Beginner Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Table Tennis Bat

If you are new to table tennis, you have probably been thinking, “Which racket should I buy?”

You might have heard about some of the best brands, like Butterfly, Stiga, Dona, Tibhar, and more. Every year, thousands of bats are released in the market featuring different types of blades, rubbers, and handles. So many options can naturally confuse anyone, especially if it’s a first-time purchase.

The main problem while buying a table tennis bat is being unaware that not all rackets are the same. What works for a professional player might not work for a beginner. Moreover, beyond the brand names, there are a lot of factors that matter in a table tennis bat.

Playing with the wrong bat can not only make mastering the technique difficult but also slow down the progress. One needs to understand that purchasing a pingpong racket goes beyond picking the most popular and expensive model. Rather, it’s about finding the one that fits your playing style and skill.

In this blog, we will cover some of the common mistakes that beginners often overlook when choosing a bat for the first time.

Advice To Follow When Buying Your First Table Tennis Racket

• Buying a pre-made racket

Pre-made comes fully assembled with parts already attached. At first glance, they seem tempting for beginners because they are ready to play. As a new player, it is advisable to never buy a pre-made bat, as they are made with poor-quality wood and thin rubber. It is found that cheap wood reduces the good vibration of the hand. Some coaches also ask players to play with too thin rubber (1.5mm-1.8mm), which is actually a bad habit and forces players to open the racket more for topspin.

• Overlooking the rubber type

The rubber in a table tennis bat is a crucial aspect and greatly affects the grip, spin, and speed used during play. Always avoid going for a rubber that is too soft (40 degrees on the forehand side and 35 degrees on the backhand side). As a beginner, a hard rubber in the racket makes it easy to manage the hit. The harder a rubber is, the faster it will help to improve the skills.

• Neglecting the blade weight

A table tennis bat with a blade that is too heavy (more than 110 g) is not comfortable to play with in the beginning. It forces you to use your full body, and most of the time tires the wrist more quickly. While the one which is too light (less than 80 g) might feel too awkward. As a new player, always hold the bat and try a few strokes before choosing to prevent discomfort later on.

• Selecting a fast blade

One of the major problems of new players is that they always choose rackets with blades that are too fast without realising that they are designed for advanced or professional players who have excellent control, spin, and technique. For a beginner, a fast blade can lead to difficulty in controlling the shots, which eventually prevents them from developing proper timing and stroke mechanics.

• Changing bats in a short period

Never change your table tennis bat quite often just because one is better than the other. Each type of table tennis bat has its advantages in terms of feel, control, balance, and spin. Try to stick to the equipment for at least 6 months to figure out how the bat performs and complements your playing style.

Conclusion

Buying your first table tennis bat can be exciting, but remember to avoid these mistakes that can affect performance. With the right kind of bat purchased from a leading online store like PingPong Star, you will not only enhance your skill but also have more fun while playing.