What do your rubbers look like when you feel they need to be replaced?

[CallMeZaddy]

Trying to get a better sense of when my rubbers might need to be replaced. I feel like I’m losing grip but they’ve only been used for 2-3 months. And in this economy, don’t feel like spending more money than necessary. Can people post what their rubbers look like when they need to be replaced?

 

[Tyce]

Do you have, and use, a cleaning agent? If so, do you apply any pressure wiping it off or not?
Less pressure while cleaning can save a lot of abrasion, I've seen people doubling the lifespan of their hybrids especially.
D09c is also one of those rubbers where you can use the mechanical grip for a long time, but the tack/superficial grip does wear off.
Some people, or probably some people's techniques, are more sensitive to the superficial grip.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

how many hours do you have on it so far?

 

[Lazer]

Mine look like crap (replaced ~2024-08-30), very littte tackiness left but there is still plenty of grip. Planning to use them a full Year.

Cheers
L-zr

 

[KM1976]

With new generation rubbers, I start noticing the worn out patch very soon. I tried Andro Rasanter C48 and within 2 months I can see that a discoloration where the ball contacts the rubber when I hit my topspins. Not to say that C48 has any issues but in general hybrid rubbers topsheet wears out sooner compared to non-tacky rubbers. But as a trade off, you get better grip. Having said that, the loss of spin was not very drastic and I was able to use it till 3 months. I am playing around 6-8 hours a week, sometimes more. I believe that with my usage I need a new sheet every 3/4 months which is average.

 

[longle]

I use H3 on my FH, it does not wear off but I have to replace it about after 2.5-3 months due to bubbles
BH wise, I use many ESN rubbers like MXP, Jekyll&Hyde V47.5, V15 Extra, D09c, v.v.. all of them lost their grip after 2 months, but except for D09c I've been using it for 3 months, it looks like crap but still has plenty of grip

 

[KM1976]

I use H3 on my FH, it does not wear off but I have to replace it about after 2.5-3 months due to bubbles
BH wise, I use many ESN rubbers like MXP, Jekyll&Hyde V47.5, V15 Extra, D09c, v.v.. all of them lost their grip after 2 months, but except for D09c I've been using it for 3 months, it looks like crap but still has plenty of grip

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It does looks used and I mean it in a good way. I would say that when to change rubbers is a personal preference. You can try out one approach though - When my rubbers get a bit worn out and have an itch to try a new one, I don't retire the old ones completely but I use it for my practice sessions or when I play fun matches. The idea here is the have a reference against which I can compare and probably learn. So, if I see the difference as something which is making me exert more or not giving the output which I want, I peel the worn out rubbers from my blade.

Just sharing my thoughts, but please feel free to adopt what works for you.

 

[NetProphet]

Trying to get a better sense of when my rubbers might need to be replaced. I feel like I’m losing grip but they’ve only been used for 2-3 months. And in this economy, don’t feel like spending more money than necessary. Can people post what their rubbers look like when they need to be replaced?

Judging from your equipment I'm gonna guess you're a serious and attacking player. I guess if you've been hammering those rubbers for (say) 10 hours a week then 3 months could do it...

When you say you feel you're losing grip what are you actually describing?
I've found I imagine things when my rubbers look worn. As in, I start to wonder about them when they don't look as great and that can sometimes be a self fulfilling prophecy when in fact upon changing rubbers I've realised the old ones still had a bit left in them.
So I know that my worn looking Rakza Zs and 7s were probably 90% as good as a brand new one and I believe that 10% fall off happened in the first 3 mths.
Am not saying you're purely imagining it but am curious about what you might describe because when my rubbers have really lost grip then I'm not usually in any doubt.

I only manage max 5 hrs a wk on average and all my rubbers have given me 6-9 mths and one very well used Rakza Z had a tiny hole in it at 8 mths.
I've only started with 09c so I can't comment on it's longevity yet.
But back to your level, 3 mths could be normal or short life depending on how and how much you play.

 

[ThePongCommenter]

With new generation rubbers, I start noticing the worn out patch very soon. I tried Andro Rasanter C48 and within 2 months I can see that a discoloration where the ball contacts the rubber when I hit my topspins. Not to say that C48 has any issues but in general hybrid rubbers topsheet wears out sooner compared to non-tacky rubbers. But as a trade off, you get better grip. Having said that, the loss of spin was not very drastic and I was able to use it till 3 months. I am playing around 6-8 hours a week, sometimes more. I believe that with my usage I need a new sheet every 3/4 months which is average.

After 2 months with 6-8 hours per week doesn't seem very soon to me

 

[longle]

It does looks used and I mean it in a good way. I would say that when to change rubbers is a personal preference. You can try out one approach though - When my rubbers get a bit worn out and have an itch to try a new one, I don't retire the old ones completely but I use it for my practice sessions or when I play fun matches. The idea here is the have a reference against which I can compare and probably learn. So, if I see the difference as something which is making me exert more or not giving the output which I want, I peel the worn out rubbers from my blade.

Just sharing my thoughts, but please feel free to adopt what works for you.

great, that's exactly what I experienced. I bought a new sheet after using the old sheet for 2 months and glued this old sheet in my backup blade, then found out that it's still playing very good, so I continued to use that old sheet for almost 2 months more haha

 

[CallMeZaddy]

I'm playing with D09C about 10-20 hrs/week. I can start seeing pimples showing on the forehand side where I hit and my balls are starting to overshoot the net. Still has grip but definitely the stickiness is gone

 

[ThePongCommenter]

I'm playing with D09C about 10-20 hrs/week. I can start seeing pimples showing on the forehand side where I hit and my balls are starting to overshoot the net. Still has grip but definitely the stickiness is gone

10-20 hours per week for 2-3 months and you are only starting to see signs of wear? That is great durability. Of course your rubbers will be worn out after 100-200 hours of playing...