Topshot table tennis blog

Best table tennis paddle

nukemdomis — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:12:03 GMT

Choosing the right ping pong paddles for advanced table tennis players

Choosing a good ping pong paddle for beginners who are starting out to improve their skills in the sport is easy. However, choosing the right ping pong paddle for advanced players who are entering competitions is another story.

As an advanced ping pong or table tennis player, you need to remember that choosing a ping pong paddle isn't just about choosing one that is comfortable to hold. There are quite a lot of aspects when it comes to choosing the right paddle especially if you are an advanced ping pong player. You need to choose a paddle that doesn't only feel nice in your hand, but one that will also further improve your performance when playing.

So, here are some of the things that you need to consider whenever you are choosing a ping pong paddle.

Ping pong blade weight

The first thing you need to consider whenever you are choosing a ping pong blade is the weight. When you talk about it in physics, the lighter the blade the quicker you will be able to swing it. However, the heavier the blade the more mass is used when hitting the ball. This means that you need to achieve a balance between the two. Look for a blade that is the heaviest but still lets you swing it quickly.

Ping pong blade stiffness

The next thing that you need to decide upon when choosing a blade is the stiffness. If you are a power player who relies on speed of the ball to beat your opponent, then you will want a stiff blade. However, if you love experimenting on spins to confuse your opponents, then flexible blades are for you.

Ping pong blade balance

The center of gravity is also important. This refers to the balance of the blade. You need to decide whether you want the center of gravity focused closer to the handle or at the tip of the head. If you are a hitter or looper, then the head heavy blade is for you. However, if you are more of a defensive player who wants more control, then you will want to opt for blades that have the center of gravity near the handle.

Table tennis paddle rubber

You also need to decide on the rubber you need to use. Preferably, you will want to get the best rubber available. The main point of all this is the blade. Before you buy the blade that you think feels good, try asking to test it with a normal rubber. You will see that it will feel different and help you decide whether the blade is indeed a good one or not.

These are just some of the things that you need to remember in order to choose the perfect ping pong paddle for you. Other things that can affect the way you play are the layers and ply on the blade, and the handle type.

Remember these things and you can be sure that you will be able to get the perfect ping pong paddle. With it, you will see a significant improvement on the way you play and also gain the advantage over your opponents.

About the Author

Miodrag Trajkovic is a certified Table Tennis trainer who runs a popular and comprehensive Ping Pong Equipment website. For more articles and resources on table tennis, table tennis equipment, table tennis tips and tricks visit his site at
=> http://table-tennis.explore-me.com

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Grips of table tennis

nukemdomis — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:10:39 GMT

The different paddle grips of ping pong

Playing ping pong or table tennis isn't just about hitting the ball back to your opponent's side of the table. You have to remember that you will need to know about the different types of grips of table tennis that are used to hold the paddle in order for you to know which one is the most effective and also which ones that you are comfortable with.

Basically, in ping pong or table tennis, there are two types of grips. The first is the shake hands grip and the other is the pen hold grip. Both grips have different variations and each variation have its advantages and disadvantages that you should know about.

If you are a beginner in the sport of ping pong, it is recommended that you use the pen hold or the shake hands grip. These two standard ping pong grips are easy to learn and you will get a lot of advice and tips on how to use the grip effectively with these paddle grips. The reason for this is that pen hold grip and shake hands grip are very popular among a lot of people. In fact, these grips are what most professional ping pong players use.

Grips of table tennis - shake hands grip

In the shake hands grip, you will handle the paddle as if you were shaking someone's hand, hence, the name shake hands grip. On the other hand, the pen hold grip is handled like a pen. Just make an "OK" sign then insert the handle of the paddle between the index finger and the thumb facing downwards.

You will also see that the shake hands grip will have a lot of variations. However, the two variations that are commonly used are the shake hand shallow grip and the shake hand deep grip.

Grips of table tennis - pen hold grip

In the pen hold grip, you will also see that there are variations for it. The common variations are the traditional Chinese grip, Japanese or Korean grip, and the reverse pen hold backhand grip.

Whatever grip you choose, it is important that you are comfortable with it. You have to remember that different people will have different opinions about the different grips.

