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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
HOW TO WIN
AT
TABLE TENNIS
1
How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
INTRODUCTION - WINNERS ARE
GRINNERS
I love table tennis, and I like to win. A lot. How about you?
During my table tennis career, I have met a small handful of people
who play table tennis purely for the love of the sport. For these
players, the joy of playing the perfect forehand smash or the thrill in
mastering a backhand loop is the ultimate reward.
For the rest of us, competition is where it's at.
And let's be honest - table tennis is brutal.
Ping-pong is the closest you'll get to hand to hand combat without
actually having to touch your enemy. You're put into an enclosed
space, only 9 feet away from your opponent, with just a paddle and
your wits to help you get him before he gets you.
There's no judges holding up scores, no marks given for style,
presentation or technique. You win the point by forcing a mistake
from your opponent, via superior technique, skill, trickery, mind
games, luck, or brute force. It's direct, in your face and clearcut - you
come off the court a winner or a loser.
Win or lose, it's fun to compete. But let's face it, it's more fun when
you win!
The fact that you are reading this eBook tells me that you want to
win. Perhaps you want to be the best player in your family, or it could
be that you want bragging rights at work. Maybe you've got plans to
be the number one player in your city, your country, or maybe the
whole darn world!
But whatever your table tennis goals, you have to be able to win. I'll
show you how to do that.
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
WHAT YOU NEED TO WIN AT TABLE TENNIS
In this eBook, I'm going to explain everything you need to know to
start winning at table tennis. You'll be beating your family and friends
like a rug in just a few weeks, with a minimum of effort.
But why stop there? Once you are the family champion, or the top
dog at work, is that enough?
If you are like most people, and you've been bitten by the table
tennis bug, you'll need new challenges to test your table tennis skills.
Clubs and organized competitions are what you are looking for. You'll
meet new people, make friends, and be able to enjoy the thrill of
competition against worthy opponents. I've been playing table tennis
for over 25 years and I still get a kick from competing against the top
players in my club and country.
Get out of your basement and play at a club - you'll meet new people and
make new friends for life! (Bruno Levis Soto and friend)
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
START OUT THE RIGHT WAY
If you have plans to enter organized competitions someday, then a
few simple tips and tricks that work against raw beginners won't cut
it. You'll need something more to defeat experienced table tennis
players - you need high quality equipment, the technique to use and
control it, and the tactical ability to choose the right stroke at the right
time. To achieve all that, you'll need some proper training.
If you really want to compete at a high level, you can't afford to waste
precious time and effort trying to teach yourself table tennis. It's all
too easy to pick up bad habits that will halt your progress and which
are difficult to get rid of later - believe me, I know!. You need to be
doing the right things at the right time, right from the start.
Thats where I come in. I've been there and done that, and I'll help
you avoid the mistakes that will stop you from achieving your true
potential. I'll explain what you need to do, why you need to do it, and
how to learn to do it properly.
All it takes is a
little time, a
little effort, and
a little
determination,
and you can
learn how to
win at table
tennis.
Shall we get
started?
Time to launch into your table tennis career, like Scott Houston
launching into a forehand!
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
HOW TO USE THIS EBOOK
This is not your average How-To eBook. But that's OK, since I'm not
your average eBook writer, and you're not the average eBook reader.
Most How-To eBooks use words and images to explain their subject.
And for many topics, this works just fine. When you are trying to
explain how to bake a cake, balance your checkbook, or clean your
carpet, a simple text explanation and a photo or two will do the trick.
Table tennis is bit more complicated than that - there are many
aspects of table tennis where a few words and a photograph just
aren't enough, and a slight misunderstanding can cause you to
develop bad habits (like a mistake in your grip or stance) that will
slow down your progress and be hard to get rid of later on.
THE POWER OF VIDEO
Seeing is believing - and in this case, understanding.
For example, later on in this eBook I'm going to explain how you
perform a forehand loop (the killer attacking shot in table tennis). I
could use a thousand words and a hundred pictures, and that still
wouldn't be a tenth as good as having you watch a 5 minute video
showing correct and incorrect technique.
If only there was a way I could actually show you what to do, and
explain it at the same time? Wouldn't that be great? Hmmm...
The chances are pretty high that you are reading this eBook on your
computer, not in a hard copy. So I'm going to take advantage of that
and include links in this eBook to videos that will explain and
demonstrate crucial concepts. I'll still outline the basics in the text,
but I'll use the video to make it crystal clear to you exactly what I'm
talking about.
