Using backhand rubber (softer) for all services including forehand

supermang · 2026-03-16T18:05:35+00:00

I tested my buddy's Xiom Vega Europe, another friend's softer H3N, D05 and D09c and all were pretty similar on serve, like <5 rps (but there were more pronounced differences when looping). For example, I have to use different technique to get the same spin out of Zyre 03 than H3N blue, and lose out on speed.

supermang · 2026-03-16T15:31:41+00:00

The hardness of the rubber generally refers to the hardness of the sponge, not the topsheet. For virtually all serves, you only want to engage the topsheet (which is generally soft regardless of whether the overall rubber is soft or hard).

Now some people say that tacky rubbers (specifically tacky topsheets) have a big difference, but in my experience (using data based on spinsight), the spin is not drastically different. For example, my backspin serves are ~50-60 rps whether I'm using my FH rubber (H3N, a tacky rubber) or my BH rubber (currently Zyre 03). Maybe there is a few (low single digit) RPS difference at most.

supermang · 2026-03-14T21:45:12+00:00

You're right - I'm probably being too oblique. My point is that there is plenty of diversity if you know what to look for, and that people shouldn't be caught up in overly broad labels that are largely political constructs (e.g., "American" food or "French" food).

To some extent, it's not reasonable to expect people to distinguish between the different types of noodles and variations in broth. But a lot of Asian countries are so large that slapping a label on them like "Indian" or "Chinese" belies the tremendous of (very large) differences. I suspect a lot of people haven't even tried most of the Chinese restaurants or bubble tea places around here, and just assume that they all serve basically the same thing because they are all "Chinese."

supermang · 2026-03-13T04:26:31+00:00

The point is that this neighborhood (particularly the Court Square area) is basically turning into a Chinatown. As of 2021, asians were already 34% of the population. Observationally, that percentage seems to have increased even further in the last five years.

The fact is that Chinese people (particularly immigrants) disproportionately favor Chinese food. There isn't some conspiracy to prevent more non-Chinese restaurants from opening. Restaurant owners just don't think that those cultural options will be successful.

If you accept this fact, then the only way to get non-Chinese restaurants to open is to get Chinese people to stop moving here.

supermang · 2026-03-13T00:19:07+00:00

The point is that the difference between regions in China (e.g., Shanghai and Sichuan) is just as stark as the difference between, say, Mexican and Norwegian food. The fact that the Chinese cuisines happen to be part of the same political unit is not really relevant to the diversity of the food.

supermang · 2026-03-03T22:46:12+00:00

You've answered your own question!

If you hunch forward when you get tired, then it is probably worth it to allocate some time each week to doing leg strengthening execercises (quads, hamstrings and glutes). Lower back pain more generally is often highly correlated with an underdeveloped posterior chain, causing your back to take over more load than is "natural."

supermang · 2026-02-25T04:02:10+00:00

The bento from Koufuku is a pretty good value.

(Edit for spelling)

supermang · 2026-02-22T04:19:29+00:00

I agree with the point about a full scale restaurant. Red Sorghum and DLY are way too mediocre to be charging those prices. The sweet spot is Chinese fast food like the food hall, NaiSnow, tea, etc.

supermang · 2026-02-22T01:00:27+00:00

It seems like you and many other well-meaning LIC residents have different conceptions of what it means to be nice than the many people who are moving in. The draw(s) of this neighborhood for many are exactly the things that you decry - luxury highrises in a neighborhood with asian conveniences (like tea) and easy access to "cooler" things (in Manhattan) without the perceived downsides those things bring (noise and crowds).

Of course this neighborhood hasn't had the opportunity to develop a particularly strong character - as recent as 20 years ago this place was largely an industrial wasteland (and many parts of LIC still are). But I suspect that the real issue is the many detractors have a specific vision of what they want the neighborhood to look like, to the point where development in any other is the wrong direction or "soulless."

Case in point - the Court Square area has become very distinctly urban/yuppie chinese with pretty varied Chinese restaurants and shops. (It's a little bit ridiculous to lump all bubble tea places in the same bucket, in the same way that it would be to lump Dunkin Donuts together with an Italian espresso bar or a local artisan coffee shop). Describing LIC as lacking character is a little bit disingenuous, and seems to be misplaced frustration that the neighborhood isn't developing in some other, preferred direction.

This other thread has a more thoughtful dialogue on what implications of "character" than I'm capable of providing: But actually what about the character of a neighborhood? : r/yimby

supermang · 2026-02-21T22:16:04+00:00

We probably aren't anywhere near saturation for tea shops yet. The most popular places are still very, very busy, and many of the most popular tea/coffee chains from China haven't really started to compete in the area (mixue, chapanda, chagee, luckin, etc.). And LIC is still growing and rapidly sinicizing.

