Is YSE + Rakza 7 too fast for beginner?

[dnelsen]

Hello,

So I recently bought a new racket for my girlfriend, a beginner who has been playing for about a month now. Purely recreational, no coaching or anything.... but she's absolutely hooked and wants to get better.

The racket is a Yasaka Sweden Extra with Rakza 7 Max on forehand, and Rakza 7 2.0 on backhand. I realize that this is already considered to be a fairly slow racket.

She has played with this setup for maybe 12 hours now, and is doing well, gradually developing her shots, and looks to be heading towards a typical offensive topspin game. She's having lots of fun and is steadily progressing.

However, she does seem to be missing lots of shots long, particularly topspin forehands, and I can't help wondering if I should have gotten her a slower racket.

If so I'm thinking a Yasaka Sweden Classic with Rakza 7 Soft. She could learn on this slower setup, and then graduate to the YSE with Rakza 7 later. This progression would make sense to me, since they are very similar blades and rubber, the only difference being speed.

So what do you think? Should I get her a slower racket?

Or should she just stick it out with the current racket? Again, I know that YSE + R7 is not considered to be very fast, so maybe I'm overthinking this?

Thanks

 

[Lazer]

Downgrade the rubber to Mark V or equivalent.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[S-Pin]

You are overthinking this. Let her play and learn.

 

[NetProphet]

Yeah, the R7 is fairly springy for brand new players, especially in Max. But it's a good beginner rubber at the same time so I reckon some coaching is all that's needed and keep the racket as is. In the meantime try playing the max on BH and 2.0 on FH.
If coaching isn't an option then I agree with Lazer, for a real newbie Mark V will work very well but let her play for a few mths, she might get used to it.

 

[Sherpa]

The coach at our club starts beginners on R7 soft 2mm. There is a fairly big difference between the max and the 2mm

 

[greenbeanmachine]

Give her a harder rubber, non-tensor. Friendship Battle II is a good place to start. Mark V is another good option. Stay away from tensor rubbers.

 

[Silver Server]

She just needs to adjust, but if you want to change to a moderately slower rubber I would suggest Rigan Spin in 2.0 on both sides from TT-Japan, or Rozena in 1.9.

 

[dnelsen]

Sounds like I should either leave the racket as is, or just change the rubbers to a Mark V or similar (and don't change the blade).

I'm leaving it as is. Despite lots of balls thrown long, she is steadily improving and having a blast.

In the long run, if she can get used to this setup without confusing the process with different rubbers, that would be ideal. If she’s still throwing lots of balls long in a couple of months I’ll buy her some Mark V’s.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

The coach at our club starts beginners on R7 soft 2mm. There is a fairly big difference between the max and the 2mm

agree

get the GF to use 2.0mm on FH and see how it feels on the FH side

 

[WingTT]

Mark V is a bad idea. It is too soft and lacks the spin required for the proper stroke and confidence in harder hitting. It will give her bad habits. It would be fine to get her modern beginner rubbers that are at least medium hard and decently spinny even if they are a bit slower. Teach her to close the blade face more when she is hitting harder so that the ball picks up spin and curves into the table. That is how table tennis is supposed to be played. If she still can't handle Rakza 7 maybe try XIOM Vega Intro.

 

[Lazer]

Mark V is a bad idea. It is too soft and lacks the spin required for the proper stroke and confidence in harder hitting. It will give her bad habits. It would be fine to get her modern beginner rubbers that are at least medium hard and decently spinny even if they are a bit slower. Teach her to close the blade face more when she is hitting harder so that the ball picks up spin and curves into the table. That is how table tennis is supposed to be played. If she still can't handle Rakza 7 maybe try XIOM Vega Intro.

Bullshit, it’s the perfect beginner rubber.

 

[greenbeanmachine]

Mark V is a bad idea. It is too soft and lacks the spin required for the proper stroke and confidence in harder hitting. It will give her bad habits. It would be fine to get her modern beginner rubbers that are at least medium hard and decently spinny even if they are a bit slower. Teach her to close the blade face more when she is hitting harder so that the ball picks up spin and curves into the table. That is how table tennis is supposed to be played. If she still can't handle Rakza 7 maybe try XIOM Vega Intro.

