OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I used to use very soft sponge short pips (Joola Tango Ultra) but after I tried Joola Snabb, I realized I had much better feel with the medium hard sponge of the latter as I could better roll and return serve with it.

Since then I've tried some softer sponge short pips (like Royal, T-Original and 802 with 35 degree sponge) and found them too soft after I treat with 1-2 coats of Ecolo Expander II (I don't glue). I prefer 1.8 sponge.

I'm not wild about the price of Snabb (42.95 USD) so I'm looking for a less expensive rubber. I never really liked 802-40, but I might try 802 with a harder (like 40-42 hardness) sponge. I tried Yasaka PB-1 a while back but it's only available in 1.5 and 2.0 as is Juic Patisuma II, has anyone tried them?

I may also try Flarestorm in 1.7, though I hesitate since it's only slightly cheaper than Snabb. Is Flarestorm the same topsheet as Raystorm but a harder sponge? If so, that might be worth a try.

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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

Are you comfortable glueing a tophseet and sponge together yourself? If so, you could pick up some saviga sponges from cole and try them under various cheap chinese short pips... That's what I'm using right now: 1.2 35 degree saviga sponge under a 799 topsheet.

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I've got a sheet of 802 and 802-40 on 35 and 40 degree Saviga sponge but I think I might go with a denser sponge as they still seem a little soft after treating with 1 coat of EE2.

I might try Flarestorm next as I ned a higher throw on my Yasaka Max Wood than on my Joola Guo 3C.

_________________
-- 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 used both Flarestorm and Raystorm. They are very different, I don't think it is just the sponge, the pips themselves are harder on Flarestorm. I think Flarestorm is probably the best choice for a penholder (it is currently used by David Zhuang of the US team). Of the two, Raystorm is by far the better choice for a shakehands player who uses short pips only on the backhand. The demands of the two styles are quite different, and I think a penholder would find the Flarestorm to be very easy to control, great for nasty blocks with strange effect, and effective for quick hitting. The thin sponge is probably better for that purpose. I couldn't play with it though. I need a much spinnier short pips, the thickest and softest possible sponge (as per Want Tao).

I would suggest using it "as is" right out of the package.

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

Thanks, I've actually been playing successfully with regular Friendship 802 and am trying some different hardness sponges to see what works best.

802 blocks better than Snabb and I can continue spin better with it.

_________________
-- 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