Changing different rubber for topspin and smash
Strokes
mr Man Asked 11 years ago
Hi Alois,
I always watching Ma Long's matches and I often see he changes his rubber. (I mean from FH to BH).
During the match,he uses his FH rubber for loops and topspins (mostly say it's DHS Hurricane 3 NEO Blue Sponge National).
But when he want to smash, he uses his BH rubber especially when the ball is high.(Tenergy 64 or 05)
The question is : Why he does that? It is because Tenergy has higher bounce or the speed? Or something else?
Alois Rosario Answered 11 years ago
Hi Rahman,
He must feel comfortable smashing with the backhand side rubber. It is not something that a lot of players do. It will just be that he feels the ball comes out faster or cleaner from the backhand side rubber when smashing.
It is probably best for most players to just use the same side when smashing and topspinning.
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Jasper Low Posted 4 years ago
I am starting to see this action happening quite often in professional level. Maybe I should give it a try because my loops and topspins are decent but my smashes miss the table most of the time(I heard hurricane 3 isn't good for flat hitting and smashing)
Nigel C Posted 4 years ago
Jasper, players dont switch because their smashes miss using a particular rubber. Professionals are trying to eek out the slightest advantage and obviously some think they get this by switching, but if they don't switch it doesn't mean they will miss. You need to concentrate on why your smashes miss. Are you putting enough top spin on? Are you aiming for the right depth on the table and timing the shot correctly? Feet in the right position etc. All are more important than which side of your blade you are using - unless you have long pimples one side.
D K Posted 4 years ago
I have seen some explanation from CHinese coach where heexplains that Ma Long rotates the bat really due to the fact the Tenergy has stronger bounce.
Also,he said Chinese players use bouncier rubbers on backhand to compensate for the lower power on the backhand side,as forehand's max power is by nature always bigger than backhand's.
But Japser,this is a matter of POWER and possibly SPIN. It has no effect on their consistency or plans.
Nigel is right,you should practise your smashing more than your twiddling for this.
Though,Nigel,as a long pimple user who trains also attacking with the pips,I have to partially deny your statement about longpips.
Even with pips the smashes can be delivered.
The feet position and basic principle of weight transfer etc. works for any rubber. Only the angle differs.