Top 5 Best Ping Pong Paddle (A Must-Read for Newbies)

Whether you call it a ping pong bat, racket or paddle, one thing is for sure – searching for the best one can be a daunting task for a beginner. In this regard, it is highly important to be guided when purchasing the best ping pong paddle that is suitable for your level.

When you look at a paddle, you would find it simple looking – just a piece of wooden blade with a rubber glued on it. However, what cannot be seen by the naked eye is the wealth of technology that is utilized to generate these complex blades and the sponge and rubber composition. Let me walk you through the process of searching the right paddle for you.

​Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Ping Pong Paddle

You would find that there is now a plethora of paddles available on the market. However, these tools not are created equal. There is nothing worse than purchasing paddles or any ping pong equipment that could cost you a lot of money yet not suitable to your own level or style. Check these factors to be guided.​

Playing Style and Level​

When searching for a good paddle to use, you should ask yourself what kind of player you are. Are you a beginner with practically zero knowledge or skills on this sport? Would you consider yourself as an average or developing the player?

Judging your own level of play is essential as the table tennis paddle can directly impact your performance. Simply put, even if you buy the most expensive bat for advanced players, it would just mess up your game as you would not be able to control your serves and returns.​

Overall Paddle Rating​

Manufacturers of ping pong paddles categorize the types depending on the performance. They make use of a three-component scale using either a 100-point rating or a 10-point rating for the three criteria namely control, power, and the spin.

The Power​

In choosing a paddle, you need to understand how the power is rated and evaluated. Power refers to both the hardness of the blade material and the quality of the padding used between the blade and the battle.

Blades are made from layers of laminated wood that have been glued together. Some blades have a thin layer of carbon fiber or fiberglass in between the layers so as to make the paddle much lightweight and would absorb less energy.

When one speaks of the power rating, it often refers to the measurement of how much energy can the paddle absorb when striking a returning shot. When you see a higher number, this basically means that paddle absorbs less power and provides a stronger return.

The Spin

Spin is also a factor you should consider when finding a paddle that suits you. Many offensive or defensive players look for paddles that can produce spin as this could make the returning shots for a complex. Paddles with higher spin let the ball be struck by a smooth-surfaced blade.

When you choose a paddle with higher spin, you also get a paddle that has a lighter weight. This would then allow you to manipulate the paddle more. Note that most ping pong paddles with the higher rating in control usually have a similar rating spin.

The Control

Control refers to how long the paddle holds the ping pong ball when striking it. This factor is highly dependent on the thickness of the padding and the overall quality of the rubber. In general, when rubber is tackier, it means that you could have better control on your shots. When this happens, the placement of your returns gets better as well.

There are also paddles that have a form padded in them which provide more control with shots. Those who are learning to become a defensive player usually prefer paddles with high control. However, since these paddles go through advances in the construction process, you can expect them to be pricier than others.

Consult Others

When searching for the right paddle, you may opt to also check the experienced players’ recommendations. This is particularly useful especially if you are a member of table tennis club. They are also your best source of information when it comes to checking the actual performance of a paddle as well as the comfort of use.

Top 5 Ping Pong Paddles for Beginners

Although this brand is considered a relative newcomer, the manufacturer is starting to build a good reputation of creating aggressively-styled yet high-quality ping pong paddle. This is one option that beginner player or recreational players can practice on.

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This JOOLA Table Tennis Hit Set offers an all-in-one kit for every beginner player to get his or her game started. The rackets come with Joomla Balls as well as a carrying case. The manufacturer is also considered one of the reputable companies in the world and was also selected to provide the official table in the Olympic games.

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3 - Duplex | 4 Star Ping Pong Paddle - Beginner through Expert Racket

This brand has earned a 4-star rating for performance level. The Duplex ping pong paddle is also built to be used by players of all levels – from beginners to advanced.

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This is another entry-level racket that is designed to help beginners sharpen their ping pong skills. It is considered an all-rounder since this paddle is designed for both beginners and also for advanced players who continuously aim at improving their skills.

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Made from high-quality Chinese rubbers, the Palio Legend 2 is built for beginner players who are looking to take their skills a notch higher. The blade of this paddle is a tweaked version of the older Palio Legend model.

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The Final Verdict

After comparing the five models, my recommendation goes to the Killerspin Jet200. Since beginners are still at the stage of starting to grasp how to use spin, control, and power to their advantage, this is the best ping pong paddle that helps the players understand how these factors come to play in every game.

The quality of the rubber is one of the top reasons as to why it makes sense to invest in this particular brand. Moreover, the price is reasonable as well. Thus, it gives you that chance to own a good paddle without burning a hole in your pocket.