How to Choose the Right Ping Pong Paddle in 2022

The main equipment for table tennis sport is your paddle. Buying a table tennis paddle or How to Choose the right Ping Pong Paddle is very main part before your playing. It is a task that should not be neglected. Stay tuned If you are planning to buy a table tennis paddle.

A sport that originated in England in the early 20^th century gained much popularity among the upper class. The country’s military officials played this game in after-parties and official ceremonies as a casual sport. kk Players hit a small ball (table tennis ball) standing across from each other.

You must practice hard for a long time to play the best table tennis game. A person needs to be headstrong when selecting the best equipment available for table tennis. How to Choose the right Ping Pong Paddle is very main part before your playing.

The Ping Pong Paddles are made of six Primary components, which Include

• Forehand sponge with rubber
• Backhand sponge with rubber
• Blade of paddle
• Handle of paddle

These customized parts are the foundation of the racket, and they play a vital role in supporting your playstyle during a tournament. How to Choose a Ping Pong Paddle for my Play Style.

A paddle’s core components are its assembly parts. Before buying a racket, one should be aware of the parts used in a racket and its functionality.

Blade of the Paddle

The blade is the main component of the paddle. Made of 85-90% wood which gives the best grip and force. ITTF allows some other materials like fibrous materials in the composition of the paddle but in a very few %.

• Some paddles have very few compositions of carbon fiber and compressed paper for a better grip. ITTF gives us this advantage. For casual play, custom-made paddles are highly common among players (which may also be cost-effective).
• ITTF regulates no specific size, shape, or weight for a table tennis racket. A table tennis racket might be of any size, shape, and weight. The only requirement comes is the blade must be flat and rigid.
• Carbon fiber is used in most blades. It reduces and dampens the vibration caused while playing. It also provides a mellow and lighter feel when a ball is hit. The carbon fiber blade gives a spacious area to hit the table tennis ball. Beginners may avoid a paddle with a carbon layer on it.

Regarding conditions, choose a table tennis paddle specially covered in a carbon fiber blade. It must provide,

• Accuracy
• Precise bounce
• Durability
• Speed/Force

Keeping all the above points in consideration, still, the benefits of a blade with complete (100%) Wood are better spinning and precise grip control.

Rubber

Rubbers have several types smooth, reverse type, pimpled, or pips. Starting with a quality rubber on both sides will allow you to experience various playstyles instead of focusing on a specific one for professional playing.

There are two permitted type

1. Simplified pimpled rubber.

Sandwich rubber (Pip Rubber)

Sandwich rubber has a single layer of cellular rubber (also called a sponge), which is covered in a single outer layer of ordinary pimpled rubber and has a thickness of less than 2mm.

• Thicker sponge = More speed
• Thinner sponge = More control

Beginners require a paddle with more control.

2. 2-Faced Rubber

Most often, the front and back rubber of the ping pong blade is the same. It is dependent on players to keep the front and back rubber the same or distinguished.

If you wish to buy high-end rackets which are not cost-effective, try looking out for ITTF on the rubber; Here, the rubber is up to the set quality pattern advised by ITTF for tournament participation.

The rubber is black on one side and red on the other. It’s not a style symbol.

Sponge a component between the blade

Measuring a 1.2 to 2.5 mm thick layer between rubber and blade is known as Sponge.  A lesser sponge gives better control and is suitable for beginners, while a dense sponge gives less control, but the quick and fast approach to the game is more likely for advanced players.

Handle directly attached to the blade

The ping pong paddle has a handle directly attached to the blade. They are usually “penhold, flared, straight or anatomic”, with this may be covered or naked, short or long – there are no rulings, This is entirely up to us.

A penhold handle is often used for

• Players preferring a pen hold grip are advised to use this comparatively short handle. We can simply relate it to our school time, holding a pen or a pencil.

A flared handle is often used for

• A more suitable paddle for beginners, which is longer than a penhold. The end gives a firm grip which is helpful for beginners in their initials. It also varies in low to mid-priced paddles.

A straight handle is often used for

• For forehand shots and beginner players, Flared handles are recommended, but for players who tend to change their grips more often, straight handles are their choice. A straight handle usually slips off your hand, which makes it tougher to control and hold the grip. A maximum number of advanced and specialized players play with straight handles.

