OOAK Table Tennis Forum

With a BIG THANKS to our friend auzcar, Hans Thalin has kindly agreed to answer some of our questions about pimple rubber techniques and strategies!

Here are some details from auzcar about Hans:


This is unique opportunity to ask question from a top pimple technique coach, so fire away guys!

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Hi Hans,

As an aspiring LP attacker, I would love to hear your comments on the playing style of Norbert Zmyj. I understand he plays in 4th division in Germany.



Is this topspin drive technique with LP a fringe activity or an early indication of things to come?

How would you advise former frictionless blockers to adjust their game?

Is disruptive blocking at the table still feasible? If so, what blade and long pips do you recommend?

How do you deal with no-spin balls using long pips?

Is long pips backhand/short pips forehand a good combination?

What are some good tactics for long pips players to use?

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My whole set-up costs less than a sheet of Butterfly Dignics

What advice would give to attacking with long pimples on the backhand?

Is there money in pimple coaching? Don't really ask him that Haggis. I just don't know enough about pips to ask anything. Cool subject though!

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Photino
My rubbers are 9 years old. They won’t be there long.

When did you switch to pimples?
How many double inverted players have tried to convert you?

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SPW/Solo

Hi, Hans

What were your goals when you converted to LP? To what extent did you achieve these goals? Did you sacrifice any thing you had learned through inverted rubbers in order to convert to LP? What type of players do you recommend LP for?

Thanks

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S/U 1:Primorac Carbon Offensive- BH Joola Maxxx 40 Max, FH Andro Rasant Powersponge Max
S/U 2:Primorac Carbon Offensive- BH Joola Maxxx 40 Max, FH Andro Rasant Beat Max
S/U 3:TSP Hino-Carbon-BH Stiga Boost TX Max, FH Joola rhyzm 375 Max

Just to make one thing clear, I'm not sure if Hans actually plays with LP himself but he's famous for being a very good coach for LP/SP players, and as I said, he was the one who made both Fabian Åkerström and Mattias Karlsson to switch to pips.

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Read about my adventures to perfect my style and the ever-present battle against the evil EJ virus!

I use OX as it offers me much better control in close. Would you recommend most players to use the long pips with sponge, as OX has more limitation compared to with sponge?

Can you see much potential of the Dr Neubauer style player, or has the ban of frictionless pimples basically made that style very limited?

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

When talking to Hans, i understood he used to play doublefish/Prashida 820 B Anti. This rubber is not longer ITTF approved

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Main setup :

Blade : Butterfly Gionis All+
FH : DHS Skyline 3-60 (black)
BH : Spinlord Dornenglanz OX (red) (no gluesheet)

i never though there is a coach that is master in lp/sp! every coach i met so far puke when the word "pips" came out

so my question is
is it possible to play with SPs away from the table and still get all the benefits from the pips?
if so - which strokes are better at that range and which are not?
any tips how to perform those strokes and the different between the strokes with inverted to the strokes with the SPs or is it the same motion?

thx alot!!!

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tibhar stratus defence | coppa X3 silver max FH | Grass D.tecs 1.2 BH
~~~PIPS FTW~~~

If a person plays a close to the table chop block game using OX long pips on their backhand and an inverted forehand looping game, would he recommend attacking with OX long pips from the backhand or would it be better to twiddle and attack with the backhand with the inverted side.

Greg Letts has previously stated in his opinion not to attack with long pips. It would be interesting to get Mr. Thalin's view on this as well.

Particularly at the amateur levels, an common practice when playing against LP players is to put the ball deep with little spin, as the LP player cannot do much with balls like this, unless the twiddles or runs around to take it on the forehand. What would your advice for the LP player if strategies like this are used?

What are some effective serves for a LP player to use, allowing them to attack with the pips?

Do you think there are some LP rubbers that are particularly effective for a close-in blocking/aggressive pushing style game?

How do you identify players that have a style and talent for using LPs? Do you ever recommend it to beginners?

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

Any more questions guys? This is a pretty unique opportunity, so lets make the most of it!

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OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

If someone is a beginner, and they tend to take the ball early and fast drive it (or push sometimes), and can't loop very well (nor is looping natural like the driving), should they take the time to develop a better loop, or could I just be mostly a driver, and use SP on the FH?

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