EQUIPMENT
Even when dealing with older
athletes, it is often the responsibility of
the coach to help in choosing the
equipment. When dealing with younger children,
however, the coach must take over almost
sole responsibility of choosing what equipment his/her
charges should use. Children may not know
the difference between the different racquet surfaces.
After reading this chapter, you should be able
to help guide kids into using adequate equipment.
Two common types of racquets are
hard rubber
and sandpaper. Sandpaper is illegal since it mars
the ball. Neither gives the player the opportunity
to play the game as it can be played with sponge
racquets.
It is strongly recommended that
kids be supplied with sponge racquets if at
all possible. Sometimes this equipment is
not available. If not, the situation is not
a disaster, merely a handicap. If the
switch can be made to sponge later on, you should
do so. Avoid sandpaper at all costs!
Hard rubber was used by the best
players in the world from the 1930’s until
the 1950’s, when sponge was invented. Hard
rubber is simply a sheet of rubber with
“pimples” on it. The pimples are
conical-shaped bits of rubber which enable the
racquet to “grab” the ball more than without them.
They were successful in their time, but in the 1950’s
the sponge revolution changed the game.
Sponge rubber is hard rubber with a
sheet of bouncy sponge underneath. This
type of surface enables you to hit the ball
harder, put more spin on it, and keep the
ball in play at a faster pace. This is something
that is difficult with other surfaces.
If the pimples on the rubber sheet
are facing outward, as in hard rubber, the
sponge rubber is called
pips out sponge. A variation of
this is having the pips reversed, so they
point inward, giving a smooth and often
sticky surface. This is called
inverted sponge.
It is the most common type of surface used
by tournament players. It enables the player to put
more spin on the ball and to keep the ball in play at
a fast pace.
Although inverted sponge is usually
recommended for advanced players, at the
beginning level it is important that some
type of sponge is used. Hard rubber is
acceptable for students; but as the players
advance, it is in their best interest to
switch to sponge.
Two types of sponge rubber merit
special attention. They are
antispin and long pips.
Antispin
is a type of inverted sponge
where the surface is very slick, so the
ball slides on it. Spin does not take on
it. It is good for defensive play but
difficult to attack with. Unless the player
you are coaching is a defensive player,
he/she should not use antispin (at
least not at this stage).
Long pips is pips
out sponge where the pips are extra long
and thin. They are similar to antispin in
that they are mostly for defensive play. They produce
strange effects on the ball, and for this reason
they should not be used at this stage. These effects
are caused by the tendency of the pips to bend,
producing different types of shots. The pips also
return any spin given to them (changing topspin to
backspin and vice versa) rather than putting on their
own spin. This can be confusing to kids.
The racket is not as important at this level as
is the surface. It is best to get the
sturdiest ones so they will last.
The table itself is not too important. Top
players are very picky about the table, but
that will come later on.
A bigger problem is getting enough tables.
Ideally, you want one for every two players. Since
you cannot always have that, ways to deal with too
few tables will be dealt with later on.
Any net that is reasonably tight and six inches
high will do. Nets do have a tendency to
sag after a time, especially if treated
roughly. The instructor should check the
nets periodically to make sure they are
securely in position.
The ball can be of two basic types: good or
inexpensive. Good are listed as
3-star balls, although some 2- and 1-star
balls are decent. They cost $1.00 to $1.25
each but last a long time. They also give a
good bounce.
You can also get 0-star balls for $0.30 or so
each. These not only don’t bounce well -
they break very easily. It is recommended
that you use at least 1-star balls and
preferably 3-star balls. In the long run,
they are cheaper and last longer.
Table tennis clothing requirements are simple.
There are special shoes made just for table tennis,
but they are not really necessary at this level. Tennis
shoes or something similar is fine. Shorts and
a non-white shirt (except when orange or yellow
balls are used) finish a player’s outfit, although long
pants are okay.
Care of equipment becomes very important when
dealing with children. Damage to equipment can
be avoided if the coach stresses from the start the
importance of treating the equipment correctly.
This means no banging or throwing racquets, no
hitting or shoving of the table, and no sudden yanks
to the net. Make it clear from the start that poor
treatment of equipment will not be tolerated.
Care of sponge rubber should also be stressed.
Inverted surfaces are especially
delicate and need to be cleaned regularly.
Clean the surface with plain water, wiping
it clean with a towel.
Sponge rubber wears out after a few months. Many
advanced players change their racquet surface every
week! Most players cannot afford that, of
course. But the surface does need to be changed
periodically (at least every six months to a year).
As a player advances, he/she might choose to
change more often.
Sponge rubber is sold in square sheets which is
attached to the racquet with special table tennis
glue. Directions for doing so come with the sponge
rubber. There are many manufacturers that sell
sponge rubber sheets as well as other table tennis
equipment. Contact USATT for a list of approved
manufacturers and distributors.
Copyright Larry Hodges
Copyright
Mark Nordby, Dan Seemiller, John Oros
Copyright USA Table Tennis
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