These videos will be downloadable, so you can save them on your
computer the first time and watch them over and over again at your
leisure. I'll provide you with some smaller video file sizes for those of
you on limited bandwidth.
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WATCHING THE VIDEOS
I have put copies of the videos on YouTube, so if you are connected
to the Internet while reading this eBook, all you need to do is click on
the appropriate link and you can watch the video via YouTube.
For those of you who would like to download the videos and watch
them at your leisure, or when you are not connected to the Internet, I
have also made the videos available through my website.
Click on the link to go to How To Win at Table Tennis - Video
Downloads page on my website.
FEEDBACK
I hope you will enjoy this eBook about How to Win at Table Tennis.
But more important than just entertaining you, I hope you will put this
advice into practice and start winning more matches.
This eBook is intended to be a living document which I will continue
to improve and update in the future. So if you've got any constructive
feedback to offer (positive or negative) that you think would make
this eBook better, please feel free to visit my How to Win at Table
Tennis web page and leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you.
DON'T GET RIPPED OFF!
While I've tried to pack this eBook full of valuable advice, How to Win
at Table Tennis is completely free. So if you've paid money for your
copy, demand a refund and pick up the free version from the above
link.
DEDICATION
To Nita, who has never once said "You can't do that!" to any of my
ideas.
Thanks Lab.
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION - WINNERS ARE GRINNERS....................................................................................2
WHAT YOU NEED TO WIN AT TABLE TENNIS.............................................................................3
START OUT THE RIGHT WAY...................................................................................................4
HOW TO USE THIS EBOOK..........................................................................................................5
THE POWER OF VIDEO...........................................................................................................5
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WATCHING THE VIDEOS..............................................................................6
FEEDBACK............................................................................................................................6
DON'T GET RIPPED OFF!.......................................................................................................6
DEDICATION..........................................................................................................................6
CHAPTER 1- GET STARTED.......................................................................................................11
FUNDAMENTAL #1 - GET THE RIGHT RACKET.........................................................................12
Should You Buy a Premade or Custom Racket?........................................................14
Your First Pro Racket - What To Look For...................................................................14
Testing for Touch and Comfort................................................................................15
Testing for Speed....................................................................................................15
Testing for Spin........................................................................................................16
Why More Power isn't Better.......................................................................................16
You Should Use Rubbers that are Legal for Competition...........................................18
Rubber Types - Pips Out vs Inverted Rubber.............................................................19
Racket Recommendations..........................................................................................20
Premade Racket Recommendations......................................................................20
Custom Racket Recommendations........................................................................22
Blade Recommendations........................................................................................22
Rubber Recommendations.....................................................................................22
FUNDAMENTAL #2 - GET YOUR GRIP RIGHT...........................................................................24
Shakehand Grip Basics...............................................................................................25
Shakehand Grip - Mistakes to Avoid...........................................................................27
FUNDAMENTAL #3 - HOW TO STAND......................................................................................28
How to Perform the Basic Ready Stance....................................................................30
FUNDAMENTAL #4 - HOW (AND WHERE) TO MOVE..................................................................32
Shuffle Step Footwork.................................................................................................32
One Step Footwork......................................................................................................33
Hopping Footwork.......................................................................................................33
Crossover Footwork....................................................................................................34
Where to Move............................................................................................................36
Rule #1 - Every Shot has an Angle of Play.............................................................37
Rule #2 - Be in the Centre of the Angle of Play......................................................38
Rule #3 - For Weak Shots Come Forward, for Strong Shots Move Back..............39
Rule #4 - Move to Your Best Ready Location.........................................................40
Where to Move - Summary.....................................................................................41
CHAPTER 2: GET BETTER.........................................................................................................42
UNDERSTANDING SPIN.........................................................................................................42
How Does Spin Work?................................................................................................42
How do you Create Spin?...........................................................................................43
Putting No Spin on the Ball.....................................................................................43
Putting Speed and Spin on the Ball........................................................................45
Heavy Spin in a Forward Direction.........................................................................46
How do you Use Spin?................................................................................................49
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How do you Read Spin?..............................................................................................50
Learning to Read Spin............................................................................................50
How do you Handle Spin?...........................................................................................53
Creating and Handling Spin - Risk vs Reward............................................................54
KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE BALL.........................................................................................55
HOW TO PLAY THE BASIC STROKES.......................................................................................56
Advanced Strokes.......................................................................................................56
Important Note.........................................................................................................57
A Quick Note on Ball Timing........................................................................................57
Hit the Ball Above the Net.......................................................................................58
Forehand Counterhit....................................................................................................59
When to Play the Forehand Counterhit...................................................................60
How to Play the Forehand Counterhit.....................................................................60
Backhand Counterhit...................................................................................................61
When to Play the Backhand Counterhit..................................................................62
How to Play the Backhand Counterhit....................................................................62
Backhand Push...........................................................................................................64
When to Play the Backhand Push..........................................................................64
How to Play the Backhand Push.............................................................................65
Forehand Push............................................................................................................66
When to Play the Forehand Push...........................................................................67
How to Play the Forehand Push.............................................................................67
Forehand / Backhand Block........................................................................................69
When to Play the Forehand / Backhand Block.......................................................69
How to Play the Forehand Block.............................................................................69
How to Play the Backhand Block............................................................................71
