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TYPES OF PLAYERS

The four types of players in table tennis

The correct classification of one's own playing style is the basic prerequisite for finding the right material. Even though every table tennis player is characterised by his or her personal strengths and individual playing style, all unique playing styles can be assigned to one of four basic styles of table tennis. We call this classification player type. Once the player type has been determined, it is easy to find suitable rubbers and blades that support the corresponding player type with their characteristics. With the right material, because it is suitable, a player can make his matches and his training more successful and thus develop even more joy and pleasure in table tennis. The player can constantly improve his individual game, which leads to more and more enjoyment of table tennis.

When it comes to determining and classifying one's own playing style, we experience time and again that players do not manage to do this correctly. The material that is selected is suitable for the desired player type without taking into account the actual abilities. However, if you are not a fast-paced, aggressive topspin player, you will not have much fun with this type of material. It is important for the right choice of material to know what type of player you are and not what type of player you would like to be.

In the following, we describe the four basic player types and the characteristics of their play. Please use our small overview to honestly classify your own playing style. Once you have determined which type of player you are, you can easily select the material that suits your playing style. Our blades and rubbers are assigned characteristics that you can filter, so that in the end you will be shown the material that corresponds to your playing style.

1. Player type  -modern / defensive-

Characteristics:

  • Cut defence based defensive play.
  • Disruptive actions such as changing cuts to provoke opponents' mistakes..
  • Balloon balls or counterattacks.
  • Optimisation of ball control to avoid own mistakes..
  • Counter-attacking opportunities are used for own attacks, for example, after a stop ball has been run over, or after a topspin ball from the opponent that is too high or too slow.
  • Undercut ball and disruptive stroke are the main types of stroke.

Material examples:

andro blades z.B.: Timber 5 Def, Wano-Kiwami Midori DEF
andro rubbers z.B.: Backside 2,0

DONIC blades z.B.: Defplay Classic Senso, Defplay Senso
DONIC Belag z.B. Slice 40 CD

GEWO Holz z.B.: Velox Alpha DEF
GEWO rubbers z.B.: Return Pro, Mega Flex Control

HALLMARK blades z.B.: Aurora, Enigma, Strategy
HALLMARK rubbers z.B: Destroyer, Tactics LP, Devil Anti

DR. NEUBAUER blades z.B.: Barricade, Grand Master, Grand Master +
DR. NEUBAUER rubbers z.B.: Trouble Maker, Punch Special Defence

or

2. Player type  -allround / defensive-

Characteristics:

  • All techniques are used.
  • Offensive game with topspin strokes with little willingness to take risks.
  • One side (usually the backhand) is more passively oriented (block and push balls).
  • Avoiding own mistakes by optimising ball control.
  • The game becomes more passive with strong opponent offensive pressure, from blocking actions to defensive shots such as undercut or balloon ball. Tactics and placement are prioritised over pace.

Material examples:

andro blades z.B.: TP Ligna ALL, Kanter FO ALL/S, Novacell ALL/S
andro rubbers z.B.: Hexer Duro, Hexer Powersponge, Rasanter R 37 / R 42

DONIC blades z.B.: Classic Allround, New Impuls 6.5, Epox Control

GEWO blades z.B.: Zoom Balance,Power Control, Allround Classic
GEWO rubbers z.B.: Neoflexx eFT 40, nanoFlex FT, Proton Neo 375

HALLMARK Holz z.B.: Combination
HALLMARK Belag z.B: Magic Pips

VICTAS blades z.B.: Balsa 4.5 / 5.5, Black Balsa 5.0, Euro Classic ALL+
VICTAS rubbers z.B.: VS > 401, VS > 402 Limber, Ventus Regular

or

3. Player type  -Attack vario offensive-

Characteristics:

  • Offensive game with topspin variations, partly also from the half-distance.
  • The topspin is not only a preparation stroke, but is also used to score and to finish the rally. The shot/finishing stroke is rather the exception.
  • The strategy is often complemented on the backhand side by blocking balls.
  • Main stroke type: topspin.

