- Is there a membership fee?
- Should I choose a pre-assembled paddle or a custom-made paddle?
Buying one of pre-assembled paddles will offer you a quality racket at an
inexpensive price. It will also help simplify the buying process as the rubber is
already assembled to the racket, so there is no need to spend time studying the
blade and rubber to find the right combination. Quality pre-assembled paddles
are ideal for beginners up to intermediate players.
If you prefer, you can pick the blade and rubber combination that is best suited
to your unique style of play. This is known as a custom-made paddle.
- Which rubber is right for me?
Much of the overall speed of your paddle is determined by your blade. The
rubber, while contributing to the speed of your racket, will primarily function as
your source for spin. Most of the rubbers are:
Inverted - Inverted rubbers are able to generate tremendous spin due to their
tacky surface. Great for all styles of play from the all-out attacker to the most
defensive minded chopper. Inverted is the most versatile rubber type.
Short Pips - Short pip rubbers are pimples out rubber. The space between the
pimples will help to take some of your opponents spin off of the ball. This will
allow you to aggressively attack your opponents shots regardless of the
oncoming spin. Short pips are great for hitting, blocking and returning serves.
However, they are unable to produce as much spin as an inverted rubber.
Long Pips - Long pip rubbers are generally used by players who rely on their
opponents to make mistakes. The composition of long pip rubbers is similar to
short pip rubbers, but the pips are taller. When your opponents ball contacts
this surface, the taller pips are easily bent, REVERSING the oncoming spin. This
will keep your opponent guessing as to what type of spin is on the ball.
- When should I change my rubber sheet?
A rubber's performance will deteriorate as time and the elements take their toll.
The rubber will produce less spin than it once did and will not feel as lively. The
life expectancy of your rubber sheet will vary depending on how often you play,
but a good rule of thumb is:
# of days played/week = # of times to change/year
- How to change rubber sheet?
- How to select sponge hardness or density and thickness?
In general, players who swing faster prefer the harder sponges. The denser
sponges have more stored energy but also require more racket speed to
compress the sponge and release this energy. The all-round player or players
with shorter strokes will prefer sponges with medium hardness or softer
sponges. On the other hand, harder sponge usually are easier to place short in-
the-table balls.
The sponge also acts as a trampoline. Thinner sponge will be less “springy”
and have a hard feel, as the ball will generally sink to the wood surface,
producing less spin and speed. Thicker sponge will have a soft feel and will be
faster and provide
more spin as the ball will sink deep into the sponge layer catapulting it outward
with tremendous velocity and increased spin.




