Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Choosing a Ping Pong Racket - What You Need to Know

Table tennis or ping pong can be an enjoyable sport for the whole family. It's a great recreation that can be enjoyed by all ages and by people of any fitness level. The game is fun and simple to pick up, yet difficult to master. Professional players at the highest levels have an incredible amount of athleticism and hand-eye coordination. Whether you plan on being a casual player or a future pro, getting a nice table and proper equipment is essential to increasing your enjoyment of the game.

ping pong table top

When starting a new hobby, be it a sport or musical instrument, many people make the mistake of getting cheap equipment to begin with. While you may want to hold off on the most expensive equipment, you need to be sure to get quality items that will allow you to grow in skill. Table tennis is no different than any other hobby in this way. But it's also important not to get a ping pong racket that is too fast for your skill level. When you want to pick out some rackets, there are a few things to keep in mind.

PING PONG

Ping pong rackets consist of the handle, the main striking area called a blade, and the rubber. The main area should be well balanced. It should not make your shots too fast or too slow. For beginners, a basic round blade is highly recommended. You'll want to purchase a racket with a good solid grip. It should feel comfortable to you and provide a stable handle that won't easily slip out of your hand. When attaching rubber to the racket, there are smooth and textured surfaces. The textured surfaces give the novice player the ability to more easily put spin on the ball. When you become more advanced, the smoother surfaces allow more precise types of spin even though they will be more difficult to pull off. Many pros suggest starting with smooth rubber to begin with. This way there is no transition for getting used to the smooth rubber blades from the textured ones.

The Butterfly Primorac blade is a good choice for your first racket. Some other good options are the Stiga Allround Classic, Avalox Blue Thunder 550 Blade, and the Butterfly Grubba Carbon Blade. All of these blades or rackets have a nice balance and feel to them. They are also round blades with a medium speed which is great for the beginner. They are not too fast and not too slow. They all offer great control for putting spin on the ball.

A few more specific factors to consider when choosing a ping pong racket are weight, balance, and stiffness. You should look for a racket that is heavy, but still light enough to comfortably swing quickly back and forth. The lighter weight makes it more maneuverable, but the heavy mass gives more speed and control to you strikes. Balance refers to where the center of gravity lies on the racket. Hitters usually prefer a center of balance close to the head of the racket. Defensive players usually like a center of gravity near the handle for better control. Stiffness refers to how flexible or solid the blade is. A stiff blade will be faster. A more flexible blade gives better control over spin.

The main key to choosing a ping pong racket is to experiment. Try out different brands and styles. See what feels best in your hands and what fits your personal style of play. Eventually you will find the perfect racket for you.

Choosing a Ping Pong Racket - What You Need to Know

PING PONG

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