Not sure I'd say Mark V is a bad idea, but I would agree with some of these criticisms.

Mark V will teach you to play in a very different way than ESN tensor rubbers. If your girlfriend wants to get good at playing with tensor rubbers, then Mark V is probably not the best introduction. However, Mark V will allow her to open up the racket to loop, and this makes a very stable loop. It will also force her to use her legs and hips more. It will set her up to play with more Chinese-style rubbers very well.

That is how table tennis is supposed to be played.

Correction: this is how SOME PEOPLE play table tennis. I think it's somewhat arrogant to say how table tennis is "supposed" to be played. Certainly some things are more effective than others. But even at the highest levels of table tennis, not everyone plays like this.

 

[Silver Server]

Yasaka made the Rigan & Rigan Spin to bridge the gap between Mark V and tensioned rubbers like Rakza. It's just not very popular, but the few reviews I've read all seem to be well received. BUT that's if you want to stick with Yasaka. Almost every manufacturer makes a modern introductory rubber, esp since Rozena has come out, albeit they all come from the same factory so they most likely play similar.

 

[greenbeanmachine]

Almost every manufacturer makes a modern introductory rubber, esp since Rozena has come out

I'm not sure I'd call Rozena a "beginner rubber", especially since it is tensioned. It's certainly easier to control than Tenergy, but personally I think that the springiness from tensioned rubber is bad for learning.

 

[Silver Server]

I'm not sure I'd call Rozena a "beginner rubber", especially since it is tensioned. It's certainly easier to control than Tenergy, but personally I think that the springiness from tensioned rubber is bad for learning.

Yes, and I agree with you. Correct me if I’m wrong, but this is how BTY markets Rozena as their introductory rubber, no?

All Im saying is that since Rozena came out every brand has made an introductory rubber to step up to their more powerful (tensioned) rubbers.

Rozena -> Tenergy
Factive -> Fastarc
Vega Intro -> Vega Pro
Rigan -> Rakza
DNA Future -> DNA Platinum
Etc

I also find Rakza just as bouncy or maybe even more so than Rozena. Esp in max, but it may depend on the blade as well.

 

[greenbeanmachine]

Yeah that's fair. I guess they want to get people hooked on tensor rubbers early

 

[greenbeanmachine]

I also find Rakza just as bouncy or maybe even more so than Rozena. Esp in max, but it may depend on the blade as well.

I think that's correct. Rozena and Rakza 7 both feel very bouncy to me. Rakza Z is more muted (I guess because of the tacky topsheet and hard sponge), but Rakza Z doesn't really belong in the Rakza series imo.

 

[_ak]

A heavy dead rubber indeed a "great" advise for beginner's BH

 

[greenbeanmachine]

A heavy dead rubber indeed a "great" advise for beginner's BH

I think you're being sarcastic but honestly it is a pretty good idea. Chinese players learn how to play with dead sticky non-tensor rubbers, and Chinese players are the best in the world.

Deadness will teach the beginner to generate their own power using the legs and hips, rather than relying on the tension. It also gives a greater degree of control.

Friendship Battle II is the ideal rubber for beginners imo. Either that or Hurricane 3-50 / 8 / 8-80. Not too heavy, not too dead, but dead enough to teach the player to generate their own power.

 

[_ak]

I think you're being sarcastic but honestly it is a pretty good idea. Chinese players learn how to play with dead sticky non-tensor rubbers, and Chinese players are the best in the world.

Deadness will teach the beginner to generate their own power using the legs and hips, rather than relying on the tension. It also gives a greater degree of control.

Friendship Battle II is the ideal rubber for beginners imo. Either that or Hurricane 3-50 / 8 / 8-80. Not too heavy, not too dead, but dead enough to teach the player to generate their own power.

1. Chinese would remain better with all tensors as well. Just because of bigger selection base, higher motivation and more intense trainings. Chinese rubbers usually are kind of die or adapt style.
2. Using a tacky rubber on BH is not very old idea. It's pointless to compare CNT members with an average beginner. Moreover heavier setup brings more injury risks, especially if you are not so young.
3. China can easily replace an injured player or one who does not keep up, but can you replace yourself? I have experience of injuries and switching to left hand, it's not fun at all.

Basically at beginner amateur level all comparisons with top pros are simply irrelevant.