Best Ping Pong Paddle for Beginners

With the pandemic still in effect, indoor gaming setups increased in sales as consumers flocked to purchase gaming equipment that isn’t as space-consuming as most outdoor games like tennis. However, as its alternative, ping pong is often regarded as one of the most popular indoor activities. Also known as table tennis, it requires only a ping pong table and, most importantly, paddles. 

The paddles, also known as table tennis rackets, are required to play the game since they are used to bounce the balls and hit the table’s surface. With several options on the market, it might be tedious to review each ping pong paddle one by one without understanding where and how to start. In this section, we’ll go over the major elements of the finest ping pong paddles for beginners that set them apart from the others.

Finding the Best Beginner Ping Pong Paddle — A Buying Guide

When you’re new to the game, considering the design and material type of your paddle will assist you learn more about what paddle to use. A paddle will give you more— or less — control over the ball depending upon those attributes. Control, spin, and speed are frequently traded off: the more control you have, the less speed and spin you can generate.

As a beginner, you should strive for a high control rating and then proceed to higher speed and spin. We ensure that you will be satisfied with the items we have chosen for you, now that we will cover the key information needed to know about beginner paddles.

Weight

Choosing your ideal paddle can also help you enhance your skills when playing the game, which can help you win. Having the proper ping-pong paddle allows you to control the ball while also adding power and spin to your strikes. This is why it is critical to find the optimal weight for your paddle.

Most ping pong amateurs wonder how much weight they need to put on their ping pong paddles. To answer that question, the weight of the paddle you should use should be proportional to your strength and ping-pong style.

With no rubber, typical ping pong paddles will range between 70 and 100 grams. If you want the quickest paddle acceleration, look for ping-pong paddles that weigh less than 77 grams. Lightweight paddles allow for quick acceleration when swinging them, as well as effective spins.

Paddles weighing between 77 and 89 grams will provide you with greater power and balance. This paddle is ideal for power players since it provides great ball speed and excellent spin. Heavy paddles weighing more than 90 grams are ideal for those seeking stability and ball acceleration. However, these kinds of paddles are usually used for professional players as they play further from the table. 

For a beginner, you should look for light and medium-weight paddles as they are easier to control. With that being said, choosing the ideal paddle necessitates knowing what weight of the paddle is particularly well suited to your strength and playing style.

Handle

Given the amount of stress that ping-pong handles are subjected to, selecting the proper one is critical. As a result, if the material is not hard and sturdy, it may pull off or collapse during a match. Sadly, most ping-pong players, especially beginners, do not give much thought to the sorts of handles utilized in the manufacture of their ping-pong paddles.

Although there are more, the most common forms of table tennis paddle handles are flared, straight, and anatomic. The flared handle of the ping pong handle is a little larger towards the tip of the ping pong handle. This grip is often used by forehand-dominant players.

Straight handles do not have a flared section in the middle or at the end. This grip looks to favor the transition from backhand to forehand. Moreover, anatomical handles have a wave-shaped grip. The handle’s central section is slightly larger, while the lower section is flared. This is a solid handle for an offensive player.

Type of Rubber

There are various types of rubber to consider for your ping-pong paddle. A rubber sheet is made up of an extra sponge base layer and a rubber top layer with pips. The top layer is referred to as the top sheet.

Rubber is classified into four types: pips in (inverted and antispin), and pips out (short pips, long/medium pips). Long/medium pips and antispin are particularly unique rubbers, while inverted and short pips are offensive rubbers.

Inverted rubber has a smooth surface with a lot of friction, resulting in a lot of spin, and is the only rubber that can make a quick loop. Inverted rubber has much less grip than short-pip rubber. Short pips can be used to make any shot except a fast loop and are very useful for blocking, hitting, and receiving short serves.

Long/medium pips and antispin are particularly unique rubber sheets that veteran players may use to counter the speed or spin of their professional opponents. These special-purpose rubber sheets are extremely difficult to handle. We strongly advise you not to purchase them when you’re a beginner.

Moreover, most rubber sheets are available in a variety of thicknesses. The thinner the rubber, the better the control; a thicker rubber, on the other hand, gives you more speed but less control. A beginner like you should consider buying a paddle with thin rubber.

The simple rule is that a thicker rubber (2 mm or above) results in more attacking play. Moreover, high control or all-around players favor 1.9mm to 1.5mm rubbers, whereas shorter and longer-pipped rubbers prefer thinner amounts.

Playstyle

Paddles are eventually a very personal preference. Every player has a distinct style and swing, but there are paddles designed for a variety of playstyles. When playing opponents, you may be exposed to a variety of styles from various table tennis players. These styles differ in how they approach the game.

In table tennis, a style of play is merely a method utilized to win a point. In this regard, it’s best to know what style you’re up against before a battle. However, you won’t always be able to tell until you start playing. Players are classified into three types: offensive, controllable, and defensive.

An aggressively attacking table tennis player usually plays with the table near to them. They will attempt to pick up the ball immediately after it has landed, resulting in a faster-paced game. In this matter, they’d prefer a thicker rubber and an anatomical handle for their heavy paddle.

