Buying The Right Table Tennis Racket
Buying the right table tennis paddle is crucial to you improving your game. Sadly, too many people who are buying their first racket make terrible mistakes in their choice and thereby cause their game to improve not as fast.
The sponge, weight, and handle all makes a difference when deciding which racket to spend money on. This difference is felt based on the style of your play.
The majority of table tennis players prefer their racket to weigh in between 70 and 100 grams before the rubber is added. This decision is based off of what style and strength your game consists of.
If you have a quick attacking style, light blades (70-76 grams) are the way to go. These blades offer the quickest acceleration of the racket yet allows for more spin than speed.
If you have more of a combination of style, medium weight blades (77-89 grams) will give you a boost in speed and not lose as much in spin.
If you’re a player who has the need for speed, heavy weight blades (90+ grams) offer the best yet you lose control of the spin.
When deciding upon what handle your racket should have, remember to stick with what feels comfortable the most in your hand. Once again, your style of play comes in mind. The most common choices are straight and flared handles.
If your strength is in forehand swings, go with a flared. If you play better with your backhand swings, stick with a straight.
For players who play defensively or are a quick hitter, a thinner sponge rubber (1.0, 1.5mm) will provide you with the best in control. This sponge is also great for all-around play.
2.0mm sponges are the most popular. This thickness in sponge allows the player to combine offensive tactics. Many players who prefer spinning the ball or attacking by sticking close to the table love this thickness. I suggest you stick with using smooth rubbers on both sides.
For beginners, try to choose a racket that offers medium speed. This gives you the ability to practice learning the basic fundamentals of strokes. Once you mastered the basics, then you can decide what racket to invest in the next time around. This will help your game down the road.
