TIPS ON BLADE & RUBBER SELECTION
Blade and rubber are the basic equipments in table tennis game. Due to varies characteristics, quality, and types of material used, we are hardly to decide which type of blade and rubbers are fit to our playing style. Below are some tips on your blade and rubber selection.
TYPES OF BLADE
Basically, we can classify it in three categories:
a. Pre-assembled paddles will offer you a quality racket at an inexpensive price. It will also help you to simplify the buying process as the rubber is already assembled to the racket, you need not to spend time studying the blade and rubber charts finding the right racket and rubber combination. Pre-assembled paddles are ideal for recreational players. One thing to keep in mind the rubbers on the paddles are not meant to be removed. When the rubber needs to be replaced, it's time to buy a new one.
b. Pro-Set models feature some of popular blades and rubber sheets at discounted prices. Similar to the pre-assembled paddles, the rubber combinations on Pro-Set models have been predetermined. Unlike the pre-assembled rackets, the rubber on the Pro-Set models can easily be removed and replaced.
c. DIY (Do It Yourself) model, you can pick the blade and rubber combination that is best suited to your unique style of play. This is also known as a custom made racket.
CLASSIFICATION OF BLADE
These categories are just guidelines for your reference, exact classificastion are varies in different brand.
[OFF+] For all offensive play.
[OFF] For direct offensive play with much spin, speed and power.
[OFF–] For medium offensive play with much spin, speed and power.
[ALL+] For offensive all-round play mixing shots with topspin shots of variable spin.
[ALL] For all-round players who mix attack and control shots in rallies.
[ALL-] For all-round players who emphasize control and consistency from all distances.
[DEF] For traditional defense with emphasis on the chop from a far distance
SPEED OF BLADE
The speed of the blade is so much depend on the type of wood using. Each type of woods has its characteristics and its own unique feel. The speed rating of a racket indicates the integrated pace of the ball relative to other rackets in our line.
CONTROL OF BLADE
The amount of control a blade cannot be measured. It is so much different for each individual. Your level of control is proportional to the amount of time you spend practicing. The more you play, the more control you will have. Generally, the faster the blade, the more difficult it will be to control.
MATERIAL OF BLADE
Carbon fiber layers will add speed to a racket and increase the size of the sweet-spot, making the racket more consistent. Carbon also acts as a reinforcing layer, which will strengthen the racket. Therefore, most Carbon blades have a ‘hard’ feel which are suitable for hitters and power play.
Arylate fiber layers will reduce the amount of vibration at impact. Like Carbon, Arylate also enlarges the size of the sweet-spot making the racket more consistent. This characteristic will generally result in a racket with a ‘medium’ or ‘soft’ feel which is ideal for players who emphasize spin or require more touch. Or you can get the best of both worlds and try an Arylate/Carbon combo blade.
Fiber glass blades are similar to Carbon, speed and stability is increased by the use of Fiber Glass. But compared to Carbon, Fiber Glass is not as hard and offers more feeling.
WOOD TYPE CHARACTERISTICS
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Arylate
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Arylate is a reinforcing fiber used to expand the sweet spot of the blade and also to provide unsurpassed vibration control.
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Arylate/Carbon
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These blades feature the best of both the Carbon and Arylate benefits. The speed and large sweet spot of Carbon combined with the great vibration control and soft feel of Arylate. Perhaps the ultimate in blade technology
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Carbon
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Carbon reinforced blades produce great speed along with expanded sweet spots. While fast, the bigger sweet spot provides for a shocking level of control.
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Ayous Wood
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A lightweight, stiff wood that is excellent for close-to-the-table counterdrive play.
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Koto Wood
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Koto wood outer layers produce a faster and stiffer blade. Great wood for players who rely on both looping and countering techniques.
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Bass Wood
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Bass wood has been a mainstay in racket making for over fifty years due to its high degree of control and economical price. It is favored by the close-to-the-table counterdriver as well as players looking to purchase their first professional racket.
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Limba Wood
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The classic European topspin wood. Limba wood adds the soft feel and great control needed by today's modern topspin players.
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Cypress Wood
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The classic Asian attacking wood. Favored by attackers for several decades because of its unique combination of speed and softness. Also known as Hinoki Wood.
