Table tennis or ping pong is a table game and is played with the help of a racquet and a light weight ball. Table tennis was given Olympic status in 1988 and is governed by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF).
For a game of table tennis, racquet, ball, table, and net are the essentials. There are hordes of manufacturers when it comes to buying table tennis equipment. Based upon your skill level, you need to pick an equipment, do not forget to take into consideration your playing style. Another basic factor to mull over is the cost of the equipment. If you are a professional player, then you definitely need to lay your hands on the best equipment available, which would be undoubtedly expensive. For amateurs, simple and inexpensive equipment will do. There are many sports stores that sell table tennis equipment, but it is always advised that you pick a specialist supplier.
There are two types of table tennis racquets: the recreational racquet and the high-performance racquet. It is easy to make out what these two types signify by their names. Recreational racquets are used by beginners. They consists of three parts; the handle, the blade, and the attached sheets. The body of the racquet is called the blade and is covered with hard wood. The sheet is made of rubber and is used to cover the blade. The handle is made of wood and is smooth and rounded. This racquet is used for informal games. The second category, called the high-performance racquet, is the professional type and is meant for tournaments. Though the sheet, blade, and handle are made of the same material as a recreational racquet, they are designed for high-speed and to control the spin of the ball. Here, they use anti-spin rubber for that extra control. The rubber sheets can be switched with a new one, once it is worn out. High-performance racquets can be specially designed as per the player’s specification.
A table tennis ball is light weight and weighs only 2.7 gm and should be 40mm in diameter as per international rules. The ball is light because it is made of high bouncing gas filled celluloid. It comes in two colors, white and orange, and depending on the tournament rules a color is selected. The star rating on the ball indicates the quality. Three stars mean the highest quality.
Table tennis table needs to be 9 ft long, 5 ft wide, and 30 inch high. The table is made of hardboard and should be smooth with low friction coating. A net of six inches high is placed at the center of the table dividing the surface into two halves. Tables come in green, red, or blue color, where as the net in black, blue, or green colors can be used.
Now, you must have got a clear idea of what kind of table tennis equipment needed for your gaming level. So, buy the perfect equipment from a good sporting goods store for the perfect game.
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