Usually, if you live in western countries, you will see that the shake hands grip will be the more dominant kind of grip. It feels natural and it will be able to provide good attacking power on both backhand and forehand strikes.

However, if you want to be unpredictable and have more spin on your ball, the pen hold grip is the grip for you. Although it will require a lot of footwork and may feel awkward especially for non-Asian players, you will see that when you get used to the pen hold grip, you will be able to manipulate the ping pong ball quite effectively by putting unpredictable spins.

These are the available paddle grips for ping pong. Whatever you choose, you will see that each grip will have its advantages and disadvantages. Always remember that you should choose the grip that suits your needs on your playing strategy and also one that you are comfortable using.

About the Author

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Finding table tennis clubs in Bangalore, Karnataka India

nukemdomis — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:48:50 GMT

Where can I find a table tennis or ping pong club in Bangalore, Karnataka India?

I would like to know if there are any table tennis clubs in Bangalore, India to play ping pong at? Right now I live in Jayanagar so it would be helpful for me if these clubs are in and around Jayanagar.

Wow, you're way down there at the southern tip of India. Well at first glance there doesn't seem to be much going on in Bangalore, Karnataka India in the way of table tennis.

Your best bet to finding the nearest table tennis club is to visit http://www.ttfi.org/ which is the Table Tennis Federation of India. On the site you can find a few phone numbers to talk to a real person. They should be able to provide you with some correct information about table tennis clubs in or near Bengalooru.

Good luck to you because I live in Las Vegas, NV and there are only 2 table tennis clubs for us to play at. Yes that's right only 2 table tennis clubs in Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world.

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Finding a table tennis or ping pong club in Wisconsin

nukemdomis — Fri, 02 May 2008 23:02:57 GMT

Where can I find a table tennis or ping pong club in Wisconsin?

I live near Milwaukee and wonder how I can be entered into table tennis and ping pong leagues and tournaments. I'm 14 years old and have been playing for a while and I think I have what it takes and I can learn from some of the best. Does anyone know of a website or someone I can contact? Thanks

Right on for taking the next step towards competitive table tennis. My brother is an avid table tennis player here in Las Vegas, Nevada. When he began playing in leagues and tournaments there were a couple of important things I remember him doing. These should apply to anyone regardless of where you live.

The fist thing you should do when wondering where to start when searching for a club to play table tennis or ping pong in Milwaukee is find out how many table tennis clubs there are in Wisconsin. Here's a few that I found online. These should get you started.

Green Bay TTC
Green Bay Community Church
600 Cardinal Lane
Howard, WI 54313

Madison TTC
Neighborhood House Community Center
29 s. Mills

New Berlin Table Tennis Club
Hickory Grove Center
Sunny Slope and Cleveland Ave.
New Berlin, WI 53151

Oshkosh Table Tennis Group
5114 State Road 44
Oshkosh, WI 54904

University Wisconsin Milwaukee Stiga TTC
Union Rec-Center
2200 E. Kenwood Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53223

Wisconsin TTA
Sussex-Hamilton High School
W220 N6151 Town Line Rd.
Sussex WI 53089

Another important note is about tournament play. If you're looking to compete in a U.S.A.T.T. tournament you must be a member of the U.S.A.T.T. When you participate in these tournaments you establish a table tennis player rating which is used to rank and match table tennis players in the different tournament events.

Here's a few pictures of my brother Topshot playing in the 2007 USA Table Tennis Nationals tournament that was held here in Las Vegas, Nevada. Check them out.

Good luck to you.

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How much should a ping pong paddle weigh?

nukemdomis — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:55:12 GMT

The ideal weight for your ping pong paddle: Knowing how much the ping pong paddle should weigh

As a ping pong player, you want your performance to be at the optimum level. You have to remember that table tennis isn't just about having fast reflexes and knowing how to execute the right strategy. Having the right ping pong paddle weight will also help you optimize your performance when playing the game and can indeed contribute to your victory.

Having the right kind of ping pong paddle means that you will be able to control the ball and also provide more power and spin to your shots. This is why you need to know that choosing the right weight for your paddle is very important.

Many beginners in the ping pong world often ask how much weight they should have in their ping pong paddles. Honestly, a lot of ping pong instructors are getting tired of answering this simple question.

Different tactics require different ping pong paddles

The weight of the ping pong paddle that you should have must be equal to your strength as well as your style in playing ping pong. You need to remember that different tactics will need different ping pong paddles.

And, one of the most important things that you should look for in a ping pong paddle is the weight. The weight should be perfect for you in order to accurately hit the ball and give it enough power.

Most ping pong paddles will weight between 70 to 100 grams with no rubber. Like choosing a tennis racket, baseball bat, and golf clubs, it is important that you keep the weight in mind in order to get the perfect ping pong paddle.

Perfect weight for a ping pong paddle depends on your playing style

This means that the perfect weight for a paddle will depend on you and your playing style as well as your strength. If you want the fastest paddle acceleration, you will want to go for ping pong paddles that are below 77 grams. The lightness of the paddle will provide you with fast acceleration when you swing it and will also provide you good spins.

Paddles that are between 77 to 89 grams will be able to provide you with balance as well as extra power. For power players, this paddle is perfect as it will give you good ball acceleration and also good spins.

Heavy paddles that weight over 90 grams is perfect for people who wants stability and good acceleration. This will also give you higher speed to spin ratio when you give the ball topspin to attack your opponent.

These are the different ping pong paddle weights that you should know about. Choosing the perfect paddle will mean that you need to know what weight of the paddle is best suited for your strength and playing style.

About the Author

USATT-affiliated Ping Pong clubs

nukemdomis — Fri, 02 May 2008 10:37:13 GMT

The benefits that you can get by becoming a ping pong club member

Ping pong is considered to be one of the most popular sports in the world. If you are one of the many ping pong players, then you will want to join a ping pong club or a table tennis club that is affiliated with the USATT. By joining ping pong clubs like this, you will see that you will be able to benefit a lot from the membership itself.

Most clubs associated with the USATT have their own courts. By being a member of a ping pong club, you will have the privilege to play first. For example, if you arrived and all the tables are occupied and there is quite a number of non member players on the list, you will be the one who will be prioritized to play as soon as there is a free table.

This means that you don't have to wait a long time in order to play ping pong.

This is just one of the many benefits that being a ping pong club member can give. If the club you joined has VIP lounges, you will be able to enter. Here, you will have access to gym equipment and other facilities that are only offered to members.

With just these two reasons, you will want to join a ping pong club.

World class ping pong intructors

Another great benefit of being a member of a ping pong club that is associated with the USATT is that instructors here are considered to be world class. You will be able to get coaching at a minimal rate or no charge at all. Compared to non members, who will pay a lot of money in order to get professional coaching.

Also, because the club you will join is affiliated with the USATT, you will be able to compete in various tournaments organized by the USATT. This means that you will be able to enhance your ping pong skills further and get ready for more tournaments.

Subscription to USA Table Tennis magazine

Lastly, by being a member of a ping pong club affiliated with USATT, you will have a chance to get a one year subscription to USA Table Tennis Magazine. Here, you will be able to get the latest news in ping pong and also have detailed instructions on how you can improve your performance.

As you can see, there are quite a lot of benefits that members of a ping pong club affiliated with the USATT can provide. With these benefits, you, as an avid ping pong player, will be able to improve your performance faster and with more convenience.

About the Author

Ping Pong moves: Knowing your Ping Pong style

nukemdomis — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:21:55 GMT

The Different Ping Pong Player Styles: Knowing What Kind of Style You Have

When it comes to ping pong moves, different ping pong players have different styles and tactics in order to beat their opponent. Some like rallies, others loves to finish a point early with a powerful drive, while there are some who like to defend. The styles vary from player to player. Each style has its pros and cons and it is up to you what kind of style you want to incorporate in your game.

Ping Pong style 1 - power looper

The first kind of style is the power looper. The ping pong player who uses this style uses the forehand a lot. This type of player likes to end the point as quickly as possible with a forehand loop stroke. Sometimes, this player will use a backhand loop to open a point but will often step around and use the forehand loop in order to end the point in their favor. One professional ping pong player who uses this style is Brian Pace.

