Table Tennis Equipment | Butterfly Online

SHOULD I CHOOSE A RECREATIONAL PRE-ASSEMBLED RACKET, ONE OF THE PRE-ASSEMBLED PRO-LINE MODELS, OR HAVE ONE CUSTOM-MADE TO SUIT MY OWN STYLE OF PLAY?

Buying one of our recreational pre-assembled paddles will offer you a quality racket at an inexpensive price. It will also help simplify the buying process as the rubber is already assembled to the racket, so there is no need to spend time studying the blade and rubber charts finding the right racket and rubber combination. Our recreational preassembled paddles are ideal for intermediate recreational players, the player trying a sponge racket for the first time or inexpensive rackets for the kids. One thing to keep in mind when ordering a recreational paddle is that the rubber is not meant to be removed from the paddle. When the rubber needs to be replaced, it's time to toss the old racket and buy a new one.Our Pro-Line and World Class models feature some of our more popular blades and rubber sheets at discounted prices. Similar to the recreational pre-assembled paddles, the rubber combinations on our Pro-Line and World Class models have been predetermined, taking the guesswork out of the equation. Unlike the pre-assembled rackets, the rubber on the Pro-Line and World Class models can easily be removed and replaced. Many of the Pro-Line and World Class racket combinations are used by some of Butterfly's top players in the world.

WHAT CLASSIFICATION OF BLADE SHOULD I CHOOSE?

Butterfly groups each of their blades into one of seven different categories. These categories are an easy way to determine if the blade is right for your style of play. They are:
- [OFF+] For all out offensive play without compromise.
- [OFF] For direct offensive play with much spin, speed and power.
- [OFF–] For medium offensive play with much spin, speed and power.
- [ALL+] For offensive all-round play mixing shots with topspin shots of variable spin.
- [ALL] For all-round players who mix attack and control shots in rallies
- [ALL-] For all-round players who emphasize control and consistency from all distances
- [DEF] For traditional defense with emphasis on the chop from a far distance

WHAT DOES THE “FEEL” OF A BLADE MEAN?

The game of table tennis is very much a game of feel and each wood type has its own unique feel that is inherent to the wood. Therefore, we have provided you with this vital piece of information. The “feel” is measured by the amount of response or sensation the racket provides at the point of impact. A racket with a ‘hard’ feel will not offer much response. A ‘medium’ feel will have a noticeable response while a ‘soft’ feel will have the most. From a performance standpoint, a ‘hard’ feel is great for hitters and power play. A ‘soft’ feel is great for blocking and generating better spin, as the ball remains on the racket longer. A ‘medium’ feel is the most prevalent and offers the best of both worlds. It is suited for all styles of play.

SHOULD I TRY ARYLATE?

Arylate fiber layers will reduce the amount of vibration at impact. Much like Carbon, Arylate also enlarges the size of the sweet-spot making the racket more consistent. This characteristic will generally result in a racket with a ‘medium’ or ‘soft’ feel which is ideal for players who emphasize spin or require more touch. Or you can get the best of both worlds and try an Arlyate/Carbon combo blade. Visit our Technology section to learn more about Arylate and Butterfly Carbon blades.

WHICH RUBBER IS RIGHT FOR MY STYLE OF PLAY?

Much of the overall speed of your racket is determined by your blade. The rubber, while contributing to the speed of your racket, will primarily function as your source for spin. All rubbers can be grouped into five different categories. They are:Inverted rubbers are able to generate tremendous spin due to their tacky surface. Great for all styles of play from the all-out attacker to the most defensive minded chopper. Inverted is the most versatile rubber type.
Short pips rubbers are an inverted sheet of rubber turned upside down. The space between the pimples will help to take some of your opponents spin off of the ball. This will allow you to aggressively attack your opponents shots regardless of the oncoming spin. Short pips are great for hitting, blocking and returning serves. However, they are unable to produce as much spin as an inverted sheet of rubber.
Long pips rubbers are generally used by players who rely on their opponents to make mistakes. The composition of long pip rubbers is similar to short pip rubbers, but the pips are taller. When your opponents ball contacts this surface, the taller pips are easily bent, REVERSING the oncoming spin. This will keep your opponent guessing as to what type of spin is on the ball.
No sponge (OX) rubber features a short pips top sheet with the absence of sponge. Still adept at nullifying spin, no sponge rubber will produce sharp, crisp strokes with significantly less spin and at a much slower pace.
Anti-spin rubber is an inverted sheet of rubber featuring a very slick top sheet with a “dead” sponge layer. The resulting effect is a rubber sheet that is excellent for blocking, returning serves and great for changing the pace. For those that rarely use both sides of the racket during play, anti-spin rubber would be ideal for the backside. Your opponent will generally find himself confronted with a ball with little rotation, or a ‘knuckle’ ball. This generally will lead to a ball that you can easily attack. A great addition to your arsenal.

WHAT SPONGE THICKNESS SHOULD I CHOOSE?

Many rubbers offer multiple sponge thicknesses. The sponge layer, the area between the topsheet and the wood, acts as a trampoline. Thinner sponge will be less “springy” and have a hard feel, as the ball will generally sink to the wood surface, producing less spin and speed. Thicker sponge will have a soft feel and will be faster and provide more spin as the ball will sink deep into the sponge layer catapulting it outward with tremendous velocity and increased spin.

WHAT WILL A HIGH TENSION RUBBER OFFER ME?

High Tension rubbers have tension built in to the sponge and top-sheet. This helps reduce the amount of energy lost at the point of impact. In essence, it turns the speed of your opponent’s shot into additional power for you. In short, High Tension rubbers are fast, VERY FAST. The first such rubber was Bryce, introduced in 1997. It is by far the most widely used rubber among Butterfly’s sponsored players including the 2003 World Champion, Werner Schlager(AUT). Visit our Technology section to learn more about High-Tension rubbers.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SRIVER, SRIVER EL AND SRIVER FX?

Sriver and its variations have long been our best selling rubbers. The original Sriver has a medium hard sponge and offers great all-round performance. With the advent of speed gluing, Sriver FX was introduced with a softer sponge which works well with the speed glue. Recently, many of our professional players expressed a desire for a Sriver product with the power of the original Sriver and the speed gluing properties of FX. Thus, Sriver EL was born. All three Sriver products have the same top sheet the difference is in the sponges. Super Sriver is a unique product. It has a different topsheet than the other Sriver products. This topsheet was designed to help the ball leave the racket quicker. This benefits the hitter and the counter driver the most.

WHICH CLEANER SHOULD I USE?

Butterfly Spin Refresh cleaner is specifically designed for table tennis use. It is an environmentally friendly foam cleaner that will help rejuvenate the rubber surface to its natural tacky state.To get the most out of your rubber, it is recommended that you clean it after each use and store it properly. Using our Racket Care Kit, use one pump of the Spin Refresh on each side of inverted rubber, then use the Rubber Care Sponge to thoroughly clean it. Once it is dry, apply your protective sheets and then place it in your case. Ideally, store your paddle in a climate-controlled space and avoid extreme temperatures for extended periods of time.