Long Pips rubber with Hallmark Friction Liquid
Picture: Long Pips rubber after the friction liquid being applied. You are seeing the residue on the tip of the rubber.
The Hallmark friction liquid is for pips rubbers (short, medium and long) only, and that is too having friction. It defeats the purpose applying on a frictionless pips rubber. The friction liquid can be used on regular inverted pips in rubbers also, but that may be waste of money. The friction liquid comes in a very small bottle. You can make 10 to 12 applications per bottle. The liquid is thick like nail lacquer. There is red and black bottle for red and black rubbers. I think this liquid may contain some VOC because it has some toxic smell. As of this time, this liquid is not in the ITTF banned products list.
I applied this liquid on a Tibhar Grass DTech long pips rubber in a open environment where there is flow of good air. While applying the liquid on the rubber, I had some spills inside the pips, and it was difficult to remove it. The liquid becomes dry fast, so careful application of liquid on the tip of the pips is necessary. I allowed 15 minutes for the liquid to dry. After 15 minutes, I ran my finger over the pips, and I sensed a kind of sticky feeling. The same kind of sensation comes from Spinmax products also.
The lifetime of a pips rubber is very less compared to a regular inverted rubber. The regular inverted pips in rubbers are easy to clean. The tip of the pips can attract dust very fast, and it is very difficult to clean. Washing the pips with water can’t remove the dust from the tip of the pips completely. Slowly, the rubber becomes frictionless. When you apply the friction liquid on the pips, it forms a friction coat on the tips. So, I suggest using this liquid on a pips rubber that has been used for a while, and has lost the friction. Ultimately, you will get a feeling that you have got a new rubber.
The results are very satisfying. I’ve noticed this liquid can increase the friction of the rubber to a greater extend. I was able to execute all my strokes successfully. I was able to generate more rotations against under spin balls from my opponent and more spin during the serve.
There is no need to apply the Hallmark friction liquid on the pips before every match. A single application will run it through at least 15 matches (3 out of 5 games). It is okay to clean the surface of the pips with water after every match.
I like this product. But I’m not sure whether I will use this product during a tournament. I prefer to play with new rubbers at tournament.
It is okay to use this product because ITTF has not banned it. Apply the liquid at least a day before playing in a tournament. The VOC residue if there is any may evaporate by then, and the rubber becomes legal to use.
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