Buying Table Tennis Rubbers

If you have a passion for the game of table tennis and really want to improve, you'll find a treasure trove of information here. From novice player to professional, the rubber you choose for your bat can make all the difference. Choosing the right one for you depends on how you play. Different styles will have different requirements.

Relative newcomers to the game will probably be better off having someone highly experienced evaluate their game and give them a recommendation for the proper rubbers for their style. Try using a number of different types of rubbers using all your shots and see what works best. More experienced players will already know their style and can choose accordingly.

There are many factors to consider when looking for a rubber that is right for you. These factors are speed, spin, power and thickness. Each of these aspects has a different effect on ball play. Picking the right combination can help downplay deficiencies in your game while enhancing your strengths.

The rebounding force of a rubber and the sponge beneath it creates speed. Players who like attacking often choose faster rubbers while defensive players usually opt for slower ones. The composition and quality of the rubber determine the amount of spin it can produce. The power factor is simply the speed and spin ratings combined. Thinner rubbers allow for more control than thicker ones, with 2.5mm being the thickest allowed by competition rules.

If you go to your local recreation center, you may find table tennis bats with hard rubber or even sandpaper covers. These old and out-dated items shouldn't be used by any serious player. As a matter of fact, sandpaper is illegal because of the damage it causes to the ball. While hard rubber is legal, it is completely eclipsed in quality by sponge rubber. Sponge rubber is simply hard rubber with a highly elastic sponge sheet underneath it. It gives more spin and power than other types of rackets.

There are two types of rubber sheet that cover the face of the bat. If the pimples are facing outward, it's called a "pips out sponge". If shows no pimples, then they are facing inward and its called an "inverted sponge" Each kind is used for certain styles of play. Since most players play different forehand and backhand strokes, you'll probably want different types of rubbers on each side. Pips out sponges offer greater control, but not as much speed or spin. Pips in sponges offer much better spin and speed but lack the control of the former. Most experts recommend pips in rubbers for new players, to allow them to develop their own style of play. Even at higher levels of competition, inverted sponges are commonly used.

There are also anti-spin rubbers and long pips rubbers. Anti-spin rubbers are inverted sponges with extra slick surfaces. This causes the ball to slide on it without the ability to spin. These are a good choice for experienced defensive players. Long pips sponges have very long and thin pips. These are also good for high-level defensive players because they produce erratic results. Each of these sponges is special cases and shouldn't be used by novice players.

Here is a quick breakdown of pips in rubber sheets:

High-spin and smooth rubber sheets with a soft and light sponge are good for attack players. High-spin and smooth rubber sheets with a soft and slow sponge are good for defensive players with chopping styles. Fast and smooth rubbers with medium-spin and soft, very light sponges are designed for attackers that like to emphasize speed over spin. Sticky rubbers with a hard, fast sponge are perfect for quick attack players that like the Loop and Hit style and defensive players that like strong spins. Sticky rubbers with a soft sponge are good for both defensive and attack players preferring more spin and less speed. Anti-spin rubbers with a soft sponge are great for defensive players who don't want spin.

For players wanting to use pips out rubber sheets the following information is for you:

Fast pips with soft sponges are good for attackers who want speed over spin and for defensive players who want to emphasize control. Pips out with no sponge are for any style player wanting a lot of control, but at the cost of speed and spin. Long pips with either a soft sponge or no sponge is better for highly experienced defensive players that want to eliminate spin from their game.

No matter which rubber you choose to go with, give yourself a little while to get used to it. The more you play with it, the more of its characteristics you'll discover. Play with each sponge around a month of play before dropping it for a different style. Each rubber enhances different styles of play and it may take a few to find the ones you're most comfortable with.