Equipment help
Equipment
Wilder Rua Asked 12 years ago
I know this has been asked before but i just couldnt find it. As some of you guys know and have replied to me Im in the military and enjoy to play for fun. I have gotten a lot better however my forehand still sucks badly. Anyway my question is more about paddles, im looking to buy something a bit better then what i have but not too expensive untill my skill improves.. I currently have a Stiga Supreme racket.
Now i read that i shouldnt buy a made paddle, more just a blade and put one together. Um i have no idea how to do that so i was wondering if you guys can suggest anything from either your site or killer spin or anything else. I want to be an All around player since my forehand needs help im not sure what i am looking for.
Alois Rosario Answered 12 years ago
Hi Wilder,
The racket you have is a good choice. As a next step we would recommend the PingSkills Touch and take the Mark V rubber as the option. This will be a step up and allow you to play a good allround game.
Thoughts on this question
Become a free member to post a comment about this question.
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
That is really quick, thank you very much for the quick reply. Now i guess its time to try to persuade the wife into letting me HAHAHAHa New born in June has us kinda tied up but ill see what i can do. Thanks alot again...
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Make sure you feed the baby first!!!
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
LOL ok i will. Also im looking at you PingSkills Rook what is the difference from that and the Touch Mark V?
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
Also with either one, how long before i have to replace them?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Hi Wilder,
The Touch with Mark V is a faster racket and the blade is a blade that you will be able to use and upgrade your rubbers easily with. The Rook is a slower blade with more control. It is an ideal first racket.
The Mark V will last longer as it is a better quality rubber. It will last you at least 6 months and probably closer to a year if you look after it. This of course depends on how many hours you are playing in with it.
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
Oh ok, i didnt that i would be able to change the rubbers. Ok well ill start to save up for that. Do you guys sell rubbers as well for when i do need to upgrade it? Also with the one i currently have, how can i clean it and make it stick again. I feel like if i run my hand through the rubber and breathe on it im still not getting any stick.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
If that is the case the rubber is probably dead and needs replacing. Check on our site store for the best way to get rubber.
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
Ok well still working in on the Wife to OK the purchase. If not is there any other recommendations that you can make here in the states as to which route to go?
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
You can also try megaspin.net.
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
Yeah im just going to have to try to save up for the Touch, Megaspin.net looks like straight blades and rubbers. Im not knowledgeable enough to create my own... Ill keep trying to save for your suggestion.
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
Ok well after a little bit of pleading, i got as far as getting another premade bat and then in 7-8 months ill either go for the Mark V bat or at least get the rubber to apply to my current bat. So what i ended up buying was the Stiga Supreme. I could not find the Calibra anywhere in town and didnt want to order online. Anyway, im curious what is the difference in a regular sports dept store and the online series like the calibra and the mark v? I like the idea of glueing my own rubbers so i might do that next but what is the flaw of buying a Mark V Rubber and attaching it to the Stiga Supreme bat? Also maybe a silly question, but red side and black side? Not sure of the differences of the bat.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Hi Wilder,
If you buy Mark V from a Sports store it is the same rubber.
The main drawback with changing the rubber is getting the old rubber off. Sometimes when they are put together in a factory they use really strong glue that takes a bit of removing.
YOu just need one side to be black and the other red. There is no difference at all in the performance of the rubber.
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
I understand. Thanks, but i was refering to what i have been reading others say. Some players Like One side to be Tacky and the other not too? Not sure what difference that would play. Ill keep looking around see if i find the Mark V around here.
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
OK liking the new paddle, does help after i watched your cleaning your bat video. I was wondering why i would loose the stickiness on my bat so fast. Also hey while i try to get you more videos of me playing to show you where im having issues this is my second hobby. I hope to get as good at table tennis..
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Thanks for sharing Wilder. I do love some good magic tricks!
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Oh great... Thanks Wilder... now Jeff is going to start annoying us with his Magic tricks again.
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
Ha HA HA, Honestly didnt know he was a fan of magic. Well good for him and you guys, get some magic in your life. Jeff Keep going with it brother, and if you need any help or tips from me in that department i am here. LOLOLOL least i can do for the Table Tennis help i get from your site. here is another one that i like alot. Quick and to the point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3FbFalkQBs&feature=plcp
Jeff Plumb from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Nice one!
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
LOL Glad you enjoyed them man. That is my passion and slowly but surely Table Tennis is coming in Second... Well here within the next few weeks i think i will be getting the Paddle you suggested. Again since this would be my first real non store paddle i would like to understand what it is that makes this different. Because after this i plan on only buying rubbers. OR should i move up to the Stiga Calibra? Not sure on the upgrade. I want to be all around, so im in a bind. Still working on my forehand cant pinpoint what my issue is. Also how long would it take for my order with you guys on the bat take to get to san antonio tx USA?
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL0EREUVCgw&feature=plcp just so i know you get around to my question. LOL
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Hi Wilder,
The PingSkills Touch is an Allround blade with good control. It should suit you. You will be able to change rubbers and upgrade with speed that way.
Orders usually take about 9 working days to reach the U.S.
