Table Tennis is a great indoor game. It's one of the classics you can appreciate when you hang out with your friends and have a casual get together. It's also an official televised sport and competitions are popular in several countries. The major organization for international table tennis is the International Table Tennis Federation, or ITTF.
Supplies
*Ping Pong Balls: For every day use you have more free realm. As long as you can hit it back and forth you're good. However, for competitive games and professional championships you have to follow certain regulations. The ball needs to be able to bounce 23cm from a height of 30cm and its diameter must reach but not exceed 40mm. You can find certain brands like Butterfly and Stiga. For practice you can try Gamma and Penn pressurized practice balls because they're made specifically for practice purposes- they'll help you see the spin you put on them when you aim and they bounce easier. Other choices are Lion table tennis balls that come in yellow or orange.
*Rackets: Also known as a paddle in America, the table tennis racket has either single or double sided rubber matting. The materials that are permitted for rackets are fairly lenient so you don't have to be overly concerned. Just try and stick with any labels that clarify ITTF approval. Once again, Butterfly makes good wooden grip rackets and they're affordable. Some professional rackets can cost around $100. Killerspin rackets tend to get pricey but they're high quality and also ITTF approved. Brands like Halex and Prince are mostly for the non-professional playing standards.
*Nets and Posts: Replacement nets are not a bad idea if yours is old. There are standard and competition quality nets. You can get either string tie or clamp adjustable net. You're more likely to get more use out of the clamp net because you can adjust the tension.
Accessories
*Racket Carrying Cases: Cases will ensure that your racket stays safe and clean while remaining portable for any competitions you may be participating in. You can buy them as hard cases or bags.
*Racket Care and Cleaner: You're bouncing a ball repeatedly back and forth. Your racket is definitely going to get worn out. The chances of that are only increased if you use table tennis as a recreational hobby for parties or as a competition sport.
*Billiard Table Conversion Board: If you have a pool table and you don't have space for table tennis you can buy a conversion table. There's absolutely no reason you can't enjoy both.
*Table Tennis Glue: For any nasty cracks, breaks and chips, use glue to repair your stuff without ruining your rackets. You can also use it to resurface your racket with material.
