Ask The Experts: Tawny Banh, No. 222

Butterfly Table Tennis Question and AnswerB

Question: 
I am 82 tears old and now probably a lower intermediate player and need to play a spin game to be competitive. I have been looking at the Dignics rubber because of it’s 12 spin rating. Maybe serves would be hard to return and fore hand top spin would help.I had Energy 05 but it was difficult to return spin serves and it eventually lost its spin and cracked. I now return serves backhand with the orthodox rubber. 
Is the Dignics 05 out of my league. What is a banana flip.

Answer:

Your Ask the Experts question was answered by Tawny Banh. She is a coach at the Los Angeles Table Tennis Association in El Monte, CA. Coach Banh’s response is as follows:

Hi Clay,

You are currently using Tackifire on your forehand and Orthodox on your backhand.  Tackifire is a slower, more controlled rubber.  Upgrading from Tackifire to Dignics 05 may be quite a big jump for you.  You’ve stated that you have used Tenergy 05 before but it was “difficult to return spin serves” and that you have now resorted to returning serves with your backhand orthodox pips.  Well, Dignics 05 is even faster than Tenergy 05.  It’s a very dynamic rubber for the offensive, aggressive player.  As a result, for your level and style of play, I feel that with Dignics, it might be too bouncy for your defensive block and return of serves.   Let me take the opportunity to suggest you to try Rozena on your forehand.  I feel it is more suitable for your level and style of play.  Rozena will give you that extra ball control and spin without compromising the speed of your shots.  It’s definitely worth it to experiment!  At only $40, it’s a bang for the buck!

“Banana Flip” is also known as the backhand side-spin flick.  It’s very mainstream and used by many advance players.  It is employed against a short serve or drop shot, mainly to the forehand and the player uses his backhand to flick the ball.  The stroke resembles a banana’s shape, giving it the name.  Right before contact, the top head of your racket and wrist is cocked downward at the table. This will enable you to perform the banana flip against nearly any type of spin by brushing, following through and snapping the wrist.  Here’s a good video explaining the banana flip:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Cid2-g2BO0

Best of luck!

Coach Banh