Serve...........................................................................................................................72
Double Bounce vs Long Serves..............................................................................72
Forehand Pendulum Backspin/Sidespin Serve......................................................75
Forehand Pendulum Topspin/Sidespin Serve.........................................................77
Learning Other Serves............................................................................................78
Return of Serve...........................................................................................................79
The Flick..................................................................................................................79
When to Play the Flick............................................................................................79
How to Play the Forehand Flick..............................................................................80
How to Play the Backhand Flick.............................................................................81
Time to Bring Out the Big Guns...................................................................................83
Forehand Loop............................................................................................................84
Why Bother with the Forehand Loop?....................................................................84
Forehand Loop vs Backspin....................................................................................86
When to Play the Forehand Loop vs Backspin.......................................................86
How to Play the Forehand Loop vs Backspin.........................................................86
Forehand Loop vs Topspin......................................................................................88
When to Play the Forehand Loop vs Topspin.........................................................88
How to Play the Forehand Loop vs Topspin...........................................................89
Forehand Smash.........................................................................................................90
When to Play the Forehand Smash........................................................................90
How to Play the Forehand Smash..........................................................................90
TRAINING FOR TABLE TENNIS...............................................................................................94
Oh My God! I've Gotten Worse!..................................................................................94
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Don't Swap Back and Forth....................................................................................95
A Quick Word on Drills.................................................................................................96
A Recommended 1 Hour Training Routine..................................................................97
Explanation of the Training Outline.............................................................................98
How Often Should You Train?...................................................................................103
On Table Training......................................................................................................103
Training at Clubs........................................................................................................104
CHAPTER 3: GET IT ON!........................................................................................................105
KILLER TACTICS FOR COMPETITION......................................................................................105
Tactic #1 - Avoid Silly Mistakes.................................................................................106
Tactic #2 - Serve and Follow Up................................................................................108
Tactic #3 - Return of Serve........................................................................................110
Tactic #4 - Rallying Tips.............................................................................................112
Tactic #5 - Remember the Rules for Handling Spin..................................................115
Tactic #6 - Trust in Your Technique and Training.......................................................116
IMPORTANT RULES.............................................................................................................117
Racket Rules..............................................................................................................117
Rubber Colours.....................................................................................................117
ITTF Approved Rubbers........................................................................................117
Racket Inspection..................................................................................................118
Leaving Your Racket on the Table.........................................................................119
How to Serve Legally.................................................................................................119
Winning A Point.........................................................................................................120
Moving the Table, Touching the Net, Putting your Free Hand on the Playing
Surface..................................................................................................................120
Obstructing the Ball...............................................................................................121
The Toss....................................................................................................................122
Change of Ends.........................................................................................................122
Racket Hand and Free Hand.....................................................................................123
Hitting the Ball...........................................................................................................123
Double Hits................................................................................................................124
Breaks During Games...............................................................................................124
Rest Periods..........................................................................................................124
Time-outs...............................................................................................................125
Towelling Off..........................................................................................................125
Warming Up...........................................................................................................126
Clothing......................................................................................................................126
How to Score in Table Tennis Singles.......................................................................127
Calling a Let...............................................................................................................128
Service Let............................................................................................................128
Interruptions and Disturbances.............................................................................129
If You are Not Ready to Return Serve...................................................................129
EPILOGUE: NEXT STEPS.........................................................................................................130
FINDING CLUBS AND COMPETITIONS....................................................................................130
CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT.................................................................................................130
Get a Coach..............................................................................................................130
Go To Greg's Table Tennis Pages.............................................................................131
FEEDBACK........................................................................................................................131
BONUS CHAPTER: DOUBLES PLAY...........................................................................................132
DOUBLES RULES...............................................................................................................132
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Serving.......................................................................................................................132
Order of Play.............................................................................................................132
DOUBLES TACTICS AND TIPS...............................................................................................138
Doubles Serving Tips and Tactics.............................................................................138
Returning Serve Tips and Tactics..............................................................................140
Doubles - General Tips and Tactics...........................................................................140
Doubles Footwork Patterns.......................................................................................142
Be Aware of Where Your Partner Is......................................................................142
Be Aware of Where Your Opponent is Likely to Hit the Ball.................................143
Circle Back and Around.........................................................................................143
Simon Gerada on the attack
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
CHAPTER 1- GET STARTED
In order to start winning at table tennis, all you need are a few simple
tips, tricks and techniques. But in order to keep winning at table
tennis, you need to have mastered the basics so you can move on to
more advanced techniques.
