Questions about Pips out bats

Table Tennis General

Last updated 14 years ago

andrew brand

andrew brand Asked 14 years ago

hi, i look forward to receiving the training secrets dvd when it is complete.  my question/s are about pips-out. i need to build up an understanding of the different characteristics so i can beat players using these awkward bats.

1. what is the reason and advantage for using short pips. what is best strategy against this when using inverted rubber (WHICH I USE)

2. same question about long-pips. although i think i half understand that long-pips are for reversing spin that is delivered to you by the other player, but do they have other uses? can they be used to attack.

3. if i were to make up a bat using either of 1 or 2, where would i use a sponge under the rubber if at all. and why.

im considering making a bat up with these types of rubber just to use them for a while to try and understand their purpose, so i can form a plan against them.  this of course depends on your answer, i have an old slow bat i can use to try with these rubbers, dont know if its worth it. many thanks, Andrew.


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago

Short Pips
Good for flat and faster hitting.  Can't generate as much spin as inverted rubber.
When playing against this use spin not speed.  The pimples willfind it difficult to cope with heavy topspin or backspin but love it when the ball is played flat and fast.

Long Pips
Good for reversing spin as you said.  Good for defensive play and returning spin.
They can be used to attack but this is difficult.

The sponge under the rubber gives you more control and feel.  Short pips without sponge is not much use at all.

Long pips without sponge is hard to control but has good effect.

It would be worth making up a bat and using the different types of pips.  This is a useful way to help you to understand the effects that they have.  Make up the bats with sponge underneath both.

The other important thing which you seem to be doing well is accepting them as a legitimate way to play and trying to understand what happens with these rubbers.

Hope this helps.


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Thoughts on this question

andrew brand

andrew brand Posted 14 years ago

EXCELLENT ADVICE, THANKS FOR SUCH A DETAILED RESPONSE. I AM GOING TO TRY A LONG PIMPLE RUBBER WITH 0.8 SPONGE FIRST.  I THINK THIS IS A GOOD STARTING POINT, IM MORE INTO SPINNY CHOPS THAN FLAT  HITTING. I ALSO COME UP AGAINST SOME AMAZING TOPSPIN DRIVES, AND I THINK THE LONG P.R. WILL HELP AGAINST THESE. THANKS ALOIS.  AND YES I AM RECENTLY REALIZING THE LEGITIMACY OF THESE TYPES OF RUBBER, WHERE AS BEFORE I THOUGHT THEY WERE MORE OF AN AFTERTHOUGHT, PEOPLE WHO USE THESE RUBBERS SEEM VERY DIFFICULT OPPONENTS SO THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN IT. MY CHOPS WILL HOVER LIKE KILLER BEES NOW!

andrew brand

andrew brand Posted 14 years ago

COULD SOMEONE EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF MEDIUM PIMPLED RUBBERS? I UNDERSTAND LONG ARE FOR DEFENSIVE REVERSING SPIN AND RETURNING SPINNY SERVES, AND SHORT PIPS ARE MAINLY FLAT FAST HITTING AND CREATE A LITTLE SPIN. BUT WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MEDIUM PIMPLES?

Leslie Unknown

Leslie Unknown Posted 14 years ago

Medium pimples have characteristics between short and long pimples. Spin wise they can generate less than short pips but more than long pips and they have more spin reversal than short pips but less than long pips.

Also if you decide to play away from the table with long pimples, be prepared to be running 10 times as much as when you were attacking. I've changed to this style for about 2 months so far and I've felt more fatigued after every game but am trying to adapt my body to it with more time in the gym.

andrew brand

andrew brand Posted 14 years ago

thanks for your help on that leslie. i used to be a defensive player but have changed my style to attacking, but cant help defending half the time still, even with the fast bat i use, i just enjoy the chopping and blocking smashes, but now i only defend as i need to when under pressure, its nice to still have that skill, and attack when i can, gives me an all-round game i think. im quite new to the game, 1 year now. only just started league play and really am enjoying the experience.  im thinking of having a spare bat with 1 side pimples to use occasionally against opponents it would work well against. i know what you mean, when defending far back its almost like playing tennis, you are running about so much, but its great fun i think and wears people down when they expect their smashes to win the point and they keep coming back. its great to be able to fight your way back to near table though and start your own smash attack. i love it.


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