As the celluloid ping pong ball makes contact with the table tennis racket, the ping pong ball is driven across the 6-inch-high net to the opponent's side of the 9-foot-long ping pong table. An experienced player can hit a ball at 70-100 mph. The properly constructed and cared for table tennis racket can lead a player to victory.
Zone of Construction
Table tennis paddles are covered with a thin layer of sponge (optional) and a top-sheet of rubber. Quality, thickness, and tackiness of the table tennis rubber sheet, along with dimple orientation, determine control of the ping pong ball, table tennis ball speed, and spin on return shots.
Zone Cleanup
A fine sponge is used for rubber cleaning. Brushes and fast-drying cleaners remove dirt from the pips, allowing for maximum speed control. Foams, cleaners, and sprays clean the table tennis rubber sheet thoroughly, maintaining the matt tacky condition (determines the grip on the ball) of the surface. They keep table tennis paddles in top performance, but beware, some with high alcohol content will cause rubbers to crack.
For excessively dirty rubbers, use a small amount of dish soap on a sponge. Use a moist sponge to wipe off all detergent. Clean ping pong game tables with a specific cleaning formula that conditions and provides a barrier from dust. This helps to keep ping pong balls and table tennis paddles cleaner. Be sure to protect table tennis paddles from air, oil, and dust during storage for optimum lifespan.
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Zone Repair
Playing can damage the rubber, and cleaning can loosen edges of the rubber top-sheets. The International Table Tennis Federation has approved certain glues for use on blades and table tennis rubber sheets. These glues increase the speed of the ping pong ball, but beware, some may be carcinogenic. Gluing up regularly with speed glue is expensive and reduces the life of table tennis rubber.
Thicker glues give a strong bonding of sponge to ping pong blade and are perfect for attaching new table tennis rubbers to ping pong blades. Lacquer is the best way to protect the surface of your table tennis blade. A specially marketed varnish/lacquer seals the wood, eliminating splintering caused by changing the rubber. It also protects the table tennis blade from glue damage and effects of cleaning products.
