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*For context, it's been six months since I switched from inverted rubber on both sides to short pips on the backhand.
[Summary, since this got long]
○Pros
- Insanely fast initial speed, easy to disrupt opponents who stay close to the table
- In a good way, it's hard to be affected by the opponent's spin, so early-timing counters are easy
- Long serves get good speed even with a light, relaxed swing
- The racket itself is light, so you won't be late on your swing even without much strength
○Cons
- Almost no sense of the ball sinking into the sponge (might also be an effect of the New Zone)
- It flies so much that blocking needs careful adjustment
- The short game is difficult - stops tend to pop up, and chiquitas go into the net
○Overall assessment
I think this suits women players who stay close to the table and want to win points by rallying steadily. Because the initial speed is so fast, it's like a traffic accident for opponents who can't handle it by backing off. I don't think it's a good fit for players who want to attack with heavy topspin drives, because it leaves spin behind.

Since the short pips rubber I used is VO102, I think the picture would change with an unpredictable, knuckle-type pips rubber like the Attack8 that Ando uses.

It wasn't the racket I was hoping for, so I didn't end up adopting it, but I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to catch their opponent off guard with speed.

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