Table Tennis Rubber

So, if you're following my recommendation to buy a customised racket (part one) rather than a ready-made racket, and you've chosen your table tennis blade (part two), you're now ready to choose your rubbers.

Because these rubbers are available in such a bewildering array of choices, it can be very difficult to choose just one.

Fortunately though, all the table tennis equipment suppliers now categorise their rubbers ... so as long as you choose a rubber from the right category, you can be confident that it'll be right for you.

Since 1 July 1986 the rules of table tennis state that one side of the racket shall be bright red and the other side black.

This rule was introduced because of the increased use of "combination" rackets in the late 70s and early 80s.

Players were using the same colour rubber on each side of their racket - but each side was a different type of rubber - and this made it very difficult for the opponent to know what type of spin was being imparted onto the ball.

So if you're planning on taking part in authorised table tennis events, make sure that you buy the correct colours.

Only table tennis rubbers authorised by The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) can be used in authorised table tennis events, so you must ensure that the ITTF logo appears on your rubbers.

The ITTF update their list of authorised rubbers every six months, so you should also check that the rubbers you buy are still authorised when you buy them.

Here's an example of what you'll see on the lower portion of Butterfly Bryce rubbers.

But how do you decide what rubber to use?

You can buy table tennis equipment from this supplier

In part two we considered your style of play in order to help you decide which blade you should choose.

Well now you need to choose a complementary set of rubbers to match your style of play and the table tennis blade you've chosen, because choosing the right type of rubber is imperative if you want to maximise your chances of improving your game.

You can buy table tennis equipment from this supplier

There are three main differences between table tennis rubbers...

1. The thickness of the sponge and rubber

   Table tennis rubbers are available in different thicknesses and, as a general rule, the thicker the sponge, the more attacking / offensive the rubber.

   For example, a 2.0mm or 2.5mm sponge will be more suitable for an attacking / offensive style of play, whilst a 1.0mm or 1.5mm sponge will suit a more defensive style of play.

   
   
   
2. Pimples out

   Table tennis rubbers can have the pimples (pips) facing outwards or inwards.

   Pimpled rubber (pips) has the pimples facing outwards which means that the smooth side of the rubber is attached to the sponge. So you strike the table tennis ball with the pimpled surface.

   Pimples out is available in two basic varieties - short pimples or long pimples - and each one gives you a completely different effect when the ball is struck by the pimples.

   Short pimples are suitable for players with a fast blocking or counter hitting game, whilst long pimples are suitable for a more defensive style of play. They also help you to return attacking / offensive shots with unpredictable results.

   
   
   
3. Reverse rubber (pimples in)

   Table tennis rubbers can also have the pimples (pips) facing inwards towards the sponge. You therefore strike the table tennis ball with the smooth side of the rubber.

   This is known as reverse rubber and is by far the most popular type of rubber as it allows a complete range of strokes to be played.

   This type of rubber will give you good control and can help you to develop your strokes, whereas pimpled rubber (pips) is designed for advanced players who want to play a particular type of game.

As we discussed earlier, your choice of rubber will be dictated by your style of play. If you're a beginner I'd recommend that you use reverse rubbers.

Additionally, I'd recommend that you use the same type of rubber on both sides of your racket as this will help you to develop your strokes.

Let's take a look at the three different styles of play ...

1. All-round / counter-attacking style

   If you're just starting to play table tennis, or you've developed an all-round, counter-attacking style of play, a medium speed rubber will give you good control.

   I'd recommend ...

   

   Butterfly Sriver 1.5 mm rubber on both sides of your blade.

   Sriver is one of the most popular rubbers of all-time and is used by a high percentage of top players. The 1.5mm variety will give you great control.

   You can buy your Butterfly Sriver and other rubbers here.

   
   
   
2. Attacking / offensive style

   If you've developed an attacking / offensive style of play, a faster rubber will suit you better. However, a faster rubber means that you'll lose some of the control offered by the slower rubbers.

   I'd recommend ...

   

   Butterfly Bryce 2.1mm rubber on both sides of your blade.

   Bryce is one of the latest types of rubber which incorporates "High Tension". This causes the ball to rebound off the rubber with extra speed.

   As both the rubber and the sponge are flexible and highly resilient, they catch and absorb the oncoming ball and catapult it back with your own added speed and spin.

   You can buy your Butterfly Bryce and other rubbers here.

   
   
   
3. Defensive style

   If you've developed a defensive style of play, a slower rubber will suit you better. However, a slower rubber means that you'll find it difficult to generate the speed of shot offered by faster rubbers.

   I'd recommend ...

   

   Butterfly Tackiness Chop-II 1.5mm rubber on both sides of your blade.

   Butterfly have now developed this "second generation" of their highly acclaimed Tackiness Chop rubber which first appeared about 30 years ago.

   Tackiness Chop-II helps you to produce extra backspin, with maximum control. And it’s new sponge now has more rebound and therefore makes attacking easier and more effective.

   You can buy your Butterfly Tackiness Chop-II and other rubbers here.

As I said in part one, table tennis rubbers deteriorate with age, so you'll need to replace them at regular intervals.

Dust particles penetrate the rubber causing it to lose its tackiness. And exposure to heat, light and air also causes the rubber to deteriorate.

Professional table tennis players change their rubber extremely frequently - some players change them every day - but they don't have to buy them!

You'll need to change your rubbers when they start to lose their tackiness, so ...

I'd recommend ...

Change your rubbers at least annually.

Even though you may replace your rubber with exactly the same rubber, I find that they still have different playing characteristics.

I play several times each week throughout the season, but I only replace mine at the end of every season as I find it takes a while to get used to the new rubbers.

Now that you've chosen your rubbers, you'll need to know what the rules say about gluing your rubbers onto your blade...