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Table Tennis, also known as “Ping Pong”, is believed to have begun life in Victorian Britain where it became the game of fun for the Upper Classes.  1901 saw a breakthrough in the game when a link was made to celluloid balls and table tennis.  The modern table tennis racket was also invented in 1901 and it was these advances in the game that kept it in the public eye and boosted its popularity in general.  1926 saw the foundation of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and 1988 saw the games entry into the Olympics at Seoul in South Korea.

The official dimensions of a full size table tennis table are 9 foot long by 5 foot wide but smaller versions are available for the home market and leisure industry.  As with most sports, there are international rules governing the size of the balls to be used in tournaments. The ITTF state that the balls must be 40 mm in diameter and just 2.7 grams in weight.  The table tennis racket (also known as a bat or paddle amongst others), is a wooden, lollipop shaped bat that will be covered in textured rubber on one or both sides. The ITTF regulations do permit different surfaces to be present on each side of the racket and this allows players to utilise different levels of spin or speed.  Competitive table tennis is currently popular throughout Europe and Asia and is becoming more so in America.  China has dominated the sport over the last half century although as its popularity spreads, so do the skills of European players.

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Having speed, spin, accuracy and control is what one needs to enjoy a game of ping pong on a Stiga table tennis table . And for that one needs to have good quality ping pong paddles which are also known as handles or rackets. Usually ping pong paddles are designed with wooden handles finished with sponge to make it comfortable for the players to hold and grip the handle easily and enjoy unlimited wrist movements to swing the paddle at any time.

It is the quality of ping pong paddles which helps in producing incredible flow of speed and accuracy when one hits the ball on a Stiga table tennis table. There are numerous ping pong paddles, but not all of them are perfect for everyone. For instance, a ping pong paddle that suits you might be a disaster for someone else. If one enjoys a tight swing, a smaller paddle is a better option, but for free flowing swing at wide angles one must go for a slightly bigger one.

In the market one can find different types of paddles just like ping pong tables. As far as handle style is concerned one can go for personal preference, but one needs to seriously think about the material composition as one’s performance hugely depends on it. Plus, buying the right ping pong blades also depends hugely on playing style and level. Thus it is essential to decide the style of the game first before purchasing a table tennis blade that matches your game.

Here are some tips to help you choose the right table tennis paddles:

Handle Type

Mostly players go for the handle of their preference, although there are a few rules of thumb that can help you in choosing one. Straight ping pong paddles give the best flexibility and are the easiest to flip while hitting the ball on a ping pong table. Hence, these are popular amongst players who like to flip the ping pong blade. On the other hand flared ping pong paddles are for players who prefer to maintain a loose grip. Another most popular handle style is the anatomical ping pong paddles also known as double flared handles. These paddles come with a flared handle with a second wide part in the middle.

Penhold Table Tennis Racket

Penhold table tennis blades are usually for the Asian style of table tennis game. These paddles hugely differ in the grip and the blade itself. The Japanese table tennis blades come with a longer and narrower head and thicker handles. Whereas the Chinese one are designed with rounder thinner blades with rounded handle.

Table Tennis Blade Composition

Thin slices of wood veneers are put together to make the table tennis blade. Some of these blades come with an outer laminate coating of carbon fiber. Apart from this, there are composite blades too that come with one or more carbon fiber, graphite, or other synthetic material layers. These composite blades are lighter, faster, and stronger as compared to the blades made of wood and are better for hitting the ball on a ping pong table. However make sure to find a blade made of 85 percent wood.

Just remember the above mentioned points while buying ping pong paddles and you can enjoy table tennis on your ping pong table for years.

Table tennis or ping pong as its popularly known has grown into a very engaging and addictive sport over the years. It is a good recreation and leisure time activity in families. After a while of playing table tennis or just when you are getting interested in the game, you might decide to buy a ping pong table. There are a lot of things you should keep in mind while buying a table for your home.

Initially, if you are just learning the game or your kids are, you might not want to go for such an expensive table. You and your kids can make use of a lower end table tennis table and beat the hell out of it while learning the tricks of the game. During the aggressive playing days, a table can take quite a beating and make sure u don’t waste a lot of money buying a higher end ping pong table. After your kids have matured into serious players, you can think of getting them a good Stiga ping pong table which is a good table for playing at home.

