Table Tennis Archives - JOOLA Global https://joola.com/category/blog/table-tennis/ - Table Tennis & Pickleball Mon, 03 Apr 2023 13:41:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2 https://i0.wp.com/joola.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-JOOLA2020_logo-stacked_FINAL-black.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Table Tennis Archives - JOOLA Global https://joola.com/category/blog/table-tennis/ 32 32 168410641 JOOLA Becomes Official Paddle Sponsor of Life Time Pickleball https://joola.com/joola-becomes-official-paddle-sponsor-of-life-time-pickleball/ https://joola.com/joola-becomes-official-paddle-sponsor-of-life-time-pickleball/#respond Mon, 03 Apr 2023 13:39:29 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=8399 JOOLA forms strategic alliance with Life Time as sport continues its explosive growth New York, NY (3/27/23) – JOOLA today announced an agreement with Life Time (NYSE: LTH), the nation’s premier healthy lifestyle brand, to serve as an exclusive sponsor of Life Time Pickleball. JOOLA will be the primary pickleball paddle sponsor across all Life Time […]

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JOOLA forms strategic alliance with Life Time as sport continues its explosive growth

New York, NY (3/27/23) – JOOLA today announced an agreement with Life Time (NYSE: LTH), the nation’s premier healthy lifestyle brand, to serve as an exclusive sponsor of Life Time Pickleball.

JOOLA will be the primary pickleball paddle sponsor across all Life Time athletic country clubs offering indoor and outdoor pickleball courts.  Members will have access to use JOOLA paddles during open play, and Life time’s branded adult beginning Play Learn Love program and paddles will also be available for sale at Life Time’s Pro Shops, LifeCafes, and online.2

JOOLA will also host clinics and events across Life Time’s locations with special appearances by pro players and coaches to help grow the sport within the communities it serves. 

JOOLA CEO and Owner Richard Lee says, “We are very excited to announce our partnership with Life Time. Their athletic country clubs are world class and the addition of so many permanent pickleball courts is fostering the growth of this incredible sport.” 

Bahram Akradi, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Life Time, says “With the existing footprint of our athletic country clubs and our incredible coaches and teaching pros, we saw the opportunity to lead this sport and we took it. We are not just the largest provider of pickleball but also the best, and now we’re thrilled our members will have access to JOOLA’s paddles and offerings.”  

Since the start of 2022, Life Time has built indoor and outdoor pickleball courts at a rate of five new permanent courts each week, many with viewing areas, stadium seating, social lounges, and more.  With its growth, the company has fast become the largest owner and operator of permanent pickleball courts in the country, exceeding  500 courts companywide, with plans to top 1,000 by the end of 2024

Committing to their strategy to grow the sport of pickleball, Life Time has adopted the DUPR, a pickleball rating system, partners with both Professional Pickleball Association (PPA Tour) and Major League Pickleball (MLP) to serve as a tournament host location.

About JOOLA

JOOLA has been a pioneer in table tennis since its establishment in 1952. In 2022, its expansion into pickleball quickly attracted the biggest names in the sport. As a sponsor of both the PPA and APP Tours and to top athletes in the game, the team at JOOLA combines its expertise with fresh perspectives to bring synergy and innovation to the pickleball market. JOOLA creates a variety of equipment, apparel, and accessories for pickleball players, both professional and recreational. JOOLA is based in Rockville, MD, and is owned by Sport Squad, Inc. Learn more about JOOLA and see why the sport’s best are joining Team JOOLA by visiting joolausa.com.

About Life Time, Inc.

Life Time (NYSE: LTH) empowers people to live healthy, happy lives through its portfolio of more than 160 athletic country clubs across the United States and Canada. The Company’s healthy way of life communities and ecosystem address all aspects of healthy living, healthy aging and healthy entertainment for people 90 days to 90+ years old. Supported by a team of more than 34,000 dedicated professionals, Life Time is committed to providing the best programs and experiences through its clubs, iconic athletic events and comprehensive digital platform. https://www.lifetime.life/ 

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Taking on One of the World’s Best at WTT Singapore Smash https://joola.com/taking-on-one-of-the-worlds-best-at-wtt-singapore-smash/ https://joola.com/taking-on-one-of-the-worlds-best-at-wtt-singapore-smash/#respond Tue, 21 Mar 2023 14:13:47 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=8389 The WTT Singapore Smash event recently concluded. Team JOOLA’s Lily Zhang took some time to look back on the momentous event. This was the second leg of my trip, having recently competed at the WTT Star Contender event in Goa, India. I was in Singapore for 3-4 days between the two events. I was fortunate […]

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The WTT Singapore Smash event recently concluded. Team JOOLA’s Lily Zhang took some time to look back on the momentous event.