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
I see, and the rubbers, i can find them in the states or will i have to order those from you guys as well. Just trying to think long term. Since right now im using the Stiga Supreme, my plan cause of the money would be to go next with Calibra since i am guessing that is the next level up on Stiga Blades
http://stigatabletennis.com/en/intro-products/?expanddiv=filter
or the The Ping Skills Touch. Im still very new with the pros and cons of everything Alois sorry about that. Just want to make sure that i am progressing up. I have been playing at work almost a year now and my Forehand still sucks but i manage to in alot of matches. Today i went up again a buddy who first thought me and hadnt played me in a while. I was expecting to give him a decent match, but he whopped me big time. All to my forehand and alot of Long Back/Side spin serves to my left(STRONG HAND) corner, all i could so was Push setting him up to smash to my right or i would hit the net when i tried to counter his serve. REALLY crushed my ego since i thought i was a lot better.
I understand Speed and Spin but not much about control... Now another questiion, do you guys have any deals with the ping skillstouch and the Secrets to serving package or 6 dvd package? Also i thought i read now that once you buy the DVD you can get them as a DOwnload sonner to start practicing. Did i hear that wrong? Sorry i know its alot of questions but the next step is buying a basic table for my garage or a Touch which are about the same price according to here.
http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_136453_-1?N=86179640+10001&Ntt=ping+pong+table+&Ntk=All
http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_140861_-1?N=86179640+10001&Ntt=ping+pong+table+&Ntk=All
Hannes Lemberg Posted 12 years ago
Touch and Mark V are way to go. Get 1,8mm for start, easier to control.
Control is simple - think about it as opposite of speed and spin. More speed = less control | more spin = less control.
About tacky rubbers - its non mechanical spin, not a easy thing to control for amateurs.
Mechanical is much easier.
Dont buy for start 2 different rubbers - its twice more things to think about.
Calibra is crazy fast. You will be in trouble as long as you go down on speed.
Believe please those guys gere, they have spepped on those fast holes ;)
Basically been there done that - me is back on bty primorac and mark V - developing strokes for faster blades rubbers :)
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
Gotcha, ok ill have to get my hands on one then. I need to work on my Forehand and i was thinking about getting the secrets to Serving and Recieving as well as the Mark Touch Paddle. Is there any special combos for DVDs and Bats?
Hannes Lemberg Posted 12 years ago
What you mean buy special combos?
Buy those pingskills dvd-s, I dont know if they are best on market, but they are definitely full of information for next 3-5 years :)
You need to work on everything, just follow the correct technique. At start it seems that playing like it comes is easier and you will win more points, but bit later against stronger opponent yyou are in trouble and then you realize, that you need to start learning over again and sadly from schratch.
I am pretty sure, that pingskills touch is either of all+ or off- allwood blade, perform very similarly to my primorac. And with mark V-s on them you will not grow out for next 3 years.
Just follow the tech, no matter what - better loose at start and win later, than loose and win at start and loose later.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Hi Wilder,
Unfortunately we don't have any combo deals. We have the DVDs at runout prices at the moment as we will soon be getting rid of them and going for the Membership as the way to watch all of the DVDs.
I think the Mark V Touch would be suitable for you.
Regarding your forehand, make sure the technique is right. Maybe go back one step and play the stroke slowly so that you are sure that the bat is moving in the right direction. You should be able to hit 100 balls in a row if you have the technique well grooved. Then you can start to speed it up.
Wilder Rua Posted 12 years ago
Yeah thats what i meant, Hanes as in a Package deal if you bought a bat AND the DVDs. Yeah today i tried to work on it.. Its definately my weakest point. Hanes thanks alot for the tips, trust me im trying.
Hannes Lemberg Posted 12 years ago
First of all buy those dvd-s. Watch them, try to make moves, watch again etc. Mirror is your friend.
Buy cheapest walmart bat and just play the tech. If your partner speeds up, ask him to slow down.
Simply, theres no use of bat at all, if you cant reach the ball.
My way:
1. 30$ bat - sometimes won one of my friend - Stiga targus premade.
2. 120$ bat - sometimes won - primorac with mark V - basically pingskills touch with mark V
3. 200$ bat - Suddenly didnt won him at all - balsacarbo X5 with rakza7 soft
4. dvd-s - 6 months and every game is 3:0 with that friend - he doesnt play anymore with me.
5. Now I am back on that 120$ bat if playing better opponents, but sometimes still using 30$ one if training strokes.
200$ has mark V on it and is sitting in wallet as spare bat. Those good rubbers I gave to my club best young player as gift. If you are stupid, then make at least bit good out of it :)
Its pretty cool to have cool bat in my wallet, but theres no use of it at all :) Skip that, better buy grippy shoes - helps a lot to reach the ball.
So first of all tech dvd-s (pingskills ones are just good because of Alois and Jeff presenting tech simply and for humans).
Bat isnt important, get rid of the hammering idea ... I need better equipment to be better. If, then shoes makes difference, bat after those 100 correct strokes in row :)
You cant win the match, if you cant put ball on table.
Your way should be:
1. dvd-s and use your weapon or map as paddle or whatever looks like paddle.
2. Basic bat.
3. mark V
4. Here you know yourself what you want :)
Hannes Lemberg Posted 12 years ago
Oh and that pingskills rook paddle should be renamed as pingskills Tech or similar. Rook sounds like greenhorn and nobody wants to be using lame gear. If you have correct Tech, then move on to develope Touch on your tech with mark V and after that speed etc.
Loose, but loose correctly, after half of year playing ~10h per week you gonna start to win.
Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 12 years ago
Thanks for all of that helpful feedback.