Spin Testers
Best Beginner Table Tennis Rackets Test 2024 Test
When starting to play tennis, it is easy to just go visit your nearest sports shop and just buy a racket from there. These bats however are not well suited for serious play as they are targeted more torwards recreational play. It is rather recommended to buy a higher quality racket especially if it is your goal to join a table tennis club. Overall you might be wondering: Which table tennis rakcket is best for beginners?
Which table tennis racket is best for beginners?
The answer is that higher quality bats usually have a thicker sponge which helps with better speed and control. In addition, the top sheet also has more grip which is probably the most important aspect of a beginner bat. If the rubber doesn't have enough grip, you won't be able to play standard strokes, like drive or topspin, which are absolutely essential when playing table tennis. In addition, it is important to know that with many cheap rackets you are not allowed to play in any league matches because you will have to use an ITTF-approved bat. Therefore, we have assembled a list of the most recommended table tennis rackets for beginners which are ITTF-approved:
What table tennis bat to buy?
Tibhar Rookie Drinkhall
Tibhar is one of the most famous table tennis brands out there. Founded in 1959, this German company still produces high performance quality table tennis equipment used by both professional and amateur players around the world. The Rookie Drinkhall racket is named after professional world-class table tennis player Paul Drinkhall. This beginner bat is very well suited for beginners as it offers great quality of the wood as well as a grippy top sheet which is absolutely essential when starting to play table tennis seriously. The sponge has a thickness of 1.8mm and has a soft feel to it. This gives you lots of control and improves confidence when playing and learning your first strokes. In addition, this paddle is also ITTF approved which means that you are allowed to use it in official matches.
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DONIC Waldner 400
Just like Tibhar, Donic is also one of the most recognized table tennis brands world wide. Founded in 1978, this company produces anything from amateur level equipment to professional gear. This Donic Waldner 400 racket is the absolute minimum you should go for when playing table tennis. Its 1.5mm sponge offers just barely enough thickness to get started with simple stroke like drive or push. Its Jade topsheet is grippy enough and the wood is of solid quality. If you are on a tight budget, you can get this bat for just around $15. However, if you have a few extra bucks to spare, check out the Donic Waldner 500 which is significantly better for just slightly higher cost. Just like all the other bats recommended on this page, the Donic Waldner 400 is of course ITTF approved as well.
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DONIC Waldner 500
The Donic Waldner 500 is an upgraded version of the Waldner 400. Named after world class champion and
Swedish table tennis legend Jan-Ove Waldner, the 500 series offers a slightly thicker sponge than the
Waldner 400. It also comes with a different topsheet, called Donic ★ which has slight improvements
in terms of grid. If you can afford the $5 extra, we recommend to either get the Tibhar Rookie Drinkhall
of this Donic Waldner 500 as your first bat. Of course, just like all the other rackets on this page, the
Waldner 500 is ITTF approved as well and therefore allowed during tournament and league matches.
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Tip: A custom built racket might give you more options.
To get started creating your first custom bat, check out our rubber recommendations first:
Best Beginner Rubbers →
