short pimples

[Lisle]

hi

If i wanted to play like Denis Neale back when he used short pimples with sponge what modern short pimple rubber would u suggest using???
(e.g. radical)

cheers!!!!
Lisle

[Hovis Bread Eater]

There are lots of different pimples on the market and some are easier to play than others.

I would suggest staying away from the Chinese made pimples, they normally have a harder sponge under them and if you are using pimples for the first time are usually less control and more effect (having some backspin on when hitting flat with backhand)

[Ruudolph]

I'm using Globe 889 short pips 1.8mm & the sponge is 38deg on my backhand for one of my blades. I must say it is a very good rubber. It's quite easy to control & for a short pips it is very spinny. I can chop & loop with it no problems. Best of all it's as cheap as chips & if you don't like it you won't lose much.

Here are some of the reviews:
http://www.tabletennis.gr/equipment/details.asp?pid=501

:rocker:

[ChrisAngus]

i used to play with short pimples few years ago cant remember the name
think it was one of the t.s.p range with 1 mm sponge soft short pimples
but the pimples were wider than everage and could hit a heavy chop off
my back hand with ease.

[Tinykin]

i used to play with short pimples few years ago cant remember the name
think it was one of the t.s.p range with 1 mm sponge soft short pimples
but the pimples were wider than everage and could hit a heavy chop off
my back hand with ease.

Spin Pips, maybe? Same as used by Guoliang.

[SteveJ]

Spin pips had the wider pimples if i can remember correctly

[ChrisAngus]

im going back more than a few years i think it was about 30 years ago but
never heard of spin pips:rocker:

[Spinmaster]

TSP made it with wider pimples i think

http://www.spinmantra.com/tabletennis/blog/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/tsp-super-spinpips.jpg

[Crispione]

Lile, I've been using short pimps for several years now & have tried quite a few. I think it depends on how you invisage playing with them

If you want to block & be very aggressive with the flat hit then try either Joola Tango Ultra or TSP Spectol (this is the one with wider pips). Great for playing this way but gives little variation & so you become a little one dimensional. If someone can handle these short pimps, you have little else to offer.

If you are looking for a little "action" to give more variation then Stiga Radical or Donic Baxter. Radical has slightly longer pimps than usual (though not quite a mid length pimp) with a "tacky" top to each pimp - same idea as the tacky reverse rubbers, to give more grip. The effect when blocking is very good and also allows better serves but they are a little more difficult to play with and you have to play very positive strokes, you can't get away with any half-shots - particularly on return of serve & pushing.

The most important thing you have to think about is your stroke production. If you currently play with reverse rubber and spin the ball quite a bit, then a lot of adjustment will need to be made and you will probably play better with Radical/Baxter. Or if you play with less spin and block + hit the ball flatter then you may find it easier to convert to the Tango Ultra/Spectol.

How would you describe you current style & what do you play with?

[Lisle]

crispione thanks for your input i am at the moment using a grubba blade with boost tc and neos sound, i realy want 2 keep the blade i am a flat hitter blocker who loves to control the game by makeing my opponent run everywere, when i considered switching 2 short pips i sore my self playing like denis neale i.e rolling the ball with the pips and cliping 1 when it comes up i thought 2 that pips might help me impose hard angle's on my oppenent.

Lisle

[Crispione]

Hi Lisle, my advice would be to use 2mm Baxter on the b/hand only to begin with. This will allow you to use your normal stroke without too much adjustment but recommend you take the ball at the top, or just before, the top of the bounce and make sure you really go through it - aim constantly for the end of the table. This will counteract the tendency to put the ball in the net as pimps don't react to the spin as much as reverse rubbers.
Keep your reverse rubber on the f/hand for now until you feel comfortable with the b/hand - it's easier to make the switch one side at a time. It will also give you the option to block & flat hit with the b/hand & hit OR spin with the f/hand.

Good luck & let me know how you get on.

[Belisar]

The most important thing you have to think about is your stroke production. If you currently play with reverse rubber and spin the ball quite a bit, then a lot of adjustment will need to be made and you will probably play better with Radical/Baxter.

I am not a pimple user but I have messed around a bit with Stiga Radical and agree that it does allow you to play similar shots to a reverse rubber. I also had a bit of an experiment with Monster (no longer an approved rubber) and found it very difficult to adjust after many years of using a reverse rubber.

So I agree that Radical is a good choice for those swapping as it needs less of a dramatic overhaul of your action (not used Baxter but it seems to be very similar). The hard part is playing the positive shot at all times and not the little half shots we sometimes get away with by using the opponents spin and pace.

[Lisle]

Thanks every1 for your imput i will let you know how it goes!!!!

Lisle