What is your equipment journey?

[mamedium]

Hi all,
A lot of talks (probably 90%) of TTD is about equipment as we are too lazy to put in the work in training in order to get better.
I am just curious about everyone’s journey in equipment. For me, I started with… a Sardius with T64 both sides when I was 600 USATT! classic mistake if you know what i mean

Then i went on to a tournament where my result was not too bad (beat a 700 little girl) - started getting serious about table tennis after that by… switching T64 to T05.

Going through all sort of blades and rubbers (All wood, 5 - 7 ply, TMB, Viscaria then Ma Long 5 where i discovered the holy grail H3). This was year 2.

Then my friend asked me one day “have you heard of booster”?

Can of worm opened. Falco, Seamoon, Haifu speedglue, you name it.

I stuck with H3 and ML5 for a couple years until i cracked 2000. What a journey with lots of training, tears and blood along the way.

Managed to make it to 2200 after switching to outer with tensor (currently FZD + C2 and 09C). I would say while I love the H3 holding the ball feel, tensor with outer give me more option esp with BH rallies.

About H3. In my opinion, if your level is not 2300 and up or you didn’t have proper training in the young age, H3 is holding you back because its demanding physical condition and correct technique.

I asked my coach about cracking 2300 and 2400. He said “2300 is possible for club player but it is also the ceiling. 2400 is only possible when you have had training at young age”

Guess what i did after that conversation?
w968

 

[Archo]

You've done really well; maybe more people need to use equipment that's not at their level LOL.

I think the important part here is "stuck with for a couple years", though.

What rating were you when you switched to HL5 and H3?

EDIT: Forgot my own:

Started with Stiga Allround Evolution + 729 Super FX in different sponges. Used that for about 3 years as a rec player who trained with a partner. Took an 8 year break, and got back to it this year as a club player. Tried everything under the sun and then some, have settled at Acoustic + H3.

That's probably the level-appropriate blade pick, but a part of me wants to use that for a while until I get a groove, then switch to something crazy like HL5 and get very adept at using only that for a couple years and try to make the performance work for me and not against me.

I tried a DHS B2, but I think mine is defective or something because it's insanely fast (at least +30% compared to outer + tensor) without any spin in the mid power shots, and players around 1600-2000 standard couldn't make it work when they hit with it. It's only reliable in very brushed or very strong shots. I can't imagine that's how they're supposed to be.