During the London Victorian era, table tennis, also known as "Wiff-Waff", was an upper-class game played on a table surface using propped up books used as a net. Enthusiastic players served and returned golf balls by using a book as a racket. With the game's increased popularity, many attempts were made to improve the design of the Wiff-Waff paddle. One popular paddle version consisted of a frame with parchment paper pulled taut end to end. When the golf ball used to play Wiff-Waff was exchanged for a ball manufactured from celluloid, rackets were redesigned and made lighter, more efficient, and more effective.
Today, the greatly improved ping-pong rackets are manufactured using layers of wood called laminate and measure 6 inches across and 10 inches from the top of the racket to the end of the handle. This part of the racket, called a blade, is then covered with rubbers, a thin sheet of pliable material with thickness ranging from 1.0mm to 2.5mm. Rubbers come in a variety of colors but, in order to fall within the legal guidelines set forth by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), paddle rubbers must be black on one side and red on the other.
PING PONG
With many rackets to choose from and even more unique choices for rubbers, deciding which racket will help improve your ping-pong game can be a rather complicated process. However, by following this simple guide the process will be easier. Of course, there are "ready-made" rackets available, but it is unwise to purchase a packaged ping-pong racket if your intention is to increase your skill. You are better suited to purchase a custom-made ping-pong racket that will compliment your style, not take away from it.
When choosing a blade, the ping-pong racket to choose is the one that feels the most comfortable in your hand since weight of the blade will determine how you control the racket. If the blade is too cumbersome to hold, you will lose control of your paddle and will not return the ball effectively.
Grips are as important as blade weight. To increase game success, choose one that is not only comfortable, but also one that follows along with your playing style. Do not try to adjust your style to the grip! Instead, think about what type of player you are and then choose accordingly. If you are more of an offensive player, choose a rubber with a thickness between 2-2.5mm. If you are more of a defensive player, choose a rubber with the pimples outwards. The most popular and all-purpose rubbers are those with the pimples facing inwards. When playing skills increase, you may have to change your rubbers to adjust to that skill level and one that allows more adaptability in returns.
If you start out with a ping-pong racket incompatible with your style and mode of attack, you will quickly become frustrated with your game skills. It is wise to start out with what is most comfortable for your style, your handgrip, and your mode of attack. If you rely on those three specifics when choosing a racket, you will be able to practice returns that are more advanced, learn better serving tricks, increase the speed of your ball and improve your ball spinning skills.
How the Right Ping Pong Racket Can Improve Your Game PING PONG
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