Is YSE + Rakza 7 too fast for beginner?

[NetProphet]

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.

1 If China would be better than everyone whether they use tensors or not then why do they use what they use? You kinda skipped past that as if it were irrelevant...
2 nobody said CNT players, it was 'Chinese players', because hard sticky rubber is the most popular choice over there.
3 You really think the rubbers mentioned are an injury risk for a beginner? No way.

Basically you're reading any mention of Chinese players to mean Chinese National team players but there's a billion Chinese playing TT that aren't in Chinese National Team.
And depending on style, then Tensors or Sticky Hard Chinese rubber can be equally good

 

[greenbeanmachine]

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.

Strongly disagree. Chinese equipment and Chinese technique (which are strongly linked to each other) are a major reason for China's dominance

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.

I'm not talking about Chinese national team. I'm talking about your average Chinese players, who also have the best average level in the world

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.

Injury can be an issue. I think injury is an issue in table tennis regardless of your equipment -- table tennis is an asymmetrical sport which can cause many muscle imbalances and joint injuries.

If you're really trying to minimize injury risk by changing equipment, then you should play with OX pips on both sides. But there are easier and more effective ways to prevent injury: stretching, cross-training, lifting weights, physical therapy, etc. This will do much more than making your racket 15g lighter.

Also to that point: there are Chinese rubbers which are not so heavy. Hurricane 8 and Battle II are roughly the same weight as an ESN tensor.

 

[netdriver]

ur gf should just stick to what shes currently using atm

overshooting often during training for a beginner who only played for a month is normal

but R7 2.0 on FH is worth trying out, you can just flip the blade over to see if it fits her or not without the nonsense that comes with gluing new rubbers

 

[greenbeanmachine]

Overshooting often during training for a beginner who only played for a month is normal

Only if you're using tensor rubbers

 

[_ak]

Strongly disagree. Chinese equipment and Chinese technique (which are strongly linked to each other) are a major reason for China's dominance

Look at their legs. It's not because of rubbers per se. They used to be quite dominant with short pips as well. And their rubber industry just couldn't produce the same as Europa and Japan did for very long time. So they had to adapt or get dropped out.

I'm talking about your average Chinese players, who also have the best average level in the world

This statement requires some proof. I've seen quite some amateur players from China. Nothing special.

I think injury is an issue in table tennis regardless of your equipment

Ask a sport doctor dealing with such injuries.

Also to that point: there are Chinese rubbers which are not so heavy.

You recommended Rakza Z, which is on heavier side. I understand that on the forum many call H3 40d as BH rubber and hit harder than Ma Long but hardly believe in it frankly.
I don't mind if one picks 100+g blade and pair it with heavy rubbers, but recommending it to beginners is just bad.

 

[dnelsen]

It’s clear to me that there’s no definitive answer here. There are different schools of thought, and at the end of the day you need to pick one.

The Mark V debate feels like “old school vs new school”, which happens in many sports.

I can see merit in both sides.

The old school says that Mark V has been tested over and over for decades and has consistently been proven to be a great rubber for beginners. You can't go wrong with Mark V for beginners. This makes good sense.

The new school says that the Mark V era is over, and it's better for people to learn on newer rubbers, because this is where the game is, and where it is headed.... and there are plenty of new rubbers for beginners (Xiom intro, etc) that cater to exactly this approach. This also makes good sense.

Neither is wrong. Just different schools of thought.

 

[dnelsen]

The gf and I had a great session at the table today. We worked very specifically on trying to keep the racket face closed during forehand loops. After a couple baskets of balls I can already see some real improvement. More balls landing on the table, and much better form overall.

I'm now feeling more confident that she can learn to control the Rakza 7. Gonna stick it out for a while and see how she progresses. No change for now.

 

[John_]

There would be no difference. Focus her on closing the racket face and brushing heavily from the top of the ball. She needs to engage the sponge and get an arc on the ball.

It's a fine beginner setup, it's not worth changing it.

 

[_ak]

Also Mark/Sriver are quite pricy, there are cheaper options from Yinhe

 

[dnelsen]

agree

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

Thank you!!!

We tried this today and wow did this make a nice difference. Immediately more balls were landing on the table. Very similar feeling only slower, so she got used to it after just a few rallies. So we’re now swapping from R7 max to 2.0 on her forehand, so 2.0 on both sides now.

I also tried it and can confirm a significant difference between the 2.0 and the max. Much more difference than I was expecting.

Is it common for 2.0 vs Max to make such a difference? Or is this less noticeable on other rubbers?

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Thank you!!!

We tried this today and wow did this make a nice difference. Immediately more balls were landing on the table. Very similar feeling only slower, so she got used to it after just a few rallies. So we’re now swapping from R7 max to 2.0 on her forehand, so 2.0 on both sides now.

I also tried it and can confirm a significant difference between the 2.0 and the max. Much more difference than I was expecting.

Is it common for 2.0 vs Max to make such a difference? Or is this less noticeable on other rubbers?

the thinner the sponge, the less acceleration, so the more control

 

[Kopp]

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.

This probably has nothing to do with the racket. Instead, you should discuss about her techniques. It sounds like she can't contact the ball properly yet. What about her waist, legs etc.?

 

[MORTtheORT]

Rakza 7 soft is an excellent choice for people learning the game. I put my kids on this rubber. The spin it creates helps beginner see what can be done and start to get the idea of spin and how important it is in Table Tennis.

Alternatively the Rakza 7 with a thinner sponge.