cleaning your bat

Table Tennis General

Last updated 4 years ago

saksham sharma Unknown

saksham sharma Unknown Asked 14 years ago

how do i clean my table tennis bat?

Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario Answered 14 years ago

Hi Saksham,

The easiest way is to just use a sponge with a little water on it.  Just wipe down your bat before and after you play.

The main thing is to keep the dust off the rubber.


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Thoughts on this question

Mike Unknown

Mike Unknown Posted 14 years ago

You say it is easier to clean your bat with (tap?) water, but does that really get the rubber clean enough?  Most players seem to use all manner of cleaning products, which suggests you can't rely on just water to get rid of grease, sweat, dust.  To keep your rubbers behaving properly, don't you have to use special products?

Ji-Soo Woo

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 14 years ago

I used to think the same way...but after getting advice from Alois I've started just breathing on my rubbers and wiping it clean with my palm.  I've been cleaning it that way for almost the past year, and haven't noticed any drop off in rubber performance.  Occasionally, probably about once every 3-4 months, I do use a rubber cleaner...but mainly because I still have a bottle lying around.

Mike Unknown

Mike Unknown Posted 14 years ago

Ji-Soo, thanks for your comment - I appreciate it!  I think it comes down to confidence, and I think you have more than me!  I have always wondered if my lack of consistency with mainly forehand topspin shots is due to my skill level (definitely possible!) or the state of my rubbers.  When I do get new rubbers, there is usually a real improvement for a while but it doesn't seem to last, and I end up wondering if they are getting greasy and I'm not cleaning them properly, or whether I make more of an effort with my technique when I KNOW they are new and therefore MUST be OK!  I think you have convinced me to concentrate more on my technique.

One other thing - I keep my bat in a small plastic bag to keep dust etc. off, with the theory that if there were any traces of dust or whatever in the bag, it would either stay there or transfer to the bat and disappear as the bat is cleaned.  Does that sound OK?


Eric DSouza

Eric DSouza Posted 14 years ago

I tend to use rubbing alcohol applied on cotton to clean my rubber sheets after every playing session. Dirt, grime and grease come off very easily and so far I haven't noticed the alcohol effect the playing characteristics of the rubber sheet.. A racket case is a good idea to keep the bat clean but you can also cover the rubber sheets in the paper wrap that comes originally with the rubber sheet or get a set of sticky plastic covers to protect your rubber sheets.

Ji-Soo Woo

Ji-Soo Woo Posted 14 years ago

Mike

I use cut-out transparencies on my rubbers.  I change these about as often as I change rubbers as they get dirty after a while.  I guess a plastic bag might be okay but you have to make sure it is quite clean inside.  Also, I wonder if the air in the paper bag would be harmful...anyone?  If you are worrying about how to take good care of your rubber, I suspect your rubbers are in good condition.  A lot of people don't care at all.  Just be careful about dirt and grime building up on your rubbers and then keep working on your technique.  Good luck!

Eric

I wonder if using alcohol to clean your rubbers regularly wouldn't dry them out too much?


Eric DSouza

Eric DSouza Posted 14 years ago

Hey Ji-Soo,

So far, I have been using the alcohol cleaning method for about 2 months, and the rubber sheets play really nice so far. I keep the rubber cuttings from when I glued the rubbers when brand new for comparison as I also had doubts about this method at first, but so far they seem to be relatively the same. The only deterioration I have noticed is the one which happens due to normal wear and tear.

Please note that I use alcohol to clean the rubber sheets only at the end of each playing session and not in between games, the old breath and palm technique works nice for me, just don't wear a ring when you wipe the rubber sheet with your palms :D. 


Kronos Chow

Kronos Chow Posted 14 years ago

I too use water with sponge to clean my bat.

 Anyway, how do you clean a pimpled rubber effectively?


Piers Grey

Piers Grey Posted 14 years ago

You clean a pimpled rubbered bat by liturally, getting a toothbrush wet (as though you are going to clean out your mouth after you've used the toothpaste) and brush over with the toothbrush onto your pimpled rubber.

What this does is pull out all the dirt, grime and sweat out of the bat, making the rubber more effective and responsive to use during a game.   


Jason Ferdinand

Jason Ferdinand Posted 7 years ago

How to make the rubber dry again? You have to let it dry itself? Or you have to use sponge / fabric / what to wipe it?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

Just let it dry naturally.


Jason Ferdinand

Jason Ferdinand Posted 7 years ago

Ok. Thanks coach


Aashay Shailesh

Aashay Shailesh Posted 4 years ago

How to remove moisture from a TT bat??

 


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 4 years ago

Just wipe it with a dry cloth.  Often you can use your shirt or shorts.


Aashay Shailesh

Aashay Shailesh Posted 4 years ago

Thanks coach!

 


knarf ... from France

knarf ... from France Posted 4 years ago

I read on internet, that you could use sunflower oil. Using a paintbrush... I found it a bit surprising. So I trust that this is the right place to ask if this is a hoax or true?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 4 years ago

I would rather that you didn't use it.

It is not effective and it is also illegal.


knarf ... from France

knarf ... from France Posted 4 years ago

OK thanks coach!



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