Base Line Tennis

For those who want a smaller version of the lawn tennis, table tennis is the game to consider. Just like tennis, this indoor sport has a ball, two rackets, a net, and 2-4 players. But this is not a boring discussion of the rules of the game. This is all about that all important and ‘largest’ part of table tennisthe table!

The table has specific measurements that need to be met. The length is 2.74 meters (about 9 feet long), the width is 1.525 meters (about 5 feet) and its height is 76 centimeters (30 inches). The surface has two divisions which are divided by a net that stands 6 inches (or 15.2 centimeters).

The material commonly used to make tables for table tennis is Masonite timber. This type of timber is not natural timber. It is engineered using a method called Mason. First, chips of wood are blasted into long fibers. Steam is used on this method. From an elongated form, the wood is then turned into boards. These boards are then applied with pressure and heat, thus ending the process.

Masonite boards are highly bendable, and tensile. Other materials are also used but Masonite wood is considered stable and strong.

The surface of the table, by rule, should yield a 23 centimeter bounce (this should be uniform), when a ball (standard size) is served 30 centimeters high. There should also be uniformity on the color of the surface, with the side lines colored white (with width of 2 centimeters). Aside from these, the coated surface should support very low friction. This is necessary so that the ball can smoothly glide from one end of the table to the other.

There are many different types of main tables in the market today. You do not wanna go out there and start buying the wrong ones. Remember that tables can collapse or can ‘warp’. Warping simply means that the table is unstable and it could bend or bounce. Here are a few types of tables for table tennis that one should browse through before the big purchase:

International Tournament Quality Tables- a few names under this category are Kettler magnum (made in Germany), Joola Atlanta (used in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics) and the Joola Atlanta Olympic, Stiga (Supreme, Elite Roller and Expert Roller), Butterfly (which also has many styles), and the Killerspin (Revolution and Rad).

Institutional Tables- this category offers the same names under the International Tournament Quality Tables: the Kettler tables, Butterfly, Stiga, and Killerspin. Prince makes tables under this category.

Home Recreational Tables- under this: the Kettler (Stockholm Indoor, Topstar XL green and blue, Riga PRO and Classic), Stiga Quickplay 2 and Stiga Instaplay.

Outdoor Tables- the same brand names are available for purchase. There are just variations on the chassis and other specifications. And, of course, as the category name suggests, it is for outdoor use.

Pingpong Tables (Small)- the measurements are 60inches in length, 30 inches in width and the height is 28 inches. These tables are good for small homes that would like to have indoor games.

The last category allows the owner to convert his pool table into a table for table tennis. These are called Conversion tops. Again, the same companies manufacture for the tops.

The table is, literally, the biggest physical part of the sport. So with that in mind, buying the table should also be a big part of the investment. Agree? You must.

Think of the most famous female tennis players of all time. Now, picture their fashionable outfits, most specially their skirts. Makes you want to do an appreciative whistle, huh? Well, do you think your reaction would be the same if their skirts were ankle-length? Or would you scratch your head and wonder ‘what the heck has gone wrong’?

You see, early tennis skirts, WERE long skirts. In the 1800′s it was outrageous to have skirts worn above the ankle. If you have period films in the 1800′s setting, you would be able to observe that most women wore corsets and empire cut dresses. The main purpose of these designs were to ‘hide a woman’s legs!

It was not until 1922 that the skirts became less-restrictive. Thanks to Suzanne Lenglen who showed up in a game wearing the shortest skirt then. She also shed the usual hat that is donned with the outfit. It was not advisable to not wear a hat for tennis games before. It was only in 1930 when a ‘hatless’ head was already accepted, together with a very short skirt.

In 1947, a more fashionable look was introduced by Teddy Tingling. Dior’s sense of fashion inspired the man so he made tennis skirts look more feminine by adding more flair to them. Very soon, aside from the femininity of the tennis skirts, comfort was also prioritized. And since tennis is sports, the outfit that goes with it should serve its purpose.

Modern-day tennis skirts have gone a long way from its predecessors. Most are brilliantly designed to fit the player’s needs, style wants and comfort. They come in many fabrics and colors that women could choose from. Common fabrics are cotton (this is used due to its softness and breathability), nylon (this one is used because of its durability) and spandex (due to its elasticity). The most popular brand of spandex is lycra.

Also a necessary part of choosing skirts is the buyer’s personal style. A serious woman, for instance would not want to go for the loud colored-fabrics or cuts that are sure to turn every head. The flamboyant girl is sure to become a wallflower if she settles for plain fabric and design.

Here are some of the famous manufacturers of top-line tennis skirts:

Reebok- its skirts boast of moisture management which is very essential during a heated match. It also has a wide array of fashionable designs.
Nike
Adidas
Balle De Match
New Balance
LBH (lilys of Beverly Hills)
Tail
Fila
Tretorn
Prince and some imported skirts such as:
Diadora
Bolle

These manufacturers give value to the buyers’ money by giving them style, elegance, and most importantly, comfort. Most can be purchased online, some are fairly-priced while others are a bit on the expensive side. But some might reconsider because the more expensive skirts are promised to last.

There are several online shops that are popular for selling tennis skirts. Try visiting the following:

www.ebay.com
www.midwestsports.com
www.alibaba.com
www.shop.com
Clothing.Apparel-place.net
Clothes.Apparel.Center.net
www.joonr.com
www.bluetwins.com

There is no need to state that tennis skirts are an essential part of the game itself. Before a woman can show her top form, she must first feel comfortable and confident about the way she looks. Bagging that trophy will never happen with drab clothings on! Believe me.