An anatomic handle is used for

• Choosing an anatomic handle will be great if you are looking for a comfortable, natural, and stock handle. Usually, flared handles are far more available in the market.

A comparison between square and rounded handles

Most of the paddles have rounded handles in which the edges of the handles are curved. Rounded handles are rich in texture and the overall feel of the paddle. However, playing with rounded handles gives us the benefit of a steady focus on the angle of the blade.

Paddle selection depends upon a player’s playing style.

A paddle’s blade handle depends on your style of holding your paddle. Holding a ping pong paddle in two ways,

• The penhold grip As discussed above, Holding a paddle like a pen in hand is a penhold grip. Chinese players gave popularity to this grip.

• The shakehand grip is a grip in which a player’s index finger is over the rubber while the remaining fingers are closed around the corner. It enhances the power distribution in both backhand and forehand shots.

When choosing a ping pong handle, always consider the one that is suitable for the hand and benefits the grip.

Some Basics for Choosing a Table Tennis Racket

How to Choose the right Ping Pong Paddle for penhold grip, the players prefer a penholded or short handle, while for shakehand grip, players need a longer-sized handle that suits their grip.

Aggression level

There are three types of aggression levels in table tennis.

1. Defensive
2. All-rounder (or Counter-Attacking)
3. Aggressive ( known as Offensive-Attacking)

Speed spin and control

1. Speed

Rackets help you hit ping pong balls hard or slow. This factor depends on the thickness of the rubber covering the table tennis racket.

• The thick the rubber is, the more speed it offers.
• The more thin the rubber is, the less speed it offers.

 2. Spin

Similar to speed, the spin experienced by the ball is directly proportional to the thickness of the rubber. The thick the rubber is, the more spin you can experience.

• The thick the rubber is, the more spin it offers.
• The thin the rubber is, the less spin it offers.

3. Control the paddle

The control over the table tennis ball depends upon the design of the racket. We usually face a trade-off between control, spin, and speed the maximum control we have, the lesser speed and spin we can generate. A beginner should initially look for an easy and simple plus cost-effective paddle with high control and then gradually move to more speed and spin as he progresses.

Price is a considerable factor

You don’t require a fancy and expensive table tennis racket to play well. Going for a custom-made paddle over a pre-made one is a necessary step if someone requires to develop skills and playing style, especially as a beginner. How to Choose the right Ping Pong Paddle for you and your Loved ones.

A custom-made racket is usually more expensive than a stock one, but it benefits you by allowing you to replace worn-out parts like rubbers and upgrade the racket as your skill progresses.

Rubber Selection

There are various types of rubbers. Some of them are sticky, smooth, and inverted. These rubbers cover both sides of the racket. These rubbers are highly recommended because of their offensive playing style.  Producing high velocity, hard strokes, and deadly spins.

For more defensive playing, pips/pimpled rubber surfaces are preferred. A player giving faster shots, while reversing the opponent’s spins uses these rubbers.

Blade Selection

Beginners and intermediates must have no confusion while choosing the blade for their racket. Speed ratings are now provided by renowned manufacturers, which is helpful for buyers in making their selection. How to Choose the right Ping Pong Paddle for you and your friends.

The slower the blade is, the better control it may offer, while a faster blade offers foul shots but little control over them.

Over 70: Fast blades offer less control but may be suitable for offensive play.

50-70: A wide range used by beginners and intermediate players.

Slower blades obtain better control. They are used for defensive playing styles.

Sponge Selection

Measuring a 1.2 to 2.5 mm thick layer between rubber and blade is known as Sponge. Better control is obtained by a thin layered sponge, while a thick layered one obtains more speed but lesser control.

Players looking to improve their game must invest in a custom-made racket. It is easier to replace rubbers once the skills are polished and developed.

Players aspiring to play in a tournament

Players aspiring to play in an official tournament must look at tournament guidelines for selecting the best paddle. Generally, there are no regulations about the size and weight of the paddle.

As a stated rule, paddles used in tournaments must have one red side and one black. It is a rule stated by ITTF that rubber cannot touch anything but only wood. In carbon or arylate layered rackets, the layer has to be thin, and the rubber does not touch any area. Otherwise, there are high chances of your disqualification from the tournament.

Conclusion

The basics and cores of buying a table tennis racket are discussed above. By knowing the right playstyle, anyone can buy a racket suitable for his game. Practice is essential in this sport but choosing the right paddle needs all the consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions