Side tape REALLY change the feeling or not? What do you think?

This user has no status.
This user has no status.
New Member
Sep 2024
1
1
2
my couple of cents on this topic. I was watching the gluing tutorial video from Dimitrij Ovtcharov

In that video he mentions that if you use tape all around the racket, blade gets slower. So he puts tape only one 1 side
1727277485648.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: UpSideDownCarl
says Hi, I am a life-long table tennis enthusiast and...
says Hi, I am a life-long table tennis enthusiast and...
Member
Mar 2014
227
155
340
No difference. I only put on the half that is closest to the table on FH pushes, because that is the side most likely to get dinged. I don't need to protect the other 50%.
 
  • Like
Reactions: riemsesy
This user has no status.
indeed. and whether it really does protect the edge is open to debate as well/
It does, I ripped the surface on my precious SDC blade when pushing. The rubber caugh on table and tore the top layer. Since then I always use edge tape and I have pushed into the table many times after that and still my blades are intact…

Cheers
L-zr
 
says Table tennis clown
says Table tennis clown
Well-Known Member
Apr 2020
4,158
2,527
9,428
It does, I ripped the surface on my precious SDC blade when pushing. The rubber caugh on table and tore the top layer. Since then I always use edge tape and I have pushed into the table many times after that and still my blades are intact…

Cheers
L-zr
Well, I might have to give you that one. I really was having reservations against people claiming the tapes are protecting against being hit.
Still, your "event " does indicate that the glue you use for your rubbers is stronger than the glue Sergio uses to laminate his blades 😁
 
This user has no status.
Well, I might have to give you that one. I really was having reservations against people claiming the tapes are protecting against being hit.
Still, your "event " does indicate that the glue you use for your rubbers is stronger than the glue Sergio uses to laminate his blades 😁
Yeah, it was hide glue on that one. But it is impossible to tell any other difference than weigh. One gram at the head you can definitely feel…

Cheers
L-zr
 
This user has no status.
This user has no status.
Active Member
Jul 2019
545
451
2,064
I used to apply those lead strips that Tennis players use to balance their rackets. I glued to strips to tip of my darker 1 ply because I liked a head heavy feel which gave a bit more emphasis to my shots. Though its only grams you do notice it at first, and I found it it did not impair my touch at all. I won my first few matches with it so I persisted as long as that darker 1 ply (the last 8 years of my league career). After that I had a much heavier Yin he 1ply which I didn't bother customising
 

jar

This user has no status.

jar

This user has no status.
Member
Oct 2024
6
6
28
When you spend a lot of time doing the same thing with the same tool, tiny differences appear more significant to you, so I would not be surprised if some people can feel the weight difference. I work with tiny parts that I have to weight, and after some time you can easily tell between 1g and 2g...

Another thing that has not been said on this thread, and this is an hypothesis, but I feel like applying edge tape tightly around the bat and rubber edges would affect the ''vibration'' of the rubber? The vibration waves (ripple effect) when the rubber hits the ball would be contained by the tape and not be able to escape freely.... Does that make sense?

It might help explain the slight difference in feeling between edge tape or no edge tape for some people, making the strike a bit slower with the edge tape.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tinykin
This user has no status.
my couple of cents on this topic. I was watching the gluing tutorial video from Dimitrij Ovtcharov

In that video he mentions that if you use tape all around the racket, blade gets slower. So he puts tape only one 1 side
View attachment 32215
Could be some kind of mistake maybe? I feel like you as a player getting slower, but not the racket, because the balance shifts towards the blade, therefore it feels A LOT heavier all of a sudden, therefore you miss more balls because racket feels heavier. But who am I to argue with Dima, he should know better
 
says Aging is a killer
When you spend a lot of time doing the same thing with the same tool, tiny differences appear more significant to you, so I would not be surprised if some people can feel the weight difference. I work with tiny parts that I have to weight, and after some time you can easily tell between 1g and 2g...

Another thing that has not been said on this thread, and this is an hypothesis, but I feel like applying edge tape tightly around the bat and rubber edges would affect the ''vibration'' of the rubber? The vibration waves (ripple effect) when the rubber hits the ball would be contained by the tape and not be able to escape freely.... Does that make sense?

It might help explain the slight difference in feeling between edge tape or no edge tape for some people, making the strike a bit slower with the edge tape.
To me, that makes a lot of sense.
But there are so many other things that affect how a racket feels at any one time. Eg, general atmosphere, humidity cold, hot etc.
The balance of the blade also changes the feel. That's why some players are very particular about weight distribution. Ever notice how a bat can feel heavy in the hand , yet if one adds weight to the blade or handle, the blade 'feels' lighter.

Anyway the main reason I use padded edge tape is to protect the bat. These days I can't recall when the hits occurred. I just see the damage later.

On the image below, the tape and elastic band on the handle are there for weight distribution and to aid grip.

Finally, Nittaku 'Super shock Guard' makes the overall best edge tapes.

DSC04188_Edgetaped bats_1024x404.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: jar
Top