Why is this important?
Before getting into the informative part, you should know why this is important to you? It is an essential factor for three main reasons- right racket is needed for your style, to save your time, to save your money. If you pick a wrong one, you would not be able to trace your pattern or the way you play. Picking up an unsuitable bat is going to kill a lot of your time as it will not help you to develop your skills fast enough. Lastly, no one would prefer to waste their money on something that is not useful for them. Some ping pong paddles can be very expensive.
Four basic types
How to choose ping pong paddle is a crucial fact. There are varieties of ping pong paddles. We will discuss four categories that will help you to pick the right one easily at the initial stage.
1. Plastic molded bats
We often see beginners playing with a plastic molded bat that has no grip on its surface. It is okay just for hitting a ball. But if you keep playing with this gradually, you will find out that the ball is not listening to you. You would not be able to control it in the way you want. It will give no spin to the ball, which is undoubtedly an essential aspect for this game. So ignore these types of rackets.
2. Rackets with no sponge
You will spot some of the bats in the market that have no sponge underneath the surface of the bat. These bats have the pimples but no sponge at all. So when you hit a ball with these, you will hear a sound which indicates at the fact that you are slamming a ball only with a piece of wood. Not a good option to generate spin.
3. Pre-made rackets:
These rackets are available in sports stores. There are two types of pre-made rackets. One that has got a little bit of sponge underneath the rubber, another one that has a thicker layer of sponge. First one is a good option if you are only playing table tennis for recreational fun. But the downside is that they can wear out soon enough. In the beginning, you will be able to spin the ball, but with time the surface of the racket will be dead. Generally, you can continue playing with them for a couple of months, but then you will have to upgrade it. So not a good option for those who are planning to compete. Your strokes are not going to work the way you want. To make your stroke work and to learn how to control the ball, start with the second one. It has a good quality of rubber, has a better grip on the surface that can generate spin. It is quite a slow racket that will allow you to develop your strokes. Do not go for fast ones if you are a beginner. Once you learn to control your strokes entirely with pre-made bats, shift to the next level.
4. Custom made rackets:
Custom made rackets can give you more performance by providing a little bit of more speed and spin with the strokes that you are playing. Here you have to buy the blade and the rubber separately. Choose them according to your preference. Then put two of them together. Of course, this is an expensive choice. But without any doubts, this is the best option. If you are looking to dig into the depth of table tennis. Make sure to choose a suitable blade and rubber for your style.
Equipment:
A ping pong paddle is usually made of wood and rubber. Some people use plastic made rackets as well, but that is bad for developing your skills. The racket will be called a blade if you remove the attached rubber sheet from the surface. Usually, players think that rubber contributes the most to your playing style. But in Chinese philosophy, it is believed that the blade decides 80% of your performance. So make sure to get the best of both. The rubber supports the blade. There are varieties of blades and rubbers available. We will be highlighting the best options for you.
Four types of blades
1. Balsa:
2. One-ply hinoki blade:
3. All wood blade:
It is a very consistence blade. An excellent choice for controlling the looping style. Can loop the ball at mid-distance. Recently ZLC, ALC layers have been added to these blades to increase the power. It will not only increment the level of efficiency but also will give you the feeling of using an all-wood blade.
4. Carbon blade:
If you are looking for the fastest blade, go for this one. Good for hitters and powerful loop hitters. Do not generate a lot of spins — not a good option for the beginner.
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