Table Tennis Nets play an important part in the game of ping pong. The demarcation between the two opposing courts is not the only role that these ping pong table nets play. It essentially guarantees that strokes by both sides are legal and viable in compliance with the game rules. Moreover, the net sets also serve as a guide for players, allowing them to mark the direction of their stroke as well as the strength to hit the shot where they intend it to.

The types of Table Tennis nets available at our disposal are in a huge variety, and all of them have their own set of key essentialities. The better suited one can be determined from the game needs that you have. Confused about which can be the best one for you? Here's a detailed guide with product specifications for a few of the ping pong nets that you can consider buying. Read on...

Types of Table Tennis Nets

Majorly, the nets are differentiated by the attachment mechanism they come with. The players use these mechanisms to lay their game strategy and shots. The variations cater to types of games as to what level of gamer you are. One can easily identify the recreational players, trainees, and pros. The following are the various types of table nets.

Retractable Nets

Retractable nets aim to relieve the tangle and fixate issues by providing an easy design that eliminates the chances of a net join fiasco.

Two net posts attach to one another by way of the net itself is given which retracts into either of the posts for easy storage. The release mechanism pulls the net out for set-up, and a similar mechanism retracts the net into another easy storage. Retractable nets are best for intermediate and hobbyist players who don't want to give out a longer time in setting up a table.

Clip On Nets

Designed with a clip-like format that sticks down on the playing surface, these nets are another easier alternative for players who don't want to get into the hassle of fixing a net on the table tennis tables.

These are comparatively stable than retractable nets because they hold on to the surface via a reliable fixture. Apart from that if your clip on net gets worn or ripped, you can replace just the net and not the whole set.

Professional Clamp Nets

The ITTF guideline suggests nets for tournaments and formal events to have the greatest level of sturdiness. They prefer the ones that don't drift away to come off in-between a game. Clamp nets are usually their choice and are slightly tough to set-up.

These ping pong table nets cost the most in comparison of all the other types.They are designed to follow precise regulations for official games.

The Top 4 Retractable Table Tennis Nets

Donic Stress Net-Set

Recommended by many, the Donic Stress Net-set is a sturdy choice when it comes to easy-to-fix nets. It is a professional net & post set that is designed for a strong mounting bracket with height and tension adjustment. The net is available in two color variants which costs $70.95. It can be bought online with discounted prices.

Butterfly Europa Net Set

Butterfly Table Tennis Nets are famous for their durable performance in the game. The Europa sets come with Screw on felt tipped clamps and ring chain to adjust the net tension. These high-quality nets help you calibrate with the adjustable screws. $82.99 is the market price for these study net sets.

Yasaka Master Net Set

This ITTF approved Yasaka Master Net Set comes with a solid metal post set for high demands. A professional net & post designed for a strong mounting bracket with height and tension adjustment. The net is available in two color variants of blue and black which costs $59.95.

Butterfly AJ Net Set

This Butterfly Table Tennis Net Set is a robust, complete package for heavy duty home and institutional use. It comes with rubber and felt padded brackets that help in protecting the table surface. The easily adjustable screw clamp opens up to 1.75" thick tables.

Bottom Line

The above-mentioned four ping pot net sets are used and praised by players around the globe. There are a lot of factors that need to be taken care of while choosing the table tennis net. We hope this guide will be your purchase handbook the next time you plan on buying a net.

10 Table Tennis Training Robots To Challenge Your Skills

Table tennis is an ideal sport that gives you the thrill, discipline, physical movements, and strategies of playing an outer sport without weather influences or the need for expensive equipment. All you need is a minimum of two players, a pair of table tennis rackets, a ping pong ball, and the optional inclusion of an audience, to play a table tennis match.

