Ping pong paddles are used to knock the ball back into the opponent's area of the table. Paddles do not vary much between players, as the standards in place by sanctioning bodies are widely accepted as the preferred setup. Though paddles used in recreational home games can be widely different, players in sanctioned tournaments must adhere to the rule book produced by USA Table Tennis.
Thickness
The thickness of the paddle, or the amount of material between each of the faces, is regulated by the USA Table Tennis rule book. According rule 2.42 in the document, at least 85 percent of the paddle's thickness must be natural wood. An adhesive layer within the blade can have materials such as carbon fiber, glass fiber or compressed paper, but that layer may not be thicker than .35 mm or 7.5 percent of the total thickness, whichever is smaller.
Paddle Face
The face of the paddle, which strikes the ball, must fit into the rules set forth by the International Table Tennis Federation. According to ITTF rule No. 2.04.03, a side of the paddle can be covered with ordinary pimpled rubber or sandwich rubber. Legal pimpled rubber, with pimples facing outward, should not be thicker than 2 mm and the pimples must be evenly distributed with a density between 10 to 30 square centimeters on a single layer. Legal sandwich rubber, which is a layer of cellular rubber covered with a layer of ordinary pimpled rubber no thicker than 2 mm, can have pimples facing inward or outward with a total thickness of no more than 4 mm.
Size
A ping pong paddle can be as large or small as you want. According to USA Table Tennis and the ITTF, the racket or paddle can be any size, shape or weight. The All About Table Tennis website states that most paddles are about 15 cm across and 25 cm long, including the handle.
Cost
Prices for ping pong paddles vary widely. According to a search on the Sports Unlimited website, you can purchase a Martin Kilpatrick Vortex Ping Pong Paddle for $5.99 (as of October 2010). The Martin Kilpatrick Vortex Ping Pong Paddle features 1.5 mm outward pimples and is recommended for intermediate players. The Butterfly X-Star Ping Pong Racket is listed at $79.99 and is touted as a paddle for advanced players. All other paddles on the website cost between $5.99 and $79.99. (Prices are as of October 2010.)
Availability
Intermediate and beginning players have a much easier time finding suitable paddles. Local large retailers and sporting goods stores carry basic Ping Pong paddles, as do many websites. Advanced players may not find paddles that suit their level at large retailers or sporting goods stores. Catalogs for serious players or websites represent a much better option for skilled players looking to purchase new paddles.
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