Ping Pong style 2 - pips-out attacker

Another style is the pips-out attacker. This player will usually stand around 3 feet off the table. What they do is that they make a contact to the ball as early as possible and will also hit the ball at the peak of its bounce or when it is on the rise. In order to be successful in this style, you will need to rely on speed and not on spin. A player who uses this style loves to use the forehand. An example from the world class table tennis players is David Zhuang.

Ping Pong style 3 - counter driver

The third type of style is the counter driver. Often referred to as a wall, this player is mostly defensive and stays very close to the table. They don't really rely on ending a point but will rely on their opponents to make a mistake in order to earn the point. These types of players are defensive players that have fast reflexes and can make earning a point very hard for you. Geng Lijuan is one player who uses this style.

Ping Pong style 4 - all-round attacker

Another type of player is the all-round attacker. This type of player will exhibit different kinds of attacks and will execute different kinds of strokes in order to make a point. More often than not, players who use this style can adapt quickly to the playing style of their opponent and will eventually attack the weaknesses. Players like this will often produce topspin attacks on any part of the table and at any distance. Cheng Yinghua is one of the players who use this style in ping pong.

These are just some of the available styles that you can try in ping pong. Other styles are mid-distance aggressive loopers, the attacking chopper, and close-to-the-table defender. Whatever style you want to copy, you will see that it will often depend on your level of skill and also your physical as well as mental abilities.

About the Author

Ping Pong training: Reading opponent ball spins strategy

nukemdomis — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:45:57 GMT

Reading Ball Spins: Catching the Ping Pong Spin Strategy of Your Opponent

A quick mind and a quick eye are two of the most important aspects that a ping pong player must have when Ping Pong training. By being a keen observer, you will be able to know the moves of your opponent. One thing that frustrates a lot of ping pong players is reading ball spins that their opponent gives them.

You need to remember that it is essential that you know how to correctly read ball spins as this will enable you to predict which way the ping pong ball will go and how you can counter it. This is easier said than done as it will take quite a while to learn how to read spins. In fact, even professional table tennis players make mistakes regarding reading spins.

Tips for reading Ping Pong ball spins

However, here are some tips that can help you read spins better. With these tips, you will be able to predict how the ball will react when it hits the table and your paddle and also know how you can counter the spin effectively and let it work to your advantage.

The first thing you need to know is that heavy spins will tend to get the ball to move more, jump up, down, or sideways from your paddle more, and it will also have more kick when it hits the table.

You need to observe the swing and the paddle of your opponent in order to know what spin is being used on the ball. When the paddle of your opponent is going upwards and is brushing the top of the ball, then top spin is being used. Expect the ball to be aggressive and hit the end of your table deep.

If you see that the paddle is going downwards and is brushing the bottom of the ball. Expect a backspin. With this kind of ball, it is a good idea to remain near the table as a heavy backspin will tend to bounce short once it hits the table.

If you see that the paddle of your opponent is moving to your left or right, the side spin is being used. It will either get the ball to curve right or left depending on the direction of the side spin, and it will also have an effect once it hits your paddle.

These are the ways you can read ball spins in ping pong. Always remember that reading ball spins will helpyou prepare for your next shot.

Miodrag Trajkovic is a certified table tennis trainer who runs a popular and comprehensive ping pong equipment website. For more articles and resources on table tennis, table tennis equipment, or table tennis tips, visit his site at http://table-tennis.explore-me.com

Getting the best outdoor ping pong experience

nukemdomis — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:01:56 GMT

Playing ping pong and table tennis outdoors

In order to get the very best outdoor ping pong experience there's a few challenges that anyone can overcome by taking a few elements into consideration. As far as ping pong is concerned, you will often see that most people play this sport indoors. Besides, table tennis is designed to play indoors. However, have you ever considered playing table tennis outdoors?

Wind speed and lighting affects outdoor ping pong

Today, many people who love to play table tennis are now playing table tennis outdoors. You have to consider the fact that there is a big difference in playing ping pong indoors and outdoors. In indoor table tennis, the environment is controlled. There is virtually no wind to affect the flight of the ball, and the lighting is controlled.

