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How to Choose a Table Tennis Table

So you're looking into buying a table tennis table. Congratulations, I'm sure it is a decision you won't regret and something that will continue to bring you and your family and friends hours of fun for many years to come. However there are a number of things that you should consider before you make your purchase. This article will cover the main factors you should consider when looking at which table tennis table you should buy:

Indoor or Outdoor?

Table tennis tables are typically divided into indoor and outdoor varieties and besides the obvious there are some subtle differences between the two types. Outdoor tables are generally built from materials which will not warp or fade due to being exposed to the elements. This is important if the table will be left outside and not put away in a shed or garage when not in use. However there is a trade-off and this is that the playing surface of an outdoor tennis table is not generally not as good as that of an indoor tennis table at a similar price point. You can still use your indoor table tennis table outdoors on fine days, just remember to bring it back inside and don't leave it out when it's raining on in direct sunlight for too long.

Types of Indoor Table Tennis Table

The first option you could consider is a table top conversion kit. This will transform any large table or a pool table into a surface suitable for playing table tennis. Add a net, which generally come included, and you're good to go. These conversion kits will normally fold in half when you want to store them away and are good for the occasional player or space conscious. However the quality of the conversion kit can vary dramatically, form very poor in the case of the cheapest units, to bottom middle range, when compared against the full range of tennis tables available. This is due to the table surface thickness and the fact that all you're really doing is putting a fancy board on top of a regular table.

Mini table tennis tables are also available in a variety of sizes. These can be great for kids learning the sport as the angle of the table can be adjusted so that the middle (where the net is placed) is lower that then two ends. This will result in a slower game and allow rallies to be longer. This setting also compensates for the table's small size. Mini table tennis tables are also available in novelty table top sizes and are even available as hard-topped inflatable or sponge floating tables suitable for swimming pools. However, as with the conversion tops, these types of table will only allow you to progress so far with the sport, and if you're serious about raising your skill level then a full sized table tennis table is the way to go.

So, if you're interested in a full sized table tennis table there are still a number of things you may wish to consider. The most significant of these is whether you want a fixed table or one that will store away. Taking the latter category, folding tennis tables generally come in two varieties: those which fold up in the middle or those that separate into two half. The ones which fold up generally have wheels which allow them to be pushed to the side of a room and can be easily stored away and set up by one person. The wheels also have brakes which can be applied once the table is in place. One significant advantage of folding tables is that they will generally have a setting where one half can be folded upwards for solo practice. The tables which separate into two halves will generally fold away to a smaller size, however they will need two people to dismantle and erect them and they may not facilitate solo play unless you put one half next to a wall. Fixed models, of course, are designed to be left in place and come in many different designs.

Table Tennis Table Thickness

The thickness of the surface of a table tennis table will have an effect on the quality of play. The best tables have wooden tops with a thickness of around 25-28mm and serious players should aim for a table of this thickness. However for most people the extra cost of a table with a playing surface this thick is not worth the difference that they may notice in its playing characteristics. Indoor tables start off with a thickness of around 10-12mm, but for the majority of players anything above 15mm will suffice. As with all sporting goods, the temptation is always to go for the best you can afford however for the casual or even semi-pro player the difference between a 25mm and a 19mm table thickness will be negligible and for my money I'd rather buy one with a stronger undercarriage and a better folding mechanism.

By Stuart Frank 
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5717777

The Basics Of Table Tennis

Table tennis is an Olympic racket sport where two players, or two teams of two players, hit the table tennis ball back and forth, across the net on a table, with wooden paddles. The manner of play is similar to that of tennis, hence the name.

The playing surface is a table, 30 inches above the ground that is approximately 9 feet long and five feet wide. A six-inch high net divides the table in half. The table tennis ball has a diameter of 40 mm, is made of celluloid, and is hollow. This article will discuss a few basic elements of table tennis, scoring, rules, and basic strokes.

Official table tennis rules mandate table tennis matches consist of either a best of five or a best of seven series of games played to 11 points. The first player to reach 11 points with a margin of two wins the game.

In a best-of-five match, the first player to win three games wins the match. In a best-of-seven match, the first player to win four games wins the match. In the 11-point game format, players alternate serves every two points. If the game reaches a score of 10-10, players alternate serve every point until one player achieves a margin of two points.

Historically, a standard game of table tennis was played to 21 points with players alternating serve every five points. This method remains the preferred method for recreational table tennis players.

To start each point, the server tosses the ball, from an open palm, at least 6 inches into the air. The server strikes the ball with the paddle so that the ball bounces on his side of the table before bouncing on his opponent's side. A table tennis player wins a point by hitting a shot that strikes the table and is not returned by the opponent.

A table tennis player loses a point if he fails to return his opponent's shot, allows the ball to bounce more than once on his side of the net, fails to hit the table with his shot, hits the ball twice, places his hand on the table, hits the ball before it bounces on his side of the table, or fails to execute a legal table tennis serve.

Table tennis players have many strokes at their disposal. Offensive table tennis strokes include the speed drive, loop drive, and smash.

A speed drive is a shot hit with a square racket face swung parallel to the table that results in a hard, flat shot.

A loop drive is a shot hit with a closed racket face swung nearly perpendicular to the table. The loop drive in table tennis is comparable to a groundstroke in tennis hit with a large amount of topspin.

The smash is an extremely offensive shot that involves swinging the racket down on a high bouncing ball to generate a large amount of speed.

Defensive table tennis strokes include the chop and the block.

The chop is table tennis's version of the slice. Table tennis players execute the chop by swinging the paddle from high to low with an open racket face imparting backspin.

Finally, the block is a simple stroke used to counter attacking shots. To execute the block, table tennis players simply place the paddle behind the approaching ball and allow the ball to hit the paddle.

Players must strategically employ a mixture of offensive and defensive shots to win a game of table tennis.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/475247


By M. Xavier