It is broadly accepted that thinner sponge in short pips leads to more disruption and flat balls.

What thickness do Mattias Falck and Mima Ito use? I've got an inkling that they're using max sponge - if so, why would they do that? Is that because they want to prioritise speed capabilities as pimple disruption at a higher level is not really a problem for the opponents?

What thickness would you recommend for drives/flat hits etc (anything but chopping)?

Thank you

But I was a SP penholder and the SP was my main rubber.

1.8 and faster blade..more sponge gives more spin and more spin less disturbance more arc

Falck uses thicker sponge because he needs more spin on his FH. I think spin is very important at the pro level because you need to be able to open the rally (i.e., loop) with your FH, even if you are using pips. I guess Falck still gets some disruption on certain shots, but IMO it is not a big part of his strategy.

I'm using Falck's pips in Max on the FH.

If you want more options, its unbelievable.

You can flat hit with ease if your technique is good [say 50% easier than with inverted], especially for spinny balls [Topspin or backspin], and still generate a lot of spin with loops, pushes etc. One of my main issues in deciding to change from MX-P (inverted) to SP on the FH was I didn't want to miss the joy of looping. For me, looping is even easier now - Counter-looping, or simply opening loops against backspin/topspin is more stable, looping vs no spin is more difficult though [than with inverted].

That's absolutely fine, especially considering you can flat hit your way out of any spin [or lack of] anyways, and most people don't seem to understand that ironically the no-spin ball is the only moderately troubling ball for SP.

If you went with thinner sponge, the flat hitting would be even easier, but your potential to generate spin would be significantly lower. This would necessitate a more passive/rallying/deceptive style, unless you're able to be early and take the ball off the bounce / at its apex, like the professional SP's of old. But if you have that physicality I would argue go Falck's way, and have more tools [loops etc] against other Pros.

 I even serve with the pips around 30% of the time, as it leads to the opponent needing to pay attention to one more thing - which side I'm serving with [pressure], and having a poorer time gauging the spin level. So say you have 3 main pendulum serves, you now have 6 different 'gears.' The fact I'm very comfortable looping and killing on both sides of a 3rd ball make it a potent combo.

If you want to be disruptive and create unforced errors, thinner pips are more effective.

 If you want to play with a more physical style that involves creating speed and spin, max sponge pips is the only choice IMO.

I'm not going to comment on pips on the BH, as that's something that to me wouldn't suit me at all so I haven't bothered to investigate how they feel at all.