Just like any other sport, table tennis also needs constant practice and skill-honing. You can practice with a partner, hire a coach, or train against yourself by folding the table in half like seen below but each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

 

Pros And Cons Of Different Training Methods

 

Practice with a partner

   

Pros:

• Play against someone of equal or higher skill level to improves yours
• Give and take feedback in real-time
• Play for varying shots and speed

  Cons:

• Need to co-ordinate for availability

 

Hire a coach

Pros:

• The best option to train well and progress faster
• Customized as per your play style
• Get tips based on how you play
• Personal attention

Cons:

• Very expensive option
• Limited availability

 

Play against self

 

 Pros:

• No relying on anyone to practice
• No special equipment needed

  Cons:

• No scope for skill improvement
• No control over the movement of the ball

In order to gain the advantages of playing for ball placement variation without relying on the availability of anyone, a Table Tennis Robot is the preferred mode of training. Connect it to the other end of the table, load it with balls, set the variation and you are ready for a training session. Also referred to as ping pong ball machine, ball launcher, etc, table tennis robots shoot the ball at differing speed, spin, and placement in order to train your reflexes better.

In case you are wondering what is a table tennis robot and which are the best ones in the market, you are in the right spot.

In this article, we shall list out 10 table tennis ball machines and how to read the table tennis robot reviews to choose the one that best suits you.

 

What Is a Table Tennis Robot?

A ping pong training robot is a mechanical device that has two rubberized throw wheels as well as adjustable throw head to simulate any type of ball strikes. It can be programmed to throw balls at a single or varying speed rate at regular intervals.

It can either be attached to the table along with a catch net to the Table Tennis Tables as shown below:

Or you can place it ad-hoc as shown below

 

What To Consider While Choosing A Ping Pong Robot?

 

Player level

Are you a beginner who wants to emulate a ping pong match with another player? Are you working on improving your pose and strikes? Are you learning to strike against different types of spin? For each type of playstyle, different robots are available.

Takeaway: Choose a robot with an adjustable head to emulate a wide range of shots.

 

Additional features

Even though a ping pong robot can shoot multiple balls before needing a reload, it eventually needs to be reloaded with extra TT balls.

Takeaway: Look into hopper limit, the availability of catch nets to collect all the returned balls to spend more time playing shots than wasting time in periodically refilling the hopper. Programmable routines are an added bonus that helps the next factor.

 

Number of users

Are you going to play alone or is the robot being purchased for a club where different players will use it? For latter cases, you need a robot that is easy to move between different tables as well as has multiple user settings customized based on the skill level and intended playstyle.

Takeaway: For a single user, a robot that can be attached to the table is preferred. For multiple users, a top-feeder robot such as iPong pro should be preferred.

 

Price

The cost is another factor that you need to consider. The price of a robot is directly related to the facilities available. More features you expect in a training robot, the more it's cost will be.

Takeaway: Make a list of the features that you need, compare them with the available robots and choose that fits your budget without many sacrifices to features.

Let's proceed to check out the different table tennis robots available in the market.

 

10 Table Tennis Training Robots

 

Newgy Robo Pong 1040+

This Newgy robot offers the bare minimum in terms of features. It has a ball hopper capacity of 40 balls and can manipulate the ball speed, ball frequency as well as the spin using progressive rotary dials. It is an ideal device to improve reaction times or test your skills.

 

The Paddle Palace H2W Touch Pro Table Tennis Robot

If the sheer size of this robot doesn't scare you enough, the available shot selections surely will. The Paddle Palace H2W Touch Pro Table Tennis Robot offers complete control over the choice of spin, landing spots, speed, and other factors to emulate a professional level opponent. What you lose in portability is covered in features. Shot selection is made easy with a touchscreen LCD and 120 ball recycling capacity makes sure to reduce reload time.

 

Newgy Robo Pong 2055

Newgy Robo Pong 2055 is a step up from the predecessor, the Robo-Pong 2050+. It comes with 64 pre-programmed drills for various playing levels. You can hook it up to PC to create, save and share custom drills by USB connectivity. It has a hopper capacity of 48 table tennis balls.

 

Newgy Robo Pong 3050XL

While this Newgy Robo Pong 3050XL may look like something out of a Terminator movie, it is designed to improve your Table tennis skills. Equipped with a hopper capacity of 144 balls, this training robot can be programmed, via the Newby app over Bluetooth, for a basic playing session, advanced training session, a custom training session, or a full-body aerobic workout session.

