The equipment in your training hall directly affects training quality. Too few tables — queues and wasted time. Bad balls — players pick up bad spin habits. Good equipment doesn't have to be expensive — it has to match the club's needs.
Table tennis tables — how many and which kind
General rule: 3 players per table for drills (rotation: two play, one waits and rotates in), 2 for multiball. For a group of 9 players, 3 tables are enough.
Recreational
Thin top (12–16 mm), unpredictable bounce. Good for introductory sessions and casual play. Not suitable for systematic technical training.
Training
22–25 mm top, consistent bounce. Standard for most Polish clubs. Sufficient to develop players at every level short of national team.
ITTF tournament
ITTF certified, precise bounce. Only needed for official competitions or simulating tournament conditions.
Balls — plastic 40+
Since 2016, plastic (40+) balls have been mandatory. The end of the celluloid era.
- 3-star — for competitions and technical training. Consistent bounce, certified.
- 1-star — for multiball. Cheaper, good enough when you go through 50–100 balls per session.
Buy a basket (50–100 pcs) of 1-star balls for multiball. For sparring and competitions — 3-star only.
Rackets for new players
- A pre-assembled racket, 80–150 PLN — fully glued, ready to play. Optimal for beginner groups.
- Blade + rubbers bought separately (from around 200 PLN) — lets you swap rubbers without buying a new blade. For more advanced players.
- For children under 10: check that the size fits their hand — a racket that's too big makes learning grip technique harder.
Nets and posts
An often-overlooked element. A net with uneven tension or the wrong height (standard: 15.25 cm) disrupts training. Check tension regularly — especially after moving tables.
Multiball robot — is it worth it
A machine costs around 500 PLN and up. For a small club, a basket with a coach is usually better — the coach can watch and give feedback at the same time. A machine is useful when a player wants to train individually without a partner.
Keep a record of club equipment: who borrowed a racket, when rubbers were replaced, when balls were bought. Club equipment disappears and wears out faster than you'd think.