This was the second leg of my trip, having recently competed at the WTT Star Contender event in Goa, India. I was in Singapore for 3-4 days between the two events. I was fortunate to be able to practice with the Singapore National Team.

The training was very intense, at times I felt like they were training even harder than the Chinese. It was very humid and I came quite close to passing out after the first session. There were definitely some major environmental adjustments to be made.

I loved the atmosphere in the training hall. Here in the US table tennis can feel very individual focused, lots of one on one training and we are spread all across the country. Here I definitely felt the team spirit of the hosts. Everyone has common goals and a sense of working together.

After the days of practice I felt like I had prepared well for the upcoming Grand Smash. This is the pinnacle of the WTT calendar and the level of competition features the majority of the world’s top players.

I drew Mima Ito in my opening match in the Round of 64. This is definitely a tough draw considering our world rankings. She is one of the world’s best players, having been ranked as high as number 2 in the world!

I was able to practice with Liu Yangzi from Australia, she has short pimple rubber on her backhand. This kind of preparation is important when you are playing someone with a different style.

I also practiced before the match with my teammate and doubles partner Amy Wang. Overall in my days between India and this first match at WTT Singapore Smash I felt I had a solid preparation for this match.

The only thing I was missing was preparing myself for the wave of nerves that hit me when I stepped out into the main court in the Infinity Arena. When I walked out onto that big center court with all the lights and grandeur I mentally blacked out a little, it definitely added to the pressure.   

This had a pretty big impact on my start in the match. I didn’t feel like I was present enough in the moment with the focus I needed. She was right there from the very start. While I was trying to find my feet, she took a strong advantage with her serve game. This immediately took a lot of pressure off her.

I found the spin really difficult to read initially and was trying hard to track her racket and contact on the ball. Towards the middle of the second game, and definitely into the third – I started watching the ball more. I took a little more time to wait and read the bounce better and this helped me a lot.

I felt ok in the rallies, especially as the match progressed, but I had already lost crucial ground in the first two games. These matches are only best of 5 games. There is no room for a slow start in a best of 5, you have to hit the ground running.

I was able to make some adjustments in the third game, reading the serve better and also getting in closer to the table. I had expected a bit more speed and power from her backhand pips side, but moved in closer in the rallies when I realized the ball was slower than I expected. This may have been a combination of conditions and the rubber together.

I felt my game plan was sound and I stuck to it throughout the match. I was able to fight back to win the third game, and held my own in the fourth. The biggest factor for me was serve and receive. I definitely felt this was the biggest level gap between us.

Mima Ito has an incredible ability to vary her serve and her receive. She has so many different weapons to use on serve return.

This was a key element in the match. While I was able to adjust and read the spin better on her serve, I wasn’t able to do anything too significant with my receive. Eventually she was able to get on top of that and maintain her advantage. In the meantime, she stepped up her receiving variations. Everyone knows she has a fairly deadly strawberry receive, among many other formidable variations.

While it was definitely a rough draw to start off with in the Round of 64 and I always hope to push further and higher in the draw, playing Mima Ito is a rare and valuable experience.

Facing off against a player of her caliber in one of the grandest arenas in the sport, on center court – is a privilege. The WTT Singapore Smash is really quite an experience overall.

Now it’s back home to the US with more things to work on ahead of my next international events!




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The Two Major Players in Table Tennis Blades: Koto vs. Limba Top Layers | MHTT Blog https://joola.com/koto-vs-limba-table-tennis-blades/ https://joola.com/koto-vs-limba-table-tennis-blades/#respond Wed, 15 Mar 2023 13:44:16 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=8373 Koto and Limba are both fantastic wood types for composition of table tennis blades. Over the years they have become the leading top layer woods for blades. This is due to their high quality and exceptional properties. Without a doubt these two wood types are the two most popular for top layers among the leading […]

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Koto and Limba are both fantastic wood types for composition of table tennis blades. Over the years they have become the leading top layer woods for blades. This is due to their high quality and exceptional properties. Without a doubt these two wood types are the two most popular for top layers among the leading table tennis brands. This can be clearly seen in JOOLA’s Premium Line of blades.

So what is it about these two wood types which make them so great for a large proportion of table tennis players? Is there really a big difference between them both, and also other wood types?

Seems like a simple question, but actually in a sport like table tennis it’s a little more complex than finding a basic ‘ping pong paddle’. The forces on the ball are so great, and the ball is so light. Something like the wood properties in table tennis blades can make a significant difference. It impacts all aspects of your game from the feeling, the control, the speed and the overall performance.

Let’s Start with Limba Wood.

Limba wood is typically a softer wood type. It provides great balance alongside faster carbon composite layers. Limba generally offers more stability to powerful blades. This makes it perfect for blades which are focused on ball acceleration through spin production. It’s also perfect for blades which have more control to balance out their power ratio.