By playing outdoor table tennis, you will encounter wind that will force you to adjust your shots carefully, and you may also be temporarily blinded by the bright sunlight.

Although this is true, it is preferable that outdoor table tennis should be played only during the summer months. Why? This is because if you play in any other season, you will encounter stronger winds that will make it virtually impossible for you to play ping pong.

The ping pong ball is very light and can be easily affected by the wind. Although the occasional breeze is welcome in outdoor table tennis, you need to remember that winds stronger than a breeze can blow away the ball in any direction. Even if your shots are accurate when you do it indoors, the wind factor will make you adjust your shots.

Playing outdoors in the summer months is also very beneficial. Instead of being cooped up inside your home where it can get very hot, you will be playing outside where it's cooler. Try playing under the shade of a tree.

When you plan on playing ping pong outdoors, it is important that the table should be set up on a flat concrete surface. Although it would be nice to play on grass, you need to consider the fact that the surface on grass can be uneven, which will mean that the table will also become uneven and can disrupt the game.

Best outdoor ping pong tables are designed for outdoor play

You may want to get a table that is designed to be played outside and should have wheels on each of the legs of the table. This will make it easier for you to transport the table and outdoor tables will last a lot longer and it can tolerate the harsh environment of the outdoors. However, you need to remember that although it can withstand the harsh environment, you shouldn't leave the table outside as it can also degrade.

When you aren't playing ping pong with your friends or family, you should store it inside your home, such as your garage.

These are the things that you need to remember when playing outdoor ping pong. It will present a new challenge, but it will definitely be worth it.

Table tennis blogs

nukemdomis — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:56:10 GMT

Table Tennis blogs and the Internet

Here's some information for those of you looking for table tennis blogs on the Internet. As most table tennis fans have already found out, table tennis blogs are few and far between especially since table tennis is the most popular racket sport in the world.

In this post I'll provide some information about a few of the table tennis blogs that are on the Internet. At the time of this post a search for "table tennis blog" (without quotes) using Google returns 580,000 results with the Topshot table tennis blog sitting in the third position.

List of 4 quality table tennis blogs

Topshot Table Tennis Blog - The Topshot table tennis blog is a unique table tennis blog. If you're bored with all the other table tennis blogs you've found on the Internet and are open to a humorous side of table tennis check this blog out. Look for table tennis blog posts about techniques, tips, and table tennis rules to name a few. In addition to the normal table tennis news updates that are found on most table tennis websites, look for entries about funny table tennis videos as well as funny table tennis pictures.

Greg's About.com table tennis blog - This next table tennis blog comes from the massive website of About dot com. The blog is written by Greg Letts who is a world ranked table tennis player and an internationally qualified table tennis umpire. This blog is known by many as one of the most widely read authority table tennis blogs on the Internet. Look for some of the best information on table tennis topics such as rules, equipment, and tournaments. My favorite spots on this table tennis blog are the "Pro Players" section and the "Video/Photo Gallery".

Pingskills table tennis blog - Here's a fairly new table tennis blog with a ton of potential. The Pingskills blog is part of the Pingskils website which is dedicated to helping table tennis players of all skill levels improve their game. The blog is run by Jeff Plum and Alois Rosario. Jeff is one of the very few table tennis players that has represented his country in Olympic games. Alois on the other hand has also seen himself involved with the Olympic games as he was the Australian table tennis coach at the Athens 2004 Olympic games. If you're looking for another great table tennis blog to read make sure you check out this blog that's packed with a broad range of table tennis information.

Table Tennis Mastery Blog - Explore the exciting game of table tennis and improve your game quickly with the expert advice and demonstrations found on this table tennis blog. At this table tennis blog you'll find updated posts on table tennis videos and clips for improving your table tennis game. One of the main reasons why this table tennis blog made this list is because of the posting frequency with this blog punching out at least 30 new posts each month.

About this table tennis blogs post

This post is the first in a small series of posts here at the Topshot Table Tennis Blog that'll be featuring different table tennis blogs on the Internet. If you know of or if you're the author of a table tennis blog please let me know by leaving a comment below so that I can add any blogs to the next post of table tennis blogs.

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