Dr. Neubauer · Trouble Maker · Long pips

Trouble Maker

The original Trouble Maker: a controlled long pips for close-table blocking and pushing.

Trouble Maker is the calmer predecessor of the Reloaded version. It returns strong reversal on passive contacts, keeps the ball short and low, and is forgiving when the timing is not perfect. It is less lively than Punch and less extreme than Desperado Reloaded, which makes it a common choice for players learning long-pips control.

Dr. Neubauer product photography is not licensed for TTDNA, so TTDNA renders its own neutral topsheet visualisation generated from verified construction data.

Official Dr. Neubauer data

CategoryLong pips
Surface classPips-out
Surface frictionNot applicable
SpongeLong-pips sponge
Sponge hardnessMedium (TTDNA band)
ThicknessesOX · 0.6 mm · 1.0 mm · 1.3 mm
ColoursRed · Black
Competition statusITTF approved
Approval checked2 August 2026
PriceVaries by retailer

Approval status follows the Dr. Neubauer catalogue check recorded on the date shown. Dr. Neubauer sells its competition range as ITTF-approved coverings; any covering the catalogue lists as training-only is shown as not ITTF approved. No reliable official Dr. Neubauer list price is published per region, so no price is shown rather than an invented one.

TTDNA ratings

Confidence: Medium

Speed50
Spin22
Control88
Power49
Grip17
Tackiness0
Arc36
Catapult41
Throw angle35
Elastic46
Spin sensitivity15
Short game77
Blocking76
Backhand flip47
Counterloop46
Opening loop39
Chop73
Serve35
Service receive83
Difficulty39
Beginner friendly67
Durability79

TTDNA values are TTDNA's own editorially normalised 0–100 ratings. They are never an official Dr. Neubauer rating and never a conversion of the Dr. Neubauer manufacturer scale.

Effect profile

Disruption88 / 100
Spin reversal88 / 100
Chop control86 / 100
Attackability68 / 100

Spin reversal is the returned rotation of the incoming ball. It is stored separately from the TTDNA spin rating, which measures the rubber's own spin production.

Strengths

  • Very high spin reversal on passive contacts
  • Strongly disruptive ball quality
  • Very high control for its category
  • Stable when chopping

Weaknesses

  • Own spin production is minimal by design
  • Limited speed; points have to be won by placement

Best for

  • Players who disrupt rather than out-spin opponents
  • Defensive players
  • Disruptive players
  • Blocking players

Not ideal for

  • Players who want to loop with this side of the blade
  • Players who want to hit through opponents
  • Players who dislike an unpredictable return from their own racket

Data confidence

ConfidenceMedium
ReferenceDr. Neubauer official product page
Source prioritydr_neubauer_official_product_page → dr_neubauer_official_category_page → current_ittf_larc_approval_list → official_regional_dr_neubauer_page → specialist_retailer → independent_expert_review → community_feedback
Last checked2 August 2026

Variants and configurations

4 variants

Colour, thickness and configuration are variants of one model — never separate products. Colour never changes a rating, MAX and OX stay qualitative labels, and OX carries no sponge hardness.

Black · Red · OX

Standard · No sponge (OX) · Topsheet only

Speed 38 · Spin 14 · Control 97

Black · Red · 0.6 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium (TTDNA band)

Speed 46 · Spin 19 · Control 92

Black · Red · 1.0 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium (TTDNA band)

Speed 50 · Spin 22 · Control 88

Black · Red · 1.3 mm

Standard · Sponged · Medium (TTDNA band)

Speed 52 · Spin 23 · Control 86

Known users

Defenders, choppers and disruptive blockers who rely on spin reversal rather than their own topspin.

Dr. Neubauer publishes no athlete roster for this sheet, so TTDNA shows the player profile it is built for instead of invented names.

Rest of the Trouble Maker family

69 Dr. Neubauer models in TTDNA · Compare the range