"Functional" Racket design guidelines for the (ITTF) brainwashed, clueless & newbies

Weakside is backhand & strongside is forehand for most "humans" (as in any racket sport). There are exceptions where opposite is true, in which case you can swap blade & rubbers in table below. . Playing style & strengths on weakside & strongside are also usually quite different for most players. Equal (or same level) weakside & strongside is a delusional fantasy (even for most pros in table tennis). This is just a general guideline & there are always inexplicable illogical exceptions to the rule. Sorry, but para has not been included as of yet, due to large number of classifications but you should get an idea based on guidelines here

Playing Style

Strongside Rubber

Weakside Rubber

Strongside blade composition

Weakside blade Composition

Blade head size range

Most Suitable for

Comments

2 winged looper, lobber (advanced to pro level)

Spinny inverted: Euro / Japanese type sponge spin type (anti like top sheet)

Softer woods with outer ALC like composite

Softer woods with inner ALC like composite

150 -160 mm

Youth Under 18, Adults ages 18-40

All youth should start here but unless a player turns pro or close, the probability of success for an adult with this racket design is only like 10% (though 90% delude themselves or brainwashed into believing the opposite). Comments about boosting beyond scope here.

2 winged looper, lobber (intermediate & below)

Spinny inverted: Euro / Japanese type sponge spin type (anti like top sheet)

spinny inverted : Chinese style top sheet spin type

Softer woods with outer ALC like composite

Softer woods with inner ALC like composite

150 -160 mm

Youth Under 18, Adults ages 18-40

Either strong or weak side could be using either Chinese or (Japanese / European) type rubbers as the skill level & technique develops towards advanced & beyond to identify rubber type difference

Combo 2 wing attack

Short Pips

Spinny inverted

Harder woods with outer ZLC like composite

Softer woods with ALC like composite

150 -160 mm

Adults ages 18-40

Theoretically almost perfect racket design but very few players , especially shakehand can succeed, with this racket design unless you are like Liu Guoliang or Mattias Falck

Combo 2 wing attack

Spinny inverted

low friction Super Long Pips to medium pips with sponge

Softer woods with ALC like composite

Harder woods with ZLC like composite

155 -160 mm

Adults ages 18-40, Masters age 40+

If you are incorrectly using short pips on weakside, this is the correct alternative. Only use super long pips & not the low aspect ratio low pip density so called long pips listed on iTTF LARC

All round loop & block

Spinny inverted

low friction Super Long Pips no sponge (OX)

Softer woods with ALC like composite

Softer All wood

155-165 mm

Adults ages 18-40, Masters age 40+

If you are incorrectly using short pips on weakside, this is the correct alternative. Only use super long pips & not the low aspect ratio low pip density so called long pips listed on iTTF LARC

All round block & smash

Short / Medium Pips

low friction Super Long Pips OX

Harder woods with outer ZLC like composite

Softer All wood

160-170 mm

Mostly Masters age 40+

If you are incorrectly using short pips on weakside, this is the correct alternative. Only use super long pips & not the low aspect ratio low pip density so called long pips listed on iTTF LARC

Modern loop defender (Pro or close USATT 2200+)

Spinny inverted

high friction Super Long Pips with sponge

Softer woods with or without inner ALC like composite

Softer All wood

170-175 mm

Adults age 18-40

Only use super long pips & not the low aspect ratio low pip density so called long pips listed on iTTF LARC. Using super large blades is also mission critical

Modern chop & smash defender (Pro or close USATT 2200+)

Short / Medium Pips with sponge

high friction Super Long Pips with sponge

Harder woods with ZLC like composite

Softer All wood

170-175 mm

Adult 18-40 & Masters 40+

Only use super long pips & not the low aspect ratio low pip density so called long pips listed on iTTF LARC. Using super large blades is also mission critical

Modern loop defender (Amateur)

Spinny inverted

high friction Super Long Pips without sponge (OX)

Softer woods with or without ALC like composite

Softer All wood

170-175 mm

Adult age 18-40

Only use super long pips & not the low aspect ratio low pip density so called long pips listed on iTTF LARC. Using super large blades is also mission critical

Modern chop & smash defender (Amateur)

Short / Medium Pips with sponge

high friction Super Long Pips without sponge (OX)

Harder woods with ZLC like composite

Softer All wood

170-175 mm

Adults ages 18-40, Masters age 40+

Only use super long pips & not the low aspect ratio low pip density so called long pips listed on iTTF LARC. Using super large blades is also mission critical

Defensive all round

Spinny inverted

Defensive Medium Pips with sponge

Softer woods with ALC like composite

Softer All wood

155-165 mm

Adults ages 18-40, Masters age 40+

Defensive medium pips are usually listed as long pips on ITTF LARC

Attacking All round

Attack Medium Pips with sponge

Spinny inverted

Harder woods with ZLC like composite

Softer woods with ALC like composite

155-165 mm

Adults ages 18-40, Masters age 40+

Attack medium pips are usually listed as short pips on ITTF LARC

Classic (Passive) Chop defender

Anti or anti like spinny inverted (Japanese / Euro)

high friction Super Long Pips without sponge (OX)

Softer All wood

170-175 mm

Mostly Masters age 40+

This may be suitable for older players who cannot loop of forehand for health or other reasons or who never learned to llop in their youth

Classic (passive) block defender

Anti or anti like spinny inverted (Japanese / Euro)

low friction Super Long Pips without sponge (OX)

Softer All wood

160-170 mm

Mostly Masters age 40+

This may be suitable for older players who cannot loop of forehand for health or other reasons or who never learned to llop in their youth

Blocking (at the table) Twiddle oriented play

Spinny inverted

Low friction Super Long Pips (OX)

