which short pips...

Try Dr.Evil from ZEROPONG.COM
You going to like it.
No sponge, short pips out
Excellent chops away and close to table.
Only $14

will it fit a BTY defensive blade?

Not likely, since most defensive blades are bigger.

The -40 would be more for generating your own spin. The regular 802 is much less spinny, actually allowing a bit of spin to pass through if you chop it right. This is why ding actually used a hard, thin sponge with it.

However, I've not found much success setting up people to chop with short pips. It takes an incredible touch and I'm sure a lot of patience to learn.

i agree with sverige, i acutally found chopping iwht the short pips easier then long pips.

and no it won't fit lol

yeah, I was kind of thinking of the 802-40 because I'd like to be able generate some moderate spin, but still have more control than an inverted rubber would.  I figure it would still be easier than chopping with inverted because even though its relatively spinny, it won't be as affected by the opponents spin.  I guess I'm looking for a compromise between long pips and inverted  Does that make sense?

i have a sheet of BTY Challenger Chop cut to fit a Joo blade if you are interested

thats argueable. long pips will have a more 'weird' effect as in spin reversals and stuff, but short pips will have more effect in changing outgoing spin. i'd say if you know what spin you are giving the long pips, you will be safer against them, whereas with shortpips you would have to be good at reading spin too.

There are a few interesting tadeoffs when chopping with SP's vs LP's.  First off. The control with SP's is almost always going to be better with SP's.  With the exception of distance! I think most chops at the long distance with LP's are able to create much heavier underspin and add slight control.

The counterattacking backhand is much better with short pips! When HYC attacks with his backhand its a beautiful thing. When a LP's chopper attacks with the backhand its never a sure put away shot. You'll see matsush*ta and joo make this mistake often.

Variations of spin closer to the table is also a SP's strength. The First Chop with LP's is critical. Its spin is usually very predicatble and not the strongest and therfore needs to be low and have good placement.  Watch the latest Joo vd Wang Hao game.  Hao never hesitates to kill a thirdball right to joo's middle.  SP's can vary the amount with greater underspin closer to the table. 

good info kollins, that makes a lot of sense to me.  I find that most of the time against players who don't generate a lot of topspin, long pips really are out of their element because a chop against a drive won't have much spin on it.  So I was thinking short pips would be superior in that situation.  Of course against strong loops at a long distance, long pips are most likely a lot more effective.

What do you guys think about sponge thickness? 1.0mm?  soft or hard?