Question: Should I Buy a Pre-made Paddle or a Custom Racket for My Child?
Answer: Buying a ping-pong paddle for your children can be a bewildering experience. There are so many varieties of paddles out there, it's not easy to know what is a good starting paddle. So here is some simple things to look for when buying a first table tennis bat for your child.
- Most people will buy a pre-made paddle from a sports store. This can be OK for a first paddle, provided you make sure that you buy a racket with inverted rubber that has a little bit of grip. If you can, run your finger down the rubber on each side of the blade. You should feel a good amount of friction on each rubber. If your finger slips easily over the surface, your child will not be able to use the racket to spin the ball properly. Spin is very important in modern table tennis, so if the rubber doesn't grip the ball well, it's harder to play good table tennis.
- If you can see a logo for a reputable manufacturer, such as Butterfly, Stiga, Donic, Double Happiness, Andro, or Killerspin, you can be fairly sure that you will be getting a decent starting paddle that has a bit of grip and spring from the rubber.
- Most table tennis rubbers start to deteriorate after 6 months or so, so try to pick a popular sports store, where the chances are better that you will get a paddle that hasn't been sitting there for too long.
- Stay away from paddles that have rubbers with the pimples outwards. These type of paddles are good for having fun with, but not so good if you want your child to be able to develop modern strokes. They just don't grip the ball enough to allow the spinny strokes that are part of modern technique.
- Because the paddles need to be able to grip the ball, give them a clean when they get dusty by using a sponge dampened with water.
- Make sure that you buy the correct type of paddle for the type of grip your child intends to use. Shakehand paddles have longer handles than the penhold rackets, so don't accidentally buy the wrong type!
- Once your child has worn out his first racket (you can tell by running your finger down the rubber - if the amount of grip is less in the middle than the edges, it's time for a new paddle), or if you want to buy a more expensive custom racket to begin with, a good option is to buy your equipment from a local dealer. Find your local table tennis club, and ask for some advice there from the experienced players. They will be able to recommend some appropriate equipment for a first serious paddle, and are likely to be able to give you the name and number of the local dealer, from whom they buy their own equipment.
- Another option is to buy from an online dealer. In general, you will need to know what type of blade and rubbers you want in advance, or else you may get confused by the number of choices available! Some of the dealers will even put the rubbers on the blade for you before shipping it, but some expect you to do it yourself (in which case you will need to order some glue as well), so be make sure to check before ordering!
