How to Professionally Assemble a Table Tennis Racket

[@AveMaria.GratiaPlena]

Hi Ben. It’s nice to see you! I remember I bought a piece of rubber and there were some issues with the transaction. You called me while you were on vacation to resolve the issue. I try to buy all equipments from your store if the price matches. You’re a good guy. Thank you. I hope to meet you in person one day.

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Thanks for the kind words. We can price match on most rubbers, just ping us. Let us know when you are in New York Area

[@stansteez]

While watching the Olympics and some vlogs by players I noticed that pro players cut their rubbers with scissors and leave like half about half a millimeter edge to the blade. They also put tape only on the lower 3rd of the blade to protect it from damage when hintting the table. Timo Boll said the tape affects the feel of the rubber.

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Dear Stanteez Cool thanks for your comment 1. We sometimes get requests for this. We draw using a sharpie an even line around the blade on the rubber before its cut and use scissors. This will increase the weight of the blade, and not sure, will likely increase blade vibration on ball contact. Which is certainly not a negative outcome. It will also protect the edge of the blade better than edge tape can. But does not aesthetically look as nice. 2. Edge tape is only really needed on the bottom third of the blade. Yes, but aesthetically it looks nicer around the entire blade. 3. Edge tape affects the feel of the rubber? Maybe? Try it. Play without edge tape on your blade and then with edge tape. Very easy to test. Ben

[@natesr5373]

Great service. Bought one from him. Five stars ⭐️ service

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Thank you for the nice comments. We try hard. Thanks

[@AhmadThabet-qw1kc]

Many Thanks for making this useful clip and the details that you have explained. Please advise how do you know the forehand side of the wooden blade, before you stick the rubber sheet. Also, do you apply the edge tape on the wooden blade thickness only, or will it also cover the thickness of the rubber sheets, as well.

[@tabletennisstore9909]

The forehand side is the side with the logo or fish eye facing upwards. Also there is sometimes print on the end of the racket. Have that facing upwards. That will be the forehand side. It actually does not really matter. But once you establish a forehand side you should keep that side as the forehand. Regarding the edgeteape. The best is to have it cover the edge of the blade - wood, and all or part of the sponge.

[@mystickahayag]

Thanks for the detailed demo. I'll apply it to my blade next time.

[@michaelshekianphotography6378]

have you thought of a wider foam brush or foam roller to spread the glue? Also if you lay some wooden dowels on the blade you won't have to worry about the rubber making contact with the blade until its in the correct position. Remove the dowels as you affix the rubber.

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Yep, that works too. Agreed. Good point. We just had a smaller sponge for this video.

[@aminsenglishoasis8265]

Thank you for such informative session. I have a question. How often do we need to re-glue rubbers? When I used to play ( 10 years ago), I used to glue rubbers before each match. Kindly, advise.

[@tabletennisstore9909]

European, Japanese Rubber and Many Chinese Rubbers have built in tension so they do not have to be re-glued. Some players use 'boosters' non toxic material that will pass ITTF racket control at high level tournaments. Re gluing with ITTF-approved glues sold by stores like ours will not materially change the rubber performance. And is not advised.

[@program7563]

Do you recommend to lacquer/seal the blades before putting the rubber on them?

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Most blades, at least most higher quality blades already are varnished. So it is not neccessary on the first rubber application. However, some blades are dry and you can feel the wood. These blades should get a coat of varnish before applying the affixing the first rubber topsheets. Note that we recommend adding a thin coat of varnish, after every subsequent rubber change. This is because when you pull off the old rubber sheet you may also pull off some of the thin top coat of varnish the manufacturer has provided or you have initially put down.

[@shaundietz3497]

Andy Diaz showed us this in 1989! Nice demonstration!

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Thanks for the nice comment.

[@z0uLess]

I think that clamp and sponge configuration makes it difficult to apply even pressure when spreading out the glue, which is what you need to make an even surface

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Yes, we use a sponge now. Direct application.

[@sydathath3992]

What's your opinion on using glue sheets instead of regular glue? Glue sheets are much quicker and less hassle. However some people argue that with glue sheets there is no "spring effect" on the rubber and it feels slower than normal glue. Do you agree?

[@tabletennisstore9909]

There will only be a marginal difference between glue sheets and glue. The rubber sheets have build in tension. In general better to glue short pips and inverted rubber with two sheets of glue, as laying down the rubber on the blade you naturally stretch a little the rubber just a little which likely enances the speed. This cannot be done with glue sheet.

[@sydathath3992]

@@tabletennisstore9909 Yes, strectching the rubber while gluing it, enhances the speed due to the trampoline effect. But if we assume that we glue two rubbers without stretching them at all, one with normal glue and the other with glue sheet, will there be any difference on speed?

[@OptLab]

Hello thanks for the video. Can we use regular white glue (used for general purpose ?) I don't want to spend extra 15$ special ping pong glue just for old paddles.

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Nope. But elmers rubber cement works just fine. Just let it dry. Staples, CVS, Office Depot.

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Just let it dry before affixing.

