Need help choosing first short pips

This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Well-Known Member
May 2020
1,410
700
2,606
Read 1 reviews
Yinhe Uranus Poly is also cheap has IMHO better sponge than 802/802-40. It´s soft and fast.
Topsheet not as grippy as 802-40.
It would be better for blocking then?

Pluto has a softer topsheet but it doesn't spin as well. Easier to hit with though. I'd also check out Butterfly Challenger Attack if you can find it. Its a soft and easygoing rubber that is very versatile
I can find that for the same price with der materialspezialist spinfire for around 40 euros. They're the best sellers from what I can tell.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Feb 2024
235
144
482
It would be better for blocking then?
It would be better for blocking then?
All three block good. But 802 and Uranus poly are little more dangerous for the opponent. They are less grippy they give more knuckleball effect. 802-40 is more versatile though. Either one gonna be fine as a start.
 
says 1-sided penhold is cool
says 1-sided penhold is cool
Member
May 2023
379
370
1,463
Read 14 reviews
I'd recommend 802-40, it's a good transition from inverted rubber. Going immediately to a knuckleball pips will be very confusing.

Spinfire is actually the closest thing you can find to inverted rubber. But Spinfire is very expensive, and honestly it doesn't really play like pips at all -- it's basically like inverted rubber, and you could just buy a sheet of Tenergy 64 instead.

I can't find 35° sponge, do you know where they sell it?
Unfortunately it's hard to find 802-40 soft sponge version :( but you can create a good imitation of it by getting the 38-degree version and boosting it.

If you get 802-40, get it in red. The sponge for the red rubber is different from the sponge for black rubber, and the red sponge responds well to booster. The more you boost, the more it plays like inverted rubber. The harder the sponge, the more knuckleball effect you get.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Well-Known Member
May 2020
1,410
700
2,606
Read 1 reviews
I'd recommend 802-40, it's a good transition from inverted rubber. Going immediately to a knuckleball pips will be very confusing.

Spinfire is actually the closest thing you can find to inverted rubber. But Spinfire is very expensive, and honestly it doesn't really play like pips at all -- it's basically like inverted rubber, and you could just buy a sheet of Tenergy 64 instead.


Unfortunately it's hard to find 802-40 soft sponge version :( but you can create a good imitation of it by getting the 38-degree version and boosting it.

If you get 802-40, get it in red. The sponge for the red rubber is different from the sponge for black rubber, and the red sponge responds well to booster. The more you boost, the more it plays like inverted rubber. The harder the sponge, the more knuckleball effect you get.
I can't boost, I want to keep consistent performance for months at a time because I play in league.
 
says 1-sided penhold is cool
says 1-sided penhold is cool
Member
May 2023
379
370
1,463
Read 14 reviews
I can't boost, I want to keep consistent performance for months at a time because I play in league.
Falco Tempo Long works well for consistent performance. If not, 802-40 38deg with no booster works fine, it'll just have a bit more pips effect than the soft sponge version.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jan_
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Well-Known Member
May 2020
1,410
700
2,606
Read 1 reviews
Falco Tempo Long works well for consistent performance. If not, 802-40 38deg with no booster works fine, it'll just have a bit more pips effect than the soft sponge version.
I can also get the spinlord degu for a good price, do you have any experience on how is it compared to the others?
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Well-Known Member
May 2020
1,410
700
2,606
Read 1 reviews
But if you order at ttdd.eu, they have the 802-40 super soft
Alright thanks, I'll check it out.
Degu was the worst pip I played. I didn't like it at all. It's super soft (topsheet and sponge). To me it played like a mushy defensive inverted rubber.
It was that bad? How did it play? Did it play like a really controlled inverted?

If that's the case, it could be what I'm looking for. A rubber that has similar drive trajectory to inverted, excellent block, receive and doesn't react to spin.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Well-Known Member
May 2020
1,410
700
2,606
Read 1 reviews
Sunday I tried Sonic AR 2.0 (coming from Moristo 1.8)
It is very easy, nice grip. Hit, topspin on cutted balls, block, everything easy.
What price does it have? I don't wanna spend too much on a test rubber. Also how was it playing? Did it drop the ball or play more like inverted?
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Feb 2024
235
144
482
Alright thanks, I'll check it out.

It was that bad? How did it play? Did it play like a really controlled inverted?

If that's the case, it could be what I'm looking for. A rubber that has similar drive trajectory to inverted, excellent block, receive and doesn't react to spin.
It was just too soft. It felt weird. Wouldn't say excellent blocks. Would choose 802-40 over it every time
 
  • Like
Reactions: greenbeanmachine
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Member
Sep 2023
34
17
63
What price does it have? I don't wanna spend too much on a test rubber. Also how was it playing? Did it drop the ball or play more like inverted?
Sonic AR is quite cheap for being a Nittaku rubber Made in Japan. I don't know at what price is sold in your country or store. But for sure chinese rubbers are cheaper.