Material examples:

andro blades z.B.: Gauzy SL, Gauzy HL CO, Novacell OFF / OFF S
andro rubbers z.B.: Hexer Grip SFX, Hexer Powergrip, Rasanter V42

DONIC blades z.B.: Classic Powerallround, Dotec Impuls
DONIC rubbers z.B. Desto F1 /F1 Plus, Acuda S1, Bluestorm Z3/Big Slam

GEWO blades z.B.: Balsa Carbon 575, In-Force ARC OFF-
GEWO rubbers z.B.: Neoflexx eFT 40, nanoFlex FT, Proton Neo 375

HALLMARK Holz z.B.: Ultra
HALLMARK rubbers z.B: Green Power, Power Spin

XIOM blades z.B.: Huga HAL, Icecream AZXi, TMXi An Jaehyun, 36.5 ALXi
XIOM rubbers z.B.: Omega VII Euro / VII China Guang, Vega X

oder

4. Player type  -Attack Speed offensive-

Characteristics:

  • Aggressive topspin play on both sides with a lot of speed from the short distance.
  • Completion of the rally with stroke spins or end strokes.
  • Unconditional will to take the initiative and dictate the game with offensive strokes.
  • Backhand opening spins and active counter/block play.
  • Main stroke types: topspin and stroke spin.

Material examples:

andro blades z.B.: Kanter CO OFF, Kanter FO OFF
andro rubbers z.B.: Rasanter C53 / C48 / R53 / R50 / R48 / R47 / V47

DONIC blades z.B.: Classic Offensive, Original Dotec OFF, Epox Topspeed
DONIC rubbers z.B. Bluestar A1, Bluestorm Z1 + Z2, Z1 Turbo

GEWO blades z.B.: Force ARC OFF, Robles Hinoki Ex-Carbon
GEWO rubbers z.B.: Nexxus EL Pro 53 SuperSelect, Codexx EF Pro 54

TIBHAR blades z.B.: Shang Kun Hybrid ZC, Fortino Pro DC Inside
Tibhar rubbers z.B: Evolution MX-P / MX P50 /MX-S /MX-D

XIOM blades z.B.: Ice Cream AZX, 36,5 ALX
XIOM rubbers z.B.: Jekyll & Hyde V 47,5 / V 52,5, Omega VII Tour Vega Tour

Your path you must decide. – Yoda

TYPES OF PLAYERS

The four types of players in table tennis

The correct classification of one's own playing style is the basic prerequisite for finding the right material. Even though every table tennis player is characterised by his or her personal strengths and individual playing style, all unique playing styles can be assigned to one of four basic styles of table tennis. We call this classification player type. Once the player type has been determined, it is easy to find suitable rubbers and blades that support the corresponding player type with their characteristics. With the right material, because it is suitable, a player can make his matches and his training more successful and thus develop even more joy and pleasure in table tennis. The player can constantly improve his individual game, which leads to more and more enjoyment of table tennis.

When it comes to determining and classifying one's own playing style, we experience time and again that players do not manage to do this correctly. The material that is selected is suitable for the desired player type without taking into account the actual abilities. However, if you are not a fast-paced, aggressive topspin player, you will not have much fun with this type of material. It is important for the right choice of material to know what type of player you are and not what type of player you would like to be.

In the following, we describe the four basic player types and the characteristics of their play. Please use our small overview to honestly classify your own playing style. Once you have determined which type of player you are, you can easily select the material that suits your playing style. Our blades and rubbers are assigned characteristics that you can filter, so that in the end you will be shown the material that corresponds to your playing style.

1. Player type
-modern / defensive-

Characteristics:

  • Cut defence based defensive play.
  • Disruptive actions such as changing cuts to provoke opponents' mistakes..
  • Balloon balls or counterattacks.
  • Optimisation of ball control to avoid own mistakes..
  • Counter-attacking opportunities are used for own attacks, for example, after a stop ball has been run over, or after a topspin ball from the opponent that is too high or too slow.
  • Undercut ball and disruptive stroke are the main types of stroke.

