Sriver EL vs Sriver FX
By Bill Lui, U.S. National Junior Girls Coach
Mar. 22, 2004

Coach Bill Lui answers the following question:

My blade is Timo Boll Spirit. I use Sriver FX on my forehand and I feel I have better control than if I use Sriver EL. However, I find it's better to use Sriver EL for smashing than Sriver FX. Can you please explain to me why this is? Would you advise me which rubber I should use? What is the best practice and most important technique to remember to improve forehand looping?

Coach Lui replies:

"Once you have acquired a sound technique, the best practice lesson to improve on the forehand loop is repetition under various conditions. Choose drills with a robot or a coach/hitting partner that vary the spin, speed, and landing location of the incoming ball and work on getting into position, apply the proper technique and execute as you would in a game. There are many factors in the technique used for forehand loop. I would rank as the most important the grazing of the ball to differentiate it from a counter driving stroke which one would hit through the ball."

"Sriver FX is slightly spinnier (8.4) than Sriver EL (8.2) but slightly slower (9.6 vs 9.8) which explains why you can have better control looping with the FX since the more spin you put on the ball, the more it drops and avoids going over the table. On the other hand, the EL is faster so it is better for smashing. Both FX and EL form good combination with the Timo Boll Spirit - FL. By understanding the reason how each rubber affects the flight of the ball, you may choose either one and with sufficient practice time you should be able to execute both strokes effectively. Usually a style that favors looping tends to use spinnier rubber and a style that favors hitting/smashing tends to use faster rubber."