Table Tennis Rubbers

Pimple In

The rubber sheets playing surface is smooth and the pimples are within the rubber facing the sponge. Pimple In is the most commonly used type of rubber sheet. The Pimple In rubbers versatility allows an extensive variety of stroke play. Offensive Pimple In rubbers generate high levels of speed for powerful strokes and forceful spin.

Short Pimples Out

The pimples are facing out and are part of the playing surface. They are generally very fast but the ability to impart spin is less than Pimple In rubbers. Short pimple rubbers are used by speed players that play a fast attacking game close to the table.

Long Pimples Out

The pimples are facing out and are part of the playing surface. The pimples are longer which decreases speed and causes spin reversal on contact of the ball to the rubber. The pimples 'flex' under the balls weight and pressure and they produce deceptive returns that are difficult to read and respond to. Long pimples are often used by defensive players who require the control and spin reversal.

Anti Spin Rubber

Pimples facing in with practically no surface grip. The lack of grip makes anti-spin an ideal choice for receiving heavy spins and powerful hits. However, it is practically impossible for you to generate any ‘real’ spin using anti. The spin that your opponent imparts is effectively reversed or removed when you return it - hence the name "anti-spin". Many Anti-Spin rubbers also absorb a lot of the pace of the ball, which can disrupt the rhythm of the opponent’s game. These rubbers are often used in combination with a spinny pimple in rubber to provide a huge contrast between the shots played with the different sides.

Sponge Thickness

The Sponge of the rubber is available in different thicknesses. Generally the thicker the sponge results in an increase in Speed and Spin when playing topspin shots but a decrease in Control. The reverse is true when playing backspin defensive play and a decrease in sponge thickness results in an increase in backspin.

Colour

Table Tennis rubbers come in either red or black. Which colour to use on either backhand or forehand is down to personal choice but many top professional players use the black rubber on their forehand side.

Hardness

Soft:
The ball stays on the rubber a fraction of second longer due to the softness of the rubber sponge which results in more ball control and feeling but results in a slight loss of speed. Soft rubbers are easy to use and often have a distinctive sound when you hit the ball.

Hard:
The ball rebounds almost immediately from the rubber due to the hardness of the sponge which results in increased speed but less ball control. The majority of top professional players use rubbers with hard sponge due to the increased speed possibilities and the slight loss in ball control is not as pronounced due to the many hours of practice perfecting their ball control.

Medium:
The standard sponge offering a happy medium between the Soft rubbers ball control and Hard rubbers increased speed.

Surface

The elastic properties of the top sheet of the rubber determines the control of the ball and the characteristics of the rubber. The main categories for the top sheet of Pimple In rubbers are:

High Friction and Control:
These rubbers are not fast, but provide excellent grip and ball control. Due to the weak elasticity of the rubber, the grip can only develop its effect on topspin when slow balls are played.

Sticky:
These rubber sheets offer good control and due to the sticky nature of the rubber offer enhanced Spin opportunities against slow balls.

Control Elastic:
These rubbers develop spin elasticity even at low speeds giving you more control.

Sticky Elastic:
Slightly sticky rubber sheet with very good spin dynamics and ball control when playing at high speeds. The rubber sheet of these have been developed by using very sophisticated technology.

Offensive Elastic:
Fast offensive rubbers where speed rather than spin is the predominant characteristic. The rubber sheet is suited to fast aggressive players.

Spin Elastic:
Rubber sheets that have the speed of the offensive elastic rubbers but with additional spin characteristics. Spin Elastic rubbers are the choice of rubber sheet for today's top table tennis professional players.

Table Tennis Blades

Handle

The handle comes in either straight, concave, anatomic or pen hold. The choice of handle is purely down to personal taste and there is no ‘best’ handle. Straight handles are generally held more loosely, while concave and anatomic handles are held relatively firmly. The penhold handle is used by players who grip the blade in the penhold grip rather than the shake hand grip.

Weight

Again down to personal preference. Generally the lighter blades have more control and feeling and the heavier ones have more speed.

Elasticity

Elastic:
You can really feel the contact between the ball and blade, often with a vibration. An example is the defensive blade the DONIC Defplay Classic Senso.

Control-elastic:
Balanced contact between blade and ball with no vibration. Excellent control for all-round play and when combined with spin elastic rubber fantastic offensive possibilities. An example is the DONIC Appelgren Allplay Senso.

Speed-elastic:
You can still feel the contact between the elastic blade and the ball, but this blade is also stiffer and faster than a control-elastic blade. An example is the DONIC Waldner Senso.

Nearly Stiff:
The vibration has been reduced to a minimum which results in increased speed. These blades are very fast. An example is the DONIC Persson Powerplay Senso.

Stiff:
There is virtually no vibration and the predominant characteristic of this blade type is speed! They are not always easy to control but offer unparalled speed and aggressive offensive play possibilities. An example is the DONIC Epox Topspeed.