Table tennis is the world’s most popular racket sport that can be played indoors or outdoors, as a competitive sport or simply for recreation. When playing for competitions, choosing ping pong paddles is important because these affect ball spin, speed, placement and strategy.

Kinds of paddles

• Pre-made rackets: These bats are sold with rubbers already attached to the blade and are generally used for recreational purposes. These inexpensive and ready-to-use rackets are great for beginners and non competitive players.

• Custom paddles: These rackets must be assembled before they can be used. To build your own bat, you will need to purchase two rubbers and a blade of your choice and fuse them together using a special glue. Table tennis rules allow you to install different types of rubber on either side of the racket. Custom ping pong paddles are suitable for competitive players because they can put together the best blade and rubbers for their games. A custom racket also makes it easy for you to replace worn out or damaged rubbers.

Parts of the racket

• Blade: this is the wooden part of the racket which may be combined with other materials such as cork, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aluminum fiber and aralyte. An all natural wood blade provides the best feel and great control while the composite blade is good if you want greater speed during play.

• Rubbers: cover both sides of the bat and may be pimpled or smooth. A pimpled surface, also known as short pips, is for a defensive player whose strategy is to change the rhythm of a game, block and chop well, and produce deceptive returns to an opponent.

On the other hand, the smooth or reverse pimpled rubber is for the aggressive player whose strategy consists of high speed plays, powerful strokes and forceful spins.

A table tennis racket determines the kind of game you play because it can be used to control the ball’s speed and spin. But this does not mean that you should run out and buy the most expensive paddle you can find.

Your choice among the many kinds of ping pong paddles will depend on your skills and purpose of playing. If playing for recreation or just starting out, a pre made racket is convenient and sufficient. But if you want to develop your game or are practicing for competition, then you’ll have to invest in high quality rubbers and a blade for your custom bat.

Choosing the Right Ping Pong Paddles for Competitive Play is a post from: Table Tennis Experts

Whether your playing for recreation or competitive sports, knowing what ping pong paddles to buy can make or break your game.

Table tennis continues to be the top racket sport around the world because it provides hours of fun and a complete physical workout and challenges your skills.

Because much of your skills and strategy depends on your racket, deciding whether to buy a pre made or custom paddle or its individual parts requires some careful thought.

Here are some expert tips for choosing the correct ping pong paddles:

• Selecting rubber

Rubbers cover both sides of the paddle surface or blades and can be of various types:

Smooth inverted and sticky: These are the most preferred rubbers because they produce high speeds, powerful strokes and forceful spins for offensive plays.

Pips or pimpled rubber surfaces: These give faster and more direct shots, reverses the opponents spin for great defensive playing.

Anti-spin rubber: This is ideally used for defensive playing to reverse the opponent’s spins although most competitive players use a combination of anti-spin and long pips for better control of the game.

• Choosing the blade

Blades must be at least 85% natural wood. The rest of the blade can be made of composite materials like glass or carbon fiber. Carbon blades strengthen the blade and provide a larger sweet spot.

But beginners and recreational players may no longer feel confused when choosing the right kind of blades or materials as manufacturers now provide speed ratings to guide buyers in their selection. As a rule of thumb, a slower blade gives better control while a faster blade is good for offensive shots but has little control.

Over 70: this is a fast blade which is suitable for offensive players but offer less control.

50 – 70: is an all-around range that beginners and recreational players may also use.

Slower blades are for defensive plays because these provide better control.

• Choosing the sponge

In between the blade and rubber is a sponge layer between 1.2 mm to 2.5 mm thick. A thin sponge gives you better control while a thick one produces more speed but little control.

Recreational players can still buy pre made ping pong paddles for their convenience as these are increasingly manufactured using high quality materials. But if you are thinking of improving your game, investing in a custom racket is more cost effective in the long run because it is easier to replace rubbers as your skills develop.

Expert Guide for Choosing Ping Pong Paddles is a post from: Table Tennis Experts

Table tennis is one of the world’s most popular racket sport with hundreds of millions playing the game for recreation, exercise or competition. As table tennis tables are set up in schools, health clubs, sports centers and most homes, ping pong paddles and balls are all you need to get a game going.

Your table tennis bat or racket is your personal partner that can make or break your game which is why most players carefully choose their rackets.

Each racket is composed of two parts: the blade and the rubbers.

• Blade: This is generally made of wood and can be combined with other materials to create different kinds of play for as long as 85% is natural wood. Manufacturers may add carbon fiber to strengthen and stiffen the blade for increased speeds or aralyte which has a softer feel than carbon for reduced vibration and also increased sweet spot.

• Rubbers: These cover both sides of the blade and can be pimpled, reverse or anti spin rubbers.

* Pimpled or short pips are often used by defensive players who want a paddle that can alter the rhythm and speed of the game, block and chop well, and hand deceptive returns to the opponent.

