OOAK Table Tennis Forum

Hey, everyone I am a defender who chops quite frequently in the forehand side. I would not classify myself as modern/classical since I vary the tactic much depending on the opponent. I'm not a Wang Xi/Chen-Weixing-like defender looping/smashing anything on my forehand, neither a purely classical defender like Matsushita or Chtchetinine. If I meet an attacker, I classify myself as a classical defender, attacking only on easy balls, otherwise with other defenders or player who don't attack I sometimes take control of the game.
I've been playing for two years with a Victas VS > 401. It is the rubber that allowed me to do the big step up.
My blade now is the famous Koji Matsushita (relatively fast defense blade).
A defender in my club who plays at a higher level suggested me to go for a less hard rubber for forehand to feel the ball better. I love my Victas Vs>401 for chopping on spinny ball and smashing, but I struggle chopping on dead balls and doing the forehand loop (my tecnique is probably not as good as hard rubbers require).
I have asked a friend to try his Tackiness Chop, but I am afraid it will be too slow, so I'm asking for your suggestions.

To sum up I would like a rubber which is similar to the Victas VS>401, but softer

Please, anyone who doesn't play defense or doesn't chop frequently with forehand do not step in the discussion.

In my experience 401 is an excellent rubber for looping and chopping. If you can chop against topspin but not against no spin balls then changing rubbers won’t help. You have a technique and experience problem, not a rubber problem. Rather then change rubbers try to invest in training or commit to do more drills at your local club. Specifically you should practice looping against no spin balls, after awhile you will find it easy. Many people post on ooak forum looking for short cuts through changing equipment but the real answer is better technique, proper training and increased practice.

Thanks for your reply, I am the first to think that equipment doesn't do miracles, in fact I don't like trying stuff and my setup has been the same for years, I am just curious to try something softer to see if it allows me to have a better feeling. If I have trouble chopping against dead balls is because I mostly have to generate the effect with a precise movement to send the ball forward. A medium-hardness sponge would allow those balls to penetrate more in the sponge making the rubber work more effectively

You might want to try the DHS rubber I'm using. Medium feeling, long dwell time. Fast enough to attack, controlled enough to defend.

_________________
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

Thanks for your suggestion, but I am unable to smash well with Chinese rubbers and when the ball is sufficiently high I always go for a smash rather than topspin

The DHS is not a pure Chinese rubber, but a hybrid. Chinese topsheet, soft and dynamic sponge. I can smash just fine with it, but I play the Joo blade, which is more of a hard blade.

_________________
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