While they offer more balance, it is important to note that Limba top layer blades are not necessarily slow. These blades can have great speed thresholds like the Vyzaryz Trinity blade, but this softer wood helps make the blade more forgiving. This sacrifices some of the power properties of the blade to offer more touch.

Koto is considered the powerful wood in the world of table tennis blades

Koto is usually applied in thinner layers. It is a much stiffer wood, taking away flex and adding hardness to a blade. Koto on the top layer of a blade packs a punch, it adds sharpness and a clean feedback to the blade.

These blades have very pure feedback. With the added hardness on the top layer the Koto wood blades are also considered to have greater precision and direct power.

The Zhou Qihao Hyper ARY-c 90 is the latest JOOLA blade with Koto wood on the top layer. It helps provide the sharpness and power that a player like Zhou Qihao in the Chinese National Team would look for in his game!

In some cases these wood layers are relatively thin. They may make up just one top ply layer of a blade, but they can have a huge impact on performance. The differences between Limba and Koto top layer blades are important to know about for competitive players. Perhaps Limba is for you, perhaps Koto. Maybe your preference lies elsewhere as mine has at many times and you prefer the feeling of Hinoki Top layer blades.

Understanding more about these wood types will help you to find the right custom table tennis equipment for you.




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Zhang Praises Indian Hosts at WTT Star Contender Goa Event https://joola.com/zhang-praises-indian-hosts-at-wtt-star-contender-goa-event/ Mon, 06 Mar 2023 21:39:27 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=8255 The WTT Star Contender Goa brought some of the world’s best players to India, the first occasion hosting an event of this scale in some time. Team JOOLA’s Lily Zhang relished the experience and wrote about her competition and upcoming challenge in Singapore! For me, this WTT Star Contender was the fourth occasion in which […]

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The WTT Star Contender Goa brought some of the world’s best players to India, the first occasion hosting an event of this scale in some time. Team JOOLA’s Lily Zhang relished the experience and wrote about her competition and upcoming challenge in Singapore!

For me, this WTT Star Contender was the fourth occasion in which I found myself competing here in India. The last time was the Ultimate Table Tennis Season back in 2018, which now seems like a lifetime ago.

There is a certain pride on display when major table tennis events are held here, the venue presentation has a lot of effort put into it, the promotion of the players both online and to the locals is a high priority, which is always pleasant.

The crowds of spectators are enthusiastic, they are vocal in their support on their home turf. The nice thing about the fans is that, while they raise the roof for local Indian stars like Harmeet Desai and Manika Batra, they also afford an incredibly heart-warming support for all of the international players there.

It was really nice to feel so welcomed there and to have people backing me for the competition, I’m very grateful to the fans who showed up and gave me such great encouragement.

I managed to get in some good practice sessions, fortunately I arrived a couple of days earlier so I had a bit more time to adjust to being in a new timezone. It was still tough as my match was at 6pm which is 4am in California time, so I felt a little groggy.

I played against Zion Lee from Korea, it wasn’t the best match overall but there were definitely opportunities lost and plenty of good learning experiences to take away from it.

It was the round of 64 match in the main draw and I lost 3-1, but I lost out in both the first and fourth games by 12-10 margins. I think I felt more nervous in the pressure situations, there are longer gaps between when I am playing professional level matches or competition now and this is definitely an area I feel has been tougher to handle with that important match-play missing.

I felt like in those most crucial points I played too passively and a bit safe. I also rushed too much when opportunities to win points presented themselves, sometimes the ball was a little high and I would go in to try and finish the point instead of taking those split second moments to position well and line the ball up to ensure my chance of success was almost certain.  

I fly now to Singapore where I have only a small time adjustment and a few more days to prepare with the Singapore national team before the WTT Grand Smash event.

Goa may not have yielded the results I was hoping for but it was a high level event and I was able to get good practice and a high level match under my belt in a similar environment to what I will face at the Singapore Smash.  

I’m really looking forward to Singapore Smash as it is probably the toughest event on the table tennis calendar this year. Where the WTTC has national association quotas, the Singapore Smash is open to the highest world ranked qualifiers, that means the level of competition is really tough and you can expect the majority of the world’s top 50 players to be there, with many more top players fighting to qualify to the main draw.

I’m excited and look forward to bringing my best to the table and seeing how far I can go!  