By the end of this chapter, you'll have a firm grasp of the four
fundamentals of ping-pong, which are:
How to choose the right racket
How to grip your racket correctly
How to stand
How (and where) to move
This may sound all too simple, but trust me - this stuff is important.
Get the fundamentals wrong at the start of your career, and you'll
struggle to get past an intermediate level of play. Table tennis is a
sport where technique is just as important as athleticism, and these
four fundamentals form the foundation of modern table tennis
technique. They are the building blocks from which we later
construct more advanced techniques and tactics. Master them and
you'll find it easy to move on to more demanding strokes and
strategies - ignore any of them and you'll handicap your progress.
Believe me, I know from bitter personal experience - I only started
playing my best table tennis in my late thirties, after I spent 3
frustrating months changing my sub-standard grip to a technically
correct grip.
Don't make the same mistake I made - get it right from the start.
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
FUNDAMENTAL #1 - GET THE RIGHT RACKET
With the many thousands of table tennis rubbers and blades out
there, there are an overwhelming number of options to choose from.
In this section, I'm going to explain what to look for in a quality table
tennis racket, and make a few specific suggestions about what to
buy for your first proper ping-pong paddle.
A rubber is a I strongly recommend that you spend a A blade is the
rubber covering little money and buy a high quality ping- wooden part of the
put on a blade, pong paddle with plenty of speed and racket, to which
which is used to spin. New players should not use exactly the rubbers are
hit the ball. the same turbocharged equipment that attached.
Basement paddles advanced level players use, but they definitely need a racket with
have rubbers with
very little grip, and good grip and decent speed. A slow, non-grippy racket (what I'm
very little catapult
effect. going to call a basement paddle) just won't do. Don't worry, I'll tell
you what to look for.
But why can't you just keep using your trusty old Sportcraft $2
paddle?
I could give you a long, detailed explanation why, but it all boils down
to this:
A match between a player using a basement paddle and a player
using a high quality paddle is like somebody bringing a knife to a
gun fight.
Want to guess which player has the gun?
And just like a gun, a high quality paddle is dangerous to the person
using it until he learns to control it and create spin, at which point it's
game over for the other guy.
Spin is the tactical nuke of table tennis. Spin is what allows
advanced players to hit the ball hard and fast, but still land the ball
on the table. Without the ability to create and control spin, you won't
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
be able to keep up with your advanced opponents, and you won't
win.
How do advanced players create that kind of spin? They use quality
rackets with plenty of grip and power. These rackets use rubbers
with sponge that are designed to allow the ball to sink into them at
impact, allowing even more of the rubber to grip the ball, before the
ball is catapulted off the racket towards their opponents loaded with
spin and speed.
At the advanced level, make no mistake - spin is in.
A custom racket with pips-out rubber on one side, and inverted rubber on the other. Note
that the pips-out rubber has yellow 1.0 mm sponge underneath the black topsheet, while the
inverted rubber has orange 1.5mm sponge underneath its red topsheet.
If you are planning to play at your local club or take part in
competitions, then you need to start using a high quality racket as
soon as possible. You need to be on a level playing field with your
opponents, and many of the important stroke techniques required for
using advanced rackets are radically different to basement racket
techniques. Why spend any more time then you have to learning
stuff you don't need?
