Ping pong paddle got here finally

Post by **andyman** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:02 am

A while back I was playing some ping pong with my cousin and he had a Brian Pace paddle... he let me use it and I tore that table up! So i finally ordered one and it got here today. It's not too bad a paddle for $50, but the rubber isn't as sticky as I would have liked (or remember). So I used it today for practice for this sundays doubles tournament and it performed as i expected... alot of returns that I normally wouldn't get were hitting the table this time (the oh shit i better dive sort of returns).

I think after this next check I'm gonna order one of butterfly's proline series paddles even though they cost a little more. I think a 1.5mm-ish sponge and rubber will suit me. I'll see what they got.

Anyone else take ping pong halfway seriously?

Post by **werldhed** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:08 am

No. But I do love it.

I find it odd that you're serious enough to buy a $50+ paddle, but don't call it table tennis.

Post by **andyman** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:12 am

werldhed wrote:No. But I do love it.

I find it odd that you're serious enough to buy a $50+ paddle, but don't call it table tennis.

it was originally called ping pong, and it's only two sillyballs. Plus when i say ping pong it psychs out my opponents haha

Post by **werldhed** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:17 am

Huh... I thought ping pong was just a term made because of the sound of the ball being hit. But I looked it up and it's actually called "ping pong" in Chinese.
Cool.

Post by **obsidian** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 2:52 am

How do you hold your paddle? In a fist or the Chinese way like a pen?

Post by **Dark Metal** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:04 am

Forrest fucking Gump.

Post by **andyman** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:43 am

obsidian wrote:n a fist

'Shakehand grip'

I tried the penhold style just for shits and giggles but it hurts my hand.

Post by **tnf** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:31 am

Ah another ping ponger. I thought I was the only ping pong geek here. I haven't played in about a year - but I was taught ping pong from the time I could see over the table and then played fairly often for the next 20 years. I still keep my paddle in the car just in case the place I'm at has a table and people want to play...my current paddle is a pretty nice stiga - but it's old and now you've got me thinking of ordering a new one. What's a solid paddle cost now? This one was around 60 bucks when I got it about 8 years ago I think.

I had a chance to play against a Japanese olympic team member who was touring around colleges. I got the opportunity after winning a college tournament. The guy made a complete fool of me - the spins he could pull off were unreal. Unless you have the chance to practice against that caliber of player, there was just no way to really do anything. He did humor me a couple times and let me get into a few good volleys with him with both of us several feet behind the table smashing forehands and backhands. Then he switched to a gimmick paddle that was barely bigger than the ball and beat me with it. (at ping pong, not a physical beating...but with his catlike speed and reflexes, the little guy could have probably done both, while returning my kill shots at the same time)

Then he used a dowel about 1 inch in diameter for a paddle and returned some of my shots with it. Was a real eye opener in terms of how different the skill level is for a professional vs. a good 'enthusiast.'

My brother bought a new table that you can fold up halfway and practice with alone using the upright half to bounce shots back. Might get one for my house this summer too. If you have to play with yourself a lot (ha!) I highly recommend it.

edit: @werldheld - I'll call it table tennis about the time I start calling soccer 'football'.
And serious players are also supposed to call them rackets, not paddles

Post by **tnf** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:35 am

oooh..

http://www.totaltabletennis.com/custome ... 289&page=1

Post by **Ryoki** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:15 am

Let me get this straight... you're in Iraq, playing ping pong?

Post by **MKJ** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:17 am

that'll teach them to fuck with FREEDOM

Post by **obsidian** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:26 pm

andyman wrote:
obsidian wrote:n a fist
'Shakehand grip'

I tried the penhold style just for shits and giggles but it hurts my hand.

I'll probably kick your ass then. Pen way is the only way.

Post by **bitWISE** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:12 pm

Ryoki wrote:Let me get this straight... you're in Iraq, playing ping pong?

My friend said he pretty much spent his time either in the guard tower, playing Halo 2, or having water gun fights.

Post by **eepberries** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:16 pm

I take it VERY seriously. I can't stand when people use those piece of shit beginner paddles. I mean really are they just trying to be stupid or what? It basically screams "I AM A HORRIFYINGLY BAD PING PONG PLAYER AND I HAVE NO POTENTIAL." It's really worth it to drop a couple hundred $ on a designer paddle. They're both comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and they perform so much better.

Post by **+JuggerNaut+** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:18 pm

eepberries wrote:I take it VERY seriously. I can't stand when people use those piece of shit beginner paddles. I mean really are they just trying to be stupid or what? It basically screams "I AM A HORRIFYINGLY BAD PING PONG PLAYER AND I HAVE NO POTENTIAL." It's really worth it to drop a couple hundred $ on a designer paddle. They're both comfortable, aesthetically pleasing, and they perform so much better.

