OOAK Table Tennis Forum

So I've been having some lessons, and have been playing seriously for about a year now. I think my forehand is probably getting to the point where I'd benefit from a bit more power and spin. I'm currently using Mark V in 2mm. Having said that, I don't want to go too far and lose control. Do you have any recommendations for something I could move to? Like Mark V but with a tad more power and spin? Many thanks.

The latest generation of rubbers have quite a lot of pop, so to minimize the adjustment you can go with a rubber a couple generations old, or a little harder rubber as they have less "boing".

From the Joola line you could try Rhyzm 425 or Maxxx 450. If you want to go a little harder than Mark V, try regular Rhyzm or Maxxx 500. The Maxxx rubbers have a softer topsheet and I think they work better for players that do not have strong technique. Samba 27 is a good value and made in Japan like Mark V. It is not super springy since it is 47 degrees.

Thanks Alpha. I'll have a look at those.

Hi,

Check-out 729 Focus III Snipe (Softer 36°-38° sponge) ... There're also some rubbers by LKT (Pro XP, I think), and Yinhe (some planet ...), that play like slightly upgraded versions of Mark V

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Setup 1 : GKI Euro XX Blade • Xiom Vega Europe Max (Black) • Dawei 388D OX (Red)

Setup 2 : 729 C-5 Blade • Reactor Corbor Max (Black) • Dawei 388D-1 OX (Red)

Setup 3 : Donic Defplay Senso V3 Blade • Palio AK-47 Blue Max (Black) • Palio CK531A 0.6mm (Red)

Setup 4 : XVT Hinoki Balsa Carbon Blade • 729 Focus III Snipe 40° Max (Black) • Reactor Corbor (Red)

Setup 5 : Butterfly Joyner-H Blade (Black Metal Tag) • Palio AK-47 Yellow Max (Black) • Yasaka Mark V Max (Red)

You might have a look at this thread: When to switch rubbers - moving on from Mark V?
There are even pro's using this rubber, i.e. Satoshi Aida. My recommendation: no need to change rubber. If you absolutely have the urge to do so, then H3 offers all any player would want to get - spin, speed, control.

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- style: modern defense -

I've been asked this question a few times, because a lot of people still use Mark V. I recommend Acuda S2.

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Xiom Intro 2mm would be a safe option. Said to play like a speed glued Mark V

Thanks for all the replies.
Maybe I'll stick with the mark V for now then.
To be honest, I also wanted something with more spin to serve with. But maybe this is just technique? People seem to have no issues returning my serve.

Maybe I missed it, but which blade are you using? It might give some context.

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Other setups:
DHS H301 Blade/DHS Hurricane 3 Nat/Loki GTX Pro
DHS H301 Blade/Loki GTX Pro/Loki GTX Pro

You'll probably find that Mark V in 2.2mm/Max will have all the pop you want.. Otherwise, one of the softer Tensors perhaps? Baracuda or Rakza 7? And no pussyfooting with 2.0mm sponge either. To be honest - you'll probably find even the faster Tensors - Rasant, Evolution MX-P - perfectly usable. Those warnings that they're "too fast for beginners" are overblown, in my experience. You'll also find that these rubbers are all more expensive.. I suppose you COULD go all the way to Tenergy 05... (but talk about expensive...)

Iskandar

There is a lot of technique in service than perhaps a lot of people think. Sometimes serves win matches! So do lucky points!

I just watched a Hou YingChao match in the Japanese league, last point was a serve, push return, and then a push-net-point ! NOBODY could return that point and since it is 10- match point, no way to replay or fight back in the next game. He served anything else, it might not have got that particular result.

Might be worth it to get a bucket of 20 - 30 balls and just do rapid serves with attempted zero errors, placement serves, heavy-/slight-/no- spin variations, disguised, tricky hand gestures, etc

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Backup C-pen blades:

• TSP Black Balsa 7.0 :
  1. FH/BH-729OEM/729SuperFX
  2. FH/BH-STN
• 729 Bomb : FH/BH-YRD/T5QS
• DHS PowerG-9 : FH/BH-729SuperFX
• Stag Balsa Koto : FH/BH-YRD/YR9

Fun blades:

• Yasaka Battle Balsa(ST) : FH/BH-YSD

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I'm also thinking what blade.

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Donic Waldner Senso V1,FH Joola Rhyzm 425 2.0mm ,BH Donic Baracuda Big Slam 2.0mm

Sorry, should have mentioned the blade. I'm using an Applegren AllPlay.

I'll second the recommendation for Rakza 7. It's a great modern, all arounder. Used it for several years. I've heard quite a few people say it feels like an upgraded Mark V (though I've never used Mark V myself).

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Kit: Victas Koji Matsushita | Victas VS > 401 2.0mm | Dtecs O.5mm