on the topsheet, it is time to replace.

 

[Tyce]

I couldn't tell you about D09c, but when the sponge of my AK47 went dead I noticed blocks just didn't make it to the net. In hindsight, I think my BH opening had been less responsive for a while already.

 

[mamedium]

my rule of thumb: change rubber after losing!

 

[Kobehan27]

How much do you play every week on that rubber?

If you can’t tell it’s degraded then you’re probably good (or you’re not good enough where the degradation has negatively effected your game play…I mean that in the most respectful way possible…at USATT 1200-1300 you’re losing more points from inconsistent techniques than old rubbers).

I usually replace my rubbers when I feel like I hit too many balls into the net that I believe would have or should otherwise landed on the other side.

Been playing about 15 hours a week with these. Well noted and no offense taken! I guess I’ll keep these on until the tackiness goes away which I doubt it will for another 3-4 months lol

 

[Kobehan27]

I couldn't tell you about D09c, but when the sponge of my AK47 went dead I noticed blocks just didn't make it to the net. In hindsight, I think my BH opening had been less responsive for a while already.

That’s interested because now I’m thinking if it’s going to the net bc of the sponge or if it’s bc of the top sheet getting tackier lol

 

[Jslick89]

Been playing about 15 hours a week with these. Well noted and no offense taken! I guess I’ll keep these on until the tackiness goes away which I doubt it will for another 3-4 months lol

15 hours a week is more than i get to play. I have two paddles same set up for both. i replace my D09C about every 6-8 months. I usually play about 7 hours a week total between both of my paddles. but i'm higher level than you, and also 4 of those hours every week are from robot/multi ball training so i'm getting a ton of hits on rubber. 90 minutes on my robot will put a lot more hits on my rubbers than 3 hours at the club.

for D09...i think the sponge lasts a long time. you will see the tackiness wear off before the sponge stops working. when you notice the rubber is too smooth, even after cleaning, its time to replace.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

my rule of thumb: change rubber after losing!

change the user is faster

 

[Tyce]

That’s interested because now I’m thinking if it’s going to the net bc of the sponge or if it’s bc of the top sheet getting tackier lol

Getting tackier shouldn't be a problem with D09c unless you did a major cleaning of a major dirty sheet. So dead sponge is a less bouncy sponge

 

[Leno]

Honestly, if you have to ask this question I would slap on a new one. The back thought lingering in your mind during a tournament is a silent killer.

Just keep your current for training and the other one for tournaments if you have 2 setups. Problem and risk avoided.

Back to the question, distanced power looping or blocking some power shots. Need to engage to know.

 

[haggisv]

I keep my Dignics 09C very tacky and it just keeps getting tackier with proper maintenance. These have been used for about 6 months now.

I'm curious what maintenance you're doing to increase the tackiness? If it's getting tackier it's probably changing it's performance, as the tack usually does slow down the ball.

 

[zeio]

Usually when you have to put in much more force to get the same amount of speed/spin on the shot when new, then it's time to change.

 

[Kobehan27]

Honestly, if you have to ask this question I would slap on a new one. The back thought lingering in your mind during a tournament is a silent killer.

Just keep your current for training and the other one for tournaments if you have 2 setups. Problem and risk avoided.

Back to the question, distanced power looping or blocking some power shots. Need to engage to know.

Ahh I needed to hear this. I think my mind subconsciously was asking for validation to get a reason to change the rubbers as it was getting tackier. Thank you!

 

[Kobehan27]

I'm curious what maintenance you're doing to increase the tackiness? If it's getting tackier it's probably changing its performance, as the tack usually does slow down the ball.

I can send you a detailed DM of the steps I take but briefly put: I use butterfly’s spin refresh kit with the pink sponge and use the thin plastic sticky sheet it comes with in the package. My assumption for it getting stickier is in combination of the maintenance and the cooler temperature from the AC removing humidity. Most people use non sticky protector sheets for their tacky rubbers but I feel like using sticky sheets maintains the tack better. My club mates all wonder how it’s so tacky. You could clearly see the degrading where the index finger lays but all other areas it’s way tackier than original. The middle part of my forehand black rubber you can see slight wear with pimples showing but even that is still sticky!

 

[haggisv]

I can send you a detailed DM of the steps I take but briefly put: I use butterfly’s spin refresh kit with the pink sponge and use the thin plastic sticky sheet it comes with in the package. My assumption for it getting stickier is in combination of the maintenance and the cooler temperature from the AC removing humidity. Most people use non sticky protector sheets for their tacky rubbers but I feel like using sticky sheets maintains the tack better. My club mates all wonder how it’s so tacky. You could clearly see the degrading where the index finger lays but all other areas it’s way tackier than original. The middle part of my forehand black rubber you can see slight wear with pimples showing but even that is still sticky!

Thank you. That's pretty much how I do it as well, but I use the old Butterfly foam cleaner. I find that mine does not get tackier though, it just maintains the tack for much longer. Do you put the adhesive protector on when the rubber is still wet from cleaning, or do you let it dry?
I'm now keen to try the spin refresh to see if it works better.

 

[_ak]

Degraded sponge becomes softer. I didn't manage to go that far with D09c yet but I seen that with softer rubbers when grip is still OK but they begin feeling mushy.

 

[Kobehan27]

Thank you. That's pretty much how I do it as well, but I use the old Butterfly foam cleaner. I find that mine does not get tackier though, it just maintains the tack for much longer. Do you put the adhesive protector on when the rubber is still wet from cleaning, or do you let it dry?
I'm now keen to try the spin refresh to see if it works better.

Ah i see! Not sure what the difference between the 2 cleaners but I highly recommend the spin refresh kit. I always let the cleaner dry on the rubber. I used to dry it off using those fabric sponges with from tibhar but I found using the pink and black sponge from the spin refresh does a way better job at cleaning the dust. I just keep wiping the rubber with the pink sponge side horizontally and then vertically. I repeat until it dries up!