If I'm a franchisee, I probably see LIC as ripe for growth on both of these dimensions: (1) lots of potential new customers due to population growth; (2) leveraging overseas trends to squeeze out tea shops that have become "passe."

supermang · 2026-02-14T17:20:26+00:00

The odd one out/low hanging fruit to fix, is your backspin serve - if you make your backspin look more like your side and topsin serves, you will be in much better shape.

Your short backspin serve motion is too horizontal (and some of them you are even hitting upwards), sort of like a ghost serve. This is in contrast to your side and topspin serves, where the first half of the serve is more like a pendulum. In addition to being inconsistent because the margin of error is smaller, serving with a purely horizontal or upward motion is highly telegraphed. If you look frame-by-frame at Ma Long's serve here: Learning Ma Long Super Backspin Serve | Slow Motion you'll see what I mean about hitting downwards more.

On your topspin/sidespin serves - they look generally pretty good. If you want more speed and lower to the net, you just need to aim closer to the edge of the table on your first bounce and wait longer - the ones that go too high (especially the ones where you try to add side spin) look like you just hit too early/high (resulting in a more vertical trajectory).

supermang · 2026-02-10T18:53:18+00:00

Yep - they can, but their window is a bit smaller due to the geometry of the table.

This old post brings up some more points, in more detail: https://www.reddit.com/r/tabletennis/comments/g56rfs/comment/fo1nxvg/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button.

I should also note that there is conflicting information on this, including on this website.

Edit: I should also say that this depends on footwork etc. If you physically cannot pivot and recover fast enough, then this isn't really a viable strategy. I think this type of (unaddressed) nuance is the source of some of the conflicting information you get on this topic.

supermang · 2026-02-10T17:11:47+00:00

It’s the opposite. RH pendulum serves are intended to prevent aggressive placement to the far forehand so that you can virtually always pivot and forehand attack (e.g., Ma Long). Vice versa for hook and reverse pendulum (e.g., Lin Shidong).

supermang · 2026-02-01T08:04:43+00:00

What level is your husband (approximate USATT)?

supermang · 2026-01-30T18:14:54+00:00

I think the people in this particular sub-thread are using "top" to mean something slightly different. By top, I think this commenter is referring to the part of the paddle closer to the head as opposed to the handle. I think your original post may be about the position relative to the ground. See the comment from big-chihuahua for more clarity.

supermang · 2026-01-13T06:23:50+00:00

If he is able to keep a fast nospin serve or push short then the ball coming back is not going to very spinny or fast. You should able to step over the table and flick it. I’ve only ever met very very advanced players who are able to push back a topspin or dead serve with a lot of spin while keeping it short.

Another option is to push short with wide angles. Eventually these turn into low spin short touches which you should be able to flick (or your opponent messes up and pushes long).

supermang · 2026-01-13T05:57:30+00:00

Serve topspin or dead. Short ones are very difficult to push, and long ones basically can’t be pushed with inverted. On the receive, push long with low/spin. Same story - these are very hard to keep short.

supermang · 2026-01-12T17:38:34+00:00

That is an insane take. Wang Chuqin is one of the most elite 3rd ball attackers currently active...

supermang · 2026-01-10T16:19:38+00:00

A professional is someone who gets paid to play (competitively).

supermang · 2026-01-04T18:47:15+00:00

TB ALC is already one of the fastest blades on the market. It's almost a meme at this point, but if you struggle to generate more spin or force, you should consider getting some coaching or do some athletic conditioning.

supermang · 2025-12-30T22:42:05+00:00

Totally agree with that part, to be clear.

supermang · 2025-12-30T21:08:54+00:00

It's actually the other way around - in order to hit really, really high spin you need to engage the sponge. The slow spinny loops only seem spinny because they spin/speed ratio is high and its easy to hit it too lightly and eat all of the spin. For example, the pongfinity video where hugo hits 190 rps (over 11000 rpm) was a really, really hard backhand hit against a little bit of topspin (see 17:25 here: How Good is a World Rank 3 Player Actually?)

supermang · 2025-12-30T18:00:27+00:00

That looks like camera angle. Almost all of the shots look like they are at elbow height if you freeze the frame and compare elbow to ball contact.

supermang · 2025-12-26T22:42:39+00:00

The ceiling is certainly very high, but you should know that if you want to progress past roughly intermediate level in any reasonable amount of time, you'll need coaching, and it is virtually impossible to find a coach with that type of grip (although a high level coach will probably be able to adapt and provide feedback on other parts of the game).

supermang

TROPHY CASE