Paddle Palace Q&A
Voted Best Answer
Apr 02, 2022 - 10:05 PM
Thank you for your very astute question. Many players fall into the trap of just wanting the fastest blade and fastest rubber possible so they can win the point as fast as possible. The challenge is you really can't be on offense ALL the time and the benefit of having the fastest blade on the table can also be tougher to control your opponent's attack.
Remember you opponent can win easy points when you can't control their attacks. Also, if you get out of position often, a too fast total racket can be a liability as it will be difficult to keep the ball on the table when the combo screams speed on all shots. Good technique, solid footwork and smart decision making (attack the weak balls and control the strong shots) can allow a player to have a livelier set-up without giving up control. A good baseline to consider is are your pushes and blocks still consistent with the faster blade and rubber. If not, slow one of them down.
Most elite players start with a comfortable weighted blade that has the proper flex or stiffness to complement their game (Offensive, All-around, Defensive). After the blade decision is locked down, then look for rubber sheets that help fine tune your strengths and weakness on both sides. The two big options are harder sponge (with tackier top sheets) or bouncier sponge. Testing different sponge thickness can also help with fine-tuning the perfect set-up.
This is a long-winded way of saying, be careful if expect to your equipment to make your shots for you. We have found it is much wiser to add speed to your combo as your game evolves and you can tweak your shots to control the power!
Remember you opponent can win easy points when you can't control their attacks. Also, if you get out of position often, a too fast total racket can be a liability as it will be difficult to keep the ball on the table when the combo screams speed on all shots. Good technique, solid footwork and smart decision making (attack the weak balls and control the strong shots) can allow a player to have a livelier set-up without giving up control. A good baseline to consider is are your pushes and blocks still consistent with the faster blade and rubber. If not, slow one of them down.
Most elite players start with a comfortable weighted blade that has the proper flex or stiffness to complement their game (Offensive, All-around, Defensive). After the blade decision is locked down, then look for rubber sheets that help fine tune your strengths and weakness on both sides. The two big options are harder sponge (with tackier top sheets) or bouncier sponge. Testing different sponge thickness can also help with fine-tuning the perfect set-up.
This is a long-winded way of saying, be careful if expect to your equipment to make your shots for you. We have found it is much wiser to add speed to your combo as your game evolves and you can tweak your shots to control the power!
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