OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Okay, it took me a while to finally put 388d-1 on my S&T Firestarter. I heard many good things about this pip, but figured like most it wouldn't live up to its hype like most (especially Chinese) pips. I've had it on my blade for two months now and it probably won't come off for a long time. I like active blocking, side swipes, chop blocking, punch blocks. It's great, I'm pretty sure that is style it was made for, owning to all the Chinese ph blockers that use it.

But now I'm curious to all the differences between the 388d and d-1s. Like many Chinese rubbers. There are so many variations I would like to get them straight. I know most of the info is found on various threads through the forum but it usually is just between two versions not all. I thought it good to compile it in one place for anyone else curious about the various versions. So if you reply with info I'll put it in the matrix. Multiple/contradicting opinions are fine.

On first four categories, you can rate high, medium or low. The last two are for what type of blocking is the pip better for, or if it's best for chopping.

Speed. Reversal. Deception. Control. Soft/Med./Stiff pips. Active/Passive/Chop

388d

388d grass 20

388d-1

388d-1 Quattro

388d-1 pro

If you prefer I can organize it in the carrot (<,>) fashion. Or if anyone is familiar with all I can just copy your answer to this first post.

Thanks.

_________________
"When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk."

388d - smooth tops

388d- smooth same topsheet dampening sponge

388d-1 textured tops

388d-1 quattro - same topsheet purple "tension sponge"

388d-1 pro same top sheet harder sponge


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So the only differences between the two 388d and the three 388d-1s are the sponge. Wow. Good to know.

_________________
"When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk."

I know sometimes companies break this rule...but it is illegal by ittf standards to have different top sheets with the same name.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

Gotcha. I had late last night tried to sort out some of the reviews. Some would they were the same, others different, same people would say something different on different threads. Some with canvas backs. Sometimes softer topsheets. Oh the world of Chinese pips and rubbers.

_________________
"When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk."

I have used both extensively in ox in matchplay and I could use either but there are also some differences.
1.The smooth tops on 388d makes spin reversal a little better
2.The rough tops on 388d-1 makes it more spin sensitive on passive play but better for attacking underspin
I found slightly more control when chopping with 388d and when blocking also.
After using both I opted for 388d due to better overall control in most situations but still plenty of effects/swinging balls,these are the only rubbers out of the current legal crop of lp I have tested that have drawn comments from who I was playing against regarding `wobble`

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Tsp Black Balsa 3.0 Tenergy 05 1.9 388d ox black

Tried both in OX and much prefer the 388D as the pips look very similar in structure and also plays very similar to Bomb Talent OX which I now use.

I tested bomb talent ox alongside 388d ox and I liked it but sometimes felt when chopping with the bomb that I could feel the wood sooner which meant less backspin and control but yes there are similarities

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Tsp Black Balsa 3.0 Tenergy 05 1.9 388d ox black

Agree I use Bomb Talent mainly for blocking and hitting with the occasional chop when forced back. 388D seemed better at chopping.

Lately, I have been playing with 388D1 a lot. Started with 0.8mm sponge in Feb this year. Some how, I just feel totally at ease with it. Then i tried many others such as no.1, Agenda, dtecs, while they are good pips with strength in various areas. My coach tells me that I make fewer mistakes with 388D1. Then two weeks ago, i tried the ox version and found that it has better spin reversal and speed. Plus when I attack, there is more spin variations ...sometimes it becone topspin, sometimes with a little under spin, causing quite a lot of trouble to my coach. When I block or chop block, it comes naturaly ....like if I know there is a lot of top spin, i would naturaly close the angle and I hardly make any mistake. punching with the ox is very effective due to the increased speed. So, overall it is working wonderfuly for me

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wlhk
Chinese Penholder
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Forehand: MXP
Backhand: Grass Dtecs, Tsp P3 Alpha
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@wihk
Sounds like we have had similar reactions to the 388d-1. I can feel I have more ability to change up spin. Especially between a dead ball and a reversed one. I really like that aspect of control. It feels extremely comfortable to me too.

For two years I used Crop Circles but it felt like I needed something more dangerous on the offense a touch more funkiness/deception.
Last year I tried too many LP, with DG and D.tecs feeling good, but D.tecs seems better for a more passive game. The Pips are so big and flexible it allows the incoming ball to release with lots of funk, which was nice, but when I tried to add active strokes sometimes the funk would work against me, which I guess is why some say its a hard to control pip. Though I'm sure experience helps.
With DG. it was great in both passive and hitting. The active game though was tough... For lack of better terms, it felt as though it had low dwell time on the pips since they are stiffer. I couldn't chop block or side swipe easily. I usually like the ball to dig into the pips and if that happened with DG resulted in my error. I would have to brush the ball on chop blocks and side swipes. If I had the timing down they never came back, but I didn't have the best timing so it was a liability. Who ever can master DG is/would be a formidable player. I'm not there. GD Talon is also good, just felt a little more touchy in active strokes for me.

388d-1 seems to be perfect for me, so I was curious to the other versions, but from this last year I found the Ej bug is awful. So i'm glad that Leatherneck let me know there was no real difference between the topsheets, now I can buy the cheap stuff and not really worry how the others feel. Haha.

_________________
"When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk."

388d-1 textured tops

388d-1 quattro - same topsheet purple "tension sponge"

I get that but why is there a quattro ox ?, if you know what I mean

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Blade Ulmo Duality| FH Tibhar mx-p Black, Dawei 388D-1 red OX
NZ table tennis selector, ask a question
My Blog here..How table tennis objects are made
Table Tennis abbreviations, and acronyms

The 388d1 Quattro version, if you flip over the rubber and look at its base/ bottom, you can see that there are diagonals texture. The non quattro version does not have the diagonal. I like the quattro version a bit more than the regular 388d1

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wlhk
Chinese Penholder
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Forehand: MXP
Backhand: Grass Dtecs, Tsp P3 Alpha
--------------------------------------------------------------

Yes I do see that, and use quattro ox myself, but when there is no sponge then its a whole different animal

_________________
Blade Ulmo Duality| FH Tibhar mx-p Black, Dawei 388D-1 red OX
NZ table tennis selector, ask a question
My Blog here..How table tennis objects are made
Table Tennis abbreviations, and acronyms

So what is the difference between between reg and Quattro in ox? Outside of of diagonal lines? There is also an ox version of the pro version. Seems like a mess to me.

_________________
"When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk."