Best products from r/tabletennis

Here's a classic.

It is older, but I think some of the advice inside is timeless.

If you REALLY want some valuable information and have a lot of free time to watch stuff, I would recommend these talks by Feng Zhe, a former CNT member himself, about some of the changes in the 40+ era.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Also, this other video. Not sure if the footage from this video was included in the other 8 parts I linked, but it's good stuff anyhow.

Be warned, these are EXTREMELY slow-paced and boring because every single statement has to go through a translator and they sure do take their sweet ass time. However, the information in them is pretty valuable and I haven't seen a whole lot of it collected in one spot like this elsewhere. I couldn't even sit through them all myself, but, from what I saw, I still was able to learn some things from my time.

Here's some examples of the useful things I am talking about:

Training against underspin and topspin in the modern era

On coaching between different eras

I can't really give much more reason to watch them since I haven't even finished them myself, but I'm confident that there's good information contained in them.

You've posted multiple times (thread 1, thread 2, thread 3) about premade Stiga paddles but you appear unsatisfied with all of my previous answers.

The moderation team would typically remove these types of posts, but I want to use this as an opportunity to respond to absolutely everything once and for all.

>However, I've heard that the star ratings define the level of the player/user. I saw this: A 1-star bat is for hobby and recreational use, a 2-star bat is for beginner use, a 3-star bat is for someone who is relatively experienced and wants to improve their play, a 4-star bat is for pre-competitive semi-professional use, a 5-star bat is for pre-professional competitive use and a 6-star bat is for professional use.

>The 3 stars mean it's for relatively-experienced players who want to improve their game.

This is absurdly false. I'll reiterate why. A standard or basis for the star rating system does not exist so companies are free to slap on whatever star label they want.

Club level/competitive players, as well as professional players all use custom paddles. Meaning their blade and two rubbers are separately purchased components that are then glued together. This allows players to select individual aspects of the paddle to suit their playstyle rather than relying on a company to pre-determine their equipment (premade paddles).

For example, Butterfly sponsored player Timo Boll is said to use the Butterfly Timo Boll ALC Blade, with Butterfly Tenergy 05 Hard on his forehand and Butterfly Dignics 05 on his backhand. (Of course we never know what pros use for certain but that's another story.)

If the star rating scale really were true, Ma Long and his friends must be hoarding a plentiful supply of Double Fish 8 Star paddles. And all Viscaria users must be using equipment on the same level as this monstrosity.

>I am not a beginner, I'm pretty experienced.

>I am a relatively-experienced table tennis player and I want to improve my game, especially focusing on controlling my spin moves.

I would normally refrain from making assumptions about someone's playing level but you are stubbornly insistant about not being a beginner and weren't receptive towards a link to the subreddit beginner wiki.

Chances are, if you're inquiring about premade paddles, you don't have much experience with competitive table tennis if any at all. As for the second quote, you're grouping spin into one broad category so it's unlikely you're able to differentiate between types of said 'spin moves' in table tennis. The notion of 'spin moves' don't exist in the mysterious world of experienced table tennis. However, topspin loops, drives, chops, and pushes certainly do.

Here's a experienced player who's currently rated in the middle of the pack at US competitive table tennis for reference - https://www.reddit.com/r/tabletennis/comments/bz2i1b/i_think_i_have_the_technique_of_a_1500_but_the/ (sry u/azhao123 but gonna borrow u for this part)

I'm far from a pro, just a enthusiastic amateur who plays semi regularly.

I invested in a outdoor table just recently and am pretty happy with the choice I went with:

https://www.amazon.com/Cornilleau-Crossover-Indoor-Outdoor-Tennis/dp/B01BI669RW/ref=sr_1_1?s=amazon-devices&ie=UTF8&qid=1525192147&sr=8-1&keywords=Cornilleau+250s

I researched a ton and even played on a few (Kettler, Cornilleau, Stiga) at similar price points. The Cornilleau felt the best and I also really like the giant wheels which make it way easier to maneuver around the yard and roll to it's storage position after. It folds open and closed VERY easily as well which means it's not a chore to put it away after every session. Finally it has height adjustments on each leg which make it pretty easy to get it stable on uneven ground. The only real complaint I have about it is that the leg height adjustment involves screwing this plastic foot in/out which can be sort of a pain in the ass sometimes.

