Short Pimpled No Sponge Rubber
Equipment
Sergio Martinez Asked 9 years ago
Alois,
I have a a friend who wants to get more into playing table tennis but he has always recreationally played with a hardbat with short pimples all his life. Eventually he wants to play in a league with me which means I have to find him a legal bat for him to play with. If I remember correctly ITTF does not allow hardbats, so I think he would have to switch to something with a bit of sponge. Is there a good bat you recommend with short pimples and a thinner harder sponge, something more akin to a hardbat? He has tried my bat with inverted rubber and a thick sponge and he does not really like that sort of bat. For his style I think he would probably want to defend and chop more. I want to work with him but not sure how to help him as far as getting him a bat that he would like.
Any help is appreciated.
Alois Rosario Answered 9 years ago
Hi Sergio,
I think there are some short pimpled rubbers that you can use without sponge. This is what I have found.
| 1 | Dr Neubauer | 012 Terminator | Out | ‡ |  |
| 3 | JUIC | PipsAce | Out | ‡ |  |
I will throw this one open to the readers to help out.
Nice of you to be helping him to get something that he can play with.
Thoughts on this question
Become a free member to post a comment about this question.
Sergio Martinez Posted 9 years ago
Alois,
Another question regarding pips. When playing with pips does the ball react the same way when doing strokes? I understand that pushing and blocking the ball with pips causes the ball to react a certain way, but say I wanted to do a forehand topspin; is that still done the same way? Probably the angle will be different but the mechanics of the stroke (start and finish position as well as body movement) would still be the same correct?
D K Posted 9 years ago
This is about feel.
And depends on which pimples do you use.
I have about 0,0000001% of Alois's experience so I can tell only what I tried.
I have tried playing with shortpips and am a longpips/inverted user.
My experience is that yes,the mechanics of each stroke except counterhit are quite similar,but there are big differences between the angles,control,flatness and effectiveness.
The longpips counterhit off a dead ball is quite different and difficult.
I will use your example: a forehand loop.
For example off a counterhit.
Inverted loop can be really brushed fast and just by touch and with a very closed bat,while being really effective stroke.
Short pips loop is quite similar,but you must go a bit flatter to maintain the effectiveness,or/and altering the angle.
Long pips loop off a counterhit is a challenge.
You must go with nearly vertical bat and quite flat to make an effective attacking stroke.
Or you must have still opened and really,really fast brush,making a shot that would be more effective rather like a dropshot if your stroke will not be flat.
D K Posted 9 years ago
and:spinlord,Friendship and TSP produces OX shortpips
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 9 years ago
Hi Sergio,
Yes the mechanics are similar with the alteration of the angle. You will not be able to generate anywhere near the same spin because of the surface of the rubber but you will be able to get the ball on the table.
D K Posted 9 years ago
But the flatness of the hit also depends,doesn't it?
Sergio Martinez Posted 9 years ago
One last question, what blade would you recommend for my friend then if he was to use these rubbers?
Mark Jung Posted 9 years ago
I know if I was going to do hardbat I'd use a very springy blade (Single ply hinoki maybe).
However, you might want to consider convincing them to get a basic entry level setup (1.5mm sponge). Unless he's actually a high-level competitive hardbat player, league players are going to take advantage of the fairly consistent slow returns, and it'll be pretty discouraging for quite a while.