Will these wrinkles and dents affect the performance of my rubber?

[GregorTT425]

Hello!

I have my brand new Dignics09C put on my brand new blade, but something is not right. The first time I glued my rubber to the blade and after I had removed the sticky protection film, I realized there are wrinkles, waves and dents on the rubber. Though it did not feel to affect performance (apart from the high humidity this summer), I am little concerned.

I have decided to reglue it and I am done with it. Now it is a little better, but still not perfect. The wrinkles and dents have become a little less protrusive, but still visible. The pictures here are taken after the second gluing.

I have put one layer on the blade and two onto the rubber's sponge. I tried to be as accurate with the gluing as possible. I have tried to put smooth layer and waited for them to completely dry. The rubber was not wrinkled when was removed.

I have once had something similar with a Tenergy 19, but after a while it disappeared.

What could have caused it? Would these affect the performance of the rubber? Maybe something to do against it (possibly without removing the rubber due to shrinking)?

Thanks!

 

[RefereeNumber2]

This happens when the glue layers dry with bumps or waves before applying the rubber to the blade (can easily happen if you've used a bit too much glue), or pressure isn't applied evenly across the surface of the rubber when rolling it on. I've seen much worse looking jobs than your pictures and it shouldn't affect performance at all in your case.

I used to get this kind of thing a lot and it would bug me, but I changed how I apply glue on my sponge and it fixed the problem. Before, I would brush every glue layer on the sponge in the same direction to even it out -- i.e., once I'd spread the glue around, I would even it out with vertical brushstrokes. This would tend to leave vertical waves or ridges in the glue which would be often be visible in the rubber once applied.

I now use orthogonal brushstrokes for the different glue layers, e.g., I'll use vertical brushstrokes for the first glue layer on the sponge, then horizontal brushstrokes for the second layer. For me, this results in a much more even final glue layer, and I haven't had this issue since I started gluing this way.

I also remove any protection film from the rubber before rolling and pressing it onto the blade. I don't think it matters too much, but sometimes the film can get creased or wrinkled when you're bending the rubber to line it up with the blade, and those creases/wrinkles can affect how evenly pressure is applied when rolling.

 

[GregorTT425]

This happens when the glue layers dry with bumps or waves before applying the rubber to the blade (can easily happen if you've used a bit too much glue), or pressure isn't applied evenly across the surface of the rubber when rolling it on. I've seen much worse looking jobs than your pictures and it shouldn't affect performance at all in your case.

I used to get this kind of thing a lot and it would bug me, but I changed how I apply glue on my sponge and it fixed the problem. Before, I would brush every glue layer on the sponge in the same direction to even it out -- i.e., once I'd spread the glue around, I would even it out with vertical brushstrokes. This would tend to leave vertical waves or ridges in the glue which would be often be visible in the rubber once applied.

I now use orthogonal brushstrokes for the different glue layers, e.g., I'll use vertical brushstrokes for the first glue layer on the sponge, then horizontal brushstrokes for the second layer. For me, this results in a much more even final glue layer, and I haven't had this issue since I started gluing this way.

I also remove any protection film from the rubber before rolling and pressing it onto the blade. I don't think it matters too much, but sometimes the film can get creased or wrinkled when you're bending the rubber to line it up with the blade, and those creases/wrinkles can affect how evenly pressure is applied when rolling.

Thanks for your answer!

I guess then I do not really have to reglue it, since it is not going to affect the performance. Or if it does, I reglue it once again with your technique, if you do not mind me doing so.

We will see how it performs, but I have good hope it is going to be just fine!

Thank you once again!

 

[RefereeNumber2]

Thanks for your answer!

I guess then I do not really have to reglue it, since it is not going to affect the performance. Or if it does, I reglue it once again with your technique, if you do not mind me doing so.

We will see how it performs, but I have good hope it is going to be just fine!

Thank you once again!

For sure no need to re-glue! If it makes you feel better, you can find even top-level professional players in competitions with rubbers that look like this (if not worse).

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/attachments/ce613785-0bd4-40f1-a531-b22a3803dbb4-png.24732/

 

[GregorTT425]

Yes, definitely happens in the pros, which makes me a little more calm.

 

[riemsesy]

I hate it and in the back of my mind this is just the reason when I miss the table.
I started to wet glue the rubbers and it gives a perfect flat result. And I only use one layer of glue on the rubber. Less weight and less glue used.

Now when I miss the table I have to find something or someone else to blame. 😄

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/why-wait-to-dry-the-glue.33853/

 

[GregorTT425]

I hate it and in the back of my mind this is just the reason when I miss the table.
I started to wet glue the rubbers and it gives a perfect flat result. And I only use one layer of glue on the rubber. Less weight and less glue used.

Now when I miss the table I have to find something or someone else to blame. 😄

https://www.tabletennisdaily.com/forum/topics/why-wait-to-dry-the-glue.33853/

Familiar. I am also tempted to overthink the fact that the rubber is not perfectly flat in some place and think that it is the cause of me missing the table. Since then I have reglued for a third time and not it is almost perfect. Still not the flattest, but the wrinkles have become even smaller, I can live with them. Maybe next rubber will be perfect. I have seen this tendency at the Chinese players with their forehand black rubber, but for them it is not problematic. They play like beast, so should not be a problem a little wrinkle or dent, right? Even a picture has been posted a little up from here.

 

[Brs]

Would these affect the performance of the rubber?

Yes

 

[GregorTT425]

Yes

In what way? Others said it would not affect. You say it would, how so?