Blade and rubber paths

Patrick Calabrese Asked 8 years ago

Hey guys, I'm tired of being sent every which way with different blades and rubbers. The amount of information and personal experiences with all the different set-ups is mind numbing!  

Can you guys type up a simple blade and rubber path from say 1000-2600 ranking? I was a tennis player and understand that this is an industry about making money and everyone's rubber and blade is so "special". But I know 75% of everything is 95% the same within its respective level and that the equipment the top players use is all custom and NOT what is sold to the consumer. So I do know this.

For the sake of this question lets just stay in the balanced all-around game leaning towards being more aggressive in the 2000+ rating. 

I could gather from common knowledge that around 1000 rating. A solid set up would be a 

Stiga All-Around with Mark V. 

At what rating would you upgrade at and what would you upgrade too? I can really only see you doing 3 levels in your whole career. The starting set-up, the intermediate to expert set-up, and the elite level.

I just want the straight line, no BS. I can see now the "grass is greener" syndrome in table tennis is a sickness that I want to avoid. Help me out coaches! 

PS: I'm still not sure if I prefer European vs Chinese. So if it's possible for to do 2 paths with each, that would be amazing! 

Alois Rosario Answered 8 years ago

Hi Patrick,

We are certainly not equipment experts, mainly because we don't put a lot of importance to the specifics of the equipment you use.

You are right, something like an All round blade with Mark V as a first custom bat is suitable and probably for players from 1000 or even lower.

As far as the rating for the next level I am not sure.  I would say after a year of playing with the Mark V you could progress to a faster rubber with the same blade.  We have Rakza 7 but there are literally hundreds of options at this level.  Just choose whichever one you can get your hands on easily.

Then only when you have played for 5 or 6 years regularly you can think about getting something at the faster end such as Tenergy in the 2mm or maximum thickness.

Really everything players need to know is in the tutorial on Choosing a Table Tennis Bat.