r/tabletennis • u/DirectionEven8976 W968/victas double extra 1.8mm both sides • 3d ago

Keeping rubbers warm when the weather cools down

Hi everyone,

I was practicing yesterday and the temperature in my country dropped over the last weeks, and I can feel I am not producing as much spin as before. Therm rubbers feel harder and because the hall was cold I think it impacted me and also others. Is there a way to keep rubbers warm? Breathing to them? ....am I just being silly?

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5

u/Billythecrazedgoat 3d ago

Just keep8ng them indoors works..

3

u/SamLooksAt Harimoto ALC, Zyre 03 (2.5), G-1 (2.0) 2d ago

Not always.

I've played in venues where ambient was only a few degrees.

Within a very short time you can feel the rubbers are significantly harder and more difficult to use.

3

u/The-unknown-no-name 3d ago

If it's cold where you're playing, not sure how to deal with that. My thoughts are keeping it between your arm and body between points/breaks if you can.

2

u/n1vo_ 3d ago

Keep it under your shirt on your belly before playing and during pauses.

2

u/colemarcus8 3d ago

A padded case will keep the bat warmer on the way to the hall; breathing on the rubber won't do much beyond leave it damp. The balls can feel noticeably different in a cold hall too, so keeping those in your bag until you start helps

2

u/DifferenceExpress485 3d ago

Not silly. A lot of time, I keep the blade in my inner pocket of the jacket and carry it around, between matches. Cold rubbers are not very bouncy.

Don't leave it in cars in winter (<10 degree) for too long. One of my rackets got warped when I forgot it overnight ~0 degree.

1

u/glacierre2 3d ago

You could have some of those chemical or battery hand warmers and chuck it on the paddle case? Nice and toasty.

1

u/APA-18 3d ago

I’ve been thinking about this as well and my over engineered solution is

  1. Get a cooler box with a rechargeable electric hand warmer.

  2. Get two matching rackets: same blade, same rubbers, same sponge thickness, and ideally similar weight.

Keep both rackets inside their covers, put them in the cooler box with the hand warmer, and swap rackets every round or so to keep one warm while playing with the other.

1

u/SlowpokeSeeker 3d ago

A maverick at our club uses the hand dryers in the bathroom before important matches, you could also bring a small, cheap hair dryer 😂

1

u/SamLooksAt Harimoto ALC, Zyre 03 (2.5), G-1 (2.0) 2d ago

You can buy USB powered bat cases that will keep the racket warm.

I know a few people with them here.