[@OptLab]

​@@tabletennisstore9909 Yhanks for your kind help. Though since I live in Europe... what type of glue this is? I need to find the equivalency

[@Twiddle_TV]

My rubber is wavy on top after my latest gluing. Any idea why?

[@martinwille9154]

Which rubber did you glue on your racket?

[@Twiddle_TV]

@@martinwille9154 hurricane 8 hard max sponge

[@martinwille9154]

@@Twiddle_TV did you use a lot of booster?

[@Twiddle_TV]

@@martinwille9154 none Ive never used booster

[@slash9021]

Thank you so much

[@StevenRayMorris]

“Jewelry scale.” Right right. 😉

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Yes, thanks. They are terriffic.

[@JUANITO2859]

So and with all respect what makes you professional at this?

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Fair question. We assembled, on average, about 20-25 rackets a week for customers.

[@xandaojp]

Ben, I just have acquired Butterfly Zhang Jike ALC blade and verified that the surfaces both sides presents ragged just a bit. I ordered from tabletennis11 so I believe that is not counterfeit. Additionally it was lacquered by tt11 but it seems that I need to sand and lacquered. Based in your experience is it normal to sand the blades from Butterfly?

[@tabletennisstore9909]

You wouldn't want to sand the blade face. It is ok to sand the edges of the blade a little near the handle, if that helps with your grip. You should use light coat lacquer, that absorbs into the wood to harden it but does not create a slippery surface. We have video on varnishing. We wipe off the excess varnish. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b32WoGx3qatrpc0 Hope this helps

[@RickAnderson1]

exemplary

[@georgefairweathermoonlight4]

i reckon its PVA glue?

[@siddhantekka966]

How rubber sticks when the glue dries

[@tabletennisstore9909]

The glue won't stick to itself unless it is dry. Both sides must be glued, then dried to stick. If applied, wet it wont stick. "Elmers rubber cement" works the same way. Hope this helps. Ben

[@doktor_dent1196]

Hello. I want to make table tennis bat at my home. Can you help me to my future Bisnes ? Where I can buy praducts please learn to me!

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Let us know which bat and rubber. Happy to try and help

[@fontexstudios]

when does one lacquer the racket?

[@tabletennisstore9909]

We recommend lacquer the racket after each rubber change. With a lite coat of varnish. Then wipe it off. Let dry. Some blades that are not vanished well when sold, or appear dry to the touch should be varnished.

[@ajayrh4743]

Whats the blade make?

[@tabletennisstore9909]

GEWO Power Control. The handle color has changed a little. Very nice blade. Made in Hungary. Offensive minus with ample feedback, vibration. For those who like the racket to vibrate a little on contact.

[@ticonderoga8000]

I tried to assemble my own racket and I messed up when cutting the rubber now it looks like crap with jagged edges everywhere. It reminds me of putting on a cell phone screen protector where you basically only get 1 shot. Now I have to buy another piece of rubber and try again lol which feels awful because they're like 80 bucks a piece

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Understand. While it looks nice to have a clean edge, if you are pro-player, you don't care about the edges, because when you play you should be hitting the ball in the sweetspot of the racket, in the middle. If the egdes are jagged, it won't matter or impact play. Hope that makes you feel better.

[@markusmaier2325]

First blade first cut black rubber on starting the edge of the rubber was going off the blade. That’s the worst thing about VOC free glues. Edit: second rubber also, right in the beginning when cut

[@Jonwes11]

You can avoid this by making sure there is pressure on the whole sheet of rubber before starting the cut. The way it was done here in the video, the handle was touching the table, which raises the rubber off of the table. Move the racket so the handle is off of the edge of the table when making the cut and you shouldn't have this problem.

[@ravanpee1325]

Don't use a blower or hairdryer, because it will create bubbles

[@tabletennisstore9909]

That is likely correct. We use a very small fan that just circulates the air a little.

[@tomtimor9789]

I do not like the microscopic size sponges. Looks like a toy for little girls. And they are to tiny to apply the glue evenly. Why don't you try dish cleaning sponges from dollar store.In packs of 10 for $1. Cut in half, one sponge per one racket and no need for this awkward clamp.

[@tabletennisstore9909]

Yes, we are using the square sponges now. Whatever works and allows you to apply a smooth coat.

[@7in1]

"10mm or 11" but actually it's 12mm! What a professionalism..

[@LittleBU96]

Who is measuring dumbas

[@tabletennisstore9909]

This edge tape was only available in 10MM. So it was 10 mm.

[@renerusso5603]

TABLE TENNIS STORE SUCKS! PADDLE PALLACE IS THE "BEST!"

[@eyemallears2647]

What a douchebag you are. Im not even American but I know a douchebag comment when I see one.

[@tabletennisstore9909]

We like paddle palace they are a good company. Hopefully you will like us one day. Feel free to call or text if you have question. We will be happy to offer expert advice. As long as it is table tennis related, we have a good chance of adding insight .

[@LittleBU96]

@@tabletennisstore9909 I dont think you should be apologising tbh. This guy has no clue , this comment might be a advertising bot