MAX Sponge

[Vinnie]

You see MAX sponge around quite a bit, and I often wonder why it is known as MAX sponge. MAX sponge just means that it is the Maximum available for that rubber, doesn't it? It doesn't refer to an actual thickness that you can compare with a different rubber?

I find it quite pointless when people say MAX sponge.

What opinions do you have on it?

[pingpongrob]

Max relates to the maximum sponge allowed by the ITTF for that particular topsheet. If I'm correct this equates to 4mm max sponge and topsheet combined. The Chinese rubbers require a thicker sponge to give them some speed. The German rubbers still have plenty of speed even in 1.8mm sponge versions.
The theory says that the thicker sponge will give more topspin on fast strokes. The thinner sponge gives more backspin and generally more control.

[Vinnie]

I just wish that shops and manufacturers would actually say how thick the sponge is rather than saying MAX though, because sometimes it just goes 2.0, 2.2, MAX, and you have no idea what MAX is.

[supachop]

They cant sat it that way because it depends on the thickness of the top sheet.
Top sheet thickness varies from rubber to rubber.
But the total thickness of top sheet plus aponge must be less than 4mm.

[Peter C]

Max sponge varies depending on the thickness of the topsheet, as pointed out by others.

The 4mm rule of sponge and topsheet combined, has been around since 1959 and for a good reason.

During the 1951 world championships, a sponge bat was first used for the first time and the following year, .i.e. 1952; Satoh of japan became the first winner of the men's title, using a sponge bat. Some of those early sponges were 5 - 6mm thick, without a topsheet. The sponge made the bats faster, than the orthodox short pips which was a lot more common at the time and there were calls to ban the sponges. Japan, were the first nation to adopt sponges on a large scale and they were a dominant force in world table tennis during the fifties because of it.

In the end a compromise was agreed in 1959 where you could use sponge bats, providing they didn't exceed 4mm in thickness of sponge and topsheet combined.

_____________________________________________________

Regarding modern rubbers, the thinnest topsheet I'm aware of are around 1.3mm thick and rubbers like the Stiga Innova rubbers and Donic Supersonic have a max sponge of 2.6mm thick.

Vincent

If you look at players like Rob, Supachop, Big Ears and JKC, who all play at a high standard, none of them use Max sponge, to my knowledge. As such, my advice is stick to 2.0 mm or 1.8mm rubbers, whilst you are developing your game.

Have I ever used max sponge? yes in the past; i.e. Max Sriver EL, which worked well on both the Petr Korbel and Michael Maze and Max Plasma 470 on a Michael Maze and Galaxy M6. The Sriver EL is now on the bat, I gave to my nephew and Plasma 470 was wrecked when trying to use water based glue, which was frustrating, as it was a very good performer, particularly on the forehand of the Galaxy M6.

[speedplay]

The theory says that the thicker sponge will give more topspin on fast strokes. The thinner sponge gives more backspin and generally more control.

I disagree! Not surprising, but I still disagree! A thicker sponge gives more spin, period. A thinner sponge gives more (?) control?  Well, I agree about the thicker sponge, it have more spin and speed capabilities then a thinner sponge, but it is harder to handle. Still, how do we define control? According to me, it is not harder to control a thick sponge then a thin sponge, as the thick sponge is easier to generate spin with and spin is the same as control. The more spin you can add to a shot, the more control you will have over the shot. I still have to admit, the thin sponges are easier to handle in the short game.

My advice is, if you aim to play offensive, use max sponge. If you feel it is to fast for you, then pick a slower rubber. Once you grow out of it, find a faster rubber to use. The reason I see it like this is, if you pick a fast rubber, in 1.8, then you will get used to it bottoming out on power strokes, so, once you feel ready to move up to 2.0 or max, you will have adopted to this and won't gain any benefits from the thicker sponge as your power stroke is set to work with the 1.8 sponge.

I know I'm pretty lonely to believe in this theory, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong.

[priior]

depends on the rubber i think.

if you don't play with MAX with the softer rubbers.. you might as well play with the topsheet stuck on the wood.. it bottoms out all the time.

on the other hand, rubbers like the harder plasmas catapult so much (i havent tried the roxons) with a max sponge that it's almost impossible to play anything short (at intermediate levels)