what rubber

Why shouldn't we get too obsessed with the equipment?

Otherwise you'll be like the rest of us equipment junkies where you spend $100s testing various rubbers and blades hoping that a combination will eventually fit like perfect. Whereas in fact you could spend very little on decent enough equipment, focus on your technique and come out a much better player.

in my limited experience, when you are just starting out it is quite good to try out a few different blades, and rubbers to find out what suits you. it does cost a bit at first, but when you find the combo that does suit you you tend to stick with it.  i started with an allround+ blade with a tacky rubber. this gave me the right bat to learn the basics. the tacky rubbers have low speed and high spin which does at first suit the beginner because the fast rubbers are hard to control if you havent developed a good consistent technique. as the months go on you can up the speed level of your equipment when you feel that the bat you are using is holding you back.  you will know when it is time.  concentrate on learning good technique and feel your way to the next combo when the feeling decides. once you reach the level that you can use a fast rubber and a fast blade you will not have to change for ages. thats my experience anyway.  i am intersted to hear what you guys think, any thoughts ji-soo or piers?

i agree the rubbers make more difference than the blade. except when i tried using a carbon blade because that just made the ball ping off at light speed and i found very difficult to control.  good rubbers make such a difference to your game.

True. There is a significant difference between a carbon blade and a wood blade.