WhichTableGame is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

Starter Equipment For Table Tennis – What Do You Need?

If you have newly discovered your love for table tennis but don’t know where to start from, don’t worry! This article is your guide to help you determine what do you need to get started.

For any sport, having the right tools is very important to make the experience more fun. When you first get table tennis equipment, you will be overwhelmed with the number of options available. So before buying, it's better to determine which characteristics and features you should look for to make the process easy.

If you have just started playing, you need not go for costly and high standard equipment. Basic supplies will do just fine and give you an equally pleasant experience. As your practice and expertize improve, then it will be an excellent idea to upgrade to better equipment.

The equipment required for table tennis are standard. As a beginner, all you need is a table with a net, table tennis rackets, and lots of balls, of course. However, as the quality of your play improves, you can add more types of equipment for better practices.

The question that comes here is, what is the importance of starter equipment, and what characteristics you need to search for while purchasing them? So that is what I will discuss below.

Net and Table

As someone new at the game, the first thing you should do is decide the table you want. That can be determined by taking into account the amount of space you have. Indoor tables differ from outdoor tables, so you should be clear about where you are going to place the table.

If there is enough space available inside your home, go for an indoor table because these tables are easy to look after and are inexpensive. Conversion tops are also a suitable option if space is an issue.

However, if you have a big backyard or garden, you can get an outdoor table that could be permanently installed. This way you can make your outdoor picnics with friends and family more fun.

But keep in mind that these outdoor tables are typically more expensive than indoor ones because of their weatherproof nature.

Even if you are a beginner and need a table for practice, I would recommend you get one with standard dimensions approved by ITTF so that if you ever change the table, you won’t have any issues in adjusting to the new one.

The table should be 152.5cm in width, 274cm in length, and 76cm in height.

With the variety of styles and sizes available, choosing the right net can be tricky. Always try to look for nets with suspension cords so that the top of the net can have higher tension than the rest of the net. This will help the ball bounce forward instead of just rolling on the other side in case it hits the net.

According to ITTF law 2.02, it should be 6 feet (1.83m) long and 6 inches (15.25cm) high. The net should be fixed in such a way that its bottom is close to the playing surface but should not touch it. It should be tightly attached to the supporting posts.

Rackets

A table tennis racket (also known as a paddle) is an integral part of the game. Rackets with original features provide original experiences to the players.

They make the racket for table tennis up of two parts; a wooden blade in the middle and table tennis rubber on each side of the blade.

While buying a racket, they present you with two choices; you can either get a readymade racket or get a customized one. A readymade or a pre-assembled one is ideal if you are a beginner or only play occasionally.

If you are planning to get a customized one, you will have to get all the parts separately and assemble them yourself, which will require a lot of time and energy. So unless you play professionally or have been playing this game for a long time, a readymade one is a good option.

However, no matter which racket you get, take special care of it because the rubber gets worn out if exposed to sunlight.

According to the official rules, the racket may be of any size, shape, or weight, but the blade should be made with 85% natural wood and must be flat and rigid.

Most of the rackets you will find in the market are almost similar in size i.e. nearly 15 cm (6 inches) across and 25 cm (10 inches) long with the handle included.

Balls

You can have a table, a pair of rackets, but without a ball, the game cannot begin. Typically, the table tennis ball is made of celluloid or plastic.

As per the ITTF rules, the ball should weigh 2.7 g and have a diameter of 40 mm. It can be orange, white, or matt in color.

You don’t want to spend minutes searching for the ball if it goes missing while playing, so it is recommended to keep at least three balls with you to avoid the game from being interrupted.

The balls are available in five distinct star qualities.

Novelty balls

These fun balls are available in different colors and sizes and are appropriate for children only and not for competitive games. They can be soft or hard and usually come in packs.

Practice balls

Also known as training balls, these balls are ideal for young children or beginners who want to practice before starting professionally.

These balls are generally softer, which is why they can break easily when they hit a hard surface.

One star balls

They usually use these balls in school games and youth clubs. Just like practice balls, these balls are also softer and are susceptible to breaking when they come in contact with a hard surface.

Two star balls

As a beginner, two-star balls are your best choice. These balls do not have the highest quality and are mostly used by the people who are trying to improve their game by practicing.

For a professional competitive game, a three-star ball is recommended.

Three star balls

These balls are of the best quality and are allowed by ITTF as they have the standard dimensions. These balls are long-lasting and do not break easily. After practicing with two-star balls, get these balls so that you can train professionally.

Final thoughts

Whether it’s the ball, the racket or the table, or the net, every equipment is vital in this game, so choose wisely after carefully looking at all the features.

However, whatever equipment you buy, as long as you take care of it, it will last a long time. Store the net in a dry place, clean the tables properly, and protect the blades with edge tape. Follow these steps and enjoy your game!