Tacky rubbers and control of spin

Nigel C Asked 7 years ago

When I started playing table tennis 35 years ago, I started with a short pimple and sponge bat. I progressed onto a pre-made bat and then onto a custom made one. For years I have been using 729 friendship super fx on both sides then last year I tried replacing my bh side with tibhar aurus.

I found this helped my game - specifically my return of serve. I had always found it difficult returning high spin services but the aurus seemed to help me control spin a bit better. I have kept with the super fx on my fh as I like this for looping and driving. How do you think tensor rubbers compare with tacky ones for control and especially control of spin. Is it just a matter of a different technique? The reason for asking is that tensor rubbers tend to be more expensive, so using a tacky rubber would save a bit of money.

Alois Rosario Answered 7 years ago

Hi Nigel,

Stay with what you are using if your are feeling comfortable with it.

There is no need to use Tensor rubbers if you are happy with what you have.

← Moving sideways when playing a topspin Is nittaku clean away a good choice →

Rohan Keogh Posted 7 years ago

Hi Alois. I thought tacky rubber would make controlling incoming spin more difficult because the ball would react off the tacky rubber with more of it's own spin to less tacky rubber (and long pimps in the extreme), which counteract spin by virtue of their lower friction co-efficient. Is this not correct?

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

I like the directness of the contact with sticky rubbers. The sticky rubber also allows you to generate your own spin and get the ball spinning in the direction you would like it to spin.

Benzene Chiral Posted 7 years ago

Yes, I suppose more tacky rubber allows you, to a greater extent, generate your own spin, however, I suppose Nigel's question was on returning spin serves, and that with tackier rubbers, the serve return will at the same time, be affected by your opponent's serve's spin to a greater extent?

Nigel C Posted 7 years ago

Benzene, yes thanks that was more or less the point I was making. I have started using a non tacky rubber (maybe that it is a tensor rubber is besides the point) on my backhand and I find my service return is more consistent. I wondered if this is purely my lack of technique with the tacky rubber or is just the price you pay in using the that kind of rubber. My forehand I won't change, tacky rubbers seem great for looping and driving.