Softer woods with or without ALC like composite

Softer All wood

160-165 mm

Adults ages 18-40, Mostly Masters age 40+

Choppingg (away from the table) Twiddle oriented play

Spinny inverted

High friction Super Long Pips (OX)

Softer woods with or without ALC like composite

Softer All wood

160-165 mm

Adults ages 18-40, Mostly Masters age 40+

TPG (Traditional Penhold Grip) Looper

Spinny inverted

No sponge (OX) super pips if never used

Same as shakehand cases above

Softer All wood

150-160 mm

All ages

TPG (Traditional Penhold Grip) Hitter

Short pips

No sponge (OX) super pips if never used

Same as shakehand cases above

Softer All wood

150-160 mm

All ages

HPG (Hybrid Penhold Grip) Hitter (twiddler)

Short Pips

Spinny inverted

Harder woods with outer ZLC like composite

Softer woods with or without ALC like composite

150-160 mm

All ages

This is the style played by Liu Guoliang

HPG (Hybrid Penhold Grip) Modern Defender

Spinny inverted

High friction Super Long Pips (OX)

Softer woods with or without ALC like composite

Softer All wood

150-165 mm

All ages

HPG (Hybrid Penhold Grip) All round (twiddler)

Spinny inverted

Any Super Long Pips (OX) or medium pips with sponge

Softer woods with or without ALC like composite

Softer All wood

150-165 mm

All ages

RPG (Reverse Penhold Grip) 2 wing looper

Spinny inverted

Harder woods with outer ZLC like composite

Softer woods with or without ALC like composite

150-160 mm

All ages

This is the style played by Wang Hao & Xu Xin

American Grip Looper (Twiddler)

Spinny inverted

low friction Super Long Pips no sponge (OX)

Softer woods with or without ALC like composite

150-160 mm

All ages

This is the style similar to (but different weakside) played by Danny Seemiller & Eric Boggan (Anti is uselss on weakside unless you are as good as Eric Boggan)

American Grip Hitter (Twiddler)

High friction Short Pips

low friction Super Long Pips no sponge (OX)

Harder woods with outer ZLC like composite

Softer woods with or without ALC like composite

150-160 mm

All ages

This is the style similar to (but different weakside) played by Danny Seemiller & Eric Boggan (Anti is uselss on weakside unless you are as good as Eric Boggan)

Most useless racket designs

Any style

Long Pips listed on ITTF LARC

Any rubber type

Any

Don't use

Absolutely do NOT use any long pips listed on ITTF LARC as they are TOTALLY useless in the 40+ plastic ball era. This is complete fraud by ITTF. Please only use Super long pips. It is OK to use Medium Pips as shown above

Any style

Any rubber type

Long Pips listed on ITTF LARC (excluding some medium pips)

Any

Don't use

Absolutely do NOT use any long pips listed on ITTF LARC as they are TOTALLY useless in the 40+ plastic ball era. This is complete fraud by ITTF. Please only use Super long pips. It is OK to use Medium Pips as shown above

Any style

Any rubber type

Short pips (including those that may qualify as medium pips)

_

Don't use

A racket with short pips on weakside is absolutely the most useless racket design, especially for amateurs. Too many historical, sociological & technical reasons for making this seemingly VERY controversial claim. Biggest reason however as to why players fall for this is because short pips can seemingly do a little bit of everything & manufacturers want to sell rubbers .Visit this webpage for more information https://ioctt.com/kg/s7.htm

Any style

Any rubber type

Anti

Any

Don't use

Same reasonings , historical, sociological & technical apply just as short pips but probably not as bad as short pips but still very bad

Any style

Hardbat (OX or short pips with no sponge)

Any

Don't use

Don't waste your time. Too many historical, sociological & technical reasons . Beyond scope of discussion here

Any style

Sandpaper

Any

Don't use

Don't waste your time. Too many historical, sociological & technical reasons . Beyond scope of discussion here

Modern (chop) defender

_

Low friction Pips (Any type)

_

Don't use

So many clueless players think frictionless type rubbers like Tibhar Dtec OX can be used for chopping. Joo Sae Hyuk can get away with using it despite it being useless but nobody is Joo Sae Hyuk

Modern (chop) defender

_

Blades less than head size 170 mm

Don't use

Blades with head size less than 170 mm are useless for chopping as they do nt produce enough dwell time for maximizing back spin

Close to table block defender

Spinny inverted

High friction Pips (Any type)

_

Don't use

Don't use high friction rubbers like Feint or Feint Long etc if you are close to the table block defender. Use ONLY low friction super long pips

Twiddle oriented play

Spinny inverted

anti

_

Don't use

This is the worst combo because of lowest spin contrast between two sides of the racket. Both short pips & anti sit towards the dead center f the spin continuum preventing you from to maximizing your spin contrast & other variables for best twiddling

Twiddle oriented play

Spinny inverted

Short pips

_

Don't use

This is the worst combo because of lowest spin contrast between two sides of the racket. Both short pips & anti sit towards the dead center f the spin continuum preventing you from to maximizing your spin contrast & other variables for best twiddling

Twiddle oriented play

Short pips (or anti)

Anti (or short pips)

_

Don't use

This is the worst combo because of lowest spin contrast between two sides of the racket. Both short pips & anti sit towards the dead center f the spin continuum preventing you from to maximizing your spin contrast & other variables for best twiddling

American Grip

_

Anti (or short pips)

_

Don't use

This is the worst combo because of lowest spin contrast between two sides of the racket. Both short pips & anti sit towards the dead center f the spin continuum preventing you from to maximizing your spin contrast & other variables for best twiddling. Only use super long pips on weakside