Ask The Experts: Brian Pace, No. 283 Butterfly Table Tennis Question and Answer

Question:

Hi Coach What rubbers are suitable for this blade. 05 dignics backhand,energy 05 1.9mor 2.1mm.Please. Blade: Mizutani Jun Super ZLC

Answer:

Your Ask the Experts question was answered by Brian Pace. Coach Pace is National Level Table Tennis Coach with Dynamic Table Tennis and his response is as follows:

Isthikhar, Thanks for your question, I appreciate you taking the time. This is one of the more popular questions because there are so many variations that can be created. You have done me a favor by telling me what your blade and rubber is. Jun Mizutani Super ZLC: One of the qualities that creates a standard of play with this blade is the ZLC Carbon fiber layers. These layers are spaced near the outside of the blade, and that creates a particular feel. That is high level response and reaction on power shots because you are getting more amplified contact with the carbon layers first. And great touch on soft shots because the wood plies make up over 95% of the blade. These are the characteristics of how this blade is going to play. What is important is the right type of rubber that is compatible to get the most out of your play. Dignics 05: This rubber represents a new approach to dwell time and trajectory. The Spring Sponge X is a leap forward in how the ball travels, and I would suggest the Dignics 05 as your forehand rubber. You have a higher ability to creates power with the forehand, and the Dignics 05 has the sharpest trajectory. What this means is you are more likely to put the ball in the net, than off the end. If you feel like your attack shots are landing in the net too often, then you may want to consider the newly released Dignics 80, because it is a mid-range landing rubber. Tenergy 05: This is a ideal backhand rubber because a lot of players can’t generate the same amount of power as the forehand. Pulling it from the rubber is a great way to let the rubber do its job instead of forcing the shots. Like with the Dignics 05, you need to monitor the landing area on the table where your backhand is landing. This will determine if you need to upgrade the rubber. Sponge Thickness: This is a really hotly contested question, because it is a really unique art form to master, adapt to, and monitor. The sponge thickness that you choose should be based on the natural touch and feel that you have. If you are most interested in your power shots landing deep on the table, then the 2.1mm is ideal for you. What you are going to give up is control on touch shots. That 2.1mm sponge is more like a trampoline on touch shots like short pushes, flips, serves, and blocks. If you want more control on defense, the thinner sponge will have less of a trampoline affect, and more of the contact will be disperse to the wood faster. This will give more overall control because of the increased dwell time on the racket. What you lose in return for having a thinner sponge is the explosion off the racket that is needed on attack shots. That loss of power will come from the ball contact traveling through the sponge faster, and the blade slower. Transitional Period: I think you are going to need at least 4-6 weeks to flush out this setup, how it plays for you, and what adjustments you have to make. My biggest advice is don’t try to force yourself into how the setup is playing. Make notes of how your shots are playing, and adjust to a different rubber, or a different sponge to find your natural flow of play. Good Luck with your training and improvement. Brian Pace