Anyone who has ever played a game of ping-pong knows that on the surface the sport itself is very simple.
In fact, it is so simple that many people picture it like this:
To fully understand how much table tennis has evolved over the years however, one must look at the impact of technology, which in the past few decades has allowed table tennis to reach its fullest potential.
Back in the day, ping-pong paddles did not have any fancy sponges or sticky rubber. The wooden “bat” (for all the Europeans readers) only had a thin, fine-grade sandpaper cover that allowed for very little friction with the ball, resulting in practically no spin during matches.
Thus, ping-pong players relied on strategy rather than speed and power. Rallies were consequently longer, as the ball moved at significantly slower speeds.
Today, a typical table tennis paddle looks dramatically different, often consisting of one red side and one black side. The differentiation of the two sides allows for a very versatile racket; one side may have spin-heavy rubber, while the other side may have no spin at all.
Just in the past few years, STIGA and Butterfly have come up with some innovative paddle enhancements, providing improved power, flexibility and precision. Since then, the game has changed to a competition of athletic reflexes and superior agility. Thanks to the constant innovation of new technology, an added spin component, increased speed, and greater hitting power have revolutionized ping-pong forever.
The following are just some of the many components that have been added to ping-pong equipment; in the relentless pursuit of the perfect paddle, table tennis companies continue to prove time and time again why technology is so important to the game.
The Rubber
The most important component when it comes to playing table tennis is the surface of the paddle used to hit the ball. In a game where the table is only 9 feet in length but the ball moves at max speeds of 70 mph, having a powerful rubber-surface is phenomenal to winning games.
The paddle itself is made with a high-friction surface to increase the sideward force between the paddle and the ball. The spongy-sub layer located on the blades allows for increased contact time and contact area. Consequently, this combination of greater force and delayed time makes for excellent spin on the ball, which forcefully speeds up the game to dramatic levels.
Just in the past few years, STIGA has introduced many new rubber technologies, such as the Transtension Sponge, NCT, and the Oxygen Capsule System.
The Blade
Of course, the paddle would not be so powerful without a solid foundation, which is found in the specialization of the blade. Table tennis paddles were designed so that the type of blade used could be changed according to the personal preference of the player, which would result in many significant changes in style of play.
Butterfly, one of Table Tennis’ most renowned manufacturers of paddles and equipment constantly ventures into new territories to perfect the fiber material used for these paddles. These include but are not limited to:
The Ball
The traditional celluloid table tennis ball has a diameter of 40mm and weighs approximately 2.7g. For a similar comparison, that weight is equivalent to half of a nickel, a big paper clip, and two one dollar bills. What do all of these things have in common? They are all incredibly light.
The ball’s large volume-to-mass ratio means it is far more susceptible to aerodynamic forces than most other sports balls, making it easier to spin and drag, but also hard to react to. A standard serve by an elite table tennis player can make the ball move at a rotational velocity of over 3000 rpm, which is equivalent to twice the speed of a curve ball thrown by the average MLB pitcher. Many players train hard in order to utilize this sensitivity to aerodynamic forces, and as a result, they are able to perform many series of dazzling rallies and acrobatic moves.
All positive notes aside, there have been many banned manufacturing practices and adjustments by the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) as well. In some cases, players practically removed the entire rubber-coating sponge layer on their paddles, leaving a “naked” side that was more resistant to spin. Others used a special type of glue labeled “speed glue” that was capable of providing more spin and speed to the user, and thus was deemed “over-powering”.
Additionally, the ITTF has decided to replace the long-term celluloid ball with a new poly-plastic prototype in competitive matches; this is because the regular celluloid ball moved so fast that it was considered not “viewer friendly” enough. Just like that, a change of just the material of the ball will change the game forever.
Going Forward
Table Tennis will always remain as a game that is constantly influenced by modern day technology. In a sport where players are so close to each other and millimeters can be the difference between an error or winner, these small differences in technology are more important than ever and will continue to play a big role as table tennis increases in popularity.