K3...2.0 vs. Max?

[FrenchFrog33]

How different is playing with K3 max vs 2.0mm?
Do you notice a difference in play?

 

[TensorBackhand]

Yeah with 2.0 you feel the blade quite a bit more. The harder you hit, I think the thicker rubber you want. Because you need more sponge to soak up your penetration

 

[ck1407]

General info you should know,
1) if this is your first time using 50+degree hardness rubber, you should consider 2.0 as it is easier to play with. Otherwise, go for the max
2) by playing Max, u have to be more aggressive and active with your strokes so if you are a more balanced player (pushing, chops, spinny loops) then 2.0 will give you more confidence in the battle of attrition
3)if you are very strong and "bottom out" your previous rubber that is roughly 47+ degree hardness, then just go for max. You won't be bottoming out the rubber anytime soon
Bottom out can be understood as the shot quality observed from the ball is not proportional to your effort made.
Eg. 70% input yields 70% output
90% input yields 80% output
100% input yields 85% output

 

[FrenchFrog33]

General info you should know,
1) if this is your first time using 50+degree hardness rubber, you should consider 2.0 as it is easier to play with. Otherwise, go for the max
2) by playing Max, u have to be more aggressive and active with your strokes so if you are a more balanced player (pushing, chops, spinny loops) then 2.0 will give you more confidence in the battle of attrition
3)if you are very strong and "bottom out" your previous rubber that is roughly 47+ degree hardness, then just go for max. You won't be bottoming out the rubber anytime soon
Bottom out can be understood as the shot quality observed from the ball is not proportional to your effort made.
Eg. 70% input yields 70% output
90% input yields 80% output
100% input yields 85% output

My coach recently has me being more aggressive with my fh shots. His philosophy is max for offensive players.

 

[ck1407]

My coach recently has me being more aggressive with my fh shots. His philosophy is max for offensive players.

Since you have a coach, let him guide you on your rubber choices. Your coach know your playstyle better than any of us in the forum so he will have a good idea what rubbers you should use

 

[JJ Ng]

How different is playing with K3 max vs 2.0mm?
Do you notice a difference in play?

You are already K3. Are you using max or 2.0mm. With any rubber, 2.0mm has more control than max sponge. And with any rubber, max sponge has more power.

However, for most people with moderately fast blade, a 2.0mm sponge works just fine.

 

[latej]

Do you notice a difference in play?

Max for FH, 2.0 for BH. Again, as usual, my personal preference... (I prefer 2.0 for blocking on the BH.)

 

[TensorBackhand]

Max for FH, 2.0 for BH. Again, as usual, my personal preference... (I prefer 2.0 for blocking on the BH.)

I find that on softer rubbers 47d and below, the 2.0 sponge really hurts the rubber. But above 47d, the rubber is reasonably hard to penetrate anyways, so thinner sponge makes less difference.

 

[latej]

I find that on softer rubbers 47d and below, the 2.0 sponge really hurts the rubber. But above 47d, the rubber is reasonably hard to penetrate anyways, so thinner sponge makes less difference.

Hey Michael, Murphy in action here! I always understand when you say something, but now that you reply to me directly, I can't quite decode ;-)

Please elaborate a bit. What do you mean by "hurts"? Also, the 2nd sentence, I sort of understand the individual words, but the overall meaning is over me all... ;-) It helps if you distinguish about FH and BH strokes for me. I know that some people like to play same rubbers both sides, but for me there is such a huge diff, that it is inconceivable, so I always think in terms: I do this with BH, I do that with FH. Cheers.

Edit: To clarify, I don't consider my preference in any way superior. E.g. I know a player, much better than me, who prefers T05FX on FH and D05 on BH. I'd never do that. He also has less spin on FH with the T05FX. But he likes it and beats me easily, so... not only I need to shut up, I also need to stop shaking my head ;-)

 

[zeio]

I find that on softer rubbers 47d and below, the 2.0 sponge really hurts the rubber. But above 47d, the rubber is reasonably hard to penetrate anyways, so thinner sponge makes less difference.

So lewd, so violent.

 

[FrenchFrog33]

You are already K3. Are you using max or 2.0mm. With any rubber, 2.0mm has more control than max sponge. And with any rubber, max sponge has more power.

However, for most people with moderately fast blade, a 2.0mm sponge works just fine.

I am using 2.0mm. I didn't know if it made a big difference using max sponge.

 

[TensorBackhand]

Hey Michael, Murphy in action here! I always understand when you say something, but now that you reply to me directly, I can't quite decode ;-)

Please elaborate a bit. What do you mean by "hurts"? Also, the 2nd sentence, I sort of understand the individual words, but the overall meaning is over me all... ;-) It helps if you distinguish about FH and BH strokes for me. I know that some people like to play same rubbers both sides, but for me there is such a huge diff, that it is inconceivable, so I always think in terms: I do this with BH, I do that with FH. Cheers.

Edit: To clarify, I don't consider my preference in any way superior. E.g. I know a player, much better than me, who prefers T05FX on FH and D05 on BH. I'd never do that. He also has less spin on FH with the T05FX. But he likes it and beats me easily, so... not only I need to shut up, I also need to stop shaking my head ;-)

Hurts the performance of the rubber. To me, thin and soft rubbers are inconsistent and unpredictable and cant bite the ball well.

Its the same for fh or bh.

 

[NextLevel]

I am using 2.0mm. I didn't know if it made a big difference using max sponge.

It doesn't unless you drive spin to the wood a lot, or have the kind of feeling that takes advantage of extra sponge to control the ball. But this is neither here nor there. The only reason why my current rubber is max sponge is that there is no 2.0 being sold anymore. With quality hard sponge, you are going to get good shots regardless of sponge thickness at the 2.0 to max.

 

[JJ Ng]

It doesn't unless you drive spin to the wood a lot, or have the kind of feeling that takes advantage of extra sponge to control the ball. But this is neither here nor there. The only reason why my current rubber is max sponge is that there is no 2.0 being sold anymore. With quality hard sponge, you are going to get good shots regardless of sponge thickness at the 2.0 to max.

I agree with NextLevel. If you like the sponge the way it is, no need to upgrade from 2.0 to max. I know the coach says it, but coaches are not always right. Most coaches think that they are going to train the next Ma Long so max sponge here and max sponge there.

No, 2.0mmg sponge is just right for most of us mere mortals....

For example, I have a couple D64 and T05 coming in. Instead of 2.1mm sponge, I specifically chose 1.9mm sponge. I get both of them at discount. Otherwise I would NOT buy Buttefly products. I know that T05fx and T64fx at 2.1mm sponge kicked my butt so I have heard my lesson. Let me get 1.9mm sponge for D64 and T05 to see if they are any good. I think regular tenergy 05 will be less catapult than Tenergy 05fx at the lower speed, so I look forward to trying 1.9mm regular Tenergy to see if I like it or not.

 

[zeio]

Though a little bouncier than traditional tacky rubbers, hybrid rubbers still play slower than grippy rubbers, so start with max whenever you can.