Yinhe VVIP Master Huang Jianjiang Review – My Favourite Long Pips Rubber

For a long time, I mainly used Dawei 338D-1 as my long pips rubber. Later, I spent a period playing with Victas Curl P1V. Both rubbers are classics, and they were the long pips I used in the most of my games.

Some time ago, I came across a piece of news saying that an Indian woman table tennis player Manika Batra had switched her long pips from Tibhar Grass D.TecS to Yinhe VVIP, which immediately caught my attention and made me very curious.

So I decided to buy a sheet and try it myself. After testing it, I found that this rubber is indeed very impressive, especially when paired with long pips-oriented blades such as the Sword Strange King IV. The dampening effect and spin reversal are both excellent, making it very effective in real match situations.

In today’s review, I’d like to share my personal experience and thoughts on this rubber with you.

About Huang Jianjiang

Huang Jianjiang is a legendary name in China’s amateur table tennis scene. He started playing table tennis at just nine years old and later became famous for his unusual and tricky playing style. What really sets him apart is his self-developed long pips twiddling technique, which has achieved an exceptionally high win rate for an amateur player, even when facing retired professional players.

Over the years, Huang Jianjiang has achieved many impressive results. In 2013, he won the North China regional title in the national tournament “Who Is the King”. In 2015, he led his team to a top-10 finish in the China League Division B. Even more impressively, in 2024, at over 70 years old, he helped his team win the Village Table Tennis Invitational team championship, proving that age is no barrier to skill and experience.

Before retiring, he worked as the head table tennis coach at a local Middle School, where he trained over 1,000 students. In recent years, he has continued to contribute to the sport, focusing on promoting table tennis and long pips play.

Before working with Yinhe, Huang Jianjiang had previously collaborated with Kokutaku to develop a long pips rubber known as KOKUTAKU Mr. Huang Jianjiang No.1. This rubber was also considered a classic among long pips players, although it has now been discontinued.

Building on the experience from that earlier design, Yinhe VVIP was further refined and improved. It is available in two versions: cured and non-cured. For readers who are not familiar with the difference between cured and non-cured long pips, you can refer to one of our previous articles for a more detailed explanation.

Personally, I prefer using the non-cured version, and today’s review is based entirely on the non-cured Yinhe VVIP long pips.

Unique Pips Structure and Design

What makes the Huang Jianjiang VVIP different from most other long pips rubbers starts with its design and construction. To better understand this, I took several macro photos of both the pips and the back side of the rubber.

From the close-up shots, you can clearly see that the surface of the pips has a unique textured pattern. This is quite different from most long pips rubbers on the market, where the pips are usually completely smooth.

The reason behind this design is simple and practical: the textured surface increases contact with the ball. This allows the rubber to grip the ball better during attacking strokes, making it easier to control the ball and apply more effect when hitting, punching, or rolling with long pips.

When flipping the rubber over, you’ll notice a grid-like structure on the back side of the rubber, forming a kind of hollow or open design. This structure is mainly intended to improve performance on the defensive side. It helps the rubber absorb incoming power, making it easier to control strong loops and fast shots during blocks and chops.

Because of this unique construction, VVIP manages to perform well in both attack and defense. It offers a balanced playing character while still adding a certain level of disruption and unpredictability, which is exactly what many long pips players are looking for.

Speed & Attack

In terms of raw speed and elasticity, Yinhe VVIP is clearly slower and less bouncy than Tibhar Grass D.TecS. However, this comes with a noticeable gain in control and stability. Tibhar Grass is better suited for high-level or professional players, as it requires very precise power control. If you apply just a bit too much force, the ball can easily fly long.

By comparison, VVIP feels much more forgiving. When using active strokes such as punching or adding power to pushes, the attacking trajectory is low and direct, with plenty of speed. In this aspect, it performs quite similarly to Victas Curl P1V, and is friendly for the majority of long pips players.

However, there is an important difference between VVIP and Victas P1V. VVIP produces a more unpredictable ball trajectory, especially in the OX version. Some attacking shots tend to float slightly and then dip suddenly, creating extra disturbance. This combination of overall stability with added variation makes it harder for opponents to read and judge the ball.

Spin Reversal

When it comes to spin reversal, this is probably the most important factor for all long pips players. After all, the main reason we choose long pips is to create variation, and most of that variation comes from changes in spin and rhythm. That’s why spin reversal is always the top priority when selecting a long pips rubber.

In fact, spin reversal is the biggest strength and highlight of Yinhe VVIP. Whether compared to Dawei 338D-1 (provincial version) or Victas Curl P1V, neither can truly match the level of reversal that VVIP produces.

