Rubber Info
A rubber sheet is composed of an optional base layer of sponge with a top layer of rubber that contains pips. The top layer is called the top sheet. The pips in the top sheet may face in (against the sponge) or out (to contact the ball). If there is no sponge layer, then the pips must face out.
There are four basic types of rubber: inverted (pips in), short pips (pips out), long/medium pips (pips out), and antispin (pips in). Inverted and short pips are attacking rubber, while long/medium pips and antispin are special-purpose rubber.
Inverted
Inverted rubber has a smooth surface that has a lot of friction and thus produces a lot of spin. Inverted is the only rubber that can produce a fast loop. The fast loop is the dominant shot in modern table tennis. Most players use inverted.
Japanese vs. Chinese
Decades ago, (during the 1970s and 1980s), there were two types of inverted rubber: Japanese and Chinese. The rubber made in Japan had a firmer top sheet that was spinny, but not tacky, and a softer sponge. The rubber made in China had a softer top sheet with a sticky/tacky surface and a hard sponge.
Then speed glue came in, and the Chinese found that their sponge was not good for speed gluing. So they started putting their sticky top sheets on Japanese-style sponge. Now, all the brands have rubber of all types, so it can be confusing.
An example of a traditional Chinese rubber is DHS PF4 Rubber. Traditional Japanese rubber sheets include andro Rocket Medium Rubber, Butterfly Sriver Rubber, DONIC J.O. Waldner Rubber,JOOLA Mambo H Rubber, STIGA Mendo Rubber, and Yasaka Mark V Rubber. Note that while these rubber sheets are similar, they are not identical. Sriver and Mark V are pretty similar to one another. Mendo has a harder sponge than Sriver or Mark V.
Short Pips
Rubber with short pips has less grip than inverted rubber. Short pips can make any shot except a fast loop and is particularly good for blocking, hitting, and returning short serves. Penholders who like to play close to the table often use short pips. A shakehand player who uses short pips usually uses it only on one side (normally the backhand) of the racket. Using short pips is not so good if you back up from the table.
Special-Purpose Rubber
Long/medium pips and antispin are special-purpose rubber sheets that are sometimes used by experienced players to counteract the speed or spin of their experienced opponents. These special-purpose rubber sheets are very hard to control. If you are a beginner, we strongly recommend that you not buy them: You will be much happier with an attacking rubber. Note that while some special-purpose rubber sheets may have high control ratings, this rating is deceptive since the rubber has this control only when used to make certain shots and if you have learned to use it properly.
Long Pips
In long-pips rubber, the pips are longer, thinner, and more flexible than in short-pips rubber. With long pips, it is very hard to generate your own spin, but you can easily send your opponents' spin back toward them in reverse, i.e., chop becomes topspin and topspin becomes chop. Long pips rubber is good for blocking, chopping, and attacking pushes. When blocking, it produces a knuckle ball effect that can be very hard for your opponent to deal with. On the other hand, long pips can be hard to control and you are limited in the shots that you can produce. A player who uses long pips generally uses it on only one side of the racket.
Medium Pips
Medium pips is like long pips, but the pips are a bit shorter. You still get the knuckle ball effect, but the rubber is easier to control.
Antispin
Antispin is a non-spinny, slow rubber. It is good for returning heavy spin, but is unable to create spin of its own. Any rubber with the word “anti” in the name is an antispin rubber. Players who use antispin generally use it on only one side of the racket.
Antispin is comparatively rare these days. It was more common decades ago (early 1980s) when both sides of the racket could be the same color. At that time, it was harder for your opponent to tell which side you used to hit the ball, especially if you knew how to flip (twiddle) your racket.
Hard Rubber
Hard rubber is another name for short-pips rubber without sponge. A hardbat is a racket with hard rubber. Long ago (1920s, 1930s, and 1940s), everyone used hard rubber. Then sponge (just sponge, no rubber) was invented followed by sponge with rubber on top. These days, only a few people use hard rubber. For more information on the history of table tennis, visit the ITTF Museum.
Thickness
Most rubber sheets come in various thicknesses. This thickness is actually the thickness of the sponge layer. See Sponge Info for more info.