* Reverse or smooth rubber is chosen by aggressive players who want to produce powerful strokes and forceful spins as this material promotes high speed plays.

* Anti spin rubber has a “no surface” grip often preferred by defensive players whose strategy is to disrupt the rhythm of a powerful opponent’s game.

Buying your first table tennis racket can be easy if you know your skills level and type of play.

There are two kinds of bats: pre made and custom.

• Pre made bats are ready made paddles that are easily found in sports stores and specialty shops. These are less expensive than custom made bats and are ideal for beginners and recreational players.

• Custom bats require separate purchases of the blade and rubbers which are then joined together using special glue. Seasoned and competitive players often choose the parts of their rackets according to their skills, playing style and strategy. Custom rackets offer the practical advantage of being able to replace the rubbers when they are worn out, damaged or no longer suitable for your playing style.

Price should be the least of your considerations when choosing ping pong paddles. However, this does not mean that you should buy the most expensive racket nor does an inexpensive racket imply poor quality. Instead, you should buy one that enhances your skills and promotes your game plan.

Ping Pong Paddles Buyers Guide is a post from: Table Tennis Experts

After a tiring day, a game of table tennis is a way to release the tension from work, school or any stressful activities. It can also provide you with all the entertainment you need to make your day truly fun. Any indoor or outdoor ping pong table can be all that you need.

If you are a person who is serious in the sport or want to be in the professional level, owning an outdoor table tennis table will help you to be more fit while enjoying the sunshine. Entertain your guest or neighbors with the peaceful sun outside.

To make sure purchase can be considered an investment. There are several tips you must remember.

Go for quality rather cost

There are different types of tables sold in the market. In selecting the right kind of table tennis table, it is important that you consider the quality of the table you are going to buy. It may be so that the table does not cost too much, but you have to replace it every time.

Doing so will be much expensive after you add up all the cost of the tables you have bought. Another is, using low quality equipment will affect how your game will turn out to be.

If you are planning to enter competitions and your table is not fit to be used in those kinds of game, then buying it and practicing with it will become useless.

Most of the outdoor tables are made of aluminum. What’s most important regarding tables is it can stand the moist and other elements present in the surrounding.

Check its thickness

In order to make your game near to what’s happening in competitions, you need to check on the thickness of the ping pong table. There are certain standards applied to it. Your level of play becomes more realistic if you use this kind of table.

The height of the balls bounce depends on the materials used to make the table and how thick it is. Table tops are usually ¾ to 7/8 of an inch thick. Preferring a table with this specification can help you in achieving the quality of game you want to have.

Training to become a great table tennis player does not only rely on practice but also with the kind of equipment you use. Using outdoor ping pong tables that can provide you a more realistic game helps in improving yourself now. If you are interested to learn more about the different outdoor tables available in the market now, click here.

How Selecting an Outdoor Ping Pong table Can Affect Your Game is a post from: Table Tennis Experts

Among the popular table tennis table sold in the world are the Stiga table tennis tables. Table tennis enthusiasts fell in love with the design, game play, and innovation these tables.

It was in 1934 that Stig Hjelmquist started the Stiga merchandise. Through the years, the ownership of the company had been passed from one company to another, until 1944 when it finally landed in the hands of Sweden Table Tennis AB.

What makes this brand tick?

Famous throughout the world, almost every table tennis fan is familiar with the ping pong tables Stiga offers. The material’s durability and the capability of the table to provide competition-like experience make it a preferred brand for players.

Just have fun at home

Stiga has different line of table tennis tables that will fit you need. If you have friends coming in and you want to entertain them, just present them your Stiga table and start the time of fun.

The Stige Aerotech Ping Pong Table can be the solution for this. The great thing about this item is that after an exciting game with the whole family, you can just fold it up, and store it somewhere when you are not using it. So if you are not playing, you can still maximize the space in your home or if you plan to see the sun while playing the game, just go outside, and have a blast with your game.

Be prepared for any competition

This product of Stiga is perfect for those who want to get a feel of what games in a competition is like. There are tables in the market that do not fit the standards set for table tennis tables. Purchasing this type of tables will not present you with the right practice in case you want to try out for competitions.

In the past, you must have worked hard and practiced in order to get ready for a competition. The problem was the table that you were using did not match up to the required dimension. Once you entered the competition, it was as if you were just testing the water—like it was your first time to play the game.

Don’t let this happen to you. Practice in an equipment that is of competition grade. The Stiga Prestige Ping Pong Table is a perfect training to prepare you for any competition.

Stiga table tennis tables can provide you the training that you need as an athlete. Make Stiga your companion as you grow in the game. Click here to gain more information regarding the different table tennis tables offered by Stiga.

Stiga Table Tennis Tables are one of a kind is a post from: Table Tennis Experts