advice about 729 rubbers

most of them will play a superior short game: they will serve better, push better, and flat hit better then your average jap/ euro sheet. this comes at a cost, of course, in that almost none of them will loops as well as bryce FX (especially if they aren't speed glued; glue is a luxury on most euro sheets, and a necessity on harder-sponged chinese sheets)... this will be much more noticeable from further off the table.

 

it'd be much easier to suggest an alternative if you let us know a little more about your play style, ie: distance from table, penhold / shakehand, style, rubbers you have tried (and liked / didn't like), your blade, etc.

 

Without knowing your preferences, Cole at colestt.com has some of the more euro-style chinese equipment you can find, and has very reasonable shipping costs (and can point you in the right direction much more easily then myself).

 

Guessing blindly, his palio topsheet on a 40 degree quattro is good bang for the buck (especially if you glue / otherwise treat your sponge) and would be somewhat similiar, though with less top end speed (a concession you'll have to grow used to with chinese equipment, if you loop away from the table).

 

From zeropong, highpoint or Higher III (especially if you do glue / treat) would probably be the best bet.

 

If you want to use a different sheet for each side (say, to loop more on forehand, and chop more on backhand), or want more suggestions, just let us know a little more about how you play, and we'll be happy to help.

 

hope this helps,

 

 - jack -

right now I'm using the LKT Torrent , its easy to get used to and its quality is consistant. you can do quite a bit (loop, loop drive, chop, slightly tacky top sheet) with this rubber.

 

JL

 

didn't consider Aces, but from what you say i imagine it would suit you quite well (though, again, if you told us what blade you're using, we'd be better able to judge ). i'd say if you like to serve forehand, getting IQ from cole for your backhand, and get the higher III from tom for your forehand (though i imagine Cream MRS would do just as well, if you would like something a little stickier).

 

if you wanted to order both from tom, perhaps higher / cream for forehand, with Aces for backhand, would be a decent selection ( i know i wouldn't want something that sticky backhand -- very sensitive to spin -- but you play backhand-dominant, so that's a judgement call for you).

By switching blades when you practice, you game and strokes will probably not improve much.

Just my 2 cents.

 

JL