Thinner sponge rubbers

[Tony's Table Tennis]

NOT MY CHOICE, ANYWAY.

This given product is NONE fit for delivering an accurate artistic performance, due to overly-thick sponge, sorry.
China mnfcs all do not satisfy the current demands by skilled players. We, the table tennis virtuozo, always looking for sponge diversity eg. 1.6 -1.8 - 2.0 mm. Heh, china rubbers do suck badly for not providing a sponge layer in different sizes. What a shame, indeed.

not really replying to igor's lack of equipment knowledge in the thread here, but for those that fancy equipment knowledge outthere.

why don't you see much thinner sponge options?
the answer is - no one wants to buy them!

Maybe in the olden days, of 38mm, it was something (and I'm guessing igor is still stuck there).

So, ESN does allow brands to order say the 1.8mm option, but in increments of 200pcs per color/spec.
Most brands does not want to carry 1.8mm, so 1.8mm is only possible with direct shipment from ESN.
So, ie, if I order Stiga 1.8mm, it is not Stiga in Sweden sending the stock to me, it is ESN Germany sending the stock directly to me.

Now, there is only few retailer in the world that have the capacity, or silly enough to stock 200 x 1.8mm rubbers (the demand is just so low)
And with 40+ balls, and ESN technology being more complete in Max sponge thickness, the thinner sponges are fading away a lot more quicker.

back in 38mm days, we would say, pros will use max sponge of say sriver (2.1mm) and then intermediate can use 1.9mm and beginner can use 1.7mm.

now, it is max throughout and pros will use a higher tier ESN rubber, intermediate, a lower tier, and beginner, a lower tier.

Time has changed and that is why it is new impossible to buy some of the thinner sponges, as this is purely based on technology + supply & demand.
So if you come across a seller that has your thin sponge, make sure to stock up. Some stores stock up once and that is it.

 

[tzifos]

An example for this:
Stiga Mantra Pro in japanese market, you can find M in 1.8, 2.0, & 2.1, the H in 2.0 & 2.1 and XH only in 2.1
In the European market you can find only 2.1 for all M, H, and XH

In Japan: Mantra Sound for intermediate players can be found in 1.7, 1.9 and 2.1 and Mantra Control (beginners) can be found in 1.5, 1.7 and 1.9 (no 2 or 2++)
In Europe: Mantra Sound only in 2.1 and Mantra Control in 2.0

Japan is a more traditional market than Europe, for example the MarkV still sells well.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

An example for this:
Stiga Mantra Pro in japanese market, you can find M in 1.8, 2.0, & 2.1, the H in 2.0 & 2.1 and XH only in 2.1
In the European market you can find only 2.1 for all M, H, and XH

In Japan: Mantra Sound for intermediate players can be found in 1.7, 1.9 and 2.1 and Mantra Control (beginners) can be found in 1.5, 1.7 and 1.9 (no 2 or 2++)
In Europe: Mantra Sound only in 2.1 and Mantra Control in 2.0

Japan is a more traditional market than Europe, for example the MarkV still sells well.

The Mantras are made in Japan, and business (supply and demand) probably allow the resellers to stock it in Japan.
Because it is Japan made, it will be easier to distribute the MOQs to few Stiga's resellers and Japan is a huge market too. So the risk is lower allround.

You won't expect even the likes of Tabletennis11 to take in that stock as maybe the demand is different and it is just too much for 1 reseller to take in. If it was maybe 50s I think TT11 will take in. 200s is a big number and that is just from MOQ, for good price, we talking 500s+. So maybe Japan is the 500s per color/sponge and then distribute it to many resellers.

 

[tzifos]

In top of that:
You mentioned TT11 one of the biggest in Europe. TT11 doesn't even sell Mantra Sound and Mantra Control. The biggest Stiga reseller in Europe (that is Dandoy) only sell these two rubbers and only in their "max"; 2.1 and 2.0 respectively.

 

[kapahoo]

A pity. Tenergies still around though.

 

[tzifos]

A pity. Tenergies still around though.

Not only Tenergy! And this has to do with the country and market that these companies come from; Japan.
For example you can find Fastarcs and FActives from 1.4mm (both ESN rubbers)

 

[kapahoo]

Not only Tenergy! And this has to do with the country and market that these companies come from; Japan.
For example you can find Fastarcs and FActives from 1.4mm (both ESN rubbers)

I know!

Side note: Very little difference in speed and over all feeling with different sponge thicknesses for the G1. Perhaps its the firm topsheet. The tenergies are much more different in this regard.

 

[tzifos]

I know!

Side note: Very little difference in speed and over all feeling with different sponge thicknesses for the G1. Perhaps its the firm topsheet. The tenergies are much more different in this regard.

Have you tried G1 1.4mm? I haven't
But I have tried 1.8, 2.0 and 2.1(max). Althought the difference in my hand between 1.8 and 2.0 was marginal, the 2.1 was a "beast" that I wasn't able to tame as G1 2.0mm

 

[kapahoo]

Have you tried G1 1.4mm? I haven't
But I have tried 1.8, 2.0 and 2.1(max). Althought the difference in my hand between 1.8 and 2.0 was marginal, the 2.1 was a "beast" that I wasn't able to tame as G1 2.0mm

Yes. I would never be able to feel the difference from 1.8 in a blind test. Never.

 

[CPH_Tiny]

Japan must certainly be a special market. Their suppliers even have others brand make custom products for them.

Yinhe has special products only available for Japanese distributors like the Sun Pro and Jupiter with 0.7mm sponges. They seem to be a fun thing based on the video reviews. But I would consider them completely unviable on most markets.

 

[gettrained]

If we assume hypothetically a high-level coach is training young children who train hard and he is forced to use Tenergy rubbers
Would the coach rather start with 1,7 mm and slowly get up in thickness or would the coach already start with the thicker sponges of tenergy?
I guess it would have a certain influence in the way the coach is teaching technique?