Butterfly Table Tennis Rubber Guide
The rubber on your table tennis blade influences the way you play table tennis. It can dictate your overall technique, strategy, and style of play. Choosing the right table tennis rubber for your racket can be overwhelming, which is why Butterfly has created this Table Tennis Rubber Guide. We want to help players at every level select the correct ping pong paddle rubber that fits their needs. View our simple guide to learn how to choose between different table tennis rubber types. Find the right rubber at Butterfly to start improving your gameplay today.
Inverted Table Tennis Rubber
Inverted Rubber (Pips In)
This ping pong paddle rubber is best suited for putting spin on a ball due to its breadth of contact surface with a ball.
Short Pips Out Table Tennis Rubber
Short Pips-Out Rubber
This rubber is not easily affected by the opponent’s spin due to its narrowness of contact surface with a ball. It will knock a ball away.
Long Pips Table Tennis Rubber (with Sponge)
Long Pimples Rubber (with Sponge)
This will serve a ball with unexpected spin due to the various movements of pimples in hitting a ball.
Long Pips without Sponge Table Tennis Rubber
Long Pimples Rubber (without Sponge)
This is light and easy to handle. It doesn’t have much elasticity, so you can shut the power of explosive Top-spin balls down.
Anti-Spin Rubber
This is a kind of inverted rubber but has little friction. It is not easily affected by the opponent’s spin.
What Sponge Thickness Should I Choose?
Many rubbers offer multiple sponge thicknesses. The sponge layer, the area between the top-sheet 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. If you are unsure about which thickness to choose, 1.9mm sponge is always a safe bet.
What is Sponge Density?
In the highly technical world of table tennis equipment, Butterfly strives to give our customers as much information as possible to help each person choose the equipment that best meets their needs. To that end, we are now publishing a list of Sponge Density Ratings. In general, the higher the number the denser (harder) the sponge. Players who swing harder prefer the harder sponges. The denser sponges have more stored energy but also require more racket speed to compress the sponge and release this energy. The all-round player or players with shorter strokes will prefer sponges with medium or softer sponges.
How can I provide proper care for my racket?
Your racket should be protected at all times as the rubber will naturally begin to deteriorate once in use. Dirt, dust and oil will accumulate on the surface during play. It is necessary to clean your table tennis rubber during play as well as after each playing session. Specifically formulated cleaners and a sponge will rejuvenate your rubber surface and prolong its life span. Protective film will add a layer of defense from the air for your rubber sheets. A racket case will reduce the amount of time your paddle is out in the open and exposed to the elements. The additional padding will also help cushion the blow, should you happen to drop your racket. By all means, keep your racket out of the heat. Anywhere your racket will come in contact with intense heat, such as the interior of your car, are places you should certainly avoid storing it.
When should I change my rubber sheets?
 Worn Rubber Edges |
 Top-Sheet Deterioration |
| A rubber’s performance will deteriorate as time and the elements take their toll. The rubber will produce less spin than it once did and will not feel as lively. The life expectancy of your rubber sheet will vary depending on how often you play.
A Good Rule of Thumb: |
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