Buying a recreational table tennis racket can be a daunting task, mainly because of the enormous expanse in the range of different products available – but also the fact that many newcomers to table tennis don’t really know what to look for. In this guide we will try and keep things simple, to find the right category of racket for you, whilst showcasing some of the cool features and technologies in our recreational racket lines.

Basics for the Social Occasion and New Players

New to table tennis or looking for basic rackets for social situations? There are a few options you can consider including basic rackets and racket sets - which include rackets, balls and cases. These are perfect for people who are just looking to have some fun or perhaps want to have rackets in a social environment at a lower cost.For rackets suitable for this stage of your game, check out the JOOLA Basic Racket Line.

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There are also some higher end options for outdoor table tennis racket sets, which are more weather and outdoor condition resistant, and also more quality design sets for higher end social environments like bars or country clubs.

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Developing Basic Foundations and Learning to Play

There are a number of rackets you could look at when starting to learn the basic techniques of table tennis. These rackets prioritizes comfort, ability to control the ball and spin production. If you are new to table tennis then these aspects are probably the most important. Look for rackets with higher spin and control ratings, these are the best for starting out in the game. There are also options for kids learning to play, with ‘junior’ racket models, which are smaller in the handle and lighter.

Technologies to Look For:

• Ergo Grip Technology: This is for maximum comfort in the handle and racket design
• XCT Technology: Maximizes control and a softer touch feeling
• Pro Friction Technology: This is the indicator for a racket with higher spin capabilities

Rackets you could consider to help develop your game can be found in the JOOLA Novice Racket Line.

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Stepping Up Your Skills

Once you have mastered the basics, it’s time to add more complex skills and to add some pace to your game. This category can also be great for players who already have some skills, or perhaps bring some abilities from other racket sports, and are looking to play in friendly matches or are in the early stages of looking at playing more club matches. The main step up is adding more speed and power characteristics to your racket, so you can effectively develop your attacking game. This is a good time to look for rackets that have a marginally higher power rating, while still maintaining the high ratio of control and spin.

Technologies to Look For:

• Speed Drive Technology: Provides precision and increased ball speed for your attacking shots
• Vibro Control Technology: Improves racket stability at a higher paced game

There are many rackets with these technologies and more in the JOOLA Performance Line.

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Launching the Offensive

This category is the highest racket range among the recreational rackets and combines rackets from the JOOLA Advanced and Premium Lines. Beyond here players will look to create their own customized rackets. In this phase, rackets combine the best technologies to create high speed and spin ratios, and often start including carbon fiber compositions to increase power and precision. This is perfect for players who have confidence in their game skills and are ready to enter the world of table tennis competition in their local leagues or club tournaments for the first time.

Technologies to Look For:

• Carbon Speed Technology: The added power of carbon fiber for exceptional precision and speed
• Catapult Cell Technology: Improved responsiveness for control at higher speeds

At this stage it is best to consider racket options from the JOOLA Advanced and JOOLA Premium Racket Lines.

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Although there are many things to choose from, hopefully this guide will help you land on your feet and find the right racket to suit your needs. There may be many options to choose from, but once you have homed in on the type of racket to fit your requirements, it becomes much easier to choose. At JOOLA we have recreational rackets to meet the needs of players at all stages of the game!