Need suggestion buying my own blade + rubber

[nrewik]

I’ve been playing table tennis on and off. Currently I play 3-4 days a week, with my colleague after work, with a very old paddle that the rubber does not even grip.

My friend lent me his bat. 7 plywood with Andro hexer grip both sides. I’ve used this bat many times and I like it very much.

Now I want to be more serious, buying my own bat. Here are my info:

- I prefer playing Europe style.
- I like top spin on FH a lot, but still lack of consistency. Often the ball does not spin very well.
- My backhand is weak, can’t do top spin properly.
- I want to develop my technique (especially the top spin) while playing normally.
- I don’t care much about defense.
- I hate spin sensitive rubber.

Need your help to suggest for the blade and rubber both sides. Thank you very much.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

If you have used it and like it, why don't you get the same setup?

 

[nrewik]

I am not sure whether it is good for developing my skill and fit my goal. As I research people often suggest softer rubber / and slow blade for developing the technique.

 

[WingTT]

I am not sure whether it is good for developing my skill and fit my goal. As I research people often suggest softer rubber / and slow blade for developing the technique.

That's like some old wives tale, an outdated generalization for a situation that no longer exists. If you like what you tried, then it is right for you. With the plastic ball, a stiffer but still softish 7 ply is what I would go with if I wasn't already using a fast hinoki faced composite blade.

 

[GOAT 🐐]

Try Nittaku Acoustic blade, it’s very good.

 

[UpSideDownCarl]

I am not sure whether it is good for developing my skill and fit my goal. As I research people often suggest softer rubber / and slow blade for developing the technique.

Try not to over think things.

If you like it, I have a feeling it will be fine for you. The adjustment from a racket with rubber that does not grip to a nice blade with grippy rubber may take a little getting used to when you are playing matches. But, so will any new racket with grippy rubber. So.....it should really be fine for you. The grippy rubber will force you to adjust to and learn how to counter spin. But....again....that is going to happen with any new racket.

 

[Funk Fu Master]

If you've already been playing with a 7-ply blade, and more so, if you like it very much, then stick with a 7-ply all-wood blade..

You've not mentioned which 7-ply blade you've been playing with ..You could opt for Stiga Clipper.. It's a classic, widely available, and not too expensive.. Another options is DHS PG-7...

As for rubbers, I'd suggest Friendship Focus III Snipe (Original not the new one), or Xiom Musa

 

[nrewik]

The 7 ply blade is Andro BL 7.

 

[Brs]

Seriously, just buy exactly what you have already played with many times and like very much. To do anything else based on random internet wisdom would be silly.

I see that blade is very thin for a seven-ply, less than 6mm. It should be perfect for developing your technique.

 

[Equaaz]

If you've already been playing with a 7-ply blade, and more so, if you like it very much, then stick with a 7-ply all-wood blade..

You've not mentioned which 7-ply blade you've been playing with ..You could opt for Stiga Clipper.. It's a classic, widely available, and not too expensive.. Another options is DHS PG-7...

As for rubbers, I'd suggest Friendship Focus III Snipe (Original not the new one), or Xiom Musa

Sanwei Fextra instead of DHS PG7 👍

 

[Funk Fu Master]

Sanwei Fextra instead of DHS PG7 👍

Yes.. apart from Clipper, my next choice is always Fextra, and it's what I thought of recommending, at first. But then, I read the OP mentioned that his BH is weak - PG-7, IMHO is thinner, and notch slower than Fextra, and therefore I suggested it over Fextra... Plus, I feel PG-7 is also a bit more flexier than Fextra, which'd help with the OPs FH topspin.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I am not sure whether it is good for developing my skill and fit my goal. As I research people often suggest softer rubber / and slow blade for developing the technique.

It is not some old wives tales, many coaches do suggest that, so you are not wrong in stating that.
But since you have used it and enjoy it, then I am with Carl on this one.

You could also consider getting the same rubbers, but just pair them with an allround blade or at most an OFF- blade if you want more control.