As mentioned earlier, because of its unique rubber construction, VVIP generates a very noticeable sinking effect on blocks, combined with an unusual and awkward trajectory. This makes the returned ball extremely uncomfortable for the opponent to handle.

When paired with a long pips-oriented blade, especially one with lower speed and longer dwell time, the feeling of spin reversal becomes even more pronounced. This is likely one of the main reasons why many players choose VVIP as their match rubber.

Personally, I also plan to start using Yinhe VVIP in official competitions going forward.

Defense & Block

Defensive performance is another key factor many players consider when choosing a long pips rubber. In fact, more than 80% of long pips players use it mainly for defense. Players who can rely on long pips to attack consistently and score points in matches are very rare, and this usually requires many years of professional-level training. For this reason, a long pips rubber’s ability to absorb power and stabilize defense becomes extremely important.

In terms of defense, Yinhe VVIP is very satisfying and performs almost on the same level as Victas Curl P1. As mentioned earlier, the hollow structure on the back side of the rubber allows it to absorb incoming speed effectively, making defensive shots more controllable.

For long pips players, especially when playing close to the table, the most difficult balls to deal with are powerful, high-speed loops. Many long pips rubbers struggle badly in these situations. For example, Tibhar Grass often sends the ball long and out when blocking strong attacks. Personally, I am not very comfortable defending these shots with blocks, so most of the time I prefer to step back and chop, which gives me more preparation time and results in fewer mistakes.

One thing I really like about VVIP is its performance in close-to-the-table blocking. In real matches, the timing is often not perfect—blocking too early or too late can easily result in losing control of the spin. However, VVIP has a relatively high margin for error. Even when the timing isn’t ideal, many blocks still land on the table, and the strong spin reversal makes it difficult for opponents to continue attacking with confidence.

Control

In terms of overall control, Yinhe VVIP can be described as solid but not outstanding. Compared to its extremely strong spin reversal, control is not its main strength. In this aspect, I would say Victas Curl P1V or Saviga V offers slightly better control, especially when dealing with serve receive and short touch shots over the table.

For delicate touch play, classic traditional long pips such as Saviga V or 755 still have an advantage. They feel more predictable and stable in short game situations.

That said, the control of VVIP is by no means poor. For the vast majority of long pips players, its level of control is more than sufficient, especially when considering the trade-off for its outstanding spin reversal.

Chopping

As a chopping defender, this is always one of the areas I pay the most attention to when reviewing long pips, because not every long pips rubber is suitable for chopping. Some rubbers, such as Tibhar Grass, are mainly designed for close-to-the-table play. Once you move back from the table, their advantages become much less noticeable.

In chopping, Yinhe VVIP can be best described as stable with an unusual trajectory. Similar to Victas Curl P1V, the pips grip the ball well, which provides excellent consistency. As long as your technique and footwork are solid, it is very difficult to make unforced errors.

Victas P1V is known for its balanced and extremely stable performance, which is exactly why so many professional players rely on it. However, VVIP offers something different. While maintaining stability, VVIP produces flatter and more floating returns. After bouncing, the ball often slows down suddenly and doesn’t carry forward, making it uncomfortable for the opponent.

Although Victas P1V is very stable, opponents can usually adapt to it relatively quickly and time their attacks accurately. With VVIP, however, opponents are far more likely to misjudge the timing and placement, sometimes even starting to doubt their own attacking ability. In this way, VVIP doesn’t just affect the rally physically—it can also put real psychological pressure on the opponent.

Last Thoughts

Overall, as a relatively new long pips rubber, Yinhe VVIP offers many impressive highlights and is definitely worth trying for long pips players. It stands out not because of extreme speed or elasticity, but because of its unique combination of spin reversal, stability, and disruptive ball behavior.

In a previous list, I placed Yinhe VVIP Master Huang Jianjiang among five less-known long pips rubbers that are worth trying. However, as this rubber has become increasingly popular and more players have started using it in real match situations, I am now seriously considering moving it into my “Best Long Pips” series.

Based on my own testing and match experience, its overall performance clearly surpasses many of the long pips rubbers included in that earlier list. With its combination of strong spin reversal, solid defense, and disruptive ball behavior, Yinhe VVIP has proven that it is not just an interesting alternative, but a top-tier option for competitive long pips players.

Finally, for long pips players who are interested in trying Yinhe VVIP Master Huang Jianjiang, I have two simple suggestions. First, try to pair VVIP with a proper long pips-oriented blade, as the right blade can significantly amplify its strengths and bring out its full potential. Second, I suggest starting with the non-cured version, which allows you to better experience the true characteristics of the rubber itself.