Short pips, medium pips and long pips can make the same blade play like three very different rackets. Short pips favour direct speed and early timing; long pips are built around spin sensitivity, disruption and defensive variation; medium pips sit between those extremes. This guide explains what actually changes, who each type suits, and how sponge thickness changes the result.
What Does “Pips-Out” Mean?
Most modern table tennis players use inverted rubber: the pimples point inward toward the sponge, leaving a smooth topsheet to contact the ball. With pips-out rubber, those pimples face outward and contact the ball directly.
That change matters because the pimple geometry, stiffness, friction and sponge underneath all affect how much the rubber grips, bends and responds to incoming spin. “Pips” therefore is not one playing style. A fast short-pips sheet can be an attacking weapon, while an OX long-pips sheet can produce a much slower, more disruptive response.
Direct & attacking
Lower spin sensitivity than typical inverted rubber, flatter flight and strong potential for blocks, punches, counters and early-ball hitting.
The middle ground
Generally more disruptive than short pips but more attack-oriented than many long pips. Useful for players who want awkwardness without abandoning direct strokes.
Variation & disruption
Longer pimples can deform more at impact, creating unusual responses to incoming spin and pace. Common in chopping, blocking and combination-racket styles.
Long Pips vs Short Pips vs Medium Pips: The Main Differences
| Characteristic | Short Pips | Medium Pips | Long Pips |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical strength | Fast, direct attack | Direct play + disruption | Disruption, variation, defence |
| Trajectory | Relatively flat | Flat / awkward | Highly product- and stroke-dependent |
| Incoming spin | Usually less sensitive than inverted | Can disturb spin and rhythm more | Can return incoming spin in ways very different from inverted |
| Own spin generation | Possible, but usually below inverted | Usually secondary to direct/disruptive play | Varies; many rely heavily on interaction with incoming spin |
| Close-table play | Excellent for block, punch and hit | Strong for awkward blocks and counters | Can be very effective for disruptive blocks and changes of pace |
| Away from table | Possible, but generally less natural as distance increases | Style dependent | Common choice for defensive chopping when paired appropriately |
| Learning curve | Still requires pips-specific technique | Requires adapting contact and timing | Can be demanding because spin reading remains crucial |
Short Pips: Who Should Use Them?
Short pips are often the easiest pips category to understand if you come from inverted rubber. The stroke mechanics are not identical, but the objective is familiar: take time away from the opponent and play positively.
They are particularly attractive to players who stay close to the table, meet the ball early and prefer blocking, counter-hitting, punching and flat hitting over producing a high-arcing topspin ball. Because they are generally less reactive to incoming spin than grippy inverted rubber, they can also simplify some receive and blocking situations — but they do not make spin irrelevant.
The trade-off is that a player who builds their game around heavy topspin from both wings may give up too much spin potential. Short pips reward commitment to their own contact and timing rather than acting as an automatic cure for technical weaknesses.
Long Pips: What Do They Actually Do?
Long pips are frequently described as “spin reversal” rubber, but that shorthand can be misleading. What comes back depends on the incoming ball, the pimple design, friction, sponge, blade, contact and stroke. The important practical point is that long pips interact with spin very differently from inverted rubber.
That difference can create awkward changes of spin, pace and trajectory. A combination player may use inverted rubber on one side for conventional topspin and long pips on the other for chopping, blocks, pushes and disruptive returns. If the player twiddles the racket, the opponent must also identify which surface produced the ball.
Long pips are strongly associated with defence, but they are not only for players standing metres behind the table. OX long pips are also widely used close to the table for blocks, changes of pace and disruptive placement. Sponge-backed long pips can suit defensive chopping and can alter the feel, speed and attacking potential substantially.
Medium Pips: The Category People Forget
Medium pips bridge the gap between short and long pips. They can preserve some of the direct attacking character of short pips while creating more awkward ball behaviour and disruption. That makes them interesting for blockers, hitters and combination players who find short pips too conventional but long pips too specialised.
There is no single medium-pips feel. TT Hub currently carries options such as Kokutaku Tuple 110, with OX and 1.8 mm variants, and Globe 888 Medium Pips, offered in multiple sponge thicknesses. Actual variant choice matters as much as the category label.
OX vs Sponge: One of the Biggest Decisions
OX means the pimpled topsheet is used without a sponge layer. It is especially common with long pips, although TT Hub also carries OX short- and medium-pips options.
More direct blade interaction
Often chosen for close-table disruption, blocking and a slower, more direct feel. The exact behaviour depends heavily on the blade and topsheet.
Defensive versatility
A thin sponge can add cushioning and alter dwell, speed and chopping response without turning the setup into a conventional attacking rubber.
More attacking potential
On short and medium pips especially, more sponge can support faster attacking strokes, though the final result depends on sponge hardness and rubber design.
Do not choose thickness from a generic chart alone. For example, the live TT Hub catalogue includes Yinhe Moxa 955 in OX and 0.7 mm, Yinhe Pluto in OX and 1.5 mm, Kokutaku Tuple 110 in OX and 1.8 mm, and Friendship 729 Mystery III 802 across several sponge thicknesses and hardnesses. Choose from the variants the actual rubber is designed to offer.
Can Long Pips Generate Spin?