Material examples:

andro blades
Timber 5 Def, Wano-Kiwami Midori DEF
andro rubber
Backside 2,0

DONIC blades
Defplay Classic Senso, Defplay Senso
DONIC rubber
Slice 40 CD

GEWO blade
Velox Alpha DEF
GEWO rubbers
Return Pro, Mega Flex Control

HALLMARK blades
Aurora, Enigma, Strategy
HALLMARK rubbers
Destroyer, Tactics LP, Devil Anti

DR. NEUBAUER blades
Barricade, Grand Master,
Grand Master +
DR. NEUBAUER rubbers
Trouble Maker, Punch Special Defence

or

2. Player type
-allround / defensive-

Characteristics:

  • All techniques are used.
  • Offensive game with topspin strokes with little willingness to take risks.
  • One side (usually the backhand) is more passively oriented (block and push balls).
  • Avoiding own mistakes by optimising ball control.
  • The game becomes more passive with strong opponent offensive pressure, from blocking actions to defensive shots such as undercut or balloon ball. Tactics and placement are prioritised over pace.

Material examples:

andro blades
TP Ligna ALL, Kanter FO ALL/S, Novacell ALL/S
andro rubbers
Hexer Duro, Hexer Powersponge, Rasanter R 37 / R 42

DONIC blades
Classic Allround, New Impuls 6.5,
Epox Control

GEWO blades
Zoom Balance,Power Control,
Allround Classic
GEWO rubbers
Neoflexx eFT 40, nanoFlex FT,
Proton Neo 375

HALLMARK blade
Combination
HALLMARK rubber
Magic Pips

VICTAS blades
Balsa 4.5 / 5.5, Black Balsa 5.0,
Euro Classic ALL+
VICTAS rubbers
VS > 401, VS > 402 Limber,
Ventus Regular

or

3. Player type
-Attack vario offensive-

Characteristics:

  • Offensive game with topspin variations, partly also from the half-distance.
  • The topspin is not only a preparation stroke, but is also used to score and to finish the rally. The shot/finishing stroke is rather the exception.
  • The strategy is often complemented on the backhand side by blocking balls.
  • Main stroke type: topspin.

Material examples:

andro blades
Gauzy SL, Gauzy HL CO, Novacell OFF / OFF S
andro rubbers
Hexer Grip SFX, Hexer Powergrip, Rasanter V42

DONIC blades
Classic Powerallround, Dotec Impuls
DONIC rubbers
Desto F1 /F1 Plus, Acuda S1, Bluestorm Z3/Big Slam

GEWO blades
Balsa Carbon 575, In-Force ARC OFF-
GEWO rubbers
Neoflexx eFT 40, nanoFlex FT, Proton Neo 375

HALLMARK blade
Ultra
HALLMARK rubbers
Green Power, Power Spin

XIOM blades
Huga HAL, Icecream AZXi, TMXi An Jaehyun, 36.5 ALXi
XIOM rubbers
Omega VII Euro / VII China Guang, Vega X

or

4. Player type
-Attack Speed offensive-

Characteristics:

  • Aggressive topspin play on both sides with a lot of speed from the short distance.
  • Completion of the rally with stroke spins or end strokes.
  • Unconditional will to take the initiative and dictate the game with offensive strokes.
  • Backhand opening spins and active counter/block play.
  • Main stroke types: topspin and stroke spin.

Material examples:

andro blades
Kanter CO OFF, Kanter FO OFF
andro rubbers
Rasanter C53 / C48 / R53 / R50 / R48 / R47 / V47

DONIC blades
Classic Offensive, Original Dotec OFF, Epox Topspeed
DONIC rubbers
Bluestar A1, Bluestorm Z1 + Z2,
Z1 Turbo

GEWO blades
Force ARC OFF,
Robles Hinoki Ex-Carbon
GEWO rubbers
Nexxus EL Pro 53 SuperSelect,
Codexx EF Pro 54

TIBHAR blades
Shang Kun Hybrid ZC,
Fortino Pro DC Inside
Tibhar rubbers
Evolution MX-P / MX P50 /MX-S /MX-D

XIOM blades
Ice Cream AZX, 36,5 ALX
XIOM rubbers
Jekyll & Hyde V 47,5 / V 52,5,
Omega VII Tour, Vega Tour

Your path you must decide. – Yoda

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