#tt rackets

Choosing the right table tennis racquet is essential to improve your game. You should buy a racquet which enables improvement of strokes. This does not necessarily mean the most expensive racquet. The racquet must be able to enhance performance rather than hold you back. These are some basic yet useful guidelines that will make the task of buying a racquet easier.

Before buying a racquet the player must decide if he/she is going to be an offense or defense player. This will enable him/her to pick the right kind of racquet.

Playing style                         Offense                             Defense

Number of plies                      1 ply or 5-7 ply                       3-5 ply

Blade weight                           Heavy                                     Light

Blade size                                Small                                      Big

Sponge thickness                    Thick                                      Thin

Handle type                             Flaired handle                  Straight handle

BLADE COMPOSITION

A table tennis racquet mainly comprises of a blade (the wooden part of the racquet) and the rubbers (which cover the blade on both sides).

Number of plies

When it comes to blades, the number of plies and their hardness give different characteristics to the effect the blade has on impact with the ball. The plies vary from one to seven. The number of plies will affect speed and control. The defensive players use 3-ply and some 5-ply soft blades, which give a greater emphasis to ball control while the offensive players use 5-ply and 7-ply

Hard blades. Offensive players also use extremely fast 1-ply blades.

Playing style                     Offense                             Defense

Number of plies                  1 ply or 5-7 ply                         3-5 ply

Table Tennis Rackets

Blade material

According to Table Tennis Laws 85% of the of the blade by thickness must be natural wood, so this gives manufacturers some leeway to include layers made of such material as carbon fiber, aralyte, or glass fiber. These materials have different effects- carbon is said to give the ball greater speed, and it also ensures better weight distribution and a larger sweet spot. The downside to carbon ply is that it gives less control. Aralyte is meant to also increase the size of the sweet spot, but is supposed to dampen vibration and give a softer feel than carbon.

Weight and size of the blade

Lighter blade

With a lighter blade, the speed is more and racquet movement is easier.  These blades are perfect for players who play close to the table and hit the ball hard. On the other hand the heavier blades give a greater spin and speed to the ball and high stability for a block. A light blade, on the other hand, allows you to hit the ball quickly, but it does not allow you to use the level of force you might get with a heavier blade.

Heavier blade

A table tennis blade will allow you to hit the ball with incredible force, but it will also slow down your response time. Most players compromise on this issue and choose a blade that is somewhere in the middle.

Another important factor is the size of the body. The defense players prefer blades with a large body so they can take as much advantage as possible of the large body area. On the other hand, the offensive players favor blades with a small body because they have a smaller surface area and thus offer less resistance to the air.

Playing style                              Offense                                 Defense

Blade weight                              Heavy                                   Light

Blade size                                  Small                                      Big

SPONGE THICKNESS

Sponge thickness affects spin, speed and control of the ball. There are basically two types of thickness-

Thin sponge

A thin sponge gives better control (block and push) and less speed than a thick sponge. Thinner sponge gives more control and feels harder because the ball sinks deeper to the wood.  Many defensive players use sponge that is 1.0-2.0mm. For senior citizens, kids, and all beginners, a light racket is recommended. Having 1.0-2.0mm sponge will help keep the racket light. If a player is looking for more control, a thinner sponge from 1.7mm-2.0mm is suitable.

  Thick sponge

A thick sponge is faster and provides more spin because it gives more of a trampoline effect. The cons of a thick sponge are that it does not provide much control, and it is also heavier. Most offensive players use sponge that is at least 2.0mm. For an increased offense style a racquet with 2.1mm+ is recommended.

Playing style                      Offense                      Defense

Sponge thickness                Thick sponge              Thin sponge

HANDLE TYPE

When choosing a grip, there are a few things to take into consideration. Usually, players with a strong forehand prefer flared handles. Flared handles will give a player a better grip while executing the forehand stroke. Players who have a strong backhand prefer straight handles, since this usually gives them better flexibility on the backhand stroke. Defense players who constantly twiddle the racquet (the practice of turning the racquet around whilst playing table tennis, in order to change which side of the racquet hits the ball) also prefer straight handles

Some players prefer to use an anatomic handle; this handle is similar to the flared handle, except that it slightly bulges in the middle of the handle. It is also known as a double flared handle.

Playing style                         Offense                                 Defense

Handle type                            Flared handle                          Straight handle

CONTROL RATING

Control rating is another important thing to look for while buying a racquet. Blades with high control ratings are easier to use for steady, consistent play. Blades high in control are usually lower in speed. Conversely blades with a low control rating give more speed.