Ping pong is a great beginner sport because it’s accessible, fairly easy to learn, and well – it’s fun! So if you’re either hoping to rise up the ranks and work your way towards joining a tournament now and again, or if you simply want to make the most of that ping pong table at work, then you might want to take a gander at some cool racket options and equip yourself with the best ping pong paddle for beginners.
Designed to maximize ball control and grip stability, rackets designed for people who are just starting off are made to help you understand how the physics of table tennis works, and what style of play you prefer the best.
What to Look for in a Ping Pong Paddle for Beginners
As a beginner, there are a few pivotal features that you will want to look for in a paddle to make sure it suits your current level of expertise. Anything that’s too complicated or too advanced to use might discourage you when you try to practice, as they may require a higher level of skill to master.
1. Flared Handle
The flared handle design features a subtle A-line that becomes more prominent towards the end. This makes it so that the paddle has a lower risk of flying out of your grip as you stroke, opposed to a straight handle that can slip from force.
Of course, that’s not to say that the flared handle is the only right handle for beginners. Anatomical handles can also be easier to grip, but as a general practice, most beginners look for the flared handle because it’s the easiest to maintain in the hand.
2. Different Rubbers
Experts often recommend that beginners look for blades with different types of rubber on either side. Why? This helps them become accustomed what different textures can do to the ball, and will make it possible for a player who’s just starting out to figure out how each stroke works, especially depending on the side of the paddle used.
Most would recommend going for a paddle with two completely different sides on either end of the rubber spectrum, but it’s really up to you. As a general rule though, you might want to steer clear of fast rubbers and advanced rubbers as they can make it difficult to control the ball, especially if you’re just starting out.
3. Reasonable Prices
You might be thinking that you won’t be playing too much of the game, so maybe that $5 USD paddle looks like a steal. But before you shell out cash for something so affordable, make sure to consider the reason why it comes with such a light price tag.
Cheap paddles are cheap for a reason, and they can easily wear out after just a few uses. Other than that, cheap rackets also often come with rubbers that fail at imparting any sort of spin on a ball. In many cases, they might even feel like anti-spin rubbers because they may produce the opposite of what you were trying to achieve with a specific stroke.
A paddle that affects the way that different strokes act on a ball can change the way you learn the game all together. This can also make it difficult to truly understand how certain strokes are played. So beware of deals that seem too good to be true.
Different Table Tennis Playing Grips
Understanding what paddle will work best for you ultimately depends on your chosen playing grip. In many ways, the grip will also dictate the style of play you’ll find most ideal for your skill and standards. As a beginner, you might not have an established style or grip yet, but it pays to be familiar with the different ways to hold a paddle so you can figure out how you might want to play the game.
1. Penhold Grip
The Penhold grip is called such because it resembles the way you might hold a pen. Imagine the paddle’s top border is the tip of a pen, and grip the handle how you would grip any standard writing instrument.
The Penhold is a common favorite among players who want to maximize topspin, and is often used by aggressive competitors who like fast paced games. In recent years, the Penhold’s weaknesses in terms of delivering a solid backhand have been exploited, but lots of table tennis world champions continue to use this grip to this day.
2. Shakehand Grip
Imagine the handle as a hand being offered to you to shake. The player holds the handle firmly, with the ring, pinky, and thumb wrapped around its girth. The index and middle finger are then used to support the racket head, positioned perpendicularly relative to the handle.
Most players use this grip, and it’s often considered the most ideal way for beginners to hold their paddle because it offers the perfect balance between both backhand and forehand strokes.
3. Other Grips
The V Grip and Seemiller Grip are both unusual yet popular grips used by professionals. Both grips require quite bit of expertise, as they are rather technical to use.
The V Grip originated in China, and entails placing the paddle head between the index and middle finger as the rest of the fingers wrap around the handle. This grip is ideal for attackers because it imparts quite a significant spin on the ball.
The Seemiller Grip was developed by an American table tennis champion, and is performed by placing the index finger along the border of the paddle from a standard shakehand grip. This provides greater forehand control, but also makes for an awkward backhand.
The Top 3 Ping Pong Paddles for Beginners
1. Duplex 4 Star Ping Pong Paddle
Very reasonably priced, the Duplex 4 Star Ping Pong Paddle is a great rookie racket that will help you learn the ropes of table tennis with ease. The design incorporates 3mm of foam underneath the rubber, increasing control and letting you get a good feel of how your strokes impact the ball.
In terms of spin, the design definitely packs a solid punch. Able to impart quite a solid spinning force on the ball in play, this racket can make it easier to learn the different strokes and contribute to the establishment of a chosen playing style. Some buyers also claim that it can be used for amateur games. This eliminates the need to purchase a brand new paddle if you want to try your hand at slightly more complicated play.
Finally, if we’re talking durability, there’s really no complaining. The Duplex 4 Star is well constructed, and feels really high quality in the hand. It takes to constant use really well, so if you were looking for a few good paddles to keep with your recreational ping pong table for those family get togethers, then the Duplex 4 Star can be a suitable choice.
2. Olseek Ping Pong Paddle Set
The perfect set to go with that table you’ve set up in your backyard is the Olseek Ping Pong Paddle Set. With 4 rackets, 8 balls, and a carrying case, this set brings together everything you need to finally complete your table tennis set-up.
The rackets themselves are pretty impressive, focusing on basic features that make them easy to handle for both beginners and recreational players. The grips are exceptionally comfortable, and they rubbers are big on control. So they make it easy to anticipate how the ball might react after impact.
When it comes to quality, the paddles aren’t any different from the premium designs you’ll find from top brands in the market. They’re durable, good looking, and they perform really well, so they make a solid choice for players who want to start learning the skill needed for table tennis.
3. AbcoSport Table Tennis Ping Pong Set
This complete set comes with four ergonomically designed table tennis rackets that are versatile and easy to use. The designs are made from high quality materials, and feature relatively softer racket heads to maximize control.
The handles feature the popular flared silhouette, making them comfortable in the hand and easy to keep a hold of. What’s particularly interesting about the paddles is that they use two completely different sides – one textured, pimpled rubber, and the other a smooth lacquered wood.
This helps users understand the differences in feel and how it can change the reaction of the ball. From here, users can calculate and fine tune textures for their paddles with future purchases in order to optimize their performance.
Bottom Line
Even a beginner table tennis player needs to consider a few factors to make sure they’re buying the right paddle. Anything too cheap could change the physics of the standard strokes, and anything too advanced could make it hard to learn the basics.
We found the perfect middle ground in the Duplex 4 Star Ping Pong Paddle which marries control and a practical price point to come up with a reasonable choice for a first time player. In our opinion this is the best ping pong paddle for beginners. There are a few other picks on our list though, so make sure to check them out during your search to find the ideal design for your skill and set budget.