March 19, 2009
New Tenergy Rubbers, Trends and Style
By Masaaki Tajima
Periodically, table tennis manufacturers come up with new rubbers to market their products, usually, nothing revolutionary. But In the last year, more than usual are out due to major changes in banning of speed gluing and other rulings, to mimic it's effects because speed gluing was such a revolutionary development with global impact, impacting mainly to European and Western players where is was discovered and used extensively. Due to these changes, players are searching for familiar products before the ban and manufacturers to meet the need and demand. At the same time, style and tactics were also changing for the past several years at the top level and trickling down to rest of the mortals, mainly to counter the loop. Butterfly came up with several variety of products to meet this market so I tested some of them but I will talk about the Tenergy line of rubbers because I found it to be different from other speed glued effect rubbers.
Due to major changes in game scoring format from 21 points to 11, service rule changes, larger ball and the more recent speed glue ban, tactical and stylistic changes have taken place globally, prompted by China to defeat the current (1980’s to 1990’s developed) looping style of play. Tenergy seems to fit this new close to the table style to counter the loop. But tactics to defeat the looping style is not new; it's just different and more powerful than before.
Japan in the 1950's came with the sponge rubber and their topspin game and Korea the loop. China countered with their close-to-the-table mainly pip's block/hitting tactics in the 60's. Europe countered with Bengtsson-Johanssen fast topspin and hitting games in the 70's then again China, with long pip's and combination style of play in the 70’s. In the late 70's and early 80's, Europe countered by the likes of Joyner, Klampar, Serbic and China again with Jiang Jialiang, Chen longcan and Chen Xin Hua. After decades of speed gluing from the early 1980’s, culminating in the Swedish miracle years of the mid 1980's to 1990's with Waldner, Applegren, Persson, Lindh and Carlsson, we are now back to China dominating with Ma Lin, Wang Ho, Wang Li Quin and their depth of lesser known players. Rest of the world, including us, saw the trend, are employing Chinese players, coaches and their methods because their style is dominating.
Until recent history, Chinese players were using blades and rubbers made only in their country like Double Happiness and Friendship although there were talks of them using “other” equipment. Their top players are now sponsored by all major manufacturers and use the same product as the rest of us; it’s what they are able to do with what they have that is so dominant.
Regardless of the equipment they used, China historically, except for some, has always played close to the table while Europe, Japan and Korea, primarily mid distance or further back. The dominance of China has to do with them coming up with tactics to meet the cycle of change and style and the depth of their talent. So what they use for their tactical purpose in the cycle of change is also important. The current top Chinese players also used speed glue for better control close to the table, but although they have the capability to loop when necessary, they “power drive” the ball close to the table with less arc on the ball so firmer sponge is suited more for that style and tactic. This power driving technique and tactic is not new; their development have been know in international coaching circles for at least the last eight years and they are being used by bigger, physically stronger players with equipment to compliment their style.
After testing them myself and observing their use by other different style of players, Tenergy 05 and 25 is suited for drive type players, especially when initiating or countering looping shots. The sponge handles opponents spin and speed well but not as well when the on-coming ball is slower. Tenergy is suited for players who are already accomplished, physically strong (the sponge is heavy) and employ close to the table and aggressive countering style of play.
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