Table tennis is a sport that's legendary for the skill and concentration required to play it well – and technique is also specific for grip, serves, shots, and stance, among others.
The sweet spot on a racket, the optimal area to contact the ball, is a hot topic, and racket designers and manufacturers make many attempts to expand it.
Opinions about the level of success they've achieved vary from player to player, and the efforts are both ongoing and serious.In recent years there also has been much attention to the materials used for racket construction, specifically the blade.
Plywood has been the preferred material and still is, but with a new twist.
Carbon composite blades have thin carbon sheets placed between the plywood's layers.
One of the promised advantages is improvements for players who use a lot of speed in their game.
When you've had enough of games you play from the couch, it's fun to try one where you move around.
If you have a table tennis racket and are ready to go, you might now consider joining a table tennis center in your area and taking the game more seriously.
As you improve your playing skills, how you hold your racket, the grip is something to focus on initially.
In North America, most people grip in a shake-hand style similar to other racket sports like tennis.
The trend seems to be toward shake hands, and it's gaining ground even in Asia.
As you're learning and experimenting, try the penhold style and see if it feels more comfortable to you.
Playing on a good table tennis table with a net at regulation height also helps develop improved playing skills.
When you go shopping, there might be a tendency to think about spending a lot.
They also allow for one-person practice play when you fold up one side to bounce back your shots.
Folding models also nearly always have wheels making it easy to move them, perhaps to a storage area when you need more space.Proper net height is a detail that cannot be overstated in terms of its importance.
A surprising number of players play many hours on a table with non-regulation nets and later go through a difficult readjustment period.
When you're outfitting a new table, go for a net with screw-on clamps.
Ping pong players rely on the sweet spots on their rackets to make their finest shots.
That is why, together with tables, they are important components of table tennis equipment.
As advancements in materials and production continue to enhance racket design, there is a disproportionate amount of emphasis placed on extending the sweet spot.
The objective is to assist players in improving their shots and games in order to make the sport more competitive.The problem for racket designers is that no two players place the sweet spot in the same area.
Composite blades have thin sheets of carbon between the layers of their plywood.They promise players better performance and are increasingly popular.
You'll pay more for one than you would most all-wood blades, and many people feel they are worth the added cost.
Taking the plunge and buying a racket equips you to begin playing against better opponents and developing your game.
You may even want to take lessons or hire a coach.In many racket sports, and table tennis especially, placing a spin on the ball is a crucial element of play.
More advanced players know how to use it to their advantage throughout a match.
You brush the ball with your paddle as you hit it to create spin.
No two players use it the same, and over time you'll develop your style of spin shots.The flip side is learning to play return shots against an opponent who is putting a spin on the ball, which is everyone at the advanced beginner or higher.
Your success relies on doing the same and keeping up with them as you make your returns.
If you've picked up ping pong rackets from time to time and tried your hand at a game, there's every reason to learn a bit more and to improve your skills and knowledge.
Then it's fun to learn more about competitive shots and how to put a spin on the ball.
Check out accomplished players' racket movements to get a clue about how it's done.
You'll be practicing a while to become good at it.Of course, the flip side of spin is learning to play well against it – which is no easy feat depending on the skill level of your opponents.
Standing stiffly and swinging at the ball using only your arm won't cut it against other good players—also, the ready position for table tennis involves a low and wide stance.You'll see accomplished players returning to the ready position after every shot.
The goal is to be in the proper stance and make well-executed shots consistently automatically during play.
But if you've played enough to know you really enjoy the game and want to learn more, the next step is joining your local table tennis center.
It's where you'll find others in your town who share your interest in the sport and want to become better players.
When you play against competitive opponents, you'll soon understand where you are with your game and what needs to improve.
If your budget allows it, you might consider finding a coach to work on your game seriously.Playing any sport well requires mastering many techniques, and table tennis is no exception.
You also need to learn to read your opponent – playing style, type of spin placed on the ball most often, etc.
Excellent players adjust their technique depending on the opponent.The table you play on and the lighting in the room are also factors in your game.
Table tennis paddles are our passion, and we stock the best blades, pre-assembled paddles, and combo specials from every top name.
With us, you'll find great prices on Butterfly, Der Materialspezialst, DHS, Donic, Gambler, GEWO, Stiga, Tibhar, TSP, Victas, Xiom, Yasaka, and more.
We have the brands and equipment to suit everyone right up to and including top table tennis pros.
Variation in serve is required to keep an opponent on his toes in competitive play.
No matter what type of table tennis table you're playing on, you need an accurate and varied serve to win.
At a minimum, you need at least two styles of serve.
You need to be ready for virtually anything when you're up against a player with considerably developed skills.
There are limitless combinations of speed, spin, and shot placement, and you can't be intimidated or outsmarted.
To improve your results returning serves, you need to practice and decide on your opponent's likely serve and position yourself to be ready.
