So you’re looking into buying a table tennis table. Congratulations, I’m sure it is a decision you won’t regret and something that will continue to bring you and your family and friends hours of fun for many years to come. However there are a number of things that you should consider before you make your purchase. This article will cover the main factors you should consider when looking at which table tennis table you should buy:
Indoor or Outdoor?
Table tennis tables are typically divided into indoor and outdoor varieties and besides the obvious there are some subtle differences between the two types. Outdoor tables are generally built from materials which will not warp or fade due to being exposed to the elements.
Outdoor Ping Pong Tables
This is important if the table will be left outside and not put away in a shed or garage when not in use. However there is a trade-off and this is that the playing surface of an outdoor tennis table is not generally not as good as that of an indoor tennis table at a similar price point. You can still use your indoor table tennis table outdoors on fine days, just remember to bring it back inside and don’t leave it out when it’s raining on in direct sunlight for too long.
Types of Indoor Table Tennis Table
The first option you could consider is a table top conversion kit. This will transform any large table or a pool table into a surface suitable for playing table tennis. Add a net, which generally come included, and you’re good to go. These conversion kits will normally fold in half when you want to store them away and are good for the occasional player or space conscious. However the quality of the conversion kit can vary dramatically, form very poor in the case of the cheapest units, to bottom middle range, when compared against the full range of tennis tables available. This is due to the table surface thickness and the fact that all you’re really doing is putting a fancy board on top of a regular table.
Indoor Ping Pong Tables
Mini table tennis tables are also available in a variety of sizes. These can be great for kids learning the sport as the angle of the table can be adjusted so that the middle (where the net is placed) is lower that then two ends. This will result in a slower game and allow rallies to be longer. This setting also compensates for the table’s small size. Mini table tennis tables are also available in novelty table top sizes and are even available as hard-topped inflatable or sponge floating tables suitable for swimming pools. However, as with the conversion tops, these types of table will only allow you to progress so far with the sport, and if you’re serious about raising your skill level then a full sized table tennis table is the way to go.
So, if you’re interested in a full sized table tennis table there are still a number of things you may wish to consider. The most significant of these is whether you want a fixed table or one that will store away. Taking the latter category, folding tennis tables generally come in two varieties: those which fold up in the middle or those that separate into two half. The ones which fold up generally have wheels which allow them to be pushed to the side of a room and can be easily stored away and set up by one person. The wheels also have brakes which can be applied once the table is in place. One significant advantage of folding tables is that they will generally have a setting where one half can be folded upwards for solo practice. The tables which separate into two halves will generally fold away to a smaller size, however they will need two people to dismantle and erect them and they may not facilitate solo play unless you put one half next to a wall. Fixed models, of course, are designed to be left in place and come in many different designs.
Table Tennis Table Thickness
The thickness of the surface of a table tennis table will have an effect on the quality of play. The best tables have wooden tops with a thickness of around 25-28mm and serious players should aim for a table of this thickness. However for most people the extra cost of a table with a playing surface this thick is not worth the difference that they may notice in its playing characteristics. Indoor tables start off with a thickness of around 10-12mm, but for the majority of players anything above 15mm will suffice. As with all sporting goods, the temptation is always to go for the best you can afford however for the casual or even semi-pro player the difference between a 25mm and a 19mm table thickness will be negligible and for my money I’d rather buy one with a stronger undercarriage and a better folding mechanism.
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Choose-a-Table-Tennis-Table&id=5717777] How to Choose a Table Tennis Table
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Ping Pong Paddles, Pips and Robots, Oh My!
History of Ping Pong
Ping pong was introduced to the United States when Parker Brothers bought the trademarked name from English manufacturer J. Jaques & Son Ltd. after 1901. The name ‘Ping Pong’ was used to describe the English game of table tennis when it was played with high-end, Jaques-branded equipment.