Yes, but not in the same way or to the same extent across every long-pips rubber. The old claim that long pips simply “do not generate spin” is too absolute. Frictional pips, sponge, brushing action and pimple deformation can all contribute to the returned ball. Equally, a large part of the difficulty for the opponent can come from how the rubber preserves, modifies or responds to the spin already on the ball.
That is why learning long pips still requires learning to read spin. A player who ignores the opponent's contact will not automatically gain control simply by fitting long pips.
Which Side Should You Put Pips On?
There is no rule that pips must go on the backhand, but that is the most common combination because many players want to retain an inverted forehand for serving, looping and finishing points. A modern defender might use an attacking inverted forehand and long-pips backhand; a close-table hitter might use short pips on the backhand and inverted on the forehand.
The better question is: what job do you want each side of the racket to do? If one wing is responsible for creating heavy topspin, keep an appropriate inverted rubber there. If the other is used for early blocks, punch shots, disruption or chopping, a pips surface may make sense.
Should Beginners Use Pips?
There is no universal ban on beginners using pips, but equipment should support the technique the player is trying to learn. A developing player who wants a conventional two-wing topspin game will normally benefit from learning with controllable inverted rubber. A player being coached toward a specific close-table pips style or defensive pathway is a different case.
Do not choose long pips simply because the backhand is weak or because they seem easier against spin. They create a different technical system, not a shortcut around learning one.
Real TT Hub Pips Options
Palio CK531A OX
An affordable OX route into long-pips play, currently available in red and black.
View CK531A →
Dawei 388D-2 Colourful Long Pimples
A colourful OX long-pips option for specialist blocking and disruptive play, with blue, green and pink variants in the current TT Hub range.
View Dawei 388D-2 →
Yinhe Moxa 955
A specialist long-pips option with blue and green variants, offered in OX and 0.7 mm in the current catalogue.
View Moxa 955 →
DHS Dragonow
A short-pips option for players looking toward rapid, direct attacking play close to the table.
View Dragonow →
Kokutaku Tuple 110
A useful medium-pips example because the current range includes both OX and 1.8 mm sponge variants.
View Tuple 110 →Are Pips Legal in Competition?
For sanctioned competition, the racket covering needs to comply with the applicable ITTF rules and approved-covering requirements. Current ITTF racket-control material checks that coverings are on the authorised LARC list and checks covering thickness. The Laws distinguish ordinary pimpled rubber without sponge from sandwich rubber: ordinary pimpled rubber including adhesive is limited to 2.0 mm, while sandwich rubber including adhesive is limited to 4.0 mm.
Because approval lists can change, check the current ITTF racket-covering information when competition legality matters rather than assuming an old sheet remains approved indefinitely.
Common Pips Myths
“Long pips play the game for you.”
No. They change the ball response, but good long-pips play requires footwork, placement, racket angle, spin reading and tactical understanding.
“Short pips are for players who cannot topspin.”
That undersells the category. Short pips are a deliberate tactical choice for direct timing, speed and early-ball pressure. Their best users build technique around those strengths.
“All long pips are slow and defensive.”
No. OX versus sponge, pimple geometry, friction, blade speed and technique can produce very different setups. Some long-pips players defend far from the table; others stay close and use blocks, pushes and attacks.
“OX is always more disruptive.”
Not universally. OX removes the sponge from the equation and can create a very direct response, but “more disruptive” depends on the rubber, blade, stroke and opponent. Choose for your game rather than chasing a single label.
Not sure which pips rubber fits your game?
The TT Hub Rubber Finder can account for specialist rubber type, playing style and what you want most from the specialist side.
Start the Rubber Finder →Shop Long Pips →Shop Short & Medium Pips →Long Pips vs Short Pips FAQs
Are long pips better than short pips?
Neither is inherently better. Short pips generally suit direct attacking, blocking and early timing; long pips are more specialised for disruption, spin variation, chopping and unusual close-table responses.
What are medium pips?
Medium pips sit between short and long pips in geometry and playing behaviour. They are often chosen for a mix of direct hitting and disruption, although individual products vary substantially.
What does OX mean in table tennis rubber?
OX means a pips-out topsheet used without sponge. It is common with long pips but also exists on some short- and medium-pips rubbers.
Can you attack with long pips?
Yes. The technique and available attacking options differ from inverted rubber, and the ease of attacking depends on the specific pips, sponge and blade.
Can short pips generate spin?
Yes. Short pips can generate spin, but they generally produce less spin than highly grippy inverted rubbers and are usually selected for their direct, flatter attacking characteristics.
Are long pips good for chopping?
They are widely used for chopping because their response to incoming topspin can support defensive spin variation. Sponge choice and blade pairing are important for the final feel.
Should I put long pips on forehand or backhand?
Either is possible, but backhand is more common in combination setups because many players retain inverted rubber on the forehand for topspin and attack.
Should I choose OX or sponge long pips?
OX is commonly chosen for close-table blocking and direct disruptive play; sponge-backed long pips can add cushioning and are common in defensive chopping. There is no universal best choice.
Choose the Surface That Fits the Job
The useful way to compare pips is not “which one is hardest to play against?” but what do you want the rubber to do for your own game? If you want direct speed and early pressure, start with short pips. If you want a blend of direct play and awkwardness, investigate medium pips. If spin variation, disruption and defensive control define the specialist side of your racket, long pips deserve serious consideration.
Still comparing rubber types? Read our complete guide to choosing table tennis rubber, browse all table tennis rubbers, or let the Rubber Finder narrow the options for you.