What You Want vs What You Really Need...
At some time or another you will probably be in the market to buy your own table tennis table, so that you can play and train at home. And I, as usual, have some advice to give that will help you in your quest to find the perfect table tennis table.
Don't Believe the Hype
Firstly, forget the grand claims of the manufacturers. Unless you are already playing at state or national level, it's unlikely that you need the most expensive table tennis table in the range - and even then I would think twice at paying that much.
First-Timers?
If it's your first table for the family, go for the lower end of the market and let your family beat the hell out of the table tennis table while they are learning how to play. If someone in the family then decides to get serious about their table tennis, you should be ready to replace the worn out table with a nice middle-of-the-range model that will be appreciated and looked after properly.
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Decide whether you are going to leave the table set up permanently or whether you will be frequently packing it up and putting it back. If you are going to be taking it up and down constantly, you will want something that is easy to setup, preferably a fold-up model that can be handled by one person, with rollers to allow you to move it without fuss. The good roller tables all have brakes on the wheels that can be applied to stop the table moving around when in use.
In fact, I would probably go so far as to say that even if you plan to leave your table tennis table set up all the time, buying a table with rollers is still a good idea - you never know when your plans will change, and the quality of the roller tables made by Butterfly, Kettler, Cornilleau and Supertramp are top notch.
How Thick Are You?
Some players will argue that only table tennis tables with full 25mm (1 inch) thick tops are worth buying. While it is true that these tables do give a nice, even bounce, I have also played a fair bit of table tennis on 19mm (0.75 inches) thick tops and found little difference - certainly not hundreds of pounds worth! In fact, I spent many years at the beginning of my table tennis days playing on a cheap £150 chipboard table in my garage, and that did the job well for someone learning to play. So I would recommend a 19mm thick top, unless you can find a thicker top for not much extra.
Serious tournament players will probably want to go to a 25mm thick top just so that they have a similar table to what they will play on at tournaments. After all, what's a few hundred extra dollars to a serious table tennis player who probably spends that in a couple of months on rubbers and speed glue?
Nice Legs!
Make sure that the table tennis table you buy has good strong legs and supports - it's probably going to take quite a beating over the next few years, and you will need something well-made to stand up to the rough treatment. This is especially important if you have kids that are likely to treat the table a bit rougher than an adult will.
Another nice feature to look for is leg levelers on the bottom of the legs. These can be very handy when the floor you are playing on isn't level - the levelers can be screwed in and out to keep the height of the table at its standard 76cm (approx 30 inches) above the floor.
Who Are You?
Does it really matter which brand of table tennis table you buy? Not really, as far as I am concerned. I personally have a Cornilleau 240 Outdoor table tennis table, which I am very happy with. The main reason I bought this model is because it is the model that was used at my local city table tennis center , so it made sense for me to have the same type of table. But unless you are in a similar situation, it won't really matter much whether the table is a Butterfly, Cornilleau or Supertramp table tennis table. Look for the best deal on price, not forgetting the features I have mentioned above.
Are You on the Level?
Watch out for table tops that are warped. Put your eye at table height from all sides of the table and look for any bending or warping which can affect the bounce of the ball. A 1 meter or 1 yard long spirit level can be very handy for assessing whether the table surface is not flat.
Dragnet
No, not the old TV show - or the newer one either. Look for a net with attachments that have a soft covering where they grip the table - so that you don't scratch the finish unnecessarily. You could probably put some sticky felt on the net clamps if you had to. Also make sure that the clamps that are used by the net don't dig into the surface or the underside of the table. And of course, don't drag the net clamps when taking the net off or putting it on!
Start at the Finish
Make sure that the finish on the table is smooth and even, with no patches or rough spots. Look for any rough edges on the top and sides that could cut you if you accidentally grazed a part of your body along it. And bring a ruler with you to test the height of the bounce - remember that according to the Laws of Table Tennis, the ball should bounce about 23cm when a standard ball is dropped on it from a height of 30cm. And no, bouncing 24cm high in some places and 22cm high in others doesn't average out!
Treadmills are without a doubt one of the most popular items of home and commercial gym equipment, powered or motorised treadmills use a motor to move the belt, keeping the rate at which you walk constant. Many motorised treadmills have powered incline adjustments. One of the main advantages of a motorised treadmill is that it's more challenging - it can go faster than you can, so you have to work harder to keep up. Argos Sports offer folding treadmills - for those looking to save space and who may be on a budget. Non-folding treadmills - for those who have enough space for a treadmill, and commercial treadmills - for those who want a high quality treadmill with advanced features, similar to the standard you get in gyms throughout the world
Cross trainers also known as elliptical trainers offer the same benefits as a treadmill but are low impact machines, i.e. your feet remain stationary. These cross training machines have adjustable resistance, sophisticated digital displays and are quiet in operation. At Argos Sports we offer compact elliptical trainers for those of you short of space and on a budget, standard elliptical trainers for those of you who have the space available. We also offer commercial elliptical trainers for those who want a high quality elliptical cross trainer similar to the ones you use at a gym
Rowing Machines have the advantage of using the entire body in a single, fluid motion. The seat on a rowing machine slides on rails and there are handles attached to stretchy cords that simulate the arm motion of using a paddle. Rowing is low impact and non-load bearing. At Argos Sports we offer air rowing machines such as the concept2 model which is used in gyms throughout the world. Magnetic rowing machines that are silent in operation, and finally water rowing machines - if you are serious about indoor rowing we suggest water rowing machines
Exercise bikes (sometimes referred to as exercise cycles or Exercise Bike) are good for the large muscle groups in the legs. These bikes are manual and have variable resistance. Some exercise bikes will also work the torso and upper body. A recumbent exercise bike puts less pressure and stress on the back. At Argos Sports we offer upright exercise bikes which give you the feel of a pedal bike, recumbent exercise bikes where you sit back and pedal putting less strain on your back (good for those who have the room and beginners). Finally we offer spinners and racers designed for those serious about there biking.
Multi Gyms allow you to do various exercises on one piece of fitness equipment (multi), with different sections to let you concentrate on different muscle groups and body areas. The majority of multi gyms offer the same core exercises such as chest press, leg extension/curl and seated row. At Argos Sports we offer compact multi gyms - for those short of space and on a budget. Standard multi gyms - for those of you who have the space and multi stack multi gyms for the advanced user who wants a multi gym similar to ones use at a gym
Argos Sports offer an extensive range of boxing equipment from boxing boots, boxing free standing equipment, boxing bags, boxing gloves, stands and brackets and much more . As well as being a market leader for fitness equipment and exercise equipment we excel in our supply of boxing necessities.
Table tennis tables are becoming popular in the UK, table tennis is a great sport mainly because its fun and you get a workout at the same time. At Argos Sports we offer outdoor table tennis tables, indoor table tennis tables, and also our new ready to play table tennis table which require limited setup. We also offer table tennis accessories such as bats, balls, nets and more.
Outdoor trampolines with safety enclosures are becoming a popular piece of garden furniture. At Argos Sports we have our own unique brand of outdoor trampoline called Jumpking Jump Pod Trampoline. The Jumpking Jump Pod brand offers great quality at a great price and they are suitable for all users
Argos Sports offer the widest range of gym equipment, from weights benches, smith machines, standard and olympic weights, multi gyms, power racks, weight storage racks, leverage machines and much more.
From Baseball, Basketball System, Air Hockey Tables, snooker Tables, pool tables, heart rate monitors and more we have a complete range of sports equipment, all at great prices.
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