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A Guide to Understanding How to Analyze Your Match Videos | Lily Zhang’s Blog https://joola.com/lily-zhangs-blog-a-guide-to-understanding-how-to-analyze-your-match-videos/ Thu, 02 Mar 2023 15:50:21 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=8202 What’s the first thing you think of when it comes to how professional table tennis players train? Often times, people only recognize training as how many hours spent practicing on the table or at the court. In reality, training on the table only scratches the surface of being a top athlete. The iceberg underneath reveals […]

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What’s the first thing you think of when it comes to how professional table tennis players train? Often times, people only recognize training as how many hours spent practicing on the table or at the court. In reality, training on the table only scratches the surface of being a top athlete. The iceberg underneath reveals a whole plethora of other training approaches, including but not limited to, physical training, mental work, nutrition, match analysis, etc. In this article, we’re going to be picking apart only one area of these training methods – match analysis. This manner of training is absolutely crucial to identifying weaknesses and strengths of both yourself and the opponent, subsequently allowing you to incorporate it into practice on the table and improve your overall game.

When you watch a match, there are several elements to consider – technical, tactical, and psychological. Technical factors refer to specific movements your body makes in order to achieve a desired outcome. It’s the fundamentals and basics of each sport. In table tennis, these can comprise of footwork, stroke, stance, serve, and receive. For example, if you really want to improve your backhand underspin loop, you can watch closely each time the stroke occurs during the match. Slow down the video in order to really be able to see every aspect of the technical stroke involved. Watch for the ready position of your feet and body, the angle of your paddle, the backstroke, the contact of the ball on the paddle, and the follow through. Take note of these technical features and create specific drills/exercises in training on the table to correct them.

Once you create a plan to incorporate those technical skills in practice, you can move on to analyzing the tactical elements of the game. These elements refer to actually applying the technical skills you’ve learned in practice to formulating strategic decisions during a real game or match. Anyone can work hard in practice and perfect every technical ability under the sun, but the capability of a player to maneuver and judge what to do during high pressure moments makes all the difference in the end. Since table tennis is a dynamic sport, the game requires your own tactical performance just as much as the opponent standing across the table.

Several factors to keep an eye out for when you’re analyzing your own tactical game is your spin, depth of the ball, placement, timing variations, and speed. Determine what common factors win the most points for you in the match and try to keep recreating that in the future. Is your backhand your technical strength? If that’s the case, try to figure out which serves or receiving patterns influence your opponent to aim their shots into your backhand. For instance, serving with a forehand pendulum might cause the opponent to receive with the spin, meaning the ball will likely be returned to your backhand. Or maybe learning a backhand serve allows you to adopt a stance that’s more devoted to playing the third ball with your backhand. While understanding your tactical strengths is essential, be aware of your own tactical weaknesses as well. Maybe you notice while studying a match that you tend to stick to one speed during rallies, which might be useful against opponents who don’t prefer that speed but will likely backfire against most high-level players who can easily adjust. Try to vary the speed, the timing, the rhythm and be conscious of that in future matches.

If you’re focusing on tactically analyzing your opponent, the first thing to note is their general style of play. Are they more of an offensive attacker that likes to go for broke on the third ball? Or do they tend to back away from the table and take on a more defensive stance in blocking and placing the ball? Once you’ve determined their typical patterns, watch for their serves. The first three balls of each rally, particularly the serve and receive, hold extra weight to consider when analyzing matches, as it often determines the pace of the rallies and entire game. Try to see which serves your opponent prefers to use and the way they use the serve to set up the next ball. Look for the varying spins, depth (short, half-long, or long), speed, and placement. Then create a plan devoted to how you might return each serve, whether that’s making the next few balls in the rally easier to return for you or receiving it in a manner that creates discomfort for your opponent. Once the game progresses into open rallies, try to determine your opponent’s tendencies, as well as their weaknesses. For instance, they might tend to play only cross court on their forehand, which you can be more aware of and prepared for during a rally. Or, they might have trouble with their footwork going from middle to forehand which you can easily target as well.

Last but absolutely not least, evaluating the subtle psychological elements in a match is much more significant than what many people think. There are countless evenly matched players in a match, both technically and tactically. However, the result of the match often comes down to psychological discrepancies between opponents – how much mental toughness each player has, the way they handle pressure, their body language on display. When you analyze a video, you can watch how both you and your opponent react to certain moments in the match. Maybe their body language becomes dejected and defeated after losing several points in a row and that might be the perfect time for you to go more on the offensive. Nonverbal communication could just be the key to converting match point.

Match analysis might not be as interesting or fun as spending time training on the table, but it is essential to developing a deeper understanding of the game. When you’re competing in a match, it’s almost impossible to determine everything you need to develop because you’re far too close to it. Spending the time to re-watch and study allows you to take on an objective lens to the game and see the exact areas that you need to work on, technically, tactically, and psychologically.