The Stiga outdoor table I played on had tiny little wheels which would have been great if I only had to deal with a concrete driveway/garage but I have a gravel driveway and grass lawn to deal with so it was immediately disqualified.

The Kettler I looked at (the same one Costco is selling now) was pretty good in terms of wheels and folding features and what not but the table didn't feel as good in play.

I also bought the cover for the table when in folded position and I'm less happy with that. It's extremely thin and I can see it ripping easily as time goes on. However, we've got a seamstress in the family and I'm going to have them copy it with some more robust fabric once that happens.

May I ask why you want one that folds and is NOT two separate pieces?

Tables that fold in half and share 4 wheels between the weight of the entire table are (on average) taller when folded up and significantly heavier (since you are supporting both table tops) making them much harder to move. Just curious why you would want both of those disadvantages?

If you decide to consider a 2 piece I just purchased this STIGA off Amazon and am extremely pleased with it as a rec table for my house.

It is not a high end table but it bounces well, looks nice, is blue, took me 15 minutes to put together, and comes with squeeze clamps like you asked.

You don't need to spend a grand most likely unless you are used to playing on high end tables and really know what you are talking about... but since you are asking these questions... I would argue the STIGA is probably fine for your house.

Hope you don't take too much offense to my comment. Happy shopping and enjoy whatever you end up getting!

I'd be worried that thing would damage the balls. I made my own for about $15 that looks similar to the My Ping Pong Buddy. I remember different versions of them being sold closer to $50-75 several years ago but I see they're down to $45.

I just bought the cheapest painters pole I could find for around $8, which was probably the most expensive part.

You can find the nets on certain kinds of oranges at the grocery store. Be careful though, you want the stiffer and thicker netting. I'd recommend using a double layer too.

I do wish mine had a telescoping pole like this.

And a cheap badminton set can be purchased at Walmart (or elsewhere) for around $5-6. Although I did have a couple of the cheaper ones break on me after several sessions of use, so I'd maybe invest in slightly thicker and more durable badminton set. You'll need to bend the handle but be careful not to kink it. Applying some heat will help.

And finally the most tedious part is stringing it. I've reused the badminton strings but fishing line will be stronger.

Oh, also, I just taped the pole to the badminton handle, but I'm sure there's a nicer way I could have done it. Maybe with a PVC coupler or something you could find in the painter's section for coupling poles together.

It may not be worth the time and effort, since they're only about $45 these days, but my homemade one (after repairing it 2 or 3 times) IS still working well.

I have not used the GoPro body mount stuff yet, but one guy at our club did. I will try to find the video but I don't think he ever uploaded it yet.

I use the GoPro tripod mount: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F19Q7AC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s02

Along with this tripod:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DELTLQ?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00

I played in my first sanctioned tournament ever about 1 month into my lessons. I won a <1500 and got rated at 1550. Now I'm about 1800 (highest 1822, current 1787).

I feel like the carbon didn't really affect me that much. It just makes my shots have a bit more pace. It only took me about 2 months to get used to it. My opponents have noticed it more than me to be honest.

Sounds good! You should come out to a tournament at TTT some time! :)

We had this table in college, used it primarily inside but we'd occasionally play outside on nice days that weren't too windy.

Nice material, great bounce, good quality. Slightly larger than regulation size if memory serves me correct. Would recommend this to anyone looking to play in their off time, or looking to take table tennis more seriously.

Should last a lifetime if taken care of.

Hey guys, my wife is starting to play and we were looking for a good beginner paddle to her, she plays penhold and looking in the internet we found this one, does someone know about this paddle? Also, is ok to handle this paddle as a penhold?

Read some good reviews on it but never saw this brand before, or if you have some other suggestion, something with good control would be good as she is starting to learning the basics.

Any tips is appreciated, thank you!

Table

There's nothing wrong with a midrange table. Even really cheap ones will work, but I'd only go that route if you're still testing the waters or you know you're going to replace it. I'll second /u/RussianandGunnin's advice on checking Craiglist.

Robots

I own the Robo-Pong 2040. It's... alright. The Newgy products I've used are perfunctory if not a bit clunky. Upgrading to the 2050 might be a bit better, with the ability to do programmable drills (think Falconberg), but over time my view on robots has become less sanguine. I'm curious if the high(er) tech Chinese robots are really any more useful, but they're cost prohibitive in terms of personal investment.