The next thing you have to consider is whether you will leave your table tennis table in a permanent place or keep packing and unpacking it . Most people go for a folding table, due to space constraints, which can be folded and packed away in a corner when you are not playing.

Make sure that the roller wheels are good quality flexible wheels so that they can be moved easily. The braking mechanism on these wheels is very good on a Stiga ping pong table.

Many people are very comfortable playing on a one inch thick table because the bounce is very even. People believe that the thicker a table is, the better the bounce. Very true. But a 0.75 inch table is not bad and will give you a reasonable bounce. A one inch table is preferred because that is the table people grow up playing, especially at the community center or at tournament level. I have a one inch Stiga ping pong table at home because I grew up playing with them at school tournaments.

Another thing you have to keep in mind is that your table tennis table should have strong legs and supports to withstand the test of time. Some tables come with an additional leveler which is ideal for surfaces where the floor is not level. These levelers will help in keeping your table straight and level. Other things you will need to check is whether the playing surface of the table is even. Run your eye at the playing surface of the table and check that there is no warping or folds on any parts of the table.

Make sure the net clamps of the table have a soft padding under them so that they do not cause any scratch marks on the table. The clamps should also not dig into the underside of the table. Finally, check out the 30-23 rule on your Stiga ping pong table. Drop a ping pong ball from a height of 30 cm anywhere on the table and it should bounce back to about 23 cm. This 23 cm bounce should be even on parts of the table and you can be pretty sure you have one of the best quality tables.

Table tennis is a really fun sport and most people love to enjoy this sport on the patio on a beautiful warm summer afternoon or in the basement for some friendly competition. If you are a die hard fan of table tennis you must have your own table tennis or ping pong table to enjoy your favorite sport anytime. But before planning to purchase one for yourself you need to be sure of what you want to get the best bargain. There are several table tennis equipments that you need to consider. Table tennis equipments in general are not too many and one must not hesitate to purchase the best.

The Table

Generally the standard size of tennis table is 2.74 m long, 1.525 m wide, and 76 cm high made with a hardboard layered with a smooth, low-friction coating. The table top is supported by eight legs. Always remember that the playing surface must be thirty inches from the floor. To divide the table into two parts a white line of around one-eighth to one-fourth of an inch is marked on the playing surface which generally comes in a dark green or some dull, non reflecting color. This line is must while playing doubles but it is not mandatory for singles. Depending upon your storing facility and open space you can consider a folding or stationary table tennis table. As far as quality is concerned, Stiga ping pong table tennis tables are the best in the market.

Racket

For playing table tennis the most important equipment is the racket. As far as the rules of table tennis are concerned one can use a racket of any size, shape, and material. But however for quick response it is better to invest on a good quality laminated wooden racket covered with pebbled rubber on one or two sides. The rubber helps in controlling the ball and spinning it the way the player wants. Go for a racket which has a better grip, feel and touch abilities.

The Ball

Extreme care should be taken while purchasing the ball for your Stiga table tennis table. The ball should be perfect round and should neither be too hard nor too soft. Buy a light 2.7 gram, 40 mm diameter ball and the ball must bounce up to 23 cm when dropped on the Stiga ping pong table from a height of 30 cm. To check the quality of the ball check the stars on the ball. A ball with 3 stars is of the highest quality, and is used in official competitions.

Lighting

As table tennis is an indoor game it is essential to have good lighting overhead. For adequate lighting use at least four 200-watt bulbs in a playing space of twenty-five feet by twelve. Plus there must be ample space between the floor and ceiling to allow the players enjoy strokes without hitting the ball on the ceiling.

Net and the Posts

Buy a net with a total length of six feet for your Stiga table tennis table. The net is fixed on the posts located on both sides of the table by using a cord. The posts must be six and three-quarter inches high. Always remember that the net must be exactly six inches from the table top.

Once the above equipments are purchased, you can enjoy playing table tennis on your Stiga ping pong table.