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PINGPOD Partners with JOOLA as Exclusive Equipment Provider in Multi-Year Global Deal https://joola.com/pingpod-partners-with-joola-as-exclusive-equipment-provider-in-multi-year-global-deal/ Fri, 03 Feb 2023 15:17:55 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=7685  Deal Aligns PingPod, the Fast-Growing Network of 24/7 Ping Pong Venues, with JOOLA, the Leading Brand for Next Generation Ping Pong  and Pickleball Equipment New York, NY – PingPod, the radically fun new 24/7 ping pong concept, has announced a multi-year deal with JOOLA to be its exclusive table tennis equipment and performance apparel supplier. […]

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 Deal Aligns PingPod, the Fast-Growing Network of 24/7 Ping Pong Venues, with JOOLA, the Leading Brand for Next Generation Ping Pong

 and Pickleball Equipment

New York, NY – PingPod, the radically fun new 24/7 ping pong concept, has announced a multi-year deal with JOOLA to be its exclusive table tennis equipment and performance apparel supplier. As part of the deal, JOOLA will become a Title Sponsor for PingPod Leagues and PingPod and JOOLA will collaborate on co-branded apparel and accessories.

Tom Nguyen, JOOLA Chief Marketing Officer, says “This partnership marks our biggest investment in ping pong in the US, but more than that, it creates a deeper relationship between two innovative, tech-forward partners.” The two companies will celebrate the deal at an activation event February 15 at PingPod’s newly opened Downtown Brooklyn location.

PingPod has been a smash since its 2020 launch in New York City on the Lower East Side, quickly meeting customer demand by adding additional NYC locations on West 37th Street; Williamsburg; Astoria; East 86th Street; and the newest location in Downtown Brooklyn. The company recently opened a location in Philadelphia and a private pod at The Strand in Chatham NJ. More NYC locations and expansion to other cities are coming, with more than 20 Pod locations expected by year end 2023. “We believe JOOLA is the perfect partner for our expansion across multiple disciplines,” said PingPod CEO Max Kogler. “This deal will be able to keep pace with our rapid growth. We are thrilled to have a partner aligned with our mission to make ping pong accessible to everyone.”

JOOLA is a storied brand in table tennis and has recently added a leading position in the fast-growing sport of Pickleball. For table tennis, the company provides next generation equipment including tables, rackets, blades, rubbers, balls, apparel, nets, and robots. “The PingPod concept – Ping Pong for Everyone – is aligned with JOOLA’s core values: Inclusion, Innovation, and Inspiration,” said JOOLA USA CEO Richard Lee. “We are thrilled to partner with PingPod and, together, elevate the sport of table tennis.”

The PingPod business model is unique – a network of the world’s first tech-enabled autonomous (no onsite employees) table tennis “pods,” open 24/7. Pods are typically highly visible street-level retail spaces with one to six tables, available to rent in 30-minute increments through PingPod’s app.

The PingPod formula has proven popular for everyone from casual players seeking fun date nights and expert players training for their next table tennis tournament, to those seeking afterschool classes for kids and fun spots for private parties. Since opening, PingPod has registered more than 36,000 people to play, with new customer sign-ups closing in on 3,500 per month.

How PingPod Works: Using the PingPod app, you register online with your credit card and reserve a table 24/7 at the street-level storefront “pods”. Entrance to the light and airy space comes via digital access on your phone. At your table, you’re provided with a full basket of high-quality balls and free paddles to use, if you don’t already have your own. Want to capture a great rally for posterity? Push a button alongside the table and you’ll get the “instant replay” by email. Looking for partners? Join PingPod’s #OpenMatching Slack channel and you’ll find community. Seeking competition? Join PingPod’s leagues and compete in divisions organized by skill. Winners compete for prizes and bragging rights in the robust PingPod community. Safety and security are handled through proprietary 24/7 security video monitoring.

PR Contact: Carol Klenfner, carol@klenfner.com

Hi-Res Images available

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How Does Composite Layer Positioning Effect Table Tennis Blade Performance? | MHTT Blog https://joola.com/how-does-composite-layer-positioning-effect-table-tennis-blade-performance/ Thu, 02 Feb 2023 16:38:06 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=7660 At first glance many people might wonder what on earth composite layer positioning even means. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, but it certainly does have an effect on table tennis blade performance and feeling. Essentially the positioning focuses on which layer of a blade the composite materials are placed. This is separated into […]

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At first glance many people might wonder what on earth composite layer positioning even means. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, but it certainly does have an effect on table tennis blade performance and feeling. Essentially the positioning focuses on which layer of a blade the composite materials are placed. This is separated into two groups, the classic composite placement (outer layer) and the inner layer carbon blades.

While there is essentially only one ply of difference in placement in these 7-ply blade combinations, the effect on the performance of the blade is quite noticeable.