A player who hits with control would not take any chances. Simply said, their major job is to keep the ball in play. This player hits by alternating your shots’ accelerations, rotations, and positions. A lightweight paddle with a straight handle and thinner rubber is recommended.

Lastly, the fundamental approach of defensive players is to outlast their opponents by simply returning the shot until a mistake is made. In the process, they also aim to minimize their own blunders, so the paddles they recommend can be of any type. Because they don’t generally stand close to the table, play your shots closer to throw them off rhythm. 

The Best Ping Pong Paddles for Beginners

Sport Game Pro Ping Pong Paddle – Best for Spin

Need to Know Information Black and Yellow color scheme Intermediate Skill Level 5-ply pure wood structure, a wooden table tennis racket What We Love About It: This paddle not only has a comfortable handle, but it also has a high degree of twisting of the ball for high spins. Aside from this feature, the Sport Game Pro Paddle is easy to control for beginners and advanced players. If you manage to learn a few advanced skills, you will surely not have to worry about upgrading and buying another one.

The Sport Game Pro Ping Pong Paddle is one of the best professional table tennis rackets for both beginners and advanced players. It features a 2 mm high-grade rubber that is ideal for fighting off the surface with a quick ball speed. This table tennis racket’s appearance wouldn’t go overlooked, with a flared grip and a sleek design.

This paddle has excellent technical results with ratings of 82, 91, and 79 for speed, spin, and control, respectively. The spin on this racket is at the top of the charts and is perfect for starting players. This form of table tennis product will help you progress from a beginner to a strong, moderate player, allowing you to attain your peak performance in table tennis matches.

Sport Game Pro Paddles provide the best quality service to their customers as they are ranked in the top 18 in table tennis rackets. A purchase comes with a free case and a 30-day money-back guarantee for when the product does not meet the expected standard promised by the brand. If that doesn’t convince you, the product also comes with a 5% off coupon when you subscribe and save the product detail page.

STIGA Raptor Table Tennis Racket – Best for Defense

Need to Know Information Black and Red color scheme for professional play 7-Ply Extra Light with Crystal, Balsa, & Carbon The Concave Pro Handle lifts the blade for quicker returns, increased power, and enhanced touch sensitivity. What We Love About It: The Raptor’s S5 2mm rubber with NCT and ACS technology integrates microscopic air pips or capsules in an ultra-light rubber and overall weight that is ideal for novices, high speeds, maximum elasticity, and exceptional control.

The STIGA Raptor Table Tennis Racket is currently one of the most popular paddles on the market. It has carbon technology for increased power and speed. The STIGA Raptor is an ideal combination of splitting technologies and superior materials. 

The Raptor will enable users to taste the incredible power and spin found in the rackets of the world’s best players. With ratings of 99 for speed, 100 for spin, and 80 for control, this paddle with a concave handle is on the higher end of the market and one of the few that inexperienced players can use. It is still suitable for beginners, even if it’s one of the rackets used in professional play, approved by the ITTF for its cunning control.

Moreover, equipped with a concave or flared handle, it is designed to excel in WRB (weight balance, rate of recovery, and ball sensitivity). Additionally, the Raptor features a 7-ply extra light blade with S5 rubber and a 2mm sponge with excellent carbon technology. Carbon Technology creates more power and speed, and the NCT plus ACS Technology outstandingly increases control, especially for defense. 

You will surely not go wrong with this Raptor as it comes with a 30-day warranty and it is ranked 10th in table tennis rackets. Get yours now, and play your best in the table tennis sport.

MaxMVMT Ping Pong Paddle Set – Best for kids

Need to Know Information 7 Layers Blades – Ebony, Ayous, Carbon, Paulownia, Carbon, Ayous, Ebony — all of which are high quality manufactured by Max Movement ITTF-approved LOKI GTX Professional Inverted Rubber (Former Olympic Champion Wang Hao endorsed) ‎Ranked 10th in Table Tennis Sets What We Love About It: With a 60-day money back guarantee and a one-year free replacement warranty, you won’t be sorry if you buy one for guaranteed high ratings in speed, spin, and control.The 7 layers also proved that MAXMVMT chooses their materials quite well for their high quality.

The MAXMVMT Ping Pong Paddle Set is valued for its usability at all ages. It is child-friendly. However, it can still be used in tournament games with an ITTF-approved LOKI GTX Professional Inverted Rubber. With ratings of 90, 95, and 95, it provides high speed, strong spin, and top-tier control, making the hit more penetration, powerful, and controllable.

The paddle’s flared carbon handle with a smooth, slick grip minimizes the weight of the handle section and shifts the center of gravity upfront, favoring a better ball impact feeling and attacking strength. Furthermore, the MAXMVMT Paddle features a 7-layer blade advantage over non-carbon competitors.

This medium-weight paddle offers greater control with the new and improved 2mm sponge, and it is completely normal and ideal for the rubber to be sticky, since this allows you to put a huge amount of spin into the ball. This set also includes a paddle cover and an additional wristband.

