How to choose a racket for table tennis

For a table tennis match to be an absolute winner, you need to pay a lot of attention to your equipment. It is especially true for a racket – each player has his own playing technique and his own “set” hand, and it should provide maximum functionality, being a full-fledged continuation of a tennis player’s hand.

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1. The best table tennis rackets manufacturers
2. Table Tennis Racket Types
3. Table Tennis Racket Selection Parameters

The best table tennis rackets manufacturers

Traditionally, the best table tennis rackets are considered to be the models, to the manufacture of which the well-known manufacturers of sports equipment had a hand:

1. Atemi
2. Butterfly
3. Joola
4. Cornilleau
5. Stila

In addition to all that, it is necessary to study the reviews of those who use these or those models and surely can mark out both their strengths and weaknesses. Find them on all kinds of forums dedicated to table tennis, as well as in the relevant groups on social networks.

Types of table rackets

Rackets for beginners and amateur players

Devices in the 1 to 3 star category. Entirely prefabricated and perfectly suited to the demands of the game. Have a comfortable, ergonomic handle, and the striking part has a special sponge pad with a thickness of 1-3 millimeters.

Advantages

• Low cost;
• Handle is comfortable;
• Suitable for amateur play;

Disadvantages

• Average build quality;
• Not suitable for professional use and complex moves;
• Handle consists of a small number of layers of wood;
• Quickly become unserviceable;

Rackets for professionals

Models used by professionals during competitions. Their main difference is their collapsible design, which allows a racquet to be assembled to a specific style of play. Comes on sale as a set of elements and special glue, from which the athlete assembles his own suitable version. Are distinguished by high quality of performance and exact correspondence of real and claimed characteristics.

Advantages of

• High quality basic elements;
• Allows to realize the most complicated technical tricks during the game;
• Ability to combine the racket depending on the desired mode of play and tactics;
• Versatility of design;

Disadvantages

• Suitable for advanced tennis players only;
• Cost more than prefabricated models;

Parameters for choosing a table tennis racket

Racket base

The most important element, which is responsible for accurately executing strokes and maneuvering the ball during the game. Can be made of plastic or with several layers of soft and hard wood, joined with high pressure. The first option is used in budget models, recommended for beginners, the second option is preferred by professionals, demanding to the quality of a racket. All bases are divided into three general groups according to their constructional design:

1. DEF are racquets, which are designed for defensive play;
2. ALL – universal models, suitable for both defense and offense;
3. OFF – models which imply active and aggressive game, characterized by high tempo and high rotation speed;

Type of pads

The pads are removable elements of porous material that are attached to the racket’s wooden base and involve contact with the ball. Depending on the style of play, professionals can use two types of pads on their racquet:

1. Identical pads. No need to roll the racket while playing; Similar to each other;
2. The differently spliced pads. As a rule, one of the pads is smooth, the other is corrugated. Designed for sharp changes in technique during a match, with the intention of flipping sides during the game.
3. In addition to design, different thickness of pads. So, models with a thickness of 1-1.5 mm are good for defensive play and also for undercutting. Pads with a thickness of 1.5-2 mm is a typical universal variant. Models which are 2 mm thick are thick and suggest an aggressive attacking game.

Grip shape

Rackets with a wide variety of handle shapes are popular among athletes:

1. Straight;
2. Conical;
3. Flared;
4. Anatomic;

They have no advantages or disadvantages, and the choice is made by selecting the racket, the handle of which “fits in the hand” of the athlete.

Racquet Weight

The right racket is not overly light, as such models are unlikely to provide proper control over the ball and lead to additional vibrations upon contact. At the same time, the racket should not be too heavy, otherwise fatigue and muscle fatigue will manifest themselves very soon. Optimal weight of the racket is 150-200 grams.

In the following articles our experts tell you how to choose a racquet for tennis and badminton.