Outer Layer Carbon Blades:

Outer layer carbon blades are those which have a composite layer directly beneath the top wood layer of the racket. In most cases the added stiffness of the composite layer can be felt more upon contact in these outer layer rackets. You certainly feel more bite from the carbon properties and get added speed in your shots.

In these blades the quality of the carbon is felt more purely and directly.

Players who like the power and pace of carbon would more likely prefer these outer layer carbon blades for their game.  This could be for more power at distance, perhaps with a koto top layer like the Zhou Qihao Hyper ARY-c 90. Alternately player might prefer  faster and with more flex closer to the table with limba or hinoki outers – the Santoru KL-c Outer is a prime example.

Inner Layer Carbon Blades:

The Inner Layer positioning offers more softness to carbon blades. Yes you can still achieve great speed with composites like PBO-c or KL-c, and with different wood layers on top, however you achieve more wood feeling with the carbon.

Inner Layer composites are positioning the layer above the core layer, with two plies of wood on top. The Santoru KL-c Inner blade is a perfect example.

The double wood plies on top of the composite offer a cushioning for the ball, creating optimal touch and added control while maintaining the presence of the carbon fiber properties to add extra kick.

These blades are great for players who like higher arc on the ball, more spin feeling and a lot of variance in their game, while still relying on the carbon fibers to add some sting to the ball contact. It is important to note that while these blades don’t necessarily have the same direct impact into the ball contact, they are by no means slow blades and still have great speed.

Other Elements to Consider:

Of course while there are some differences between blades based on the positioning of composite layers – there will always be many other variances depending on wood types and combinations and the different types of carbon composite and thicknesses of layers.

This hopefully serves as a general guide to give a basic understanding of what you might expect in differences between inner and outer layer composite table tennis blades.

I was using the Santoru KL-c Inner blade for a little while and recently decided to switch to something that I could get a more crisp and direct contact with, and have such changed to the Zhou Qihao Hyper ARY-c 90 blade which is an outer layer carbon blade.

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How to Manage Travel Fatigue (Psychologically) | Lily Zhang’s Blog https://joola.com/how-to-manage-travel-fatigue-psychologically-lily-zhangs-blog%ef%bf%bc/ Wed, 18 Jan 2023 15:42:56 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=7551 Everyone seems to recognize the importance of physical recovery for elite athletes. It’s universally accepted. And while taking care of your physical body is absolutely crucial, it’s just as fundamental to be acutely aware of how you feel mentally and emotionally, particularly for those with a heavy training and demanding travel schedule. Even at peak […]

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Everyone seems to recognize the importance of physical recovery for elite athletes. It’s universally accepted. And while taking care of your physical body is absolutely crucial, it’s just as fundamental to be acutely aware of how you feel mentally and emotionally, particularly for those with a heavy training and demanding travel schedule. Even at peak physical shape, your psychological wellbeing will always have a direct correlation to how you feel and perform on the court. As a professional athlete that’s constantly on the road for training camps, competitions, and other events, I can offer some tips that have helped me personally recover mentally and emotionally. However, do keep in mind that recovery strategies are highly individualized, and each person has distinctive strategies to match their own needs.

Firstly, I’d suggest taking a step back and evaluating how you feel. And by how you feel, I mean, look for any signs of mental fatigue, such as lack of motivation or energy, increased anxiety, emotional and mood imbalances, and/or low self-confidence. If any of these symptoms begin to show up, it’s worth it to re-examine your routines and create more space and time for psychological recovery. Consider your brain as a muscle that needs just as much time, if not more, to recover as your physical body.

Before you even step foot out, it might be beneficial to do some research on the destination. It can be so daunting to step foot in a vastly different country on the other side of the world. By just allotting even a little bit of time to learn about the intended location, you can mentally prepare for what’s to come and know what to expect upon arrival. Furthermore, you can even research various sights to see, foods you want to try, and activities you want to do in the city. I actually love this because even during moments of extreme travel fatigue and homesickness, I still feel a surge of excitement and anticipation. It’s like being offered a new perspective of gratefulness, a reminder that I have the rare opportunity to consistently experience new places and cultures.

When you finally begin your journey on the road, your day-to-day routine is often thrown off course completely. You’re going to be experiencing jetlag, adjusting to an entirely new environment, and adhering to the organizing party’s schedule. You might feel out of control and your brain doesn’t recognize certain cues or routines that would normally prompt peak performance. Try grounding yourself with habits that allow your brain to take a breather away from the respective sport and associate with certain learned techniques or moments where you feel good. Some habits can range from yoga to watching Netflix to even eating a certain snack. I personally enjoy a light yoga session in the morning or re-watching/reading a favorite show or book. Even small actions like these really help me feel at ease and provide a sense of lightness and familiarity.

