Table Tennis

I’ve also been thinking about getting back into recreational table tennis... It’s been ages since I last picked up a paddle, probably not since my high school days when I was playing almost every single day.

Does anyone know of a good spot where I could play recreationally? Ideally somewhere that’s welcoming to newcomers who might be a little "out of shape"...

Thanks!

Look, I’m telling you again: you aren't going to find some exclusive "club" that just takes you in. That kind of thing doesn't exist. What you'll actually find is a rental space where you pay by the hour. I’d recommend checking out the mall over in Arlington—head to the top floor. The setup there is solid, plus there’s a Starbucks right next door with a gallery overlooking the tables. You might run into some people like yourself there, and you could even pick up some tips on training and technique from a better player.

In the States, amateur table tennis is basically just showing up at the local gym, meeting as many people as possible, and running your own practice sessions.

So, I caught wind recently that some amateur league popped up over in New York City last year. Since I’m itching to get back into table tennis after sitting on my hands for a solid five years, I was wondering if anyone actually knows if this is legit or just some random rumor.

frozentinker31 said:I heard recently that some amateur league started up in New York City last year. Since I’m looking to get back into table tennis after a five-year hiatus, I was wondering if anyone could tell me if that’s actually true.

That’s Sokaz, and they’ve been around for sixty years. 🙂

Check out www.sokaz.com; they have a forum there too, so just ask them if you need anything.

rustyfalcon24 said:That’s a bit of a relative term, I suppose—I wouldn't call myself a seasoned pro by any stretch, but then again, I'm certainly not some total amateur either.

That’s actually something new to me—I had no idea they'd gone and established a third category.

So... wait, are you telling me those guys are actually paying you to play? I mean, if that’s the case, that's wild. But honestly, looking at the state of the first division, it kind of makes sense—it’s basically semi-pro at this point, I guess. 😉

Hey, this thread’s been totally dead so I figured I'd kick things up a bit with a question. I play table tennis recreationally, but honestly, I'm pretty decent and I can pull some solid spin. Right now, I'm rocking an Expert Pro racket that set me back $23. It's okay, I guess, but I just can't seem to get enough "spin-at" out of it during serves. I'm looking for a pre-assembled setup in the $100 range. I use a penhold grip and I only really use one side for both my forehand and backhand.

I was leaning towards the $83 Butterfly Timo Boll 700 F. What do you guys think? Or maybe I should just grab a Donic instead.

Just ignore my previous question, I'll figure that part out myself. I'm actually stuck on a specific rule regarding net serves (LET). Like, how many times can you touch the net during a serve? And does it count how many times the net gets hit during the entire set while serving? Thanks.

quietrider9 said:Forget my last question, I'll just figure it out myself. I actually wanted to ask about a specific rule regarding net serves. How many times can you hit the net during a serve? Is there some limit on how many times the net can be touched during a single set while serving? Thanks.

Wait, what?? Why on earth would anyone count net touches? What’s supposed to happen if you hit a certain number? There is no such thing. I honestly don't follow the logic behind even thinking a rule like that exists.

So, I used to play table tennis all the time back in the day, like two years ago. Well, I finally got back into it recently, and my buddy and I ended up getting into this huge, stupid argument over whether hitting the number three gives your opponent a point or what. He was dead set on saying it’s just a three and you get the point, while I was sitting there insisting it's basically unlimited.

I already went ahead and dug through the ITTF rulebook to prove him wrong, so I definitely won that round, but hey, thanks for the input anyway.

quietrider9 said:I used to play table tennis all the time back in the day, maybe two years ago. I just got back into it recently, and my buddy and I actually got into this heated argument about whether hitting three net serves in a row gives the point to the opponent. He was insisting it’s only three, while I was arguing there’s basically no limit to how many times it can happen before the point flips.

I already went and checked the ITTF rulebook to prove him wrong, but hey, thanks for the answer regardless.

Look, I wasn't trying to be a jerk or anything, it just seems totally nonsensical to me. Were you guys talking about cumulative net serves in a single set, or specifically consecutive serves during one rally sequence?

Just dropping another one in right after the last one.

So, I finally pulled the trigger on a Donic Waldner 700 for $76. Man, let me tell you, the difference between this and that old Expert Pro I had for $18 is just... massive. Like, night and day. Especially when it comes to the spin. With my old setup, I could barely pull off a decent ghost serve, but with this thing? It’s effortless. Speed is killer, too. Honestly, I feel like I’ve made a huge leap forward compared to using my last racket.

quietrider9 said:I picked up a Donic Waldner 700 for $76. Compared to that old Expert Pro I had for $18, the difference is night and day. The spin is especially noticeable; I was struggling to pull off a ghost serve with the old one, but with this, it’s a breeze. The speed is spot on too, so I’m definitely feeling a massive step up from my previous setup.

I’ve been running a Donic Waldner 400 that I grabbed for about $33 roughly three or four years back... honestly, I’m still really happy with it. For such an "entry-level" paddle, the control is surprisingly solid and you can still get some decent spin out of it...

Hey guys, if you’re looking to get into table tennis and have about $40 to $45 to spend, honestly, just buy used rackets. Those cheap ones people are talking about are total junk. For that kind of cash, you can snag a decent pre-owned setup that’ll seriously change how you play—we're talking soft, high-quality rubbers, tons of spin, and a great feel from the wood. It’s all so much better when you actually have a racket that costs $267 brand new, especially since the blade alone is worth about $117 new and stays good forever while rubbers wear out. The only risk is getting ripped off or picking up something with totally worn-out rubber... (I play a lot, so I know how to spot a bad deal!) If you're worried, just bring a buddy who knows the game along to check it out. Seriously, don't be shy about buying used; it’s totally normal in this sport. If you're around Chicago or NYC, check out these links to see what's available. Just a heads-up: if you can scrape together a little more, say $133, you could grab a used blade for $33 that's basically worth twice that, and it'll still be great even if it was played with for a year or two. With the remaining $250-$100, you can easily find both rubbers BRAND NEW!! You might even score a discount at the local Butterfly shop in the city (pretty sure that's the only specialty shop around here). Bottom line: for $300 to $133, you can have a pro-level racket with pro performance. Whatever you do, don't buy those cheap knockoffs from the grocery store!


http://slast.biz/smf/

Which European country has the highest number of registered table tennis players?! 😢
I NEED THIS INFO ASAP!

Just posting this because I figured I’d brag a little about how much cash my buddy is pulling in over in Doha 🙂

Is nobody following our guys? 🙂

Tan in the finals 😁
against Bollo.

I’m digging this thread back up from the ashes while the World Cup is going down in Paris. I was just sitting here watching our young star Raković go head-to-head against some player from Korea.

wiredcanyon39 said:Bringing this thread back from the dead during the World Championships in Paris. I’m currently watching our young Raković take on some player from Korea.

Anyone got a stream link?

Primorac plays today around 4 PM. Besides him, we've also got Gaćina, Kolarek, and Tošić in the tournament (where's Tan!?!). As for the women, Rakovac is down 2-1 in sets, while Tian Yuan is leading 2-1.