Rubber types | Table tennis for competition and leisure time

LONG PIMPLES
They are basically used by defensive players even some allround players use them too. The thinnest and more flexible pimples are the best ones because the spin they produce is totally unpredictable and very irregular. This type or rubbers require a lot of training and even with it, the effectiveness of them varies depending on the speed and spin of the coming ball. You can combine them with different types of sponge and thickness: OX (without sponge), 0.5mm, 1.0mm and 1.5mm.

HALF-LONG PIMPLES
These type of pimples are rare in the market and they are not so effective as the previous ones. They are easier to master and the need less time of practise tough. Excellent control and you can make short shots with nearly no spin.

SHORT PIMPLES
The longest length of the pimples is 1.0mm which produces a minimum rebound very direct. The contact with the ball is minimum and so it is the spin produced (10-20% less spin than normal pimples in rubbers). This is the type of rubber used by players who block and attack in a straight way. They are also indicated to control and minimize the effect produced by the opponent. The most common thing is to use them in the backhand side. Sponge thickness varies from 1.5mm to 2.5mm

PIMPLES OUT WITHOUT SPONGE
The length of the pimples is around 1.0mm and they do not have sponge underneath. They have excellent control but nearly no speed or spin. Very difficult to play against. Rarealy found on the market.

ANTITOP
They are solely used to control opponent's spin and attacks, "stopping" the ball and clearly playing in a slow and defensive way. The rubber's surface is no sticky at all and totally flat which allows easy devolutions without caring about the speed or effect of the ball.

PIMPLES IN
They allow the widest speed and spin combination depending on the rubber and sponge. You can find from very sticky and slow rubbers for defensive players to very flexible and dynamic rubbers for offensive ones. The sponges are produced with different types of rubbers mixed at different temperatures in order to increase and vary the properties of the rubbers. Density, thickness and molecular composition are basic to determine final speed, spin and control.
The called "rebound speed" is achieved combining the elasticity of the surface with different sponges and thickness.
You can find rubbers with soft, medium, hard, elastic and even Tensor, ACS, NanoTech, Tuned/PS type sponges.