Time to replace the rubber

Ji-Soo Woo Asked 15 years ago

Hi Alois

I thought maybe someone else had asked this question before but couldn't find it using question search....apologies if this is an old question.

I was wondering when it is time to replace an older rubber.  Is it basically when the top sheet wears out?  Can sponges wear out as well?  How do you decide when a top sheet has passed its useful life?  When it is so worn you can see the sponge through it?  When it loses all friction? (i.e. you can slide a ball across its surface as though it were antispin?)

Thanks!

Ji-Soo

Alois Rosario Answered 15 years ago

Hi Ji-Soo,

The first sign is the wearing on the surface of the rubber.  If you hold the bat at an ngle you will see wearing marks (pimple marks) on the surface.

If you rub the ball across the surface and it doesn't grip it is way too late.

The sponge does wear out eventually but not as fast as the rubber.  In the old gluing days sponges used to take a battering but not so much any more.