Table Tennis Guide
Table Tennis is a fast paced game that has wide
appeal to people of all ages. Not only is it incredibly enjoyable
to play, it is also really good for you. Playing improves your
fitness, coordination and reflexes. There’s also a lot of
strategy and tactical thinking involved in the game, which gives
your brain a great workout too.
Interested? Well the first things you need are a table tennis
table, bats and a ball.
Table Tennis Tables
There’s a pretty wide choice of table tennis
tables on the market. And being the biggest investment it’s
important that you get the right table tennis table for you.
1. Outdoors or Indoor
If you are planning to play outdoors or for that
matter in a damp garage, make sure you choose a table suitable
for outdoors. There are plenty available. Outdoor tables usually
have aluminium tops for the greatest resistance to the weather.
Most outdoor tables also come with rollers and foldaway so it’s
easy to move them into storage when summer’s over or you
need to let the car in.
Most indoor table tennis tables have wooden tops.
A solid structure is best for playing stability. However if space
is a problem then you’ll find plenty of foldaway models
too. If you do choose a folding table opt for one that has a thick
frame and legs that will provide greater stability.
You can also buy covers to protect you table tennis
table whether it be from indoor or outdoor hazards.
2. Height
This is an important consideration especially
when buying for children. There are tables especially designed
for juniors. There are also many adjustable tables available,
which is great for a family of table tennis addicts.
3. Table Top
The official standard size for a table tennis
table is 2.94m(9ft) Length X 1.525m (5ft) Width. However you will
find smaller ones available for children. Table tops are usually
1/2" to 1" thick. Thicker table tops are the best, as
they give a much better bounce, which adds to the fun and skill
required in a game.
4. Posts and Nets
It’s worth keeping in mind that some tables
include the post and net attached to the table, but generally
the net and post sets come separately.
5. Playback
Earlier we established that in order to play table
tennis you would need a table, bat and ball. However there is
one other component you may need – a partner. But in actual
fact it is possible to practice alone on those tables that offer
a playback facility. This is where half the table can be folded
and used as a practice backboard, a bit like playing against a
wall.
It’s a great practice tool that’ll
leave your competitors completely miffed on how you got so good.
Rackets
Rackets or paddles and bats as they are also known
come in a variety of shapes, sizes and weights. Most table tennis
tables come with a standard racket and ball set but it is worth
trying out different rackets to see what suits you best.
The most popular choices are oval wooden rackets
with rubber or sponge faces. You should avoid rackets with sandpaper
faces as these can damage the ball.
Balls
It’s best to choose matt white or orange
table tennis balls, as they are easiest to follow when playing.
All table tennis balls are made of plastic. However they do range
in quality; balls rated 1 star are the most basic and those rated
with 3 stars are of the highest quality.
There just one other necessity - a table tennis
partner – afraid we can’t help you out on that one! |