Top 10 Classic Rubbers for Table Tennis / Ping-Pong

Butterfly Sriver has long been considered a classic table tennis rubber, and with good reason. Possessing good feel coupled with strong speed and spin, Sriver was the rubber used by many world class players in the 1970's and 1980's to generate powerful attacks while retaining good ball control. And today there are still many elite players, such as Germany's Timo Boll, who prefer Sriver's classic qualities.

For those interested, I've now added a full review of Butterfly Sriver.

Forum member bes writes:
It is significantly spinnier than Sriver, but (again, to me) has a bit of a tradeoff in the short game. It is exceptional for looping, driving, serving, and, if you hit them right, spinny pushes. Once you get used to the high throw, it is also a very good blocking rubber too. I find that its spinniness and bounciness makes it a bit touchy for drop shots and passive pushes. It also reacts to incoming spin more than Sriver, so makes serve returns slightly more demanding. I've also found it to lose its "max grippiness" after a few weeks. It remains pretty grippy, but loses its "razor edge".

I've now added an in depth review of Mark V of my own for those readers who want to know more.

Stiga's Mendo MP is a rubber that is recommended often in our forum when members ask for a good attacking rubber that has more speed and spin than Sriver-type rubbers.

Forum member bes writes:
It is faster, and a bit spinnier than Sriver. It is exceptionally durable, and not "bouncy". When speed glued it gets really fast. Like Sriver, it is solid across the board. This rubber seems to really like play close to the table. When speed glued, it is very capable away from the table, but really shines inside 5 feet.

Forum member backhandloop writes:
Persson and Waldner have both won world championships with this rubber. It is Donic's version of a rubber that does everything, like Sriver and Mark V. It's just slightly firmer and a touch more powerful than Mark V, but grips just as well.

I can personally attest to the quality and consistency of Coppa. I've used it on my backhand for years and years, and now use it on both my forehand and backhand.

Forum member AGOODING2 writes:
Friendship 802, the classic "do everything" short pips rubber which can be used by hitters, blockers and even choppers. Comes in a number of versions, 802-40 has wider, spinnier pips while 802-1 (Buy Direct) is more widely spaced smaller pips for more deception. Generally what I recommend for someone trying short pips for the first time. Keep the sponge thin (1.5-1.8mm) and soft (35 degrees or less) for best control.

Butterfly Bryce has been the "big gun" of modern table tennis for the last 10 years or so. Used by many top players (almost always with speed glue), it is very fast with just enough spin to bring the ball down on the table when power looping.

Forum member VictorK1 writes:
Butterfly Bryce - a "classic" weapon for power loopers and probably the most popular super-duper-fast rubber. I personally prefer Mendo MP (which I use myself), but one cannot discount the fact that large number of players around the world use Bryce.

One big minus of Bryce is the high price, but cannot blame Butterfly since it sells so well.

Forum member VictorK1 writes:
Donic J.O. Waldner - excellent allround, "do-it-all", offensive rubber with medium-hard sponge that is comparable in speed and performance to Sriver, Mark V and Mendo. This rubber could be used by players of all levels.

Table Tennis rubber manufacturer Friendship has now brought out more 729 products than you can poke a stick at, but I still have fond memories of the old Friendship 729 that came with blue sponge and a topsheet that always looked dirty. It wasn't the fastest of rubbers, but it had great spin and control, and could produce heavy spin loops and really heavy pushes and chops. Great for serving as well.

Friendship Cream 729 appears to rapidly gaining status as something of a classic rubber in its own right too.