Difference Between Red and Black Table Tennis Rubbers?

As you already know, a table tennis racket has two sides that are red and black 99% of the time. This forces you to think about the differences between them because obviously, they are different in color, so there may lie more differences that are unclear to the eye.

In this article, I’ll teach you exactly the difference between red and black rubbers, why they are colored as such, and more considering the subject. Before getting ahead of myself, what is the difference between black and red rubbers?

The difference between red and black rubber is the characteristics. Generally, a red rubber is faster and more powerful, whereas black rubber is tackier, spinner, and more grip-oriented. ITTF requires that one needs to have red rubber on the other side and black on the other for game transparency.

So essentially, the rubbers are different in the way they operate when the ball hits the racket. This gives you more opportunities when the rubbers are different because you can switch the side in a heartbeat during a match.

This is a fascinating subject, so let’s dive deeper into the subject, and I’ll go through each rubber color individually, so you can have an idea of what red rubber does and what a black one does.

Red Vs Black Table Tennis Rubber

99% of table tennis rubbers are either red or black, and it all started from the Yasaka Mark V Rubber, but more on that later. Let’s learn more about red rubbers to see what they are generally used for.

Red

Red rubbers are often used in the forehand side of the racket because they are designed for speed and power. Most red rubbers are less tacky, so they generate less spin and are less control-oriented. However, their purpose is to strike hard, not to generate and receive spin.

This drastically depends on the manufacturers because some manufacturers try to make red and black rubbers as similar as possible, whereas others want to make them different.

The latter is the most common practice, and nearly all professional players use two rubbers that are different in features to increase their chances and opportunities in the match.

Black

Black rubbers are tackier than red rubbers, making it easier to control the ball with black rubber. Also, the generating and receiving spin is the black rubber’s job because red rubber is for speed and power. In addition, a black rubber is less see-trough than a red one which can be somewhat translucent.

Again, this really depends on the manufacturer and rubbers used in the racket, but generally, this is the case, especially in the world of a pro table tennis player.

Why are table tennis rackets red and black?

In short, table tennis rackets are red and black because of fairness. This dates back all the way to the 1970s. In the 70s, table tennis players used the same colored rubbers on both sides to deceive the opponent by quickly turning the racket to a different featured rubber.

It is hard to adjust to such a change if you can’t notice it because when you are battling with your opponent, and they use an offensive rubber that is speed-oriented and then unnoticeably switches to spin-oriented rubber, you will get really confused and likely mess up the shot.

This is why ITTF made a rule in 1986 that one must use a red rubber on the other side and black on the other. In addition, you and your opponent can always examine each other’s racket before the game for transparency and fairness. This makes it all about the skills, not tricking your opponent.

Finally, I already mentioned the Yasaka Mark V rubber, which is an iconic old-era rubber that has been used for a long time. The Mark V is a classic rubber that is well known for its being used in rackets both red and black!

All in all, the rubber talk and the colors considering them are fascinating subjects. I highly encourage you to read more about why table tennis rackets are red and black because the information is quite essential for all table tennis players.

Why do table tennis bats have two Colours?

As a general rule in competitive table tennis, one must use a red and black rubber on the racket because of game transparency and fairness. This is because the ITTF rule in 1986, which was made to prevent players from deceiving and tricking opponents with different rubbers that have the same color.

However, when it comes to recreational table tennis, there are more than two rubber colors such as blue, yellow, green, and even white!

Which Side of a Table Tennis Bat is Forehand

A very popular question from beginner table tennis players is the difference between a forehand and a backhand. The answer Is really straightforward and even easy to guess when you think about it.

In short, a forehand is a side with which you strike your table tennis paddle, and it is often equipped with a red rubber instead of black. Red rubber is often used in the forehand side because, in most cases, they are more powerful and speed-oriented, which is what the forehand needs.

When you think about it, fore as in forward and backhand as in well, back. Pretty easy to understand when you finally know about it.

Which Side of a Table Tennis Bat is for Spin

Spin can be generated with both sides of a table tennis bat; however, one side is by far more often than the other.

Generally, the backhand is more often used for a spin in a table tennis racket. This is because the backhand is usually equipped with black rubber, which is, in most cases tackier, grippier, which makes it better at generating spin.

You can also generate spin with your forehand; however, a forehand often has a red rubber to smash that ball with powerful strikes instead of spins.