Today, however, the sport is officially recognized as table tennis; only those who play at the hobby-level use the term ‘ping pong.’ The sport of table tennis is governed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
Ping Pong Table and Balls
Ping pong is played on a table that measures 9′ long x 5′ wide x 30′ high. A net measuring 6 inches high divides the table into two halves and extends over each edge of the table by 6 inches. Two or four players use paddles to hit a ball back and forth to each other, also known as a ‘rally.’
The balls used for official tournaments now measure 40mm in diameter, are made of celluloid and weigh 2.7 grams. 38mm balls were once the standard, but that changed after the 2000 Olympics. 40mm balls are slower and spin less. It has been suggested that the move to the larger ball was due, in part, to being able to market table tennis matches for television. 40mm balls show up better onscreen, and the slower balls encourage a longer rally, which keeps the viewer interested in the game play.
The highest quality ping pong balls have a three-star rating, which represents consistency in relation to their bounce and roundness. A quality 40mm ball, when dropped from a height of 30cm (roughly 12′), will bounce 23cm high.
Ping Pong Paddles
The sport of table tennis uses paddles to hit the ball. In Europe they are called bats, and the ITTF refers to them as rackets. Although there are no official rules governing a paddle’s size, shape or weight, it must be flat, rigid and covered in an approved rubber. The thickness of the rubber and adhesive must not exceed 2mm, and the paddle must be colored black on one side and red on the other.
Table Tennis Paddles
The rubber’s surface may be ‘pimpled’ (pimples facing out) or ‘sandwiched’ (pimples facing inward), but the pimples’ density may not be less than 10 per square centimeter or more than 30 per square centimeter.
Most of the paddle (85%) must be made of natural wood. However, the paddle can be reinforced with a layer of carbon fiber, glass fiber or compressed paper as long as that layer is between the blade and the rubber surface. Some newer paddles may even be reinforced with aluminum or titanium.
With different rubbers on a paddle, the types and speed of spins can be changed during game play. Often a player will use a paddle that will produce great spin on the ball on one side, and the other side will create little to no spin.
Typically, the forehand side of a paddle is the attacking side, and the rubber used here creates a lot of spin. It is common to find sandwiched rubber on the attacking side because the inward-facing pimples, coupled with a smooth striking surface, allows the ball to sink more into the paddle, thus creating a larger area of contact and more spin.
The backhand side of the paddle is the defensive side, and the rubber used here should nullify the ball’s spin coming from an opponent’s hit. Pimpled rubber, with longer outward-facing ‘pips’, is commonly used for backhand, defensive strokes or chops.
Ping pong is a fast game. Skilled players with good equipment can serve a ball 70 mph. Table tennis officially became part of the Summer Olympics in 1988, and since then the game has seen some interesting technological advances, especially for training purposes.
Robots for Ping Pong Practice
Table tennis robots are available for the serious player. Typically ranging from $600-$5,000 in price, a robot can shoot balls over the net with various degrees of spin and at different frequencies. Some table tennis robots attach directly to the table; while others are freestanding. Balls can be delivered in a ‘line drive’ or with a ‘looping topspin.’
Table Tennis Robots
The robot can shoot table tennis balls at varying intervals, and even oscillate during practice sessions.
Although a table tennis robot can readily improve one’s game, it is no substitute for live play against an opponent. For this reason, it is important to seek out local ping pong clubs. Most universities host clubs or have their own teams. USA Table Tennis, the national governing body for the Olympic sport of table tennis in the United States, provides a directory of its officially affiliated clubs nationwide (www.usatt.org).
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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Ping-Pong-Paddles,-Pips-and-Robots,-Oh-My!&id=1244987] Ping Pong Paddles, Pips and Robots, Oh My!
Table Tennis Racket Guide – Choosing a Winning Combination!
Looking for your first decent racket to improve your game, or is your current one slowing down or halting your progress in table tennis, but you’re not sure what to buy and how much you need to spend? If the answer is ‘Yes’ than this guide may be just right for you. It will outline what the basic choices are available, the advantages of one over another, and the sort of costs involved.