Furthermore, the combination of traveling and competing will automatically create stressors on the mind and body. Another effective way to mitigate those stressors is practicing meditation or other specialized relaxation techniques. Meditation is a scientifically proven way to unwind the body and allow the brain to focus on the present moment. You can even add or practice diaphragmatic breathing techniques in order to really focus your mind on the present and be able to relax your entire nervous system. Apps such as Headspace or Breethe can be a great tool for those who are unsure of where to start or want a guided practice.

Finally, and I cannot stress this one enough, do not self-isolate. It can be so difficult to be away from home, from loved ones, and from the comfort of safe and familiar surroundings. Particularly if you feel you’re in a rut or going through a period of tough losses. If you notice yourself slipping into a dark mental state, try your best to reach out and ask for help. Trust me. I’ve been there. I had fully convinced myself that I just needed to be strong and get through things on my own. But I quickly found out that this mindset will only be detrimental to your psychological well-being in the long run. A receptive support system is so vital to creating a safe space and buffering the stress and anxieties that come with sport and even life itself.

Being a professional athlete requires so much physical exertion and training, but there is also so much more to it that’s not exactly visible to the naked eye. At the end of the day, it’s really up to you to invest in your psychological well-being and prioritize how you feel mentally and emotionally. Everyone has different recovery strategies, but take the time to figure out which ones work best for you. Rejuvenate your mind, and your body will follow.  

The post How to Manage Travel Fatigue (Psychologically) | Lily Zhang’s Blog appeared first on JOOLA Global.

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How Do Different Table Tennis Rubber Sponge Properties Impact Your Game | MHTT Blog https://joola.com/how-do-different-table-tennis-rubber-sponge-properties-impact-your-game/ Thu, 29 Dec 2022 16:06:00 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=7689 There are a many different elements to consider when choosing the right table tennis rubber for your game. It’s especially difficult for those players who are transitioning from a recreational ping pong racket to their first custom table tennis racket. One of the key things to learn about is the properties of the sponge layer […]

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There are a many different elements to consider when choosing the right table tennis rubber for your game. It’s especially difficult for those players who are transitioning from a recreational ping pong racket to their first custom table tennis racket. One of the key things to learn about is the properties of the sponge layer in a table tennis rubber, and how they might effect your game or match to your preferences.

In this blog I will talk about some key areas to consider when thinking about the sponge layer of table tennis rubbers – thickness, hardness and density.

Table Tennis Rubber Sponge Thickness

One of the first things that players may want to know is the difference in sponge thickness. For example what is the difference between 2.0 and Max sponge rubbers?

These numbers relate to the thickness of the sponge in millimeters.

Generally thinner sponges are better for developing players and those looking for more control and steadiness in their game. The majority of JOOLA rubbers come in 2.0 or Max which narrows things down and makes it easier to choose. A rubber like JOOLA Samba also has a 1.8 option.

To unlock the maximum potential of a rubber I would definitely personally recommend Max sponge as the best option. With the highest allowable sponge thickness you are able to have greater sponge reactivity.

This means the ball sinks in more in softer sponges to help absorb incoming speed and spin, and has a greater catapult effect in rubbers with medium firm energized sponges with more porous cells.

For defensive players the thicker sponge generally offers greater range, especially for choppers, and can help produce greater spin on the ball, where thinner sponges are great for close and mid range and are super consistent for slowing attacking balls down quickly.

Table Tennis Rubber Sponge Hardness

Generally rubber sponges can be categorized into four main groups – soft, medium, medium-hard and hard.

The majority of players are forehand dominant and prefer to have less hardness on their backhand rubber than their forehand in the topsheet and/or sponge.

Soft sponges offer high levels of control and spin, which helps players looking to develop skills, or build consistency in their game. The more sponge hardness increases, the more speed and power you can build into your shots. Aggressive players often prefer medium-hard or hard sponges on their forehand – and may even have it on both sides of their racket if they attack off both wings. Harder sponges create more power and lower trajectories, which means safety windows over the net are usually lower and require more precision on the player’s part.

Sometimes if you get to very hard sponge levels, the sponges become more dense (which I will cover next) which means you also have to have a very high level of technical ability and play a more physical attacking game.

A good example of a softer sponge rubber is the JOOLA Rhyzen Ice rubber, a fantastic rubber for developing players which has exceptional control and is very consistent. Perfect for blocking and driving, creating good topspin on opening loops and redirection. Of course there is a trade-off and a rubber like Rhyzen Ice with it’s soft sponge doesn’t have too much acceleration or kick and is difficult to generation power on contact.

Table Tennis Rubber Sponge Density

On the flip-side a medium-hard sponge with more catapult, like Dynaryz AGR, can offer great power and even higher levels of spin, but can be much harder to control which places the responsibility upon the player to make the necessary adjustments to strokes and racket angles in order to remain consistent. This is something which requires experience and so often developing players are better off choosing soft to medium sponges.