 

Butterfly Amicus Professional Robot

The Butterfly Amicus Professional Robot has the most barebones design but don't let the looks deceive you. It can be programmed for multiple training sessions to provide a precise practice not possible with a practice partner. The wireless remote may look complex at first sight but easy to adapt. The lightweight design (~6 kgs) makes it easy to carry around.

 

HP-07 Ping Pong Robot

An ideal tool for training beginners, HP-07 Ping Pong Robot is battery operated and can be carried around. It has a barrel that can be changed as per your shot choice. It has a hopper capacity of 110 ping pong balls. In terms of shot variations, the accompanying remote can manipulate the frequency, oscillation, topspin, and lower rotation.

 

Newgy Robo Pong 2040+

Equipped with two rubberized rotors, the Newgy Robo Pong 2040+ offers a wide selection of shots like push, chop, serve, counter, lob, & fast loop. Similar to the Newgy Robo Pong 1040+, this training robot also comes with a remote with analog knobs to change the parameters of the ball.

 

iPong Pro

The most compact training robot, the iPong Pro Table tennis Training Robot is a sure choice if portability is your preference. The design might be unconventional but it manages to get the work done. The top-loader feeder disc manages to prevent the balls from jamming mid-operation and can store up to 100 ping pong balls.

 

Power Pong 3000 Professional

A similar design to Butterfly Amicus Professional, the Power Pong 3000 Professional has everything you need for a professional match or intense workout. The console may need some time getting used to but helps finetune the services you expect. The feeder capacity is 72 balls but with recycling function, you don't need to frequently reload.

 

Butterfly Amicus Basic

Butterfly Amicus Start is a training robot that pairs precise and durable hardware with a user-friendly panel. Equipped with features to train beginners, the robot shoots six balls per exercise. To step up the challenge, you can choose the 'Randomize' setting to improve footwork and technique alike.

 

Wrapping Up

While we have specified training robots from a diverse price range, we recommend the Paddle Palace H2W Touch Pro or Newgy Robo Pong 3050XL for those with deeper pockets. For beginners, opting for Newgy Robo Pong 1040+ or Butterfly Amicus Basic would be a wise investment. One thing to consider while purchasing a training robot is to invest in a good catch net to avoid the troubles of collecting your ping pong balls after training.

List Of Table Tennis Equipment You Need In Your Kit

Table tennis is an indoor game that gains fast popularity among the masses as soon as you have a table tennis kit set up in your club or game room. Owing to the limited space required for playing, a very gentle learning curve, and an opportunity to improve hand-eye coordination, tennis is very easy to pick up and learn even by a non-athletic person.

 

Another advantage of learning to play tennis is that you don't need too much, in terms of Tennis Equipment, to play a match.

 

This Raises a Challenge

Owing to the growing popularity of the game, there are many brands selling different tennis supplies. Hence it is very easy to get confused when you go to create your own tennis kit.

This article will list out the bare minimums you need for playing a tennis match as well as what to look for when you buy a table tennis equipment.

 

Minimum Requirements For Playing Table Tennis

 A table tennis match is all about two players standing on either side of a and scoring points using paddles to place a ball on the play area divided by a net. Hence, it is understood that in order to play a match, you need two table tennis rackets/paddles, a ping pong ball, a table, and a divider net. Unless you plan on playing casually, it is important to ensure all your pieces of tennis equipment are compliant to either IFTT or USAFTT standards.

 

Optional Accessories

While the above paragraph only lists out the minimums to play a match, there are multiple optional accessories that may not affect the game but are worthy additions. Some of the optional accessories you can consider purchasing are:

• Soft Grip Tapes
• Table Tennis Shoes
• Paddle Cover
• Table Tennis Rubber Cleaner
• Edge tapes

Now that we have listed out the different elements of a table tennis kit, let us explore each article in detail.

 

Table Tennis Rackets

Table tennis rackets are basically ergonomically shaped wooden paddles sandwiched between a layer of a soft sponge and a rubber layer on either side. The kind of rackets you use largely influences your playstyle. You can either purchase a pre-made tennis racket or assemble one yourself to create a Custom Tennis Paddle better suited to your playstyle.

