OOAK Table Tennis Forum

I am looking for an extremely tacky, affordable (less than $20 USD) Chinese rubber to be used exclusively for serving on a 729 Bomb blade. I am a high level beginner to low level intermediate player who relies on a spinny and varied serve to get a fair number of my points. I use the same side of my paddle for both forehand and backhand strokes. It occurred to me that since I never flip my paddle, I don’t really need a forehand rubber and backhand rubber setup for active play – I can get in the habit of using one side exclusively for serving. On my first custom paddle I started with Gambler Six Shooter rubber on both sides of the Bomb, which I LOVE for almost all of my shots, but I am really interested in exploring the extreme spin of highly tacky Chinese rubber exclusively for serves. The six shooter just isn't revving up like I'd like on the slower serves. I tend to serve with a wide variety of spin and speed from both forehand and backhand but I do love low to medium speed spin-loaded strokes. Budget is a major factor so the cheaper, the better. Recommendations? Tacky, spinny and cheap!

If you want extreme tack, any of DHS's Hurricane or Skyline rubbers will be perfect for you.

You say that you use only one side of the paddle. Do you play single-sided penhold, or Seemiller? If the former, then having just one rubber is nice for the weight savings. If the latter, you should look into getting a cheap sheet of anti-spin rubber to use on the backside of your paddle, so you can hit with it occasionally to confuse opponents. Friendship 804 is quite cheap, so that'd be my recommendation for anti.

_________________
Shakehand Modern Defense
Butterfly Defence Pro ST, Butterfly Tenergy 64 (1.7), TSP Curl P-1R (1.0~1.3)

I actually don't know what you would call it. I guess it is a modified shakehand grip with my thumb pressed up against the rubber and my forefinger wrapped around the grip rather than stretched across the bottom of the blade. I've never taken a lesson, just always played that way.

It may pay you to have a lesson or two.

Haha. Believe me, I am definitely considering it as I start to visit my local table tennis center more often - so much knowledge there. In the short-term I am looking for a little extra serve edge to play in the local bar league.

The original 729 Super FX is still one of the stickiest sheets around, and is quite cheap.

_________________
OOAK Table Tennis Shop | Re-Impact Blades | Butterfly Table Tennis bats
Setup1: Re-Impact Smart, Viper OX, Victas VS 401 Setup2: Re-Impact Barath, Dtecs OX, TSP Triple Spin Chop 1.0mm Setup3: Re-Impact Dark Knight, Hellfire OX, 999 Turbo
Recent Articles: Butterfly Tenergy Alternatives | Tenergy Rubbers Compared | Re-Impact User Guide

+1 to that. One that is stickier is the "three-nine" 999 rubber. It's not spinnier, though (not for me anyway). Spin capability comes from the rubber's grip on the ball, springiness of rubber and sponge, blade characteristics, and technique. The equation is not a trivial one.

E.g. if you have a fast wrist "snap" and a flexible blade, too much tack can work against the spin (you may be better off with little tackiness, perhaps even only mechanical friction).

_________________
My blog of failures, etc., also containing equipment list at "resurrection" (referred to in a few of my early posts), and my current lineup
Rating in the middle/low range in the region.
Moderating the LP Attacking subforum in the Technique section.

having a rubber that is great for serving is one thing but when you play better players who will return your serves then what?
Im not saying anything bad about being good at serving, Im more or less trying to explain that table tennis is a lot more than serving good

_________________
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

Tackiest sheet I ever bought-729-40H in black with german sponge. I think eacheng has it but zeropong doesn't currently have it.
Avalox Pronte is another good option

Geospin would be an option.

Unless I'm misunderstanding your description, covering your backhand area with forehand must be difficult with that grip - I assume you are doing this by contorting your arm somehow?

_________________
Timo Boll ALC ST
FH Tibhar Evolution MX-P Max
BH Tibhar Evolution FX-S 1.8
185g

Among the Hurricanes and Skylines, Hurricane 2 is the tackiest. If you want a cheaper rubber, DHS 888 and DHS 777 are cheaper and are actually more tacky than H2.

_________________
The Dark Side: "Quicker, easier, more seductive" - Yoda

Another rubber option is the rubber that Pushblocker uses specifically to create serve spin (he is a 2300 level Florida State Champion that plays 99% BH with long pips and uses a dangerous serve)

his serving rubber is Friendship SST Cross, available at zeropong and others. I have used this rubber and it is spinnier than Geospin Tacky.

yeah 999t is some spinny rubber at least when its brand new anyway

_________________
my youtube channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/decoyla?feature=mhum

Main: / secondary / LP
Blade: DHS Hurricane hao/ Blade- Hurricane Hao 2
FH: Skyline 3(Blue Sponge)/ FH- Nittaku H3 pro
BH: Omega Asia/ BH- Calibra Tour H

Actually both forehand and backhand feel quite natural to me. The best way I can describe it is this: put your arm straight out in front of you and give a stubby Bill Clinton thumbs-up. Now stick your paddle in your fist with the blade pointing up, parallel to your body. You are now looking straight at the rubber of your paddle with your thumb pressed against the bottom center of the rubber (about half of your thumb pressed against the bevel of the handle). Rotate your wrist 90 degrees counter clockwise (right handed) to be in position to hit your backhand. Rotate your wrist 90 degrees clockwise to be in position to hit your forehand. Most of the adjustment is my my shoulder and stance rather than in grip, although that shifts as well.

Great recommendations so far!

I played a guy who used this grip.

He backed away form the table and couldn't get my backspin serve because of it. His shots had little topspin, most of his balls had either top/side or just a flat out smash...

_________________
SPW/Solo