Will having a thicker rubber and sponge on the ping pong paddle make it better for an attacking style or a defensive style?

Answer 1

Without drowning in physics here, let's look at the face of the paddle ans see what that's about. There are two qualities of interest in the surface of the pad. One is flexibility or "softness" and the other is "stickiness" or the relationship of the pad material to the matte finish on the thermoplastic (celluloid) ball. Here's an outtake from another answer. The material on the face of the paddle comes in contact with the ball, and thisis what it's all about. Ever seen two world champions go at it? It's unbelievable! These dudes are all over the ball! And take a close look at that little round sucker they're wailin' on! It's a tough little cookie, but it doesn't weigh more than a saltine cracker! How the heck are players supposed to make it go really fast if it is light and has a lot of air resistance? Hit it really hard? The ball, because it is so light, slows down quickly due to it's drag (air resistance). The stuff on the face of the paddles is kinda rubbery. Rubber absorbs shock. What if Baseball players used a rubber bat? It'd be tough just to get the ball out of the infield. Why not use solid wood on the face of the paddle? Or metal? Ping pong is a marvelously challenging sport. And one of the things the players do when they volley the ball is incorporate additional motion in their swings that is designed to put SPIN on the ball! In order for the paddle to impart spin to the ball, the ball must stay in contact with the face of the paddle for a short period of time. A paddle with a steel (or titanium!) face would allow the hardest volley, but no additional finesse could be imparted to that little round sucker. So the name of the game in ping pong paddles is the type and the hardness or softness of the rubber on the face. And wouldn't ya just know it, there is a trade off. There are always trade offs. To get something, one has to give something. Slightly harder rubber means a slightly faster volley, but less ability to apply spin. You want more spin to juke your opponent out of his sox? Softer rubber is the answer. Oh, and you have to give up some of the velocity on your volley. Your strategy depends on your playing style. Softer rubber gives more spin and reduces your ability to "kill" a shot. This may be the way to go for a defensive player. The over-the-top killer with the heavy power shot will want a slightly harder face on his paddle to get more velocity on the ball. Remember that the paddle has two faces, and there is slightly different formulation of rubber on each face.