Yasaka Mark V Racket is a great readymade tennis paddle for those starting out or in the intermediate skill level.

Let's breakdown the necessary elements needed to assemble a tennis racket.

 

Custom Table Tennis Parts

 

Wooden Base Blade

This is the base of a table tennis racket. Commonly referred as a 'blade', the base made of a wooden veneer that contributes strength to manipulate the speed of a ball while being flexible enough to absorb the shock from the hit. Depending on your grip, the base of the paddle can be made flared, straight, or ergonomic.

 

Butterfly Viscaria Blade and Yasaka Blades are two of the most popular tennis blades opted by most athletes.

 

Top layer Rubber

In a table tennis match, you need to constantly manipulate the speed and the spin of the ping pong ball in order to trick the opponent to lose the point. This cannot be achieved with the wooden base alone and hence you need to attach a rubber top-layer on either side of the wooden base to guide the ball better. Most professional rubber mats come with a sponge base layer with a plain or grooved top rubber layer. The tackiness of the rubber grips the ping pong ball on hitting and this helps you change the spin, direction or the speed of the ball on return. You can have a spin rubber on one side and an anti-spin rubber on the other side for better manipulation of the ball.

The rubber mats are packed in a square shape and you need to cut it using rubber cutting knife for better coverage.

Federation standards dictate that the rackets must have a red and black face for better distinguishing the sides.

Butterfly Tenergy 05 / Butterfly Tenergy 05 fx, Butterfly Rozena Rubber, and Xiom Vega Pro Rubber are some of the most preferred ping pong rubber mats in the market.

 

Edge Tape

Since both faces of a table tennis racket are covered by individual rubber mats, the sides have a chance to peel off. An edge tape not only protects the sides from chipping but also provides aesthetics to the racket.

Butterfly Edge Tape is one such edge tape brand.

 

Ping pong Balls

Another important part of a tennis match is the tennis ball. Also commonly called the 'ping pong ball', these are small polyurethane balls of either white or yellow color and 40mm diameter. These balls are cheap and available in different star ratings. Ideally, a three-star ball is considered best for a professional level TT match.

Nittaku Ping Pong Balls are one of the most commonly purchased tennis balls.

 

Table Tennis Tables

The main play area is a of 9ft length, 5ft width dimension and placed at least 30 inches from the ground. These are made from hardwood and have a smooth surface to reduce friction as much as possible. One important thing to consider while buying a table for table tennis is portability. If space constraint is an issue for you, opt for a that can be folded and transported (i.e. the legs of the should have lockable wheels).

 

Table Tennis Net Sets

Scoring in a tennis match depends on the divider net. It is useful for distinguishing the two sections of the table, ensuring correct serve & return, and shot manipulation. As per federation rules, the Ping Pong Net should be six feet long and six inches wide. The upper white tape should not be more than 15mm wide. The net comes with a post that has a clamp to attach itself to the middle of the table.

Table Tennis Replacement Net from Butterfly nets are most widely used for professional matches.

 

Wrapping Up

 

In addition to the above-mentioned tennis equipment, there exist other tools that are add-ons such as training robot, catcher nets, table covers that are not mandatory but are useful to purchase. Did we forget anything? Have a suggestion? Share your views in the comments below.

Table Tennis Rules And Regulations to Follow in a Match

Table tennis is a very popular indoor sport worldwide as you don't need much in terms of equipment or skill to enjoy the game. This although doesn't mean the absence of any rules or regulations to follow while playing a match of table tennis. For a friendly match, the rules & regulations can be as lenient as comfortable between both players but in case of a professional level match, these rules can influence the outcome of the match.

For a beginner, this article will introduce you to the most common rules along with the terminologies. For those in intermediate or professional skill level, this article will act as a refresher course on the different rules and regulations followed in IFTT as well as USAFTT matches.

 

Equipment related Regulations

 

Table Tennis Tables

• Length should be 9 ft and length should be 5ft
• The table should be at least 30inches from the ground
• The surface should be smooth and not contribute any external friction
• The top layer material should be such that a ping pong ball, when dropped on from a height of 30cm, should yield a uniform bounce of about 23cm
• For a singles match, the central line should not be considered and in case of a doubles match, each side of the table should be considered as 2 half-courts with the central line considered as a part of the right court on either side.

