OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I have just started playing again after a long break, and need to get a new blade & rubbers. I play mainly loop and counter hit game close-mid distance from the table. My old bat was a Victory(Russian) carbon off+ blade with orange magic carbon max and orange tornado F/hand with black Mark V 2mm on the B/hand.

I was thinking of possibly one of the folowing blades

Andro - Super core kinetic Explorer off+
Stiga - Titanium 5.4 WRB
Butterfly - Balsa carbo X5
Donic - Waldner Black Devil
Donic - Persson Dotec Off

As for Rubbers I'm not sure, and need some sound advice. My back hand is at present the weaker, so I was thinking something with a bit more control?

F/Hand
Nittaku - Red Magic Carbon Max
Nittaku - Hammond X Max

B/Hand
729 Trans faster 2.0mm

Any advise would be welcome, as it has all changed so much.

Why not check out if your previous equipment can still do the job? Could save a few bucks that way. You might change the rubbers, though, since old rubbers could be crummy.

_________________
Viscaria. H2 Neo 2.15. Tenergy 05 1.9.

The rubbers are well gone and the blade is very close to being dead due to general neglect over the years, and not worth sticking new rubbers on.

i think the markV today is not the same markV from the time of the orange tornado! (i used to play with that one.. fast bugger!)

i'm no expert about new gear.. but from what i see about ur old gear.. u had a pretty fast setup.. maybe that can help in the decisions...

speedplay: what? no wavestone?

I'm with Speedplay on this one man! Times have changed dramatically in the gap in the quality of equipment coming out of japan, and china. The Chinese equipment will do the job at 1/3rd the price. Look at Tulpe/Kokutaku, and Galaxy blades. In either case Haggis can help. As far as the rubbers you are looking at probably two of the most different F/hand rubbers I can think of...heh. Hammond X is stupid fast, I don't know that you'll like the Red Magic as an offensive rubber. If I were you I would consider Higher III over Faster for the backhand. Higher, IMO can hit a few more shots.

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

harrie t, I think Haggis could take care of this whole problem for you quick fast and in a hurry. Get a Galaxy T-4, with Juic Varities for FH, and Juic 999 EU for backhand. It will cost about the same as what you are looking at, it will be a little quicker on backhand and about the same on forehand (Juic is also typically more durable than Nittaku (this is coming from a HUGE Nittaku fan)), and the entire setup will be lighter too. The Faster probably weighs more than Varities, and 999 EU put together. Oh also the T-4 is a pretty thin only 85 gm 5 wood ply- 4 Carbon ply blade. It's pretty quick, but very nice. That would be my vote based on what you are looking at.

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

I have these two in your list

Stiga - Titanium 5.4 WRB
Butterfly - Balsa carbo X5

and a BTY Sardius and Milkyway S3.

My current favourite is BTY Balsa Carbo X5 with harder feel and fast.
This blade is light but Stiga is lighter, a bit faster but softer feel.

I have Donic Gallardo Power Sound which is a light rubber and Stiga Almana Sound on these two blades.

Sardius with Donic is also good without the very hard feel of the blade as if put on hard rubbers, like H3. Putting Bryce is also fast but I like the sound of Donic and can do thin brush. Sardius is a lot heavier but not as fast as the other two even though it is rated as second fastest after Schlager in BTY line.

Just my opinion.

It is best to try out some combinations how these fit you.
----------

Looking at Skippy's comments.

I have doubt in T4 as I got one in C-pen. It is hard and control is vague. It is a bit thinner. Fast but not as fast with good feel as Balsa Carbo and Titanium 5.4 WRB in my opinion.

Truely, Chinese blades are cheap but you need only one or two to play anoher 10 years. Why not getting the best you could afford? S3 is quite close to Balsa Carbo but the feel is harder and not the best I like if compared with BTY Balsa Carbo X5.

Single ply Hinoki blade may be faster with good feel and control but may weigh more.
----------

The Balsacarbo x5 has a harder feel than the titanium 5.4?

_________________
Chasse Patate

My German friend who got me interested in serious TT used a DEF+ blade with Magic Carbon on BH and 729 Super on FH. He would be USATT 2000 easy. Magic carbon for the BH is a great control rubber which I might buy for my BH if I don't like the next rubber I try. I hope you are a counterhitter/driver or a mid distance looper if you go to Hammond X. Go ahead and try the stuff, find my reviews, then tell me how far off base or which controlled substances I ingested making the reviews of 1/2 of the Nittaku inverted lineup. Most of the Chinese stuff the guys talk about will work for you, especially the Galaxy blades or Tulpe.

_________________
Goof-off chopping bat
Gambler All Rosewood
Aurus Soft / Gambler GXL .6 sponge

Status - Out of Business Janitor/Babysitter