Robots are alright for helping practice what you've learned, but they aren't teachers. It makes the most sense to put in some robo-practice time once you're sure your form is reasonable. For that you'll need a coach or serious club player who will give you unvarnished feedback.

If practicing by yourself is predominately what your schedule allows for, there are worse things you can do with your time than spend it with a TT robot. Robots have a narrow range of use. Make sure you're ok with that before you burn serious dollars on one.

If you do end up getting one, don't cheap out: buy a gross of robo balls, and a pick up net. Newgy robots come with a few balls, but at a normal rate of fire you'll blow through those. A robot with 20~40 balls makes for an underwhelming experience. You'll spend 10 times more time picking up balls than you will hitting them.

Killerspin is not the generally recommended brand. While they do makes OK tables, their rackets are not very popular.

I've personally used JET800 and am very disappointed by it. I like my $30 setup from aliexpress a lot better.

If you like them and want to buy from them sure, but please note that you can get a professional setup for the price you're about to play to Killerspin.

While you may feel tempted to buy a premade just to get it done, you should probably go custom because you will be getting much better stuff at a cheaper price, and note that if you buy both rubbers and the blade from the same shop they will assemble it for you.

If you don't want to overthink it, here is what this reddit recommends:

(1) If you really insist on buying a premade, check out Palio Master. You'll be getting a premade with a real quality rubber on it.

(2) If you are in the US check Colestt. Any combo on the page is good.

(3) If you are in the US,prefer European brands, and really want to spend some $, check this combo

(4) Otherwise, see other big retailers such as Megaspin or tabletennis11.

Hello,


I was hoping to get some suggestions in purchasing a table. Essentially I'm trying to find one that isn't too cheap, but isn't absurdly expensive. This is mainly for recreational use in the garage with some friends, but I'd still like one that's pretty good. I was taking a look at this one, any other recommendations?


https://www.amazon.com/STIGA-Advantage-Indoor-Table-Tennis/dp/B01JMTDZ5Q/ref=zg_bs_3419501_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JSDQ4YSXWSGXKSDJV3PY

I'm a little confused as to whether it has 2 carbon layers myself, although it states it's an all wood blade if you look at the picture from the amazon site I bought it on, you can see the black layers. If not carbon, what are they? The paddle they sent me also has a mauve/purple sponge on the black rubber and a slightly thinner (guessing 2mm) thick yellow sponge on the slower red rubber side. Not shown or mentioned in the sales blurb.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Palio-Expert-Table-Tennis-Case/dp/B016BQTCFU/ref=pd_ybh_a_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XGJ087KB5DM05YESQF0M

Have you ever played with one? Or maybe you got taken-in like me, by its sales/marketing pitch. I've played over 500hrs with it over the space of around 30mnths, tried many other paddles and I can truthfully say it is definitely not a beginner bat.

Perhaps you can explain to me what the Palio Expert properties are and what it has that makes this bat a slow controllable beginner bat, maybe comparing its weight, number of plies, characteristics of blade ie, types and thickness of its plywood or anything that can be relied upon to make (comparable to a budget fast blade) it one of the slowest blades available.

Same with its CJ8000 rubbers, which incidentally come in 3 different thicknesses I believe, with even more variations of sponge thickness and hardness. Can you tell me with absolute certainty that with these rubbers on that blade, will give a beginner a realistic chance to have good control? because it won't.

This is just a bit above your budget, but it's a very good allround bat that can be used for defensive play:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Palio-Expert-Table-Tennis-Case/dp/B016BQTCFU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487089359&sr=8-1&keywords=palio+expert+2

It will be hard to find something better at that price (or less) unless you look for deals on blade/rubber and assemble it yourself.

https://www.amazon.ca/Butterfly-B303FL-FL-Racket/product-reviews/B003M4ESGI/ref=dpx_acr_txt?showViewpoints=1

​

\> Its cheap, decent quality, comes with cover too, okay control but slow. I guess better for advanced beginner as it has Long Pip rubber on one side and inverted rubber on the other.

​

if you want to start playing yourself, buy something with inverted (pips-in) rubber.