It’s important to develop and improve your game with the right table tennis or ping pong equipment. This does not mean going out to buy one of the most expensive blades that professional use, but you may need to spend a little more than your basic Kmart special. You need something that allows you to develop the correct strokes, and that allows rapid development of your game when you put enough effort into it. It should not be ‘the equipment’ that holds back your progress. At the same it should be something that offer value for money, and you should not be paying extra for an expensive brand name, where (at your level) you will not be able to notice the difference.
A table tennis bat, also commonly referred to as a ‘racket’ or ‘paddle’, basically consists of two parts, namely the “blade” which is the wooden part of the bat, and the rubbers which cover the blade on both sides. The first choice you need to make is whether you buy a ‘pre-made bat’ (or recreational bat) or whether you buy a ‘custom bat’.
A ‘pre-made’ or ‘pre-assembled’ bat has the rubbers have already been glued to the blade, and ratings refer to the bat as a ‘whole’. For a custom bat, you need to choose the blade and two rubbers separately, and the rubber and blades are rated separately, so the overall ratings of the bat are unknown. You would need to assemble a custom bat yourself, or ask you supplier to do this for you, which may incur an extra fee at some retailers.
So how do you choose between these two options? Well the main advantage of the pre-made bats is that they’re ready to go, and they generally work out a lot cheaper. For the beginners this is usually a good choice, since you have not yet developed/discovered your own style, so choosing a blade and rubbers separately can be quite hard and overwhelming. However the rubber on the pre-made bats is not really meant to be changed, so if the rubber get damaged, or wears out, or you need to change to something very different, replacing the rubber is not always an option. This is where a custom setup has advantages, since either the blade or the rubbers can be changed at any time. So if you damage just the rubber on one side of the bat or wish to upgrade, you can simply pull it off and replace it. Similarly (although far less common) if you damage the blade or wish to upgrade to a different one, you can pull off the rubber, and re-glue them to another blade (assuming the size of the blades are similar).
Custom bats vs Pre-made / Pre-assembled bats:
The main advantages/disadvantages of pre-made bats and buying them separately are summarised below. Note that there are some very high quality pre-made bats available, which don’t really fit in either of the categories below, so there is some overlap between the two types:
Premade bats advantages:
They are usually much cheaper.
They are already assembled with a good finish and ready to go.
You don’t need to buy glue or edge tape or tools for assembling the blade or pay to get it done (some retailers offer this as a free service)
You’re not faced with too many decisions on options/choices that you cannot yet make.
Custom bats advantages:
More choice in type of rubbers and blades to suit your style.
Blades are characterised and has a description so you can choose it to suit your style
Blades are usually of much better quality
Rubbers may be of better quality.
As you develop your game (or change your style) you can change the rubbers
When the rubbers wear out you can replace them, as they are removable
The rubbers can be ‘speed glued’
So you’ll need to weigh up these factors, and also decide what you’re willing to spend on a new bat. A decent pre-made is often a good and cheap choice, and you can always upgrade to a customs bat when you have a better idea of what you really want. It’s well worth approaching a table tennis club or checking out a specialised retailer to buy your new bat. The quality is likely to be much better, the price most likely cheaper, and you can get some advice on what suits your style. Great savings can also be made by buying online, and information and advice can often be found on a website like this one, or sought from the retailer via Email. Choosing a winning combination is not necessarily buying the best bat on the market, but more about choosing what’s appropriate for your budget and level, and something that’s not going to hold back your progress.
Alex Van is a player and former coach, who runs several table tennis websites and is an advisor for the [http://oneofakindtrading.com.au/Shop/]Online table-tennis equipment store One of a Kind Trading. He also offers advice on choosing the right [http://oneofakindtrading.com.au/table-tennis-racket-guide.htm]Table tennis rackets combinations.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Table-Tennis-Racket-Guide---Choosing-a-Winning-Combination!&id=1284074] Table Tennis Racket Guide – Choosing a Winning Combination!
