Equipment technology in Table Tennis

Alex Polyakov Asked 15 years ago

Coach,

I know you generally do not answer any specifics on the equipment, but with a huge variety of equipment available, it is tough to find the proper match of blades and rubbers. I am wondering if you are familiar with any resource, a book, video, anything, that explains different level of table tennis and equipment choices players at those levels make.

There must be proper matching techniques in equipment. For example, for a hard blade its best to use soft or hard sponge rubbers. Or whether a carbon blade vs wood blade would yield a better performance. Another question is whether thickness of the rubber should be max or 2.0 and when would it be best to make a switch to new equipment during TT learning.

I am sure you have many students, so how do you instruct these details to them? I know that every player is different and each is trying to find the balance in a different way, but the probabilities are endless and its very frustrating.

I assume that your Yasaka XS is in MAX. Any specific reason you're using MAX? Any rules of thumb that you could explain?

Thank you for your help! You are trully the best resource for questions!

Alois Rosario Answered 15 years ago

Hi Alex,

Firstly it is very much a matter of feel and preference.

The real reason I use Max because that is what I was given.  The Max does allow for more spin. 

Blades are very much a matter of feel.  I advise players not to go with blades that are too fast.  The fast blades don't give you the amount of time on your blade to control the ball.  The ball comes out too fast.

It is true the probabilities are endless that is why we advise a few different rubbers and blades.

A couple of principles:

The thinner the rubber the more control and less spin.  For topspin player use a thicker rubber for flat and fast players use a 1.8mm rubber

The faster and flatter you play the faster the blade you can use.  I think if you are looking for more topspin you need a softer blade that will allow you to lift the ball.