I had a look around the other sports section and found that there was not a Table Tennis thread, this is probably 80% of the SP community think its the gayest sport in the world, but I do not.

I have played competition table tennis for maybe 4 years now and I find it really enjoyable.

Anyone else play or wanna talk about it..talk in here

Have never actually played competition but we have a table at home and used to use it a fair bit as I played tennis so naturally liked it. Has been a while though and lately it's lucky if it even gets used once a year. My Uncle used to play competition and the few times I've played him I've been thumped as I can't read the spin he uses as it's insane.

table tennis is one awesome sport I could play all day, I played a lot during school days, but havent been playing much since leaving

Yeah its a sport most people grow out but its so fun. Love beating people and getting them angry

my dream is to go watch the world table tennis championships in Hong Kong with a few buddies one day.

that be the shit!

That would be awesome Luca. At uni we have a table in the common room so I play quite a bit, I'm ok but some people are just fucking amazing. Doubles is the most fun I think.

The thing about doubles is that at times your partner can get in the way, especially if the opposition are crafty enough to play shots down the middle. By patrolling the sides, with a right and left hander (ideally), you shouldn't get caught out unless a shot is amazing. It's when they're hit down the middle and both players are forced into backhands that I found points were lost. Personally I prefer singles.

Anyway, I love playing table tennis. When I stayed at my friend's cousin's house, they had a table and I hadn't played in years. We struck up a rivalry because we'd always talked about how we'd kick each other's asses at the game, there was just never an opportunity to prove it. In the end we were pretty even.

what i love about this sport is that you rarely ever hear a bad word spoken about it. its hard to fault because its so fun and easy to play.



these guys are like the freaking Messi and Ronaldo of table tennis.

Used to play a fair bit in high school and got quite decent of it. After school we had some ex-British champion (who became a history teacher - a poor one, I might add) come in and teach us. Me and 5-6 other friends as well as probably 15-20 other people used to play regularly, every night for a few hours.

I think you play doubles with different rules to the way I play.

The way I play, you rotate shots. So say players A & B are playing players C & D, player A serves to player C who returns then player B hits a shot then player D hits a shot then player A hits a shot etc

The trick to to stand back when you're it's not your shot, and then you should be rosy.

Agreed Luca, the only bad thing I've ever heard about table tennis is from people complaining they should be studying instead of playing all through lunch and lecture breaks.

I played last night, I won my singles game and doubles game. I did pretty well considering I did some weights before and had sore arms. I should try and get some footage of me playing, see if im any good compared to you guys haha.

The video was crazy, dont know how they can get back those shots and the returns by that guy when he put them up high was amazing.

I noticed your from mildura. Do you play any tournaments around at MSAC?

I started playing again on holiday and now I'm really into table tennis again. I rolled our table out the other day and, because I run around alot when playing, I've managed to kill our grass. I want to get into competitions but I don't know of any in the area.

Also, for you serious players, is a good bat important? I use a 3 star Schildkrot bat which does me fine but I've always wondered if a better bat makes a great difference.

I love playing Table Tennis, I'm pretty good at it too and was asked to join the school team, but I didn't, I have no clue why.

My greatest opponent so far is my dad, he is really really good. I still havent beaten him in a 5 set match.



Yes it is. It depends on the quality of rubber and comes down to preference, beginners use rubbers with more control rather than speed and spin, and as you get better and learn your strengths and weaknesses, you choose your rubbers accordingly. I use a customized butterfly bat, been a butterfly fan all my life.

I don't know much about table tennis - until now, I've only played for fun with friends/family (only found out last night that my serve is invalid - I used to drop the ball and strike it but I found out last night about the whole throwing it open palmed above the net thing ).

What do you mean by strengths/weaknesses? My backhand is quite poor but I have a powerful forehand - that sort of thing?

How do you go about customising your own bat? Is that where you buy 2 rubber sheets, cut them and stick them to a wooden paddle?

I don't think I'll be customising a bat with different rubbers because it seems a bit of a hassle. How much would you expect to pay for a good pre-made bat? I have found a 5-Star Stiga for £40 (knocked down from £90). If everyone customises their bats here - how much would you expect to pay (in total) for a customised bat?

If you are looking for a good premade bat, go for one of the stiga high end ones. Personally, i hate stiga blades but i like most of their rubbers.