More than a few people ordered tables to play during the extra hours around the house.
If you've enjoyed the sport more, buying a better table tennis paddle could be a good next move.
Coaches and advanced players alike have said it's not hard to find some excellent rackets in the mid-price range when you know what you're doing – there's no need to overspend.
But before you dive in, do some research about which racket models are well suited to your playing style.Once you have your new racket in hand, it'll be time to check yourself on some of the other fundamentals of the game, one of which is scoring.
As you get proper scoring under your belt, then it's time to begin playing against more competitive opponents.
The nearest table tennis center is an excellent place to find them if you have one in your community.
While it's fine to pick up ping pong rackets to play casually, you may someday find yourself interested in becoming a better player.
If it happens, you'll want to begin by experimenting with some of the techniques employed by pro players, like adding a spin to your shots.
When you play against an experienced and proficient player, you'll also need to learn how to handle the shots with the spin they send your way.
Tip: you figure it out by watching their racket movement.In reading the spin your opponent puts on the ball in a table tennis game, a racket motion from low to high adds a topspin while the reverse puts on backspin.
You need to position yourself closer to the table height to track and successfully hit the ball that's in play.When a rally is underway between you and your opponent, continue returning to the ready position after each shot.
These are the kinds of skills advance beginner and intermediate players use consistently to match their opponents.
If you've been playing table tennis for a while and are thinking about taking the game more seriously, there are things you can do to play better.
Even professional table tennis players were once beginners, and as you play the game with increasing skill, you'll enjoy it more when you play against skilled opponents.
One of the biggest things to understand is the spin they're putting on the ball – and how to make a successful return shot.
You figure it out by observing racket movement.
It will add consistency to your game and help you successfully return more shots over time.Serious table tennis players who have coaches often strive to get to the point where strokes become automatic.
At intermediate and higher-level play, there is a structured approach to follow, and unless you're playing with those skills, you'll fall short against opponents who have them.
Therefore, you should strongly consider sealing the blade if you have not done so already.
It helps the wood last longer.The wear and tear on the blade surface come from replacing rubbers, which competitive players need to do with frequency.
The risk is splintering it, which over time causes the blade to deteriorate.
We've all read promises from adhesive manufacturers that their products come off without damaging the surface, but it doesn't always go as planned.
With a coat of polyurethane on the surface, there's less chance of splintering and a better chance the blade and racket will last longer.
It's easy to find and apply polyurethane.Even if your table tennis blade isn't new, don't shy away from sealing it.
If you've picked up ping pong rackets from time to time and tried your hand at a game, there's every reason to learn a bit more and to improve your skills and knowledge.
Then it's fun to learn more about competitive shots and how to put a spin on the ball.
Check out accomplished players' racket movements to get a clue about how it's done.
You'll be practicing a while to become good at it.Of course, the flip side of spin is learning to play well against it – which is no easy feat depending on the skill level of your opponents.
Standing stiffly and swinging at the ball using only your arm won't cut it against other good players—also, the ready position for table tennis involves a low and wide stance.You'll see accomplished players returning to the ready position after every shot.
The goal is to be in the proper stance and make well-executed shots consistently automatically during play.
Table tennis is a sport that's legendary for the skill and concentration required to play it well – and technique is also specific for grip, serves, shots, and stance, among others.
The sweet spot on a racket, the optimal area to contact the ball, is a hot topic, and racket designers and manufacturers make many attempts to expand it.
Opinions about the level of success they've achieved vary from player to player, and the efforts are both ongoing and serious.In recent years there also has been much attention to the materials used for racket construction, specifically the blade.
Plywood has been the preferred material and still is, but with a new twist.
Carbon composite blades have thin carbon sheets placed between the plywood's layers.
One of the promised advantages is improvements for players who use a lot of speed in their game.
But if you've played enough to know you really enjoy the game and want to learn more, the next step is joining your local table tennis center.
It's where you'll find others in your town who share your interest in the sport and want to become better players.
When you play against competitive opponents, you'll soon understand where you are with your game and what needs to improve.
If your budget allows it, you might consider finding a coach to work on your game seriously.Playing any sport well requires mastering many techniques, and table tennis is no exception.
You also need to learn to read your opponent – playing style, type of spin placed on the ball most often, etc.
Excellent players adjust their technique depending on the opponent.The table you play on and the lighting in the room are also factors in your game.
When you've had enough of games you play from the couch, it's fun to try one where you move around.
If you have a table tennis racket and are ready to go, you might now consider joining a table tennis center in your area and taking the game more seriously.
As you improve your playing skills, how you hold your racket, the grip is something to focus on initially.
In North America, most people grip in a shake-hand style similar to other racket sports like tennis.
The trend seems to be toward shake hands, and it's gaining ground even in Asia.
As you're learning and experimenting, try the penhold style and see if it feels more comfortable to you.
Table tennis paddles are our passion, and we stock the best blades, pre-assembled paddles, and combo specials from every top name.
