Palm wiping and Anti-spin

Ji-Soo Woo Asked 15 years ago

Hi Alois

I have a couple of questions:

1) thanks to the pingskills youtube lesson on cleaning rubbers, I have finally gotten over my fear of touching my precious rubbers with my hands and have started breathing on and wiping them with my palm during and between games to clean dust.  I still am not comfortable doing it, though, and I was wondering whether rubbing it with your palm in any way shortens the life of the rubber. 

2) when you play someone with long-pips you can usually tell straight away that they're not using a 'standard' inverted rubbers...especially if they have no sponge.  The sound and speed is very different.  Are there any tell-tale signs with anti-spin rubbers?

Thanks

Ji-Soo

Alois Rosario Answered 15 years ago

Hi Ji-Soo,

Palm Wiping
The effect of cleaning it with your palm won't damage your rubber.  If you are worried, just carry a damp sponge with you or a chamois and wipe your bat with that.  The palm is convenient especially in between points during a match when you may not have time to get a cloth. It is just a matter of getting the dust off the rubber so that it can performproperly.

Anti Spin Rubber
The sound from an anti spin rubber is very dull compared to normal rubber. The flight of the ball will be very flat as well. I think the signs are similar to the Long Pimples.  Have you had trouble recognising anti-spin rubber?

It is interesting, I think that is something that you pick up without realising it after a while.