TABLE TENNIS

EQUIPMENTS
Group 2
Table tennis is a sport that involve two
or four players competing against each
other. This popular sport is played
around the world and is a popular
Summer Olympic event.

Table tennis can be played with just a

paddle, table, and ball but there are
several accessories that can be
acquired to improve one’s play.
1. PING PONG BALL
Weight: The official weight of a ping pong ball should
be- theoretically – 2.7 grams. (acceptable range is
from 2.6 to 2.77 grams per ball. International Table
Tennis Federation (ITTF)

Dimension: An official table tennis ball used in

competition has a diameter of 40 mm. (acceptable
range for the diameter of a ping-pong ball is between
40 and 40.5 mm)

Component: It is made of Acrylonitrile butadiene

styrene (ABS), which aims to avoid the flammability of
celluloid.

Color: The choice of a ball’s color is made based on

the table color and its surroundings. For example, a
white ball is more visible on the blue or green table
than one on a grey table.
2. PING PONG TABLE
Color: The playing surface shall be uniformly dark
coloured and matt, but with a white side line ( 2cm
wide)

Component: ITTF indicates that an official ping pong table

must be a rectangle 2.74 meters long and 1.525 meters
wide, which is about 9 x 5 feet per table.The playing
surface must be flat and may be of any material. The
tabletop must be 76 cm above the floor.

Division: The playing surface shall be divided into 2

equal courts by a vertical net running parallel with
the end lines, and shall be continuous over the whole
area of each court.

For doubles, each court shall be divided into 2

equal half-courts by a white centre line, 3mm wide,
running parallel with the side lines; the centre line
shall be regarded as part of each right half-court.
Dimension: HEIGHT WIDTH LENGTH
76 cm (2.5 ft) 152.5 cm (5 ft) 274 cm (9 ft)
3. NET
The net is placed vertically that divides the table
into two equal courts.

The net assembly shall consist of the net, its

suspension and the supporting posts, including
the clamps attaching them to the table.

The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at

each end to an upright post 15.25cm high, the
outside limits of the post being 15.25cm outside the
sideline.

The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be

15.25cm above the playing surface.

The bottom of the net, along its whole length, shall

be as close as possible to the playing surface and
the ends of the net shall be attached to the
supporting posts from top to bottom.
 15.25 cm

Suspension &
Supporting post 15.25 cm
Clamp
4. RACKET
Table tennis racket or paddle is used to hit the ball back and forth on the table.

Parts of the RACKET

Parts of
the
Racket
 BLADE & HANDLE
The wooden portion of a table tennis bat is
referred to as the “blade”. It’s made up of
multiple layers of compressed wood, and
sometimes includes layers of carbon fibre,
glass fibre, texalium, titanium, aluminium,
synthetic, arylate, aramid, and kevlar.
According to the International Table Tennis
Federation (ITTF) regulations, at least 85% of
the blade must be of natural wood.

The handle extends from the blade, and can

be flat, straight/rounded, and rounded/flared.
Playing style and comfort determines the most
suitable handle for an individual.
 TWO MAIN TYPES OF BLADE
SHAKEHAND PENHOLD
These blades are designed for the
shakehand grip — a style adopted by
the majority of Western table tennis
players.
For shakehand players, flared
handles (where the bottom is wider
than the top) are the most popular,
followed by anatomic and straight.
Conic handles are the same as flared
except that the sides are straight
rather than curved. The main
advantage of a flared or conic handle
is that the player can loosely grip the
bat with less risk of letting go.
These blades are designed to suit the
penhold grip — a popular playing style
in Asia. There are two styles of penhold
blades: Chinese and Japanese.
Chinese Style (C) is more popular, and
normally has a rounded head (similar to
a shakehand blade but often a little
smaller). The handle is smaller and
shorter than a shakehand handle.
Japanese Style (J) is less popular, and
has a handle with a protrusion on one
(or both sides), which the player wraps
the index finger. The blade head is
often more squarish than the
Chinese-style penhold, but styles vary.
Shakehand blades have
longer handles than
Penhold blades
 HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT BLADE FOR YOU