Palio Expert 2 is usually cited as one of the better 'premades':

https://www.amazon.ca/Palio-Expert-Table-Tennis-Racket/dp/B016BQTCFU

Cheap and cheerful :)

Those are good non poly balls. I bought 24 off eBay for super cheap. They are good balls. They do break mildly easily. I've gone through about 6 of them in a couple months but we use them at work with people you play very rough. If your looking for the most durable ball I have ever found buy these:

Xushaofa 40+

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00REMJM60/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_NnwjxbAHQRW1E

They are Poly though.

This is an affordable beginner paddle. I've used all 3 Palio precedes and I think the Master is the best choice. The expert is too slow and the legend is a bit fast for beginners and the rubber is harder than most would like starting out.

Palio Master 2 Table Tennis Racket & Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016BR89J4/ref=cm_sw_r_taa_oe9eAbSZPWZQW

hello, I'm a beginner. I want to buy a new racket from Ebay, Amazon or aliexpress (Free shipping to Israel). I need a lot of control and my budget is 25$. I thought about this racket:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LZEWZGE/ref=as_at?creativeASIN=B002GJY338&linkCode=w61&imprToken=7W7.v.fBBAwwLaWaXHhVIQ&slotNum=6&tag=bpptrpaddle-20&th=1

Edit: I think I am more of a defensive player. I love more control then speed.

What do you think?

https://www.amazon.com/Killerspin-JETSET-Table-Tennis-Paddle/dp/B0046H8IF2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1505411991&sr=8-2&keywords=killerspin+jet+set

These, absolutely for the price. We have 'em at work and people are almost as good with 'em as they are with their custom paddles. I'd rate them allplay, with medium speed, medium spin, medium-high control. Average weight. They play really well.

https://www.amazon.com/Mypingpongbuddy-My-Ping-Pong-Buddy/dp/B004UZW20W

These are perfect for picking up balls easily.

Jumping from a very basic paddle like the Killerspin Jet200 to a custom made one probably isn't worth it; especially a custom defensive one which you may not like.

Try out a beginner's setup first like this Palio 2 star racket: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32855593263.html

Same product on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Palio-Expert-Table-Tennis-Racket/dp/B016BQTCFU

I happen to play a close-to-the-table pips hitting game myself, and I'm currently using this blade: https://www.amazon.com/YINHE-Table-Tennis-Blade-Handle-Flared/dp/B00ZBA2PMK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1539897555&sr=8-2&keywords=yinhe

​

The Stiga Clipper (and its cousins), Avalox P700, and most other 7-ply stiff blades are also traditionally popular among pips-hitters.

I'm wanting to buy some training balls, and I'm wondering if this is a worthwhile purchase?

​

https://www.amazon.com/KEVENZ-50-Pack-3-Star-Advanced-Training/dp/B018JZSEVY/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1550851438&sr=1-3&keywords=table+tennis+training+balls

​

Or, in general, what makes a good "training" ball?

Two really popular, cheap, beginnerish rackets:

• Pailo Expert, $40
  
• Cole's Buster Combo, $40
  
  If you want something a little more premium, although not necessarily better, pick one of these blades:
  
  
• Yakasa Sweeden Extra, $43
  
• Donic Appelgren Allplay, $45
  
  And combine with one of these rubbers:
  
  
• Yasaka Mark V, $38
  
• Butterfly Sriver, $40
  
  Megaspin also has a Sweeden Extra with Mark V combo for $95. Megaspin (and other vendors) will usually have the option to assemble the racket for you if you don't want to build it yourself.

Funny. I once made a ball collector out of a box about the same size as the one in your pic.

What I did was to string rubber bands across one side of the box, and it worked great to pick up a bunch of balls all at once. Adding a handle would have been my next move, but my club has a couple of these now.

If there was anyway you could stretch to the Palio Expert 2 at $39.95 it would make a huge difference to someone learning the game. It's basically the cheapest "proper" bat available on amazon. Plus the rubbers are incredibly hard wearing so will last for ages and can take a beating.

​

But if it's for a school club I would reach out to some of the well known shops and see if they can cut you a deal/give you some stuff for free. Megaspin might be worth a shot. I'm in the UK, so not much help on that side of things.

Is this a good paddle case?

Guys need suggestion on the case for this...
should I go cheap and buy a regular oblong case?
or should I overkill and buy one of these....

• Killerspin Optima Ping Pong Paddle Carry Case
  
• JOOLA 56731 Table Tennis Tour Case, Blue
  
  
  any suggestion would be helpful...
  
  
  thanks in advance....