Rook or Touch...or Rook

I know this is a commonly asked question but i feel i have a different take on it. I know someone selling an older Rook paddle, i believe it is from ya'll. Yes "ya'll", I am from Texas :)

Part 1 It is used, and older, and one rubber if not both is damaged. I believe one side got soaked with water,, and sat in it for awhile and is dead, water logged and damaged. I was wondering if it is worth purchasing this bat at a discount, and putting a new Lion rubber on the back side. I don't know about the other side it might be damaged as well.

Part 2, As I could not find Lion 5 star rubbers anywhere, where could I purchase a rubber that is very similar to Lion 5 star rubber that you use? What rubber is the nearest to the Lion 5 star that could replace this?

Part 3. I have been playing Table tennis on and off for quite a number of years, but have gotten quite serious recently. I had been using cheap store bought pre-made paddles for like 10 dollars or so. I recently used a friends old bat with a hurricane 3 and hurricane 2 rubber on the FH and BH respectively. It felt good, but fast, i didn't know if this was too advanced. I also played a couple months with a friends old Tibhar "Champ" blade with 2 tensors rubbers on it, Tibhar "Samurai" on both the BH and FH. This felt great although a little fast! I am very interested in learning the game the right way and learning all the strokes and have since purchased a new Chinese bat. It is identical to this, except a shake hand not a pen hold. http://zeropong.com/product.php?productid=17538&cat=0&page=1

729 glass composite bat, 729-2 red rubber pips in, and 729 black pips in rubbers. Bat felt awesome at first, but since my initial jubilation  it seems much too fast and i cannot work on my stroke for fear of hitting off the end of the table. I felt like I have much less control, and much more speed than the previous 2 bats i discussed.

My questions is, Would the Rook or the Touch with Mark V be a better match for me. I am leaning towards the Rook and replace the rubbers, since that would be the cheapest, and I would learn all the strokes properly and could always upgrade to the Touch with Mark V once my skills improve!

 So do you know where i can buy a replacement Lion 5 Star rubber? If not what would serve as a good substitute for it?

Thanks

Your Thoughts are greatly appreciated!

Ryan From Texas!

Hi Ryan, (from Texas)

I would go for the Touch with Mark V.  I think you are at the stage of outgrowing the Rook too quickly so go for the Touch.  It will also allow you to upgrade easier one you get past the Mark V.