Trust me on this - you need a pro quality racket.
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
Premade rackets SHOULD YOU BUY A PREMADE OR CUSTOM RACKET?
are pre-assembled
by the Some table tennis players are snobs who would turn up their nose at
manufacturer. the mere idea of suggesting that a new player could buy a premade
racket (I know, I used to be one of them!).
But after testing a few premade rackets recently which I thought
were great for new players, I've changed my mind. Nowadays I see
no reason for new players to avoid premade paddles, if they know
what to look for.
A custom racket is simply a table tennis Custom rackets
racket that you put together yourself. are put together by
Most intermediate and advanced players the player.
buy the rubbers individually, and attach
them to the blade with water based glue. It's not really a difficult
process, and since table tennis rubbers only last around 3-6 months,
it's handy to be able to change your worn-out rubbers yourself.
If you do decide to buy a premade paddle, plan to use it for around 6
months at most. By that time you'll be ready (and no doubt eager!) to
move on to buying your blades and rubbers separately.
Racket Parts, Premade vs Custom Rackets video - YouTube -
Download Page
YOUR FIRST PRO RACKET - WHAT TO LOOK FOR
There are 5 things to look for when choosing your first high quality
racket:
The ability to produce speed
The ability to create spin
Good touch or feel
A comfortable handle
Same rubber on both sides
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
Sponge rubbers What you need is a racket that can produce good speed and spin
consist of a (but not too much!), which gives a vibration that feels good to you
rubber topsheet when you hit the ball, and which is comfortable to hold in your hand
with pips facing in while playing.
or out, and a layer
of cellular rubber Testing for Touch and Comfort
(the sponge) that
sits between the If you are buying a paddle which is premade (i.e. a paddle that has
topsheet and already had the rubbers attached to the blade), then the only way to
blade. test its touch and handle comfort is to get the racket out of the
packaging and try it out for a few shots. An experienced player could
also get a good idea of the speed and spin capability of the racket by
doing this, but a new player will probably find it more difficult to judge
speed and spin, since he doesn't know what he is looking for.
Testing for Speed
The simplest way for a new player test the ability of a racket to
produce speed is to put the bat down on a hard, flat surface with the
handle positioned off the edge, so that one side of the bat is lying
completely flat. Then drop a ball on the racket from 30cm high
(around 1 foot), and with a ruler measure the height of the first
bounce. Check that all parts of the racket are fairly similar.
You should get a first bounce of at least 10 cm (4 inches) high - any
lower and the racket might be too slow. The first bounce should also
be less than 20 cm (8 inches) high - any higher and the racket is too
fast. The ball should then continue to bounce several more times.
Repeat the test for the other side. If the ball does not bounce within
this range or is very uneven in bounce, then don't buy the racket.
While you do want a rubber with good speed, new players should not
use a rubber with too much power. The easiest way to make sure
that you don't get a bat with too much speed is to grab a ruler and
measure the sponge on each rubber. If the sponge on either side is
over 1.7mm thick, then the racket might be too fast. New players
should look for rackets with sponges around 1.5mm - 1.7mm thick.
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
Testing for Spin
The simplest way for a new player to test the ability of a racket to
produce spin is to simply grab a ball, hold it firmly (so that it can't
rotate) and drag it lightly along the rubber surface, testing all parts of
the rubber. It is important to drag the ball rather than push it, since
pushing the ball tends to force the ball down into the rubber, which
can make you think the rubber is more grippy than it really is. The
ball should slide along the rubber, but with noticeable friction
providing resistance to the movement. All parts of the rubber should
provide the same amount of resistance.
If the ball slides along the rubber with little or no resistance, the
rubber will not grip the ball well, and you will not be able to spin the
ball enough to play advanced strokes that require spin. On the other
hand, if the ball sticks to the rubber and is very hard to move at all,
the rubber is probably too grippy, and you will be affected by your
opponent's spin too much.
WHY MORE POWER ISN'T BETTER
Some people recommend that new players should begin with exactly
the same equipment that professional players use. Their line of
thought is that professional level equipment can be bought for quite
reasonable prices, and once the student has learned to control the
equipment, no further adjustments are needed.
I disagree with this approach, for one simple reason - human beings
have a fear of failure, and using equipment that is too fast and spinny
invokes this fear in new players, slowing their progress.