 

Table Tennis Rackets

• The blade should flat and rigid
• 85% of the blade by thickness shall be of natural wood and any reinforcements inside the base, such as carbon fiber or compressed paper shouldn't exceed 7.5% of the total thickness or 0.35mm
• The outer rubber mat thickness should not exceed 2.0mm. In the case of sandwich rubber, the total thickness should not exceed 4.0mm
• The top rubber mat should only extend up to the outer limits of the blade, should have a matte finish even & continuous thickness
• The rubber surface on one side of the blade should be red in color and the opposite needs to have a black surface rubber mat
• The rubber surface should not be used with any physical, chemical or any other treatment

 

Table Tennis Nets

• The entire assembly of a net set should contain the net, it's suspension chords, supporting posts paired with clamps for the fixture
• The overall dimensions of the net should be six feet long and six inches wide
• The federation rules dictate that the bottom should be as close as possible to the playing surface

 

Ping Pong Balls

• The ping pong ball should be made of celluloid or polyurethane, weigh 2.7gms and max diameter of 40mm
• The ball can only be of white, orange color or matte finish

Common Terminologies

Rally - Period of time where the ball is in play

Service - When the player begins a rally

Point - When a player manages to score a point in a rally

Let - When neither player manages to score a point

Free hand - The non-dominant hand used to toss the ball in a service

Racket hand - The dominant hand that holds the racket

Strike - When a player makes a contact with the ball with their racket while holding it

Server - A player who makes the first strike in a rally

Receiver - A player who strikes the ball back to server side in a rally

Umpire - A person who observes a match and whose decision is held final at the point of indecision

Pass over - When a ball passes to the other side from the above upper white line of the net

 

General Rules in a TT Match

 

Service

• A service is only considered when the ball is tossed after it was resting freely in the open palm of the player's free hand
• The ball should travel six inches vertically after leaving the open palm and should only be struck when it falls back without touching anything
• The server can't impart spin while tossing the ball
• The ball first needs to first bounce on their court and pass over to the other side without touching the net
• In the case of a doubles match, the ball should travel from the right court side of the server to the right court side of the receiver
• At the time of serving, the ball should be behind the server's end line and clearly visible from the receiver side. The service is considered incorrect, if the view is obstructed by the server, their partner, or any clothing/ accessories
• In case the umpire doubts the legality of the service, they can warn the server. Any subsequent faults will be considered incorrect serves.

 

Order of play

• In a doubles match, the server (on the right court) shall serve to the recipient (on the right court of the recipient). The receiver returns the shot to the partner of the server, whose return is struck by the receiver's partner. The order of play can be explained as:

                        Server → Receiver
                        Receiver → Server's Partner
                        Server's Partner → Receiver's Partner
                        Receiver's Partner → Server

• Each player shall serve two points in a row and then the server is switched. In the case of a 10-10 point tiebreaker, the player serves only one point.
• A match is played best 3 of 5 games and both players switch sides after every game. In the final game, players switch sides after a player reaches 5 points.

 

Point Scoring

 

A player scores point if

• The opponent botches their service
• The opponent is not able to return the serve
• The ball is obstructed from view
• Opponent fails to land the ball in the right court during a doubles match service
• The opponent strikes the ball twice
• Any part of the bat other than the faces are used to return the ball
• If the opponent intentionally or unintentionally moves the table while playing
• When the opponent's free hand touches the playing surface
• In a double's match, a partner strikes the ball out of the sequence

 

A rally is a let if

• Reciever or partner was not ready
• The ball touches the net during a serve
• Play is interrupted by the judge
• The player is to be penalized for some action
• Play condition changes in a way that influences the outcome of the game.
• The ball leaves the play area after touching the sidelines

 

Wrapping Up

While the rules and regulations mentioned above are only the tip of the iceberg, these surely are going to point you in the right direction. For more advanced level understanding it is advisable to consult a coach or a professional player.