The paddle set also comes with a 60-day money back guarantee and a 1-year free replacement warranty to ensure customer satisfaction. So, what are you holding out for? Purchase two sets of paddles as well as a table tennis table to acquire competitiveness and make the sport much more entertaining, whether indoors or outdoors.

PRO-SPIN Ping Pong Paddle – Best Value

Need to Know Information 100% Quality Guarantee and 1-Year replacement warranty Light-weight comfortable handle perfect for new players ‎7-ply Wood Blade with increased strength and control from carbon fiber What We Love About It: The PRO-SPIN paddle is so comfy that you’ll want to play for longer while looking and feeling excellent. Carbon fiber technology is what you should look for in ping paddles because it increases your control as a beginner.

Despite having professional-quality materials, the PRO-SPIN Ping Pong Paddle is one of the best beginner paddles on the market for its inexpensive price. The PRO-SPIN paddle is made of high-quality, lightweight wood and carbon fiber. It’s a great step up from a beginner’s table tennis paddle.

It is also the paddle to use if you want to substantially increase your performance in the sport. with speed, control, and spin ratings of 80, 90, and 90, respectively. Furthermore, the two carbon fiber layers give your paddle a larger middle ground, more power, and increased control, giving you an incredible edge to conquer your competitors.

In a Concave Pro custom-designed ergonomic handle, the PRO-SPIN paddle sports a 2mm upgrade of natural rubber and a carbon tube ideal for handle shock absorption. The PRO-SPIN Elite Series ping pong paddles include a quality zipped cover that protects the rubber and blade throughout travel and maintenance, ensuring that your racket is always match-ready.

Table tennis items from Pro-Spin Sports meet stringent quality standards and are backed by a 100% Quality Guarantee and a 1-Year Replacement Warranty. The PRO-SPIN Ping Pong paddle, with skill levels of beginner and intermediate, could be the budget-friendly paddle of your dreams.

FAQ When Searching for the Best Ping Pong Paddle for Beginners

How do you choose a good ping pong paddle?

As you progress as a player, you develop preferred grips, playing styles, favorite serves, and shot types. There is infinite variation, and every player, even at the highest level of ping pong, has a distinct style. Most players will switch paddles a few times as they grow in the sport, finding what paddle works best for their game or what paddle helps them learn best when practicing.

When it comes to selecting your own bespoke paddle, the options for blade, grip, and rubber might be a little bewildering. We’re here to assist you! You may have figured out what you want for your paddle after reading the buying guidance section above.

Who is the best ping pong paddle brand for beginners?

Any paddle will suffice when you first begin playing Ping-Pong. But once you’re skilled enough to care about stuff like backspin and drop shots, you’ll need to update those hard-plastic paddles that come with your table. All of the manufacturers on this list — STIGA, Sport Game Pro, MaxMVMT, and PRO-SPIN — manufacture preassembled, high-end recreational paddles with high-quality rubber and a well-balanced blade.

How much is a ping pong paddle?

When shopping for table tennis paddles, it’s remarkable how much the prices vary between models. Which price category is best for you is determined by the level of play you desire.

Professional paddles cost between $80 and $200.In this price range, you typically purchase a blade and two rubbers. An excellent paddle for ambitious beginners costs between $40 and $65. Paddles for recreational use can be purchased for as little as $10.

Do ping pong paddles come in different sizes?

It may sound surprising that a ping-pong paddle could be any size, shape, or weight as long as the blade is flat and solid. However, they’ll usually have their common size, which is statistically best for the sport. And blades are often made up of five or maybe more thin layers of wood or other materials.

What is the best ping pong paddle brand?

When you begin paying much more for rubber, you might consider buying a paddle with grip, tackiness, and spin that will enhance your performance. Stiga, one of the major brands, has a wide range of high-quality paddles that will undoubtedly suit your game and playstyle. 

With materials of high-caliber, paddles from this brand are also approved by ITTF for professional games. Also, for every $10 to $15 increase in price, you will gain more control and spin on your paddle with this brand.

Best Ping Pong Paddle for Beginners Conclusion

It is important to invest in an excellent ping-pong paddle that perfectly fits your needs and playstyle. Given the different options on the market, determining which paddle is best for you will help you save some money over the long term.

Table tennis has become a popular indoor game setting, particularly after the pandemic obliged everyone to hide in their houses and separate themselves from other people. This is due to the fact that the sport provides a fun component of entertainment that individuals of all ages can participate in.

When selecting a paddle, you should be aware that even following other purchase tips can leave you feeling a little overwhelmed. Fortunately, this article has focused on locating a few paddles that are ideal for players who are still learning the game and hunting for the correct paddle. Essentially, you’ll want to look for long-lasting, pre-assembled paddles that are optimized for various styles of play.

Each type of play has two options, with the more expensive version built from higher-quality materials that give some added complexity for more expert players. There are various variables to consider when purchasing the best beginning paddles, including control, weight, handle, rubber type, cost, warranty, and layer thickness, which have been explored in this article.

The top ping pong paddles displayed above were chosen based on customer satisfaction surveys and online input. So, if you’re new to the game, start with the entry-level choice. Thus, if you’re looking to buy a ping-pong paddle, take a look at the list we’ve gathered for you!