If you’re serious about your table tennis training, you’ll know that the performance of your rubber and glue is crucial. It’s such an important part of improving your table tennis gameplay that knowing how to properly glue your rubber is considered an art.
Whether you’re using a high-end Stiga table tennis bat for your competitive games or just a regular paddle for casual play, properly gluing your rubber involves a simple, four-step process of careful preparation, application, and cutting.
With practice, replacing the rubber becomes relatively easy once you know the basic techniques, ensuring your equipment performs at its best.
Step 1: Removing the Old Rubber
The first step in replacing the rubber on any table tennis bat is carefully removing the surface. When peeling off the old rubbers, always start at the handle end of the bat. Then, peel them off diagonally and upward across the blade.
It is crucial to exercise caution during this process to prevent damaging the delicate and fragile outer veneer of the blade. Take your time and pull gently, making sure the wood remains smooth and intact.
Step 2: Preparing the Blade
Before applying a fresh layer of table tennis glue, the surface of the blade must be perfectly smooth and prepped.
If you have a brand new blade, it is recommended to apply a thin layer of wood sealant beforehand. A sealer, or varnish, provides a layer of protection to the blade surface and helps strengthen the adhesion of the wood fibres. However, if your blade has been used before and already has residue on it, you must give it a very good clean before sealing or applying new glue. Otherwise, the surface can end up rough or messy.
Any piece of the old, peeled-off rubber can actually be used for this task, as rubbing it across the surface helps pick up any remaining stickiness.
Step 3: Gluing the New Rubber
When you’re ready to attach the new table tennis rubber, which glue do you use to stick it?
For starters, you can forget about using standard super glue. This is just not how you glue table tennis rubber together. Instead, we strongly advise using water-based ping pong rubber glue as this is the best table tennis glue option for both performance and safety.
For example, brands such as Butterfly table tennis rubber glue are not only easy to apply and remove, but they are also non-toxic and ITTF-approved, ensuring they meet all official standards. And, regarding how much glue to use for your table tennis rubber, the goal is to apply a thin, even coat to both the blade surface and the sponge side.
Please note that, in terms of how you can make your ping pong paddle sticky enough for proper adhesion, you will need a sufficient amount of glue to cover the table tennis rubber surface evenly without forming large clumps. After applying the coat, let each layer dry completely for around 10 to 15 minutes. You can tell it’s dry when the table tennis rubber glue becomes transparent.
Step 4: Applying and Cutting the Rubber
Once both the table tennis blade and the rubber are dry, it’s time to bring them together. Carefully align the rubber with the bat, starting from the handle end. Gently lay the rubber down onto the blade, smoothing it out towards the top edge to avoid trapping any air bubbles beneath the surface.
After the rubber is fully adhered, use a roller or another smooth object to apply even pressure across the entire surface and ensure a strong bond.
The final step is cutting the excess rubber. Using a sharp pair of scissors, carefully follow the exact contour of the blade for a clean, professional finish. Be very careful during this step to avoid accidentally cutting into the fragile edges of the wood.
Perfecting Your Bat: Performance and Practice
Successfully executing a table tennis bat rubber replacement ensures your equipment is ready for peak performance, making a real difference in your game. We encourage you to take on this task yourself, as knowing how to glue your own table tennis rubber gives you a deeper understanding of your equipment.
For those who need hands-on assistance with their equipment, want to fine-tune their technique after applying their new table tennis rubber, or simply want to learn more about advanced ping pong techniques, contact us at Xiao Bai Qiu.
As a leading table tennis academy, our expert coaches are passionate about helping players of all ages and skill levels. Whether you want to refine your ping pong serving skills or learn how to properly drive a ball, our welcoming and accessible environment guarantees a fun, educational experience.
