Why Table Tennis is a Great Hacker Sport

Re:Why Table Tennis is a Great Hacker Sport by wallflower on Monday January 12, 2009 @10:59AM (#430582)

My advice for those who want to be get better is to invest in a good paddle. For example, the Butterfly brand, $35+. And forget hard rubber "paddles", without the right rubber, you will never be able to spin the ball effectively.

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Re:Why Table Tennis is a Great Hacker Sport by pixcavator on Monday January 12, 2009 @12:42PM (#430774)

Or try the newly invented "pistol-grip" http://tabletennisonly.com/images/SW_Pistol_Grip_Blade_All_W.... Very ergonomic in my experience.

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Re:Why Table Tennis is a Great Hacker Sport by jamesjyu on Monday January 12, 2009 @12:41PM (#430770)

There's a whole style of play called hard bat that people use, in which they only use hard rubber (or pips out). The fact that they cannot spin effectively can be an advantage -- they aren't affected by their opponents spin!

Given the right technique, they can be deadly, since basically, any spin that you give to the ball is reversed when it comes back (very low friction on their paddle, so essentially their hit does NOT change the direction of the spin. So, for example, if you give them topspin, it will come back at you with underspin).

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Re:Why Table Tennis is a Great Hacker Sport by pixcavator on Monday January 12, 2009 @12:45PM (#430783)

>if you give them topspin, it will come back at you with underspin

You are describing the effect of "long pips".

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Re:Why Table Tennis is a Great Hacker Sport by jamesjyu on Monday January 12, 2009 @01:43PM (#430883)

True, I stand corrected.

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