Post by **andyman** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 6:41 pm

tnf wrote:Ah another ping ponger. I thought I was the only ping pong geek here. I haven't played in about a year - but I was taught ping pong from the time I could see over the table and then played fairly often for the next 20 years. I still keep my paddle in the car just in case the place I'm at has a table and people want to play...my current paddle is a pretty nice stiga - but it's old and now you've got me thinking of ordering a new one. What's a solid paddle cost now? This one was around 60 bucks when I got it about 8 years ago I think.

I had a chance to play against a Japanese olympic team member who was touring around colleges. I got the opportunity after winning a college tournament. The guy made a complete fool of me - the spins he could pull off were unreal. Unless you have the chance to practice against that caliber of player, there was just no way to really do anything. He did humor me a couple times and let me get into a few good volleys with him with both of us several feet behind the table smashing forehands and backhands. Then he switched to a gimmick paddle that was barely bigger than the ball and beat me with it. (at ping pong, not a physical beating...but with his catlike speed and reflexes, the little guy could have probably done both, while returning my kill shots at the same time)

Then he used a dowel about 1 inch in diameter for a paddle and returned some of my shots with it. Was a real eye opener in terms of how different the skill level is for a professional vs. a good 'enthusiast.'

My brother bought a new table that you can fold up halfway and practice with alone using the upright half to bounce shots back. Might get one for my house this summer too. If you have to play with yourself a lot (ha!) I highly recommend it.

edit: @werldheld - I'll call it table tennis about the time I start calling soccer 'football'.
And serious players are also supposed to call them rackets, not paddles

good lord that is fucking insane...

Post by **Kat** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:48 am

tnf wrote:...edit: @werldheld - I'll call it table tennis about the time I start calling soccer 'football'.
And serious players are also supposed to call them rackets, not paddles

Damn straight, should be banned for calling it "ping pong" and using "paddle" - that's what 2 years olds call it!. I don't play much now but I was well into it (never quite made it into the leagues though - same for squash and badminton). One of the things we used to do with the rubber was clean it with undiluted washing-up liquid (removed with damp cloth centre to edge), made the rubber 'sticky' as hell did that, the proper cleaners used to have alcohol or something in them that eventually dried the rubber out; never liked using those 'treatments' either, but washing-up liquid kept it clean and grease free (that was the real killer, grease from sweaty hands).

Post by **Kat** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:19 am

werldhed wrote:Huh... I thought ping pong was just a term made because of the sound of the ball being hit. But I looked it up and it's actually called "ping pong" in Chinese.
Cool.

You might find this interesting.. according to Wiki it's origins have nothing to do with China, but it *was* to do with the sound the 'ball' made (against stretched parchment paddles).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ping_pong#History

Post by **tnf** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 4:54 pm

Kat wrote:
tnf wrote:...edit: @werldheld - I'll call it table tennis about the time I start calling soccer 'football'.
And serious players are also supposed to call them rackets, not paddles
Damn straight, should be banned for calling it "ping pong" and using "paddle" - that's what 2 years olds call it!. I don't play much now but I was well into it (never quite made it into the leagues though - same for squash and badminton). One of the things we used to do with the rubber was clean it with undiluted washing-up liquid (removed with damp cloth centre to edge), made the rubber 'sticky' as hell did that, the proper cleaners used to have alcohol or something in them that eventually dried the rubber out; never liked using those 'treatments' either, but washing-up liquid kept it clean and grease free (that was the real killer, grease from sweaty hands).

I tried putting cheap hairspray on the paddle once - to see if it would make it more tacky (sticky). results were mixed.

I hear you about the sweaty hands. We kept a chalk bag nearby and a dry towel around at all times..heh. geeks.

Post by **plained** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:11 pm

i have had many a larf playing ping pong

great game!

ive not tried any super paddles or anything, sounds neat tho

Post by **Chupacabra** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 5:49 pm

i dont have too much experience playing, but i do love the game.

Post by **d3mol!t!on** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 7:33 pm

I don't find playing any other sport as fun as it, though I'm dire because I very rarely get to play it.

Post by **andyman** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:38 pm

Kat wrote:
tnf wrote:...edit: @werldheld - I'll call it table tennis about the time I start calling soccer 'football'.
And serious players are also supposed to call them rackets, not paddles
Damn straight, should be banned for calling it "ping pong" and using "paddle" - that's what 2 years olds call it!. I don't play much now but I was well into it (never quite made it into the leagues though - same for squash and badminton). One of the things we used to do with the rubber was clean it with undiluted washing-up liquid (removed with damp cloth centre to edge), made the rubber 'sticky' as hell did that, the proper cleaners used to have alcohol or something in them that eventually dried the rubber out; never liked using those 'treatments' either, but washing-up liquid kept it clean and grease free (that was the real killer, grease from sweaty hands).

when you say 'washing up liquid' what do you mean?

Post by **Lieutenant Dan** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 10:52 pm

Dark Metal wrote:Forrest fucking Gump.

That's exactly what I thought of when I read the topic title.

Post by **andyman** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 11:58 pm

I ordered a Galaxy T-4 blade and 729 Faster III (red,black). I say it will be here in about a month... kinda can't wait to get it