Speed from blade or rubber?

[tabletennisuk]

Hi all, question for you.
I’m in the process of selecting a new bat. When looking at my options, I came to wondering about speed. Is the speed the ball comes off the bat predominately down to the blade or the rubber you’re using?
Unsure whether to go for a slower blade with quicker rubbers or a quicker blade with slower spinnier rubbers? Looking for something slightly slower than I’m currently using, but still needs a bit of zip!
Not looking for blade and rubber suggestions, more looking for advice on weather the speed of a bat comes more from the blade or the rubber..... thanks!


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[Geoch]

Well, ... you'll have to choose your blade very very carefully.
It has to favor and match your style exactly, otherwise no rubber can fix this compromise.
By choosing an effortlessly exciting -( not boring and thus limiting your opportunities )- blade, that you can handle naturally and then searching for the right rubber is more safe to enjoy your game.

i.e. I'll give you some examples which I've learned the hard way: (Blade/Rubber)
* Nittaku Kasumi/TSP Ventus Speed (although a slow combo, all balls out)
* Xiom Vega Pro/Rising Dragon (super slow boring) with MX-P (I can return anything but I can't send much)
* Xiom Vega Tour/Rising Dragon (interesting but slow) with Rakza 9/MX-P (fast, balanced & predictable but still missing the deep spin of old days) with Rhyzm-P (quick spinny loops but too bouncy & unstable)
* Xiom Feel ZX3/Rakza 9/MX-P (WOW! - WTF? etc. but still....) with Omega VII Pro (much better for me).

So, even when you go with the right blade, it's useless which rubber is faster if compromises your spin abilities.
It is impossible to compare the complex critical necessities of the right blade with the simple need for speed.

 

[watcher]

I like the way 'slow' rubbers generally mute the speed of the blade, but can kick into fast gears on smashes and drives. On loops, technique and effort can produce fast and spinny loops even if the rubber is 'slow.' I quote slow because there are a lot of linear rubbers that have a wide range of gears, so they can produce very fast balls with the right technique, or slow ones by adjusting your stroke.

My personal preference is a fast, stiff blade because it's stable on both offensive and defensive strokes, like chopping and blocking. I don't mind putting the effort into strokes, so linear rubbers are great for me. And if one day I need a faster setup, well, I can switch rubbers. On a slow blade, maybe you swap blades too.

 

[Lightzy]

Depends on your level?

Fast rubbers on a slow blade is better than slow rubbers on a fast blade, generally speaking. Gives you more feeling and better control, while the speed is there if you want it.

Fast blades with slow rubbers is a bit of a mess to play and generally not something that's ever done.

Fast blades with fast rubbers is for when you want to lose due to unforced errors a lot unless you're a pro.

Slow blade with slow rubbers is good too. Just a bit harder to do some things easily. Backhand can be too weak especially, and fast serves are also a bit risky.


Also speed isn't a linear thing with blades and rubbers. Some rubbers will be faster than others at low velocity shots but slower at high velocity shots etc etc.

 

[jawien]

Just switched from TB ALC to Primorac JP with fast rubbers like mx-s. Love it so far. So much space for stroke development and creativity.

 

[5hark]

Just switched from TB ALC to Primorac JP with fast rubbers like mx-s. Love it so far. So much space for stroke development and creativity.

I did the same: now using tibhar lebesson w/ vega pro on both sides. Great feel and speed.