About how it plays... is very fast, you will need the angle of the racket quite similar than inverted. Does not seem good for short cut, but very good to hit balls (flat or rolling), and good for top (if ball comes rolling). Is crisp, good feeling. Note on many pips if you close too much the racket it slips down. This rubber has not this problem.

I moved to short pips on Covid. My recommendation is to only go to short pips if you have always the racket high. If you are used to go down with the racket at each stroke, then continue with inverted. I was very used to prepare always a topspin (lowering down the racket) and change this needs years.
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Well-Known Member
May 2020
1,410
700
2,606
Read 1 reviews
Sonic AR is quite cheap for being a Nittaku rubber Made in Japan. I don't know at what price is sold in your country or store. But for sure chinese rubbers are cheaper.

About how it plays... is very fast, you will need the angle of the racket quite similar than inverted. Does not seem good for short cut, but very good to hit balls (flat or rolling), and good for top (if ball comes rolling). Is crisp, good feeling. Note on many pips if you close too much the racket it slips down. This rubber has not this problem.

I moved to short pips on Covid. My recommendation is to only go to short pips if you have always the racket high. If you are used to go down with the racket at each stroke, then continue with inverted. I was very used to prepare always a topspin (lowering down the racket) and change this needs years.
I have the problem of overshooting blocks and if I get pushed back I have the tendency to chop.

I generally try to stay close to the table, keep the ball around the net, and either take the attack with my fh with a bunch of spin or try to force a slow loop from my opponent that I can hit or block easily to change directions. I just want the block to drop a bit and to have confidence that I'll never miss it because the rubber bites too much. And for chopping I'll figure it out, if it can put spin and block easily then I'm set.
 
says 1-sided penhold is cool
says 1-sided penhold is cool
Member
May 2023
379
370
1,463
Read 14 reviews
It was just too soft. It felt weird. Wouldn't say excellent blocks. Would choose 802-40 over it every time
I tried Degu also and thought it had a weird mix of soft sponge and lack of grip.

It seems to me that most short pips follow one of two formats:

(1) If you use a soft sponge, it should be because you want to grip the ball and create your own spin, like inverted rubber, so it makes sense to add a grippy topsheet.

(2) If you want the wobble effect, it makes more sense to play with a slick topsheet and a hard sponge so that the ball doesn't dig into the rubber.

So Degu's soft sponge + non-grippy topsheet is a strange combination. You can't use the sponge to create spin, but incoming balls still dig into the sponge and react to it. You can attack balls quickly and flatly, like the typical characteristic of short pips. But defending is much more like playing with long pips. A skilled player can make good use of Degu -- my friend who has Degu plays very well and quite deceptively with his cpen forehand and makes some NASTY chop blocks. But I think it's probably a bad place to start your experimentation with short pips. 802-40 really is the gold standard here.

I have the problem of overshooting blocks and if I get pushed back I have the tendency to chop.

I generally try to stay close to the table, keep the ball around the net, and either take the attack with my fh with a bunch of spin or try to force a slow loop from my opponent that I can hit or block easily to change directions. I just want the block to drop a bit and to have confidence that I'll never miss it because the rubber bites too much. And for chopping I'll figure it out, if it can put spin and block easily then I'm set.

Degu is actually a good choice if you're going to use your short pips for chopping. I think you might actually like it, based on your description of your gameplay. Still, I'd recommend starting with 802-40 before trying something as niche as Degu. And if you're going to be a chopper, long pips might be a better option for you anyways. Either way, I think 802-40 is the first step towards finding what works best for you.
 
Last edited:
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Well-Known Member
May 2020
1,410
700
2,606
Read 1 reviews
I tried Degu also and thought it had a weird mix of soft sponge and lack of grip.

It seems to me that most short pips follow one of two formats:

(1) If you use a soft sponge, it should be because you want to grip the ball and create your own spin, like inverted rubber, so it makes sense to add a grippy topsheet.

(2) If you want the wobble effect, it makes more sense to play with a slick topsheet and a hard sponge so that the ball doesn't dig into the rubber.

So Degu's soft sponge + non-grippy topsheet is a strange combination. You can't use the sponge to create spin, but incoming balls still dig into the sponge and react to it. You can attack balls quickly and flatly, like the typical characteristic of short pips. But defending is much more like playing with long pips. A skilled player can make good use of Degu -- my friend who has Degu plays very well and quite deceptively with his cpen forehand and makes some NASTY chop blocks. But I think it's probably a bad place to start your experimentation with short pips. 802-40 really is the gold standard here.



Degu is actually a good choice if you're going to use your short pips for chopping. I think you might actually like it, based on your description of your gameplay. Still, I'd recommend starting with 802-40 before trying something as niche as Degu. And if you're going to be a chopper, long pips might be a better option for you anyways. Either way, I think 802-40 is the first step towards finding what works best for you.
I'd honestly go for 802-40 immediately, but the only option on aliexpress is 2.2mm and 38 or 40 hardness. Is there any thinner and softer option for that rubber? Even 38 is a bit much for my bh, and combined with 2.2 will add a bunch of weight. 802 mystery iii is different than 802-40? There's more hardness and thickness options there.
 
Last edited:
Top