Pip Design Parameters (Stop using low Aspect Ratio crap on ITTF's LARC)

[Punch Blocker]

Oh My God people . Are you ever going to stop supporting this totally useless low aspect ratio long pips from & Japan & Europe (such as the one discussed in this thread) that are totally worthless, spinless & disruptionless in the 40+ plastic ball era ?

I understand just one parameter such as Aspect Ratio or pip friction does not COMPLETELY control overall performance. There are 6 or 7 other parameters such as :-

1. Pip density (or Inter-pip distance) > The closer the pips, the more the (back)spin production capability (known as spin reversal) but less speed & less disruption. (ITTF limited this with 2003 Pip Density reduction regulation & even most people on ITTF councils & committees know anything about this). Farther the pips, less the back-spin but more speed & more disruption

2. Pip flexibility :- Stiffer the pips, lesser the (back) spin production capability & least disruption.. Therefore short pips for example, can produce the least back-spin & least disruption. More flexible pips give more back-spin production such as Feint Long Classic. But on the other hand Scholer used TSP Curl P1 as examples of highly disruptive rubbers (especially if microwaved) for passing the 1998 Durban Aspect Ratio Massacre regulation. (This is called a massacre because those on the ITTF equipment committee did not care about the fact that just about every pro & advanced player used Feint Long Classic at that time but since the reason for the Durban regulation was just & only to protect Scholer’s business interests it really did not matter. The Aspect Ratio failed to pass in 1995 at BGM in Tianjin, China but a relentless Scholer initiated a secret meeting in Durban in 199 and passed it as a regulation with the closest of margins , something like 19-17 or so).

3. Pip Orientation :- If the pips are horizontally aligned (pip alignment parallel to brand name logos) ,you get more back-spin since a chop moves the racket in the same direction that pips bend backward (towards the player using it) or downward, depending on whether the stroke is forward or downward. But if pips are aligned vertically you get less backspin except if you play a dig chop for example, in which case the pips align with the stroke). Horizonantally aligned pips are better suited for away from table choppers but vertically aligned pips are better suited for close to the table blockers. (I think Stiga sells rubbers named vertical & horizontal)

4. Aspect Ratio :- Has been discussed a lot. And more later.

5. Pip Friction :- Has been discussed a lot . And more later

6. Chemical composition of pips :- The internal chemical material content used to make the rubber will effect how the ball will react with the rubber. This is somewhat similar to external chemical treatment of pips which is highly unethical even in the context of speed glue & booster cheats

7. Sponge or clothe backing underneath :- OX pips are better for players below USATT rating of 2200 as it give more backspin against heavy incoming loops or hard incoming higher speed smashes. as well as more disruption against other incoming balls But you need a thick sponge towards professional levels because the heavy incoming top-spin form a glued up and / or boosted up racket of a looper will cause the ball to shoot off the wood if you use OX rubber. But sponged long-pips have less disruption but it is far less important at professional or closer levels , because pro players are least effected by disruption by long pips.

8. Blade used :- Has been discussed a lot. So I won’t get into this now but later


But the important point is this. Long pip behavior is not determined by just one of above parameters but ITTF had misled players using Aspect Ratio & friction as primary causes.
It is sort of too late to undo this damage as most players are conditioned to think in terms of these two parameters.

But the even more important point is this. :- Low Aspect Ratio rubbers whatever you want t call them …call it super extra extreme long or whatever just have their limits imposed by ITTF’s moronic 1998 Aspect Ratio regulation (reduced from 1.3 to 1.1) and they just cannot match in performance to the High Aspect Ratio Super Long Pips , ONLY available now from China. (The Indonesian rubbers seem promising but hard to buy them………this is why it is very upsetting to me that HaggisV still keeps selling that useless low Aspect Ratio pips from Europe & Japan that are totally worthless in the 40+ plastic ball domain. Indonesia is a neighbour to Australia & it is so sad that HaggisV’s OOAK Shop located in Australia is not selling them. OOAK claims they support all playing styles including pips but do they really ? If they really support pips players, they should be stocking these Indonesian & Chinses high Aspect Ratio Super Long Pips and not playing morality police as puppets of ITTF)


So PLEASE PLEASE stop buying these worthless low Aspect Ratio rubbers from Europe & Japan & please only use High Aspect Ratio Super Long Pips from China & Indonesia.