Are you looking for a new table tennis bat but feel completely overwhelmed by the choices? Whether you are just picking up a table tennis bat for the first time or you are a seasoned league player, choosing the right equipment is tough.
With so many blades and rubbers on the market, it is easy to make a costly error. In this post, I break down the three biggest mistakes players make when buying a table tennis bat—tailored specifically for beginners, intermediate, and advanced players.
1. The Beginner Mistake: Buying a Cheap Supermarket Bat
When you are just starting out, spending a lot of money feels risky. So, many beginners make the mistake of picking up a cheap £5 bat from a supermarket or a non-specialist sports shop.
While the price is amazing, the quality is not.
Why these bats hurt your game:
- Little Friction: The rubber on these bats has almost no grip.
- No Spin: When you try to learn a proper topspin, the ball will simply slide off the bat and end up in the net.
- Halts Your Development: It acts almost like an “anti-spin” bat. That is fine if you just want to pat the ball over the net at a garden party, but it will actively stop you from developing proper technique.
What to buy instead:
Invest a little more in a ready-made beginner bat from a specialist table tennis retailer. These usually cost between £30 and £50.
For example, I often recommend the Bribar Winning Loop bat (which features a Tibhar Absolute Allround blade and Friendship 729 rubbers). It is still a relatively slow bat – which is useful for beginner players who need plenty of control – but it allows you to generate decent topspin and backspin, and execute spinny serves.
All table tennis retailers will sell something similar. So buy from these shops, rather than a supermarket.
2. The Intermediate Mistake: Buying the Fastest Bat You Can Find
As an intermediate player, your confidence is growing. You want power. So, you online and choose the absolute fastest blade and high-speed rubbers available.
This is a big mistake. You are simply not ready for it yet.
I found this out the hard way. Back in 2008, I bought my first custom-made bat. I convinced myself I was a fast, attacking player, so I bought the fastest bat possible. My shots were incredibly fast – but unfortunately, almost none of them landed on the table! My technique wasn’t ready. Months later, during a training session, I suddenly started playing much better. All my shots were landing. When I looked down at my hand, I realised I had accidentally grabbed my older, slower bat. That was the moment I realised my fast bat was destroying my consistency.
What to buy instead:
Intermediate players do need something faster than a beginner bat, but crucially still need control. You want a setup that isn’t too bouncy or “catapult-heavy,” where the ball flies off the rubber with little effort.
- The Blade: Go for an all-wood option like the TIBHAR Felix Lebrun ALL. It offers great control while still allowing you to build an attacking game.
- The Rubbers: Look for controllable rubbers like the TIBHAR Evolution series (EL-P, EL-S, FX-P, or FX-S). Keep the sponge thickness moderate—around 1.7-1.8mm or 1.9-2.0mm – to keep the ball control manageable.
I appreciate this very generalised advice. At the intermediate level there are a lot of different playing styles. Some players are more attacking. Other players are more defensive. To get a tailored recommendation please use my bat recommendation tool or you can get a fully personalised recommendation if you join Tom’s TT Academy.
3. The Advanced Mistake: Changing Equipment Every Single Week
For advanced players, the biggest mistake isn’t what you buy – it’s how often you switch between different rubbers and blades.
It is incredibly tempting to constantly chase the “holy grail” of equipment, searching for that perfect setup that will transform you into an unstoppable player. However, constantly swapping blades and rubbers damages your game.
Unless you are a pure “equipment junkie” who just loves the hobby of experimenting, changing your bat after a bad match or a poor training session is counter-productive.
95% of what happens in a table tennis match has nothing to do with your equipment. It comes down to your:
- Technique
- Footwork
- Tactics
- Mentality
If you play poorly, look at your technical, tactical, physical or mental game before blaming the equipment.
As an advanced player, you will need to do some experimentation. You have to find a blade and rubbers which suits your style of play. But once you find a setup that you are 90% happy with, stick with it for the next 6 – 12 months, and focus on competing and improving your skills.
For example, this summer I have done a little experimentation with a couple of different blades and rubbers. I have settled on a TIBHAR Felix Lebrun Hyper Carbon blade, paired with TIBHAR Evolution MX-P Infinity on my forehand and TIBHAR Evolution MX-S on my backhand.
I am 90% happy with this set-up and will stick with it for the next few months. No doubt, I will have some good results and some bad results. But when I have a disappointing performance I will resist the temptation to throw the bat away and order new equipment. Instead I will examine my own skills to see what needs improving. You should do the same!
Personalised equipment advice
If you would like personalised equipment advice, I recommend you join Tom’s TT Academy. In my academy, you can ask me anything about rubbers and blades and I will respond with my recommendations. You may also get recommendations from other academy members too.
In addition to equipment advice, you will also get access to a wide range of exclusive coaching content, including
- in-depth courses
- training drills
- tactical toolkit
- video analysis
- live sessions
- fitness videos
- robot training videos
- member discussions
- pro match analysis
- skill challenges
- and lots more!
You can access all this content for less than £1 per week. New content is added regularly. Join hundreds of table tennis players around the world today at www.tomsttacademy.com