Custom graphic ping pong paddles

I just noticed.....so, the image is right under the rubber? meaning you can see the image right through the rubber? Dude, you're selling at the wrong crowd....most people who posts here are mainly those who are playing the game competitively, and also those who are considering to take the game seriously. FYI, there's a two colour rule for competitive table tennis (i.e. must be red on one side and black on the other). Also, the rubber must be approved by ITTF, the governing body of the sport. These products may appeal to basement players or purchased as a novelty....but I must say that the price is a little too high. Most of us can get good quality blades that can be used competitively at those prices.

In any case, I wish you good luck for your business.

idahowinger wrote: look better than ANYTHING out there.

More beautiful than this?

I am sorry mate, I think you came to the wrong forum.

Good luck

I've spent thousands of dollars too....on EJ-ing! hehe! 

idahowinger wrote: In my opinion, yes. Much better than that. I know the rules; red/black, diff colors each side, yada yada....that's not my target client. I guess I was wrong to come to a forum like this. I'm assuming most here are playing or want to play at the competitive levels. That's great. I'm marketing to those that just want this to be a fun sport again. That isn't this crowd. Most of you seem to take this way too seriously. I'm not here 'pimping' my paddles per say, although I thought this was the place to tell people about TT products. Didn't know the P.C. TT police would shoot me down for having a product that looks good and plays well. Thanks to all who said kind things. Maybe the pricing is a bit high. Sounds like it from the comments. Very good to know. Thanks for that little bit of info. All the best.

The sport we all advocate is fun and friendly. It is also very competitive and serious. I must inform you that most of us have a low tolerance to it being related to just a "game" in a basement because so many of us put everything we have(money included ) into table tennis. We want the game to be played and taken seriously. I am sure we don't mean to be jerks to you it is just that your proposal to this group of of players is simply farfetched and blown way out of proportion. Comparing $200+ bats to a blade that is "similar to that of stiga" is not what we are looking for. I appreciate your efforts but i can assure you no one here is looking for yoda on thier rubber for a competitive, serious, friendly game.

idahowinger wrote: In my opinion, yes. Much better than that. I know the rules; red/black, diff colors each side, yada yada....that's not my target client. I guess I was wrong to come to a forum like this.

Possibly.  But mostly the thing you did wrong was respond to criticism poorly.

And calling everybody else's racket ugly, calling competitive players snobs and suggesting that somehow competitive play isn't fun is a poor approach in any table tennis forum.

BTW, having a picture on or under the rubber can certainly be fun.  But let's face it, that kind of fun wears thin fairly quickly.

idahