I have received inquiries from people asking about the differences between various curl series rubbers from TSP (1) TSP Curl P1R (2) TSP Curl P3 and (3) TSP Curl P3 Alpha R (4) TSP Curl P-H
Construction:
The TSP Curl P1R has soft, longer and wider pips. The TSP Curl P3 is little shorter than P1R. The TSP Curl P3 Alpha R is of same length as TSP Curl P3. The TSP Curl P-H is very similar to TSP Curl P1R but the pips are stiffer or in other words it is hard.
Space between pips:
The TSP Curl P1R is closely arranged. The TSP Curl P3 and P3 Alpha R are widely spaced. This will help close to the table blocking. The TSP Curl P3 Alpha R can absorb more spin while blocking.
Friction:
The TSP Curl P1R has more friction than TSP Curl P3. The TSP Curl P3 Alpha R has lowest friction among the three. Now TSP Curl P-H has been released, it has less friction compared to Curl P1R.
Chopping:
The TSP Curl P1R has the best long stroke chopping ability. For short chop strokes like chop block, the TSP Curl P3 is better. The TSP Curl P3 Alpha R is the lowest in long arm chopping ability. Among the three, the TSP Curl P1R can make the maximum under spin. The TSP Curl PH is good for chop block - it produces knuckle ball for long arm stroke.
Hitting:
The TSP Curl P-H is the best among all the curl for hitting. The TSP Curl P3 is second in good for hitting. Against the under-spin and no spin, the TSP Curl P3 can perform good. The TSP Curl P3 Alpha R does help hitting. The TSP Curl P1R performs the fourth in this list - its hard to hit because the pips bend to one side. With the TSP Curl p1r, the punch hits are possible.
Blocking:
The TSP Curl P3 Alpha R is good for passive blocking. Unlike other rubbers, it can take a lot of impact and spin and returns the stroke with no spin. The TSP Curl P1R is good for active blocking or also called aggressive push. For strokes like side swap, the TSP Curl P3 and TSP Curl P3 Alpha R are good. The TSP Curl P-H is also good for blocking. It produces knuckle ball while blocking. Other Curl rubbers can generate some spin with a straight blocking.
Lifting:
The TSP Curl P-H is the best for lifting. The TSP Curl P3 is good for lifting the under-spin ball. Then comes TSP Curl P3 Alpha R. The TSP Curl P1R performs poor in this area.
Looping:
The TSP Curl P-H is the best in looping. The TSP Curl P3 Alpha R performs well in looping next to P-H. The next in the list is TSP Curl P3.
Throw angle:
The TSP Curl P1R has the highest throw angle among the three. Then comes TSP Curl PH, P3 and then TSP Curl P3 Alpha R. The TSP Curl P3 Alpha R has close to flat throw angle.
Deception:
For an active player, the TSP Curl P1R has the highest deception. But it is limited to chops. The TSP Curl P3 Alpha R has good deception for a passive player – plays close to the table and do mostly block and lifting strokes. The TSP Curl P3 has good deception for players who play close to the table but do all kind of strokes except high swing chop strokes. The TSP Curl PH is smart enough for deception for a passive player. For an active player who has good control in changing spin, the TSP Curl PH is the best weapon.
Players Suitability:
TSP Curl P1R - Depend less on deception, but use underspin and top spin to win points.
TSP Curl P3 – Passive players who depends on deception and depend on the opponents mistakes to win points. Active players who wants to hit with pips.
TSP Curl P3 Alpha R – Passive players who depend on deception and depend on the opponents mistakes to win points. Active players who wants to generate no spin ball in a top spin rally and win points.
TSP Curl P-H - Active players who can play spin variation, attack and chop. Does not depend on the rubber to do the deception but depends on their own strokes.
The equipments used to test the behavior of the rubbers:
1. Butterfly Amicus 3000 Robot
2. Dr.Neubauer Combination Effect, TSP Yanagi Alpha, TSP Versal, TSP Reflex 50 Defensive
3. TSP Real, Butterfly Tenergy, XIOM Omega II, XIOM Omega III, XIOM ZETA, XIOM True Innovation, XIOM Yanus DF inverted rubbers on the forehand.
The TSP Curl long pips are available from TableTennisStore.us.
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