Pay Attention to Your Feet: Choose the Right Tennis Shoes for You

Alice has bright and shiny ruby shoes. Cinderella fits well into her glass slippers. Puss is comfortable in his boots. And, Imelda Marcos owns more than a thousand pairs of footwear and still wants more even though she can only wear them one at a time.

You buy and wear shoes for different reasons. You probably buy shoes whenever theres an occasion or maybe just to replace an old one that you have to retire. Maybe, you just want collect shoes. However, your personality also affects your choice for footwear. If you are the pragmatic type, buying any kind of footwear does not really matter as long as you have something to cover you feet. When you are like Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City, you take any pair of shoes that you fancy off the rack, regardless whether it’s expensive or killing the blood supply on your biggest toe, as long as it looks good on you. But when choosing tennis shoes, you have to consider some factors before parting with one from a store.

Generally, good tennis shoes should not be very hard on your feet. Although it should be hard enough to protect you, it should not be too hard because it will restrict you from comfortably doing lounges, sprints or jumps thus jeopardizing your game. Aside from that, it must be something light too. If it’s heavy, you might miss many hits because you needed to drag your feet to get to wear the ball was. Furthermore, when buying tennis shoes, you should also bear in mind that it has to last. Determine how often you’ll use them and how soon you can replace them in case they already wear out. Allot a budget for good quality durable shoes that can last before you can buy another one. Lastly, you should buy something that fits comfortably well on your feet. If you are not comfortable with them, you will find it hard to focus on your play.

Your tennis shoes must give your feet adequate support considering all the footwork you do in the court. It must also be able to support the sides of your feet. You must know that the surfaces of your feet have different needs, and your feet are unique like the creases and prints on your palm requiring something that is also uniquely suited for you.

Although you may be easily be swayed by the attractive style and color of the shoes, you must first consider whether those shoes are compatible to your foot type. How would you know your foot type? Basically, there are three basic foot types. First, if there is a large space where the arch of your foot didn’t touch, your foot is suppinated. Next, if there are little curves on the imprint of your foot then you are overpronated. Finally, if you have an even imprint on both sides of your foot then your foot is ideal.

Once you know your foot type, it is vital to find a shoe that will fit you. When looking for one, allot about half an inch of space between the biggest toe and the rear of the shoe. Your heel should not slip while still allowing some movement. Most importantly, you should feel a comfortable fit without experiencing any stretching.

Ultimately, when you are buying tennis shoes, it has to fit these three things well: your need, budget, and most especially your feet. Remember that comfort is the most essential factor. At the end of the day, if your feet are happy, you will also be.

The racquet. Without objection, this is a very essential part of the tennis game. Winning or losing could depend on it. That much-coveted tennis trophy could go down the drain if a player is partnered with the ‘wrong’ kind of racquet.

The racquet, or more popularly spelled ‘racket’, is a netted frame with handle. It is used in different sports like tennis, racquetball, squash and badminton. Traditionally, the materials used in making the frame is wood while the net is made by using catgut. But that was a long time ago. Nowadays, the frames are made of synthetic materials like titanium, ceramics (which were mostly white), alloy, or carbon fibre. The net, on the other hand, is now mainly made of nylon.

The first ever tennis racquet was handmade. Only natural materials were used together with the ashe wood frame. It was already during the 70′s that synthetic materials were used for racquet-making. The mother of all synthetic designs was the Wilson T-2000 which had its head wrapped with wires that were designed by Lacoste.

Soon to follow was the first-ever Prince racquet. This spear-headed the birth of racquets with ‘large’ heads and this happened in the 80′s. Then, graphite frames were introduced, too and became famous. But it was the medium-sized racquets that became the initial standard for professional tennis.

There are also models called stretch racquets. These give the player a longer reach. Less tall tennis players could benefit greatly from these. Modern-day racquets now have different sizes for the head, length and also weight. The length for junior players ranges from 21 to 26 inches. 27-27.5 inches are for stronger and bigger tennis players.

The necessary specifications for tennis racquets are:

Size of the head
Length
Weight (while without strings)
Composition
Weight of the ‘swing’
Balance
Width of the beam
Stiffness
Level of power
Speed of the ‘swing’
Pattern of the strings
Tension of the strings

Now, think of the many available tennis racquets in the market today. Some are moderately priced while some are bordering exorbitant. Which would lead one to think: would the price difference in these products spell the difference in a tournament’s result? Are those more expensive products more dependable than the cheap ones?

Here is a list of today’s leading makers of tennis racquets:

Wilson- one of their most popular models is the one used by Venus Williams (model W5 Divine Iris)
Volkl- their racquets are all about control and precision. Their most popular professional tennis racquet model being the Volkl DNX 10.
Yonex- has models that are being used by Lleyton Hewitt and David Nalbandian.
Prince- these racquets include comfort and ease in their ‘racquet science’. They even boast of having some of their racquets as the choice of editors of the Tennis Magazine.
Dunlop- advanced players should have a good grip on their racquets. This is because their products were made with precision and strength.
Gamma
ProKennex
Babolat
Head
Fisher; and
Technifibre

Well, in the end, only the player will be able to tell by the feel of the racquet if a game is ‘winnable’. And if he would like to have a surefire win, then racquet ‘strength’ should be accompanied by hard work, constant practice, and love of the game.