OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Hey,

i play modern defense, and have used TSP P1-r in 1.0mm for a couple years now, with great results. I never felt a need to change, as I was getting really heavy spin on chops, good consistency, and good ability to push and pick hit close to the table. Thing is I've noticed that ever since the plastic ball came around, I can't get quite enough backspin on heavy loops, and can't make enough spin on dead balls to consistently prevent attackers from driving the ball. I've been thinking about switching to SP chopping so that I have more control over the spin, and the only two I'm considering are TSP Superspinpips Chop, or SSP chop 2 (I have a lot of faith in TSP pips and wouldn't use anything else).
The v1 of SSP chop supposedly has a very hard sponge (similar to P1r?), and the v2 supposedly has a very soft, dead sponge (like P4 or Feint Long III?). I know I like a harder sponge under LP, because the soft and grippy pips provide enough of a braking effect, but I have no idea how this would translate into short pip chopping, given that the pips can't bend (I assume). Can anyone with any amount of SP chopping experience give me some input?

Also, does the sponge need to be thicker with SP because of less dwell time? I've really only been considering 1mm, but I may go as high as 1.5mm if I have to. I haven't tried the SSP 1 or 2, so I can't exactly imagine how they would play, and I definitely don't want to buy both rubbers in both thicknesses and end up having 3 out of 4 sitting in my bookshelf, so any advice would be awesome. Thanks guys

I've just tested a SSP chop 2 with 0,5mm to replace my Curl P4 0,5mm (so same sponge and thickness) and I can say 0,5mm with SP is not enough.

I will give a try with a Tibhar Speedy Soft in 1mm thaht a friend will give me.

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Blade : OSP Imune Pushblocker
FH : Yasaka Rakza Z 2mm
BH : DrNeubauer TroubleMaker 0x

Thanks for the input! Personally I'd never go lower than 1mm sponge thickness for any rubber though, Not enough dwell time or spin for effective chopping, pushing, or hitting.

Before I use long pimples in 0x it's why I don't use a lot of Sponge with C Ball. Perhaps with P Ball i will upgrade the thickness.

I've also tested Curl P4 in 0x, 0,5 et 1mm and due to his very very soft sponge, in 1mm I've no feeling and no speed at all LOL

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Blade : OSP Imune Pushblocker
FH : Yasaka Rakza Z 2mm
BH : DrNeubauer TroubleMaker 0x

The feeling or lack of feeling is also dependent on how stiff/flexy and hard/soft the blade is, I use a fairly stiff hard blade (JSH) so I get very crisp feedback even with thicker soft sponge. Flexy soft blades like Defplay are used by lots of choppers but I personally don't like that feel, especially on forehand loops.

Not a lot of SP choppers on the forum I'm guessing. Go figure! I'll probably just try SSPC2 on a 1.0-1.3mm sponge and see if that works for me.

I believe that leatherback uses 1.5 Tsp Superspinpips on his BH for chopping; im not sure what version of SSP he is using though.

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Blade: Victas Koji Matsushita Offensive FL
FH: Victas VS > 401 2.0
BH: Victas Spectol S1 1.5

Rating: Recreational Player

Hmm, I just sent him a PM. We'll see! Pretty sure he just uses the regular sponge for BH.

I would also take note to grilledtomatoes advice on blades as well. Blades are a factor on the sponge you should use.

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Blade: Victas Koji Matsushita Offensive FL
FH: Victas VS > 401 2.0
BH: Victas Spectol S1 1.5

Rating: Recreational Player

I have a memory of Letherback saying something like, that with SP chopping you need 3 hours training a day to get right feeling and touch, so it's not just equipment change from LP to SP, but also movement to much more demanding equipment.

I agree that it's more demanding, but I'm young (college), am athletic, and can chop with inverted, and use sponged grippy LP as it is, so I'm not worried. It's not quite the same deal as someone who chopped with Dtecs ox trying to switch to SP chopping. I don't subscribe to the belief that X equipment requires Y amount of hours per day for every person, that's silly. And anyway, I play a lot.

Going from a LP to a SP is a big change. I tried it myself and gave up very quick. I can chop with inverted and LP, but I never got the hang of chopping with SP. It's a totally different animal.
Besides, i think Leatherback isn't using SP anymore (but he can still give advise about it).

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There's always stuff to improve!

My blog on being a LP defender beyond 2000 USATT and the pips discrimination that comes along with that

Yeah, I asked him via PM, he gave me a couple tips.

And thanks everyone for your concern, but I am going to at least try short pips either way.. the thread is not about asking people how hard or scary short pip chopping is, it's about asking what sponges people generally prefer under their short pips.

So to future commenters.. Yes I understand everyone finds chopping with short pips extremely difficult! Thank you!

Still welcoming comments about experiences chopping with different SPs/sponge-types

Well, the best I chopped with was 802 with the soft 35° orange sponge underneath it.

_________________
There's always stuff to improve!

My blog on being a LP defender beyond 2000 USATT and the pips discrimination that comes along with that

Nicest SP chopping rubber I've used was standard Spectol in 1.5mm.


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Yasaka Sweden Classic | 802 OX | C8 OX
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