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Planchonello Wood
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Planchonello outer layers produce great speed. This wood is most often found in blades designed for the power attacker
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Yellow Aningre Wood
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Yellow Aningre is the ultimate control wood. Providing a soft feel on contact, this wood is favored by many all-round styles of players.
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HANDLE OF BLADE
Many blades come in different handle styles.
The Shakehand models are:
Anatomic (AN) - The second most popular style. An (AN) handle is tapered at the neck and is broader in the middle. The area between the base and middle is slightly concave.
Flared (FL) - The most popular style. A (FL) handle is wide at the base and is concave in the center.
Straight (ST) - The (ST) handle has no deviation in it. It is uniform from neck to base.
The Penhold models are:
Chinese (CS) - The (CS) handles are very similar to a conical shaped shakehand blade with a shorter handle.
Japanese (JP) - Most (JP) handles are long and narrow. They feature a block of cork on top of the handle for a surer and more comfortable grip. There is also a thin layer of cork on the backside.
CATEGORIES OF RUBBER
General speaking, the speed of racket is determined by the blade. While rubber is contributing to the speed of your racket, will primarily function as your source for spin. All rubbers can be grouped into five different categories. They are:
Inverted - Inverted rubbers are able to generate tremendous spin due to their tacky surface. Great for all styles of play from the all-out attacker to the most defensive minded chopper. Inverted is the most versatile rubber type.
Short Pips - Short pip rubbers are an inverted sheet of rubber turned upside down. The space between the pimples will help to take some of your opponents spin off of the ball. This will allow you to aggressively attack your opponent’s shots regardless of the oncoming spin. Short pips are great for hitting, blocking and returning serves. However, they are unable to produce as much spin as an inverted sheet of rubber.
Long Pips - Long pip rubbers are generally used by players who rely on their opponents to make mistakes. The composition of long pip rubbers is similar to short pip rubbers, but the pips are taller. When your opponent’s ball contacts this surface, the taller pips are easily bent, REVERSING the oncoming spin. This will keep your opponent guessing as to what type of spin is on the ball.
No Sponge – No sponge (OX) rubber features a short pips top sheet with the absence of sponge. Still adept at nullifying spin, no sponge rubber will produce sharp, crisp strokes with significantly less spin and at a much slower pace.
Anti – Anti-spin rubber is an inverted sheet of rubber featuring a very slick top sheet with a “dead” sponge layer. The resulting effect is a rubber sheet that is excellent for blocking, returning serves and great for changing the pace. For those that rarely use both sides of the racket during play, anti-spin rubber would be ideal for the backside. Your opponent will generally find himself confronted with a ball with little rotation, or a ‘knuckle’ ball. This generally will lead to a ball that you can easily attack. A great addition to your arsenal.
THICKNESS OF SPONGE
Many rubbers offer multiple sponge thicknesses. The sponge layer, the area between the topsheet and the wood, acts as a trampoline. Thinner sponge will be less “springy” and have a hard feel, as the ball will generally sink to the wood surface, producing less spin and speed. Thicker sponge will have a soft feel and will be faster and provide more spin as the ball will sink deep into the sponge layer catapulting it outward with tremendous velocity and increased spin.
SPEED, SPIN, CONTROL RATING OF RUBBER
Speed indicates how fast the ball will leave the striking surface of the bat when struck. New sticky inverted rubbers will take into account that the spin on a topspin ball will cause an increase in speed after striking the opponents side. The fastest striking rubbers are by far the short-pips.
Spin indicates how POTENTIALLY spinney a rubber can be; the rating assigned by the manufacturer is how much spin a player can generate with a stroke intended to create spin. Remember spinney rubbers are effected more by incoming spin than less spinney rubbers.
Control is the most difficult to explain. Good control is NOT the same as easy control. Good Control is; An Inverted, fast spinney rubber that has a high control rating also requires a high level of skill to benefit from that high rating. Players not skilled in the use of fast spinney rubber will have much less control with a fast spinney rubber, especially when facing spin variations. Easy Control is; A less spinney inverted, even pips-out, that forgives slight misreads of spin, and miss-hits. The Easy Control Invert is usually either slightly less spinney slightly less fast, or both. For a Pip-out rubber Easy Control comes form the fact that Pips are better able to deal with incoming spin. Most players should seek a middle ground between good and easy control, find your balance and your enjoyment and skill will increase. |