Some of the advanced table tennis stroke techniques I'm going to
show you are not easy to perform. When I coach students, the
biggest problem I face when students are learning a new technique
is to get them to stop worrying about making mistakes.
For almost all my students, if their success ratio drops below a
certain amount (which differs from student to student, but is generally
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
around 60-70%), then they invariably start choking up on their swing
and trying to guide the ball, instead of simply taking note of the error
and correcting it while performing another relaxed swing. The fear of
failure gets in the way, and they start playing not to miss, instead of
playing to win.
Now for my personal students, I can remind them to relax and focus
on their technique. I'm not there when you are practicing, so I can't
do that for you. So it's better for you to avoid using equipment that is
too fast and spinny to control, so that you don't make too many
mistakes and slow down your learning process.
Melissa Tapper performing with power, precision and poise
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
YOU SHOULD USE RUBBERS THAT ARE LEGAL FOR
COMPETITION
The ITTF If you are only going to play at home or in clubs, then you can use
(International
Table Tennis any racket you like. But if you intend to play in tournaments that use
Federation) is the
governing body for the ITTF rules (such as most USATT sanctioned tournaments), then
table tennis
around the world. you need to use ITTF approved rubbers on The USATT (USA
your racket. Table Tennis) is
the national
ITTF approved rubbers have the ITTF logo organizing body
and the manufacturer's logo or trademark, for table tennis in
which must be attached to the blade so that the United States
these identifying features are clearly visible of America.
near the handle.
Air UpUpUpUp Rubber Logo - Note the ITTF Logo and Rubber ID Number on the left
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
RUBBER TYPES - PIPS OUT VS INVERTED RUBBER
The photograph on the previous page shows a typical pips out
rubber, where the rubber is glued onto the blade so that the pips are
outwards and will make contact with the ball.
The topsheet is the Pips out rubbers can be used with or without a layer of sponge
layer of rubber that underneath the topsheet. Both varieties are legal to use.
is used to hit the
ball. However, I would recommend that new players start with what is
called inverted rubber, or smooth rubber, where the topsheet rubber
has the pips facing inwards and the pips are glued to the sponge
layer. Inverted rubber must be used with a layer of sponge between
the topsheet and the blade, otherwise it is illegal.
An inverted rubber on a custom blade. Note that although the Inverted rubber is by far
pips of the red topsheet are facing inwards, they are still visible most commonly used
through the surface. rubber, since it provides a
mix of speed and spin
that suits the style of play
preferred by most table
tennis players - fast
speed with heavy topspin.
It is easier to spin the ball
heavily with inverted
rubber than with pips out
rubber, making it the
better choice for most
players. Inverted rubber is
often just called rubber by
most table tennis players.
In this eBook, the premade rackets that I recommend all use inverted
rubbers. The custom rubbers that I suggest are all inverted rubbers
as well.
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How to Win at Table Tennis - Greg Letts
RACKET RECOMMENDATIONS
While there are plenty of online table tennis distributors, I'm going to
simply recommend one that has given me good service over the last
few years - www.megaspin.net. I've been using them to buy my own
equipment for quite a while and not had a problem with them in all
that time.
Note: The above link and the links I provide to suggested equipment
below are affiliate links - I get a commission on any equipment you
buy from Megaspin after following a link.
Premade Racket Recommendations
For any new player looking for a premade racket to start serious
table tennis play, I would recommend one of three different rackets,
all of which I have tested myself. All of these rackets make excellent
starting rackets for different reasons, and none of them are more
than $25 US, so they won't break the bank.
Killerspin Centric - an excellent premade racket, which is
the closest in performance to a high level custom racket.
This level of performance makes it a little harder to control,
so I'd only recommend this racket to new players if they
are going to get some coaching lessons to help them learn
to control the bat quickly. Buy Killerspin Centric bat
Butterfly 201 FL - this racket has enough performance to
do a decent forehand loop attack, but has a smaller sweet
spot, which makes it obvious when you have hit the ball off
centre. This actually makes it a bit better for learning
correct technique, since you'll know straight away when
you have got it wrong. Buy Butterfly 201 FL bat
Yasaka Attack - a good choice for a new player who is
looking to beat his family and friends, but who doesn't
intend to get any personal coaching or dive into serious
competition. It has enough performance to give you an
20