Thickness vs Hardness

[ck1407]

Just like to hear opinions on hardness and thickness.

I know harder rubber allow for higher spin potential while thicker sponge allow for higher top-end speed.

So if comparing a 55-degree rubber of 2.0mm thickness compared to a 52.5-degree rubber of max thickness (2.2mm), which one will feel easier/more forgiving to play with for looping backspin and topspin exchanges?

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

The latter will be comparatively easier and more forgiving.

Conventional wisdom is keep the harder sponge for FH.

More conventional wisdom / natural evolution: even super’er harderer sponge with the thickess of thick sponge 😘

 

[Airoc]

So if comparing a 55-degree rubber of 2.0mm thickness compared to a 52.5-degree rubber of max thickness (2.2mm)

If you compare otherwise identical rubbers, you´ll very likely feel more at ease with the softer and thicker version.

If not, the comparison makes no sense, because there are factors like topsheet hardness and construction or sponge characteristics.

So let´s say Bluegrip J1 (55) and J2 (52,5) could be compared like that, but a comparison between Stiga Dragon Grip 55 and Bluegrip J2 wouldn´t take you very far on those grounds, for example because one is way more sticky than the other.

Perhaps you knew that anyway

 

[ck1407]

If you compare otherwise identical rubbers, you´ll very likely feel more at ease with the softer and thicker version.

If not, the comparison makes no sense, because there are factors like topsheet hardness and construction or sponge characteristics.

So let´s say Bluegrip J1 (55) and J2 (52,5) could be compared like that, but a comparison between Stiga Dragon Grip 55 and Bluegrip J2 wouldn´t take you very far on those grounds, for example because one is way more sticky than the other.

Perhaps you knew that anyway

The latter will be comparatively easier and more forgiving.

Conventional wisdom is keep the harder sponge for FH.

More conventional wisdom / natural evolution: even super’er harderer sponge with the thickess of thick sponge 😘

Lmao it's like as though gozo knew my qns was for my backhand and airoc knew which 2 rubbers I am referring to.

But yeah, really like bluegrip J1 on forehand, moving away from H3 blue sponge to make life easier.

Tried d09c for backhand. Not as consistent since I can make really good shots and really silly mistakes at the same time. Flipped my J1 over to my bh and I like the feeling too but I definitely need to have a more solid contact point for my bh to be consistent. I tried V20 DE and find it surprisingly easy to adapt to for a 52.5degree rubber, just that I will like more spin. Hence, my post was born, lol

 

[ck1407]

The latter will be comparatively easier and more forgiving.

Conventional wisdom is keep the harder sponge for FH.

More conventional wisdom / natural evolution: even super’er harderer sponge with the thickess of thick sponge 😘

How about shot quality, since I like to know which will bottom out easier

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

bottoming out effect: 52.5 > 55

harder sponge is more difficult to deform aka more difficult to bottom out and vice-versa.

 

[zeio]

From limited studies, hardness seems to have a larger effect than thickness.

 

[igorponger]

Google Search

Rebound Resilience of sponge is of utmost importance. Rubber materials of Tensor type featuring reboung index over 40%. Tensor is a generic name for all the High Resilience elastomers giving a strong "springy" feel on finger squeeze.

WHAT A PITY, manufacturers still unwillng to unveil the rebound index to public view. DIY test for rubber rebound resilience is fairly simple, you could reproduce the such with ease.