To upgrade or not to upgrade that is the question.

Table Tennis Equipment

Last updated 12 years ago

Shahan Shahid

Shahan Shahid Asked 12 years ago

Dear coach,

When I began playing table tennis my father brought me a Butterfly Yuki-FL. It has Butterfly Flextra rubbers on both sides. When it was new, the rubber felt sticky and tacky. But now, it has just become a smooth piece of rubber. My questions are as follows.

1) Should I upgrade?

2) My blade is a little damaged. Should I get a new blade altogether or should I replace only the rubbers?

3) How good is the Butterfly Sriver for a player like me who loves playing the fore-hand counter and likes to chop the ball? Is it too fast?

I am eagerly waiting to hear from you.

With respect,

Shahan. 

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago

Hi Shahan,

Yes it is time to upgrade.  Once the rubber gets smooth there is very little you can do about it.

The blade can probably be used again.  However you may want to upgrade to something a little faster as well.  Get a blade that has good control and isn't too fast.  Something in the All round range.

Sriver is a very good rubber. It shouldn't be too fast.  It is one of the rubbers with best control that you can get. 

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Thoughts on this question

Shahan Shahid

Shahan Shahid Posted 12 years ago

Thanks a lot for the reply. I have heard that Sriver is not tacky. Is it not tacky at all? Last thing, there are variants of Sriver. Which one should I go for?
Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Hi Shahan,

Sriver is tacky enough.  It will allow you to generate a lot of spin.  It has been used to win World championships in the past.  I would go for the standard Sriver.  It is as good as any. 

Shahan Shahid

Shahan Shahid Posted 12 years ago

Thanks a lot for the help.
Shahan Shahid

Shahan Shahid Posted 12 years ago

My father has brought the Sriver-FX for me. Should I use it or should I return it and get the standrad Sriver? By the way, the blade I am going to use is a Butterfly VSG21-1000-AN.
Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Shahan,

It is a little softer.  If it is no problems, return it, otherwise it will not be much different and will also be good to use.  There is not a lot of difference.

Shahan Shahid

Shahan Shahid Posted 12 years ago

I opened the rubber and compared the stamp on the rubber with those given on the ITTF website. Turns out it is a Sriver L. If it would've been Sriver-FX, it would've had the Sriver-FX stamp. I am safe?
Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Excellent.  Enjoy the new rubber.
Shahan Shahid

Shahan Shahid Posted 12 years ago

Thanks a lot for all the help. I am enjoying it. The amount of spin is great. 
Shahan Shahid

Shahan Shahid Posted 12 years ago

There are a couple of problems that I am facing with my new rubber.

1) The rubber, I think, was manufactured a long time ago. So, it has started to peel off and break already. Is that something to worry about?

2) My game is in a mess because of the upgrade. I am finding it hard to control the speed of the rubber. Is this normal?

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago

Rubber does tend to be quite fragile on the edges.

It is normal to have an adjustment period with new rubber.  THis may be quite a step up so will take a bit of time.  Think about making sure your strokes are correct. 

Shahan Shahid

Shahan Shahid Posted 12 years ago

Thanks for replying.

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