OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I have tried the 802-40 and the 802 (on BH) on the same blade.

The 802 is great for controlled blocking but I just could not get enough speed out of it maybe because of the very soft sponge I used. Also my usual BH stroke (blame that to years of inverted play) is spinny so there were adjustment issues. Perhaps harder sponge like the Dr. Zheng yellow (as Andrew suggested) when used with a punch like stroke may help.

The 802-40 does have some problems dealing with strong spinny loops but just like inverted play , this may be solved with sufficient practice. However, a good SP player will always initiate the offense, increase the pace, and deny opponents the time to execute a spinny loop.

I particularly like playing against opponents who loop a lot because I get to smash in return, but skilled power loopers are the toughest to handle.

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TSP Spectol Soft - 2.1 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
Stiga Clipper CR WRB
--------------and--------------------
TSP Spinpips 21 - 2.0 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
BBC 9-10-9

Is this because of the grippier surface of the 802-1?

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TSP Spectol Soft - 2.1 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
Stiga Clipper CR WRB
--------------and--------------------
TSP Spinpips 21 - 2.0 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
BBC 9-10-9

Possibly, but it's probably mostly just the slightly wider pips.

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-- Andrew

Spintech All Around Penhold blade
Spinlord Keiler II 1.5 black
Nittaku FastArc G1 red

729 all around blade
Tibhar Grass D-Tec S Red
Nittaku FastArc G1 black

I have been experimenting on using less spinny pips and recently tried the 801-1 FH and 802 BH.

The 802-1 has better control and has slightly more spin than the 802.

It works just fine and my adjustment from Clippa was quite easy.

With Clippa, my topspins usually goes higher but the less spinny 802-1 made the ball go low over the net (with me using the same stroke).

Another player in the club who uses 802 agreed that 802-1 does seem to have better control.

In my view, my Clippa 2.0 mm had a more "inverted" or softer feel to it while the 802-1 2.0 mm seem to have a "stiffer" and "crisper" feel to it.
Perhaps the 802-1 pips might be a little harder than the Clippa pips.

_________________
TSP Spectol Soft - 2.1 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
Stiga Clipper CR WRB
--------------and--------------------
TSP Spinpips 21 - 2.0 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
BBC 9-10-9

Yeah, I'm not sure why the control on 802-1 is so good but it's better than either 802-40 or 802 for me. It also seems only slightly less spinny than 802-40 but a lot more spinny than 802, unlike it's description states.

I think it's a real "sleeper" rubber!

_________________
-- Andrew

Spintech All Around Penhold blade
Spinlord Keiler II 1.5 black
Nittaku FastArc G1 red

729 all around blade
Tibhar Grass D-Tec S Red
Nittaku FastArc G1 black

I had more time to use the 802-1 on my BH this weekend and last night.

I have to confirm that it was less "wild" than the 802. It was great for blocking but I had to be more active in doing so compared to the 802-40.

I liked its lower throw because my shots before with the spinny pips used to sail usually high and/or out.

For now, I have mainly been using it to block attack shots or lift backspin balls in order to start the offense. I have yet to actively use it as an aggressive attack weapon on my BH.
I did practice vigorous BH counterhitting last night. My practice partner observed that my shots are more reliable if I contact the ball earlier and hit more forward.

Very peculiar rubber..I need more time to judge its performance (its only been a week).

Andrew, since you have so much faith in the 802-1, I shall devote the next month to mining its secrets.

_________________
TSP Spectol Soft - 2.1 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
Stiga Clipper CR WRB
--------------and--------------------
TSP Spinpips 21 - 2.0 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
BBC 9-10-9

Exactly, with 802-40 you can get away with letting the ball drop and brushing. With 802-1 you have to use it like short pips are intended to, hitting forward near the top of the bounce. Regular 802 is probably just even more extreme that way. Give it a few weeks, and look at Kees' tips.

_________________
-- Andrew

Spintech All Around Penhold blade
Spinlord Keiler II 1.5 black
Nittaku FastArc G1 red

729 all around blade
Tibhar Grass D-Tec S Red
Nittaku FastArc G1 black

Even if you don't like it after a month, when you come back to 802-40 you will play better because the 802-1 will force to use proper short pips technique. You have hit on what that is -- take the ball high and early with a more open racket angle. Try not to brush too much (but once in a while, that is a devastating shot).

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Butterfly Viscaria Black tag
2.2 mm Nexy Karis M on FH and BH

Yes, that is so strange.

I tried the 802-1 on my FH for about 2 days, then I switched to 802-40.
My play suddenly improved. I actually got better in just doing flat hits and could mix them up by adding some little topspin shots.

_________________
TSP Spectol Soft - 2.1 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
Stiga Clipper CR WRB
--------------and--------------------
TSP Spinpips 21 - 2.0 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
BBC 9-10-9

My practice partner noted that I hold my racket (on BH) too close to the table surface, thus I tend to hit upwards. He suggested that I keep it at or above net height so I can just hit forward or downward (for high balls).

I shall review Kee's tips and make sure to practice hitting earlier.

Unfortunately I will be busy and cant play next week..

_________________
TSP Spectol Soft - 2.1 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
Stiga Clipper CR WRB
--------------and--------------------
TSP Spinpips 21 - 2.0 mm - FH
TSP Spectol 21 - 2.1 mm - BH
BBC 9-10-9

What if I like to take the ball on the short-hop . . . on the way up and play a fast game? Which would be better, 802, 802-1, or 802-40? I'm using -40 on 2.2 super soft now and wish I had a little less spin and a little more control. I'm also not sure about the 35º sponge. I need to find the right 802 on the right thickness and softness sponge. Any suggestions . . . ?

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I am Tommy Zai
[email protected]

Hi Tommy Zai,

Perhaps a 802-1 on a thinner 1.5mm sponge will help reduce the spin down to what you require. I find 802-40 a lot spinner than 802, and it's said that 802-1 is the middle ground in between the two other sheets.

I'm thinking that 2.2mm might also be a factor, that's why I recommended a thinner sponge.

Hope that helps.

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Viscaria. H2 Neo 2.15. Tenergy 05 1.9.

I've narrowed my search down to the 802 family and maybe even the 799, but the sponge thickness and hardness factor is another thing. Ahhhrrr.

_________________
I am Tommy Zai
[email protected]

Well, try out 802 on the usual Friendship orange sponge first, I guess. I'll probably couple well with your wood blades, I think.

799 'feels softer' because of the pips thickness even on thin sponges, and tends to reduce spin a little -- I'd like to think of it as 802 with a little less spin capability.

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Viscaria. H2 Neo 2.15. Tenergy 05 1.9.

i played with red 388b-1 and black 388b-1 and felt way diferent, black felt dynamic and red version was too soft mushy and not aggresive, actually sevral smooth rubbers like 729 and 999 feel diff in red and blk