Which Spectol ???

TSP Spinpips is much closer to 802-40 than the Spectol series. The Spectol pips are smaller and less grippy, and are more for hitting through spin rather than creating spin. The original spectol is still by far the most popular. I've not heard of the spectol soft, but I suspect that's the original.

Has any one here played with red and blue?

kurokami wrote: bh primarily for attacking, counter-attacking -> spectol 21. :P

But why choose 21 instead of red?

bbkon wrote: GeneralSpecific wrote: Forget about Spectol speed it requires very heavy boosting/speed gluing and even after that it's not better than the original Spectol after speed gluing/boosting. It is better for forehand short pips play. Spectol soft is the original Spectol. Though playable without boosting/speed gluing it benefits greatly if you do so. Spectol 21is softer than the original Spectol. It is a little more lively. It was made post-speed glue ban but pre-booster ban so it was meant to be boosted. Spectol Red and Blue were made for the new plastic ball so expect a speed glue effect built in. Red is softer and Blue is harder. In my opinion Red is probably the best bet. All 5 of these rubbers have the same topsheet so it's the sponges and tension that differ. Considering we now play in post-boosting ban and plastic ball era; Red should be the ticket for your backhand How is the sink and control of spectol red?

I've never tried red or blue. I've only read up on it.

Spectol 21

I've never used 802, but I've used the original Spectol and Challenger, it's a great bh rubber due to its control on blocking and pushing.  I found it Spectol and Challenger quite similar, they both give a bit of sink but also enough spins.  From my own experience, I am currently using VO>102 on my fh and switching between VO>101 and Breakout on my bh.  If you want something with attacking power and can spin, VO>102 is great.  If you want sinking feeling, I haven't tried one that is as sinking as the VO>101, the trajectory is so low, it's hard to control at first, but when blocking and hitting it gives very good sinking balls.  Breakout would be a little easier to control and can attack serves with some spin quite easily, the trajectory is a little higher than VO>101 but not as much as VO>102 (as in, don't depend on Breakout to give you consistent loops), but it still gives quite a bit of sink when blocking a top-spin ball correctly.  I really like the breakout on my bh, but is experimenting in the summer with VO>101 to give more 'sink'.

Edited by Bilbo - 08/24/2016 at 3:06pm

Bilbo wrote: ....  If you want something with attacking power and can spin, VO>102 is great.  If you want sinking feeling, I haven't tried one that is as sinking as the VO>101, the trajectory is so low, it's hard to control at first, but when blocking and hitting it gives very good sinking balls.  ..

mjamja wrote: I do not what to stray too far from 802-40.  So if there is something else I should consider I am open to suggestions.

Spectol is different than 802-40. If you want something similar to 802-40 but faster, spinnier and good for attacking then you should use Haifu dolphin. I've tried it once on my friend's blade and it's nice, too sensitive to incoming spin though.

I play with 802-40 (my first pips) on my cpen FH . I find it too slow for my liking. I've ordered hexer pips in max sponge which'll be arriving in two days. Will update you how hexer pips plays in comparison to 802-40 then. I've heard that it's faster and more spinnier

bbkon wrote: Bilbo wrote: I've never used 802, but I've used the original Spectol and Challenger, it's a great bh rubber due to its control on blocking and pushing.  I found it Spectol and Challenger quite similar, they both give a bit of sink but also enough spins.  From my own experience, I am currently using VO>102 on my fh and switching between VO>101 and Breakout on my bh.  If you want something with attacking power and can spin, VO>102 is great.  If you want sinking feeling, I haven't tried one that is as sinking as the VO>101, the trajectory is so low, it's hard to control at first, but when blocking and hitting it gives very good sinking balls.  Breakout would be a little easier to control and can attack serves with some spin quite easily, the trajectory is a little higher than VO>101 but not as much as VO>102 (as in, don't depend on Breakout to give you consistent loops), but it still gives quite a bit of sink when blocking a top-spin ball correctly.  I really like the breakout on my bh, but is experimenting in the summer with VO>101 to give more 'sink'. How hard is break out sponge? I dont know what to use in cpen . dont want to lose a lot of control but some sink is desired.

tuco wrote: Bilbo wrote: ....  If you want something with attacking power and can spin, VO>102 is great.  If you want sinking feeling, I haven't tried one that is as sinking as the VO>101, the trajectory is so low, it's hard to control at first, but when blocking and hitting it gives very good sinking balls.  .. Try Killer or Killer Pro.  Easier to control than VO>101 and gives very good sink.  Hit balls would just skid off the table.

No SP will create enough "sink" by itself.  You have to create it by using more of a chop block motion than over-the-ball blocking.

Just as an aside, the two best players from my club, both previous Canadian National Doubles champions, uses different pips on one side.  One is a cpen player, he used Challenger for years...tried a few different ones and eventually went back to Challenger again because it gives him option to produce more funky balls compare to others.  He's currently using Nittaku Hammond FA Speed because it gives similar feelings but faster (he's getting older and needs that extra kick he says).  The other player used to use Challenger as well, but after trying the different pips I bought to test things out, she settled on the VO>101 cause it's a little more funky and gives a bit more sinking than the other ones she tried.

Edited by Bilbo - 08/26/2016 at 12:32pm