Table Tennis Equipment

Table tennis equipment generally consists of the table divided by the net, rackets (also called as bats, blades or rackets) and balls. Table tennis is known as ping pong in China, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.

Table tennis equipment - table

Table tennis is played on a table of 9 feet in length, 5 feet in width and 2.5 feet in height. The playing area should be not less than 46 feet in length, 23 feet in width and 16 feet in height for competitions, according to the rules of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF). The table should be made from masonite or similarly manufactured timber, having a layer of smooth, low-friction coating. The table is divided into two halves by a 6 inch high net.

Table tennis equipment - racket

The racket is composed of a wooden blade covered with rubber either on one side or on both sides, depending on the preference of the player according to the grip. However, the modern table tennis rackets generally have one or more carbon layers within them to provide a higher margin of error while executing more powerful shots. Materials like Kevlar, titanium, arylate, aramid and aluminium are incorporated nowadays in table tennis rackets.

The table tennis rackets invariably contain a rubber coating of pimpled rubber, with the pimples turned outwards. However, certain rackets may contain rubber composed from two materials, a sponge layer, covered by a pimpled rubber. The pimples may point either inwards or outwards. Rackets without rubber coating are not approved by ITTF and it is illegal to use them in competitions. ITTF has also approved certain types of rubber that can be used on the rackets. These rubbers will have the ITTF emblem on the base of the rubber.

A sheet of rubber is glued to the racket using rubber cement. This rubber is used until it wears out or becomes damaged. Since the 1980s, a new technology by which the player uses a special glue known as speed glue to apply the rubber before every match. This glue helps provide more spin and speed and is called ‘regluing.’ This technique has become the standard for many top players in recent times.

Different types of rubber sheets like non-Chinese inverted rubber sheets, Chinese inverted rubber sheets, short pimples, long pimples, anti-spin, etc. are used. The non-Chinese rubber provides a smooth surface, with the pimples facing inwards, enabling generation of high levels of speed and spin.

The Chinese inverted rubber has stickier topsheets, with the sponge relatively more condensed and firmer. This enables the players to generate more power. The short pimples rubber does not generate much spin compared to inverted rubber but provides more protection against the spin generated by the opponent.

Long pimples rubber enables the player to use the spin of the opponent to upset the rhythm and is generally used by players who play close to the table or who prefer chopping. Anti-spin rubber is also like the long pimples rubber but is not used widely at international level.

Table tennis equipment - ball

The ITTF has stipulated that the ball used in international competitions should be made of a high-bouncing gas-filled celluloid ball, with a diameter of 40 mm and a weight of 2.7 gram. Further, the ball should have coefficient restitution of 0.4. The ball could be coloured white or orange and must have a matte finish.