BLADE SPEED PLIES

The speed ratings of the blades range
from the fastest rating of offensive
OFF+ to the slowest rating of
defensive DEF-. An allround blade, is
denoted by the rating ALL. The faster
the speed rating, the farther the ball
bounces off of the bat.
Layers of wood known as “plies” make up
the blade, and usually range from one to
seven. Most blades have five plies.
Around 70% of players use an all-wood
blade. Non-wood layers (plies) are
02 designed to alter the speed and/or
weight of the blade.

BLADE WEIGHT
01 The blade weight is determined by what feels best
03
to the player. Most blades weigh between 70-100
grams before any rubber is applied. It’s generally felt
that heavier blades provide more power.
 RUBBER
The rubbers cover the “paddle” area of each
side of the blade. It provides grip on the ball (of
varying degrees), and is instrumental in
developing your own playing style.
 4 MAIN TYPES OF RUBBER

SMOOTH OR INVERTED SHORT PIPS OR PIMPLED

The surface of the rubber is flat and often They have a bumpy, tough surface,
shiny in appearance, with a layer of often including a layer of sponge
sponge underneath. underneath.

They have extra-long “pimples” that are

capable of reversing the spin of an They have a smooth surface — but do not
opponent. The spin produced from the long generate much spin. They’re also slow,
meaning they’re not offensive either.
pips is hard to read.

LONG PIPS ANTI-TOPSPIN

 HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT RUBBERS FOR YOU
SPEED AND SPIN RATINGS
● Offensive players who frequently use
topspin, drive, loop, and smash usually
prefer rubbers with a high speed rating.
● Defensive players who primarily use
underspin, chop, push, and block
usually prefer slower rubber.
● Loopers and choppers prefer rubbers
with a high spin rating.
01
SPONGE THICKNESS
● Thick sponges provide more speed and
spin. It also adds weight to the paddle, and
gives a more cushioned feeling when
striking the ball.
● Thin sponges provide more control. The
paddle is lighter and gives a “woodier”
feeling when striking the ball.
02
RACKET DIMENSIONS
 GLUE
The preferred glue for table tennis bats is
a water-based application, free of
harmful volatile compounds. This
ensures that the rubbers stay firmly
attached without causing any long-term
damage to the blade. Don’t be tempted
to use superglue!

SHIRT
● short-sleeved or
sleeveless shirt
● The main colour of a shirt,
other than sleeves and
collar of a shirt shall be
clearly different from that
of the ball in use.
5. CLOTHING
SHORTS SHOES
● skirt or shorts ● comfortable and
● The main colour of allow players to
a short or skirt, move quickly
shall be clearly
different from that
of the ball in use.
6. TABLE TENNIS ROBOT
It is a machine that can automatically fire
table tennis balls from one end of the
table to the other end in a controlled
manner.

3 Main Elements

● A mechanism to load and fire tennis

balls
● A control box to program the firing
of the balls, and
● Nets to catch the returning ball
 OTHER ACCESSORIES
There are a number of other items that you may choose to use.

Head and wristbands

Net measurer

Racket holder

Spare racket

Playing bag

Weighted racket, for shadow practice (or simply leave the cover on your regular racket)
WAYS
WAYS TO
TO TAKE
TAKE CARE
CARE
OF
OF EQUIPMENTS
EQUIPMENTS
 Keep your rubbers
warm
Always clean your Place the
When the temperature
rises the top sheet tacky rubbers after paddle/racket
expands and becomes training or tournament inside a case when
elastic. This effect will match not in use
give you a significant
amount of feel, spin, and
speed.

Wipe dry rubber with

Clean the paddle damp cloth, then put
at least once a on your protective
sheet right away,
week if regularly leave on overnight.
used. Next day, rubber will
be tacky again.