With us, you'll find great prices on Butterfly, Der Materialspezialst, DHS, Donic, Gambler, GEWO, Stiga, Tibhar, TSP, Victas, Xiom, Yasaka, and more.
We have the brands and equipment to suit everyone right up to and including top table tennis pros.
Playing on a good table tennis table with a net at regulation height also helps develop improved playing skills.
When you go shopping, there might be a tendency to think about spending a lot.
They also allow for one-person practice play when you fold up one side to bounce back your shots.
Folding models also nearly always have wheels making it easy to move them, perhaps to a storage area when you need more space.Proper net height is a detail that cannot be overstated in terms of its importance.
A surprising number of players play many hours on a table with non-regulation nets and later go through a difficult readjustment period.
When you're outfitting a new table, go for a net with screw-on clamps.
Variation in serve is required to keep an opponent on his toes in competitive play.
No matter what type of table tennis table you're playing on, you need an accurate and varied serve to win.
At a minimum, you need at least two styles of serve.
You need to be ready for virtually anything when you're up against a player with considerably developed skills.
There are limitless combinations of speed, spin, and shot placement, and you can't be intimidated or outsmarted.
To improve your results returning serves, you need to practice and decide on your opponent's likely serve and position yourself to be ready.
More than a few people ordered tables to play during the extra hours around the house.
If you've enjoyed the sport more, buying a better table tennis paddle could be a good next move.
Coaches and advanced players alike have said it's not hard to find some excellent rackets in the mid-price range when you know what you're doing – there's no need to overspend.
But before you dive in, do some research about which racket models are well suited to your playing style.Once you have your new racket in hand, it'll be time to check yourself on some of the other fundamentals of the game, one of which is scoring.
As you get proper scoring under your belt, then it's time to begin playing against more competitive opponents.
The nearest table tennis center is an excellent place to find them if you have one in your community.
Ping pong players rely on the sweet spots on their rackets to make their finest shots.
That is why, together with tables, they are important components of table tennis equipment.
As advancements in materials and production continue to enhance racket design, there is a disproportionate amount of emphasis placed on extending the sweet spot.
The objective is to assist players in improving their shots and games in order to make the sport more competitive.The problem for racket designers is that no two players place the sweet spot in the same area.
Composite blades have thin sheets of carbon between the layers of their plywood.They promise players better performance and are increasingly popular.
You'll pay more for one than you would most all-wood blades, and many people feel they are worth the added cost.
While it's fine to pick up ping pong rackets to play casually, you may someday find yourself interested in becoming a better player.
If it happens, you'll want to begin by experimenting with some of the techniques employed by pro players, like adding a spin to your shots.
When you play against an experienced and proficient player, you'll also need to learn how to handle the shots with the spin they send your way.
Tip: you figure it out by watching their racket movement.In reading the spin your opponent puts on the ball in a table tennis game, a racket motion from low to high adds a topspin while the reverse puts on backspin.
You need to position yourself closer to the table height to track and successfully hit the ball that's in play.When a rally is underway between you and your opponent, continue returning to the ready position after each shot.
These are the kinds of skills advance beginner and intermediate players use consistently to match their opponents.
If you've been playing table tennis for a while and are thinking about taking the game more seriously, there are things you can do to play better.
Even professional table tennis players were once beginners, and as you play the game with increasing skill, you'll enjoy it more when you play against skilled opponents.
One of the biggest things to understand is the spin they're putting on the ball – and how to make a successful return shot.
You figure it out by observing racket movement.
It will add consistency to your game and help you successfully return more shots over time.Serious table tennis players who have coaches often strive to get to the point where strokes become automatic.
At intermediate and higher-level play, there is a structured approach to follow, and unless you're playing with those skills, you'll fall short against opponents who have them.
Taking the plunge and buying a racket equips you to begin playing against better opponents and developing your game.
You may even want to take lessons or hire a coach.In many racket sports, and table tennis especially, placing a spin on the ball is a crucial element of play.
More advanced players know how to use it to their advantage throughout a match.
You brush the ball with your paddle as you hit it to create spin.
No two players use it the same, and over time you'll develop your style of spin shots.The flip side is learning to play return shots against an opponent who is putting a spin on the ball, which is everyone at the advanced beginner or higher.
Your success relies on doing the same and keeping up with them as you make your returns.
Therefore, you should strongly consider sealing the blade if you have not done so already.
It helps the wood last longer.The wear and tear on the blade surface come from replacing rubbers, which competitive players need to do with frequency.
The risk is splintering it, which over time causes the blade to deteriorate.
We've all read promises from adhesive manufacturers that their products come off without damaging the surface, but it doesn't always go as planned.
With a coat of polyurethane on the surface, there's less chance of splintering and a better chance the blade and racket will last longer.
It's easy to find and apply polyurethane.Even if your table tennis blade isn't new, don't shy away from sealing it.