Density is a third element of table tennis rubber sponges that you need to consider. While the density directly has an impact on the hardness of a rubber, it is more about the ‘cells’ within a sponge. The structure, size and frequency of cells has a major impact on the sponge properties.

Often more dense sponges are less porous, they have less air cells in the sponge. This means the sponge is harder and has less explosion effect. Players can achieve more direct power in their shots by imparting more weight transfer into the ball, so it holds higher power potential – but the responsibility is more upon the player to generate that power. A good example of this kind of sponge is with the JOOLA Golden Tango rubber.

Some sponges are more porous or have larger pores, this is to increase the catapult effect. These sponges often offer a higher arc on the ball and more explosive power from the racket. This means the ball springs off the rubber on contact, presenting less physical strain on the player. These rubbers are great for achieving topspin at different ranges, even further back from the table in counter-loop situations. The JOOLA Hyper Bounce sponge is dynamic in this sense.

In some situations a sponge can be extremely porous, with smaller pores. In this situation the sponge density is lower and offers less catapult effect. These rubbers are great for producing spin and controlling the ball at higher pace. They help increase ‘dwell time’ a common term for the amount of time a ball stays on a rubber to create fiction (of course this is so fractional it’s miniscule anyway).

This graphic shows how different sponge densities affect trajectory

Sponge Selection is Important for Competitive Table Tennis Players

On your journey to figuring out what kind of equipment is best suited to your game, sponge properties are one of the vital pillars of equipment you will need to understand.

Hopefully this small guide to help explain sponge thickness, hardness and density can help you expand your knowledge and increase your chances of finding the types of equipment that you like the most!

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Amy Wang Victorious at WTT Feeder Fort Lauderdale https://joola.com/amy-wang-victorious-at-wtt-feeder-fort-lauderdale%ef%bf%bc/ Thu, 15 Dec 2022 20:05:01 +0000 https://joola.com/?p=7458 Team JOOLA had a highly successful run at the 2022 WTT Feeder Fort Lauderdale event at the Broward Table Tennis Club in Florida, USA. Of the 5 podium events, JOOLA pro players took home 4 of the titles – the Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Amy Wang took home the big […]

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Team JOOLA had a highly successful run at the 2022 WTT Feeder Fort Lauderdale event at the Broward Table Tennis Club in Florida, USA. Of the 5 podium events, JOOLA pro players took home 4 of the titles – the Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Amy Wang took home the big crown with her first WTT Singles Championship.

The Mixed Doubles was the first event to conclude, with the experienced pairing of Lubomir Pistej and Barbora Balazova sweeping the field of competitors to add another title to their stellar careers.

Pistej followed up on the success by also taking the Men’s Doubles crown with countryman Jakub Zelinka, though they had to climb their way back from a 2-1 deficit in their semifinal, and the final stage saw the first two games go to deuce. Close encounters, but a second gold for Pistej in the event.

Lily Zhang and Barbora Balazova paired together again following their debut earlier in the year, where they reached the WTT Contender Muscat final together. The team chemistry held as they overcame Amy Wang and Rachel Sung in a very close 5 game clash.

The Women’s Singles was the star event for Team JOOLA with a number of players competing. Kayla Goodwin exited in the Round of 32 in 6 games to Team JOOLA’s newest member – Reeth Tennison of India. Reeth, along with Tatiana Kukulkova, both made it through to the Quarterfinal Stage before being eliminated by Lily Zhang and Barbora Balazova respectively.

Amy Wang was the star of the show, clinching one of the most closely contended matches of the competition. Slow off the mark and trailing by 2 games, Wang was able to overcome second seed Dina Meshref in the full 7 game span. Under all the pressure she remained as cool and collected as ever in true Amy Wang fashion.

The semifinals saw Team JOOLA advance with Lily Zhang defeating Spain’s Maria Xiao and Amy Wang beating Barbora Balazova.


Zhang sailed through the first three games before Xiao pulled back some momentum, the three time US Olympian regained her foothold on the match in the 6th game and brought it home.

Into the final and everything was on the line for both players.

Wang was devastating on serve return and counters in the rally. While Zhang made her steady openings and looked for quick placements, Wang snapped over the top of the ball – adding a great deal of acceleration and often finding exceptional corner placement.

The games were immensely close as Zhang held small leads, but Amy Wang powered back each time. Wang would win the match in four straight games and claim her first WTT event crown, after playing an outstanding match. Despite the defeat, a humble Lily Zhang smiled brightly in the finalist position on the podium after the match.

A huge congratulations to our JOOLA players for their brilliant results and for really dominating proceedings at this WTT Feeder event!

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