I work part time at a table tennis club. There is no point buying the wood and the rubbers and making them up yourself if you arent that good. Waste of Money.
I think what he means by strengths and weaknesses is whether you like to play aggressive or prefer to just push the ball with backspin, etc. But if you do ever decide to go with a custom bat, go for Butterfly Sriver rubbers, or Yasaka Mark V rubbers and a midrange blade like Petr Korbel or Stiga Offensive classic.
No idea how much you would spend in pounds but its around $110 AUD all up if you get it from the net.

I don't think I'll get a custom bat. If I get involved with a team then I'll consider it because then people would be there to help me with sorting it all out but at present I think it would be a pointless exercise.

Seeing as you work in a table tennis club, perhaps you could compare these two bats:
At present, I use a "Schildkrot Syed 600 2.00mm" and I want to purchase a "Stiga Supreme WRB". I imagine that the Stiga will be infinitely better.

We dont stock too many pre-made bat. We hardly make anything out of equipment because you can get them for so much cheaper on the net.

With regards to the two bats, i have absolutely no idea on the schildskrot bat. We only stock the big brands llike butterfly, stiga, yasaka and Joola. As i said, we dont stock too much because we dont make much at all, but we have to have some since ultimately, we are a table tennis club.

My guess would be that the stiga one is much better because generally with pre-made bats, what you pay for is what you get. but just be careful. Stiga WRB means that weight, resistance, balance bullshit. Basically, its a hollow handle which makes the bat head heavy. I hate it but if you are into lighter bats, then you might like it.

That sounds a bit odd but all bats seem to have a light handle.

What pre-made bats would you recommend then? I'd like to avoid making a bat myself if possible.

I currently use a Sckilkdot (The German brand I think!) its a nice trusty bat to use. It only cost me £12, which I thinks pretty good for a casual player who wants a good bat!
Not to heavy, not to light. Generates quite abit more topspin then your regualar bat, ive noticed.
Adam, do you play for your county or city in table tennis? You sound pretty good

You pick up any stiga wrb bat and you'll notice a difference straight away. I would recommend you go to a table tennis shop and just hold it and see if you mind it. thats the thing with the net is that you just dont know what you are getting unless you've tried it before.

If you dont like it, i would go with the Butterfly Yuki, or Butterfly Primorac attack. Very popular over here.

I don't play for my county or anything. I think I'm pretty good but no doubt when I get involved with clubs I will get an absolute killing by the experienced players. I look to get involved in competitions because I don't have a football team for this season so it gives me something to concentrate on.

I'll look into the bats you've recommended Hua, the thing is, I would like a good bat ASAP because I've emailed the ETTA (English Table Tennis Association) and when they email me back I'll probably be signing up for clubs so I could do with getting the bat online rather than instore. Also, I'm unsure of if there will be a proper Table tennis shop anyway.

You have a John Lewis near you ? they have about 6 different types of stiga bat ranging from 6 £ to 35 £.

Nah, the only John Lewis I know is down in Milton Keynes.

i play some tabletennis
i played in a club in a year but then i got bored still play with my littlebrother sometimes tho.

and im very proud to come from Sweden when it comes to tabletennis.

Do all bats have a hollowed handle? My Schildkrot bat has a hollowed handle so I think I might be used to it. I was looking at getting a Butterflu Primorac 7000 but I think it may feel odd if I'm used to a lighter handle.

no not all bats have hollow handles. None of the butterfly bats have hollow handles.

I love table tennis. Just this weekend my mom bought me and my bro a table and like 10 balls and 4 paddles. My brother is insane at backhands and I just like to play more defensive with my forehand until the time is right to backhand it into his face. We were playing with no shirts on one time and I hit the ball so hard I left a welt right above his athletic shorts waistband. It was pretty insane lol.

Fuck me i thought i was good
How the hell do they do that!?! And manage to keep the ball on the table.

But I used to play at a relatives as they had a table, but that was years back. I havent picked up a ping pong for about 5 years

I am a deprived lad aren't I.

I use to do something similar back in the day with a mate... lose a point and endure the slap of the ping pong ball against your back.

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Another crazy clip... I don't know why they just don't pull the drop shot?

Thats cos they were doing it on purpose to give the audience a show

Yeah I played in a school competition, it was the state finals. Its a awesome complex there.

Ive joined my schools ping pong club=]

My competition has started up. I havent lost a game yet. Im domination.