At the end, it is important to find out what sponge thickness is on those rubbers
because 1.7mm rubber and 2.1mm rubber is pretty different in terms of control/performance.

So I think going for the same is not a big gamble.
Maybe borrow your friends bat for another few times, and try out different things - serving the ball, pushing/chopping, blocking etc. and see if that is indeed a good fit for you.

 

[Equaaz]

Yes.. apart from Clipper, my next choice is always Fextra, and it's what I thought of recommending, at first. But then, I read the OP mentioned that his BH is weak - PG-7, IMHO is thinner, and notch slower than Fextra, and therefore I suggested it over Fextra... Plus, I feel PG-7 is also a bit more flexier than Fextra, which'd help with the OPs FH topspin.

Blade with thin handle are mostly forehand oriented. PG7 is very headheavy... not the most usefull for backhand.

 

[mocker88]

Well. The Hexer rubbers are quite spin sensitive, so another tips is to check out a cheap one: Kokutaku 868 Blütenkirsche or a totally untacky like 729 Focus III Snipe or Palio AK47 Blue/Yellow.
https://revspin.net/rubber/kokutaku-868-1-pair-black-packaging.html
https://revspin.net/rubber/focus-3-snipe.html
https://revspin.net/rubber/palio-ak-47-yellow-sponge.html
https://revspin.net/rubber/palio-ak-47-blue.html

 

[Lazer]

That's like some old wives tale, an outdated generalization for a situation that no longer exists. If you like what you tried, then it is right for you. With the plastic ball, a stiffer but still softish 7 ply is what I would go with if I wasn't already using a fast hinoki faced composite blade.

Not true if you have too fast of a blade you will hit to long this will you loose confidence an hold back. This will significantly slow your progress down.I would recommend a 5 ply bade rated around all+ and a fairly slow rubber.

Cheers

L-zr

 

[nrewik]

Thank you everyone, I take your suggestions and trust myself more, so I tested with more set up, and I end up with:

- Stiga Infinity VPS V
- FH: Nittaku Fastarc G1 super thick
- BH: Nittaku Fastarc C1 super thick

My top spin has so much more spin than before.

And I feel confident that I could develop with this set up on the attack.

I found that the backhand not that bouncy when blocking, so I plan to move to g1 both side.

 

[TareqPhoto]

Thank you everyone, I take your suggestions and trust myself more, so I tested with more set up, and I end up with:

- Stiga Infinity VPS V
- FH: Nittaku Fastarc G1 super thick
- BH: Nittaku Fastarc C1 super thick

My top spin has so much more spin than before.

And I feel confident that I could develop with this set up on the attack.

I found that the backhand not that bouncy when blocking, so I plan to move to g1 both side.

I was late because i was going to tell you to try and test more, not just only one setup of a friend or so, many are doing this and at some point it can be a good idea but not the best idea, i tried like many others rackets, and to my surprise many of them were almost similar to me and yet they use different rackets, and some aren't good to me, so one setup isn't a good idea to build all decisions on, it just help to have starter ideas only.

Congratulations! This blade is very nice one from what i read, although it is just 5ply, i also was going to ask you to try 5ply all wood and even 7ply as 5ply wood and 2 ply carbon as test, but never mind, you got one, and that FH rubber i am started to like it as well, and some players in a club i go to also using the same, but i am thinking about that BH rubber if it is also good enough for BH, i might try it one day on whatever blade i have.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Thank you everyone, I take your suggestions and trust myself more, so I tested with more set up, and I end up with:

- Stiga Infinity VPS V
- FH: Nittaku Fastarc G1 super thick
- BH: Nittaku Fastarc C1 super thick

My top spin has so much more spin than before.

And I feel confident that I could develop with this set up on the attack.

I found that the backhand not that bouncy when blocking, so I plan to move to g1 both side.

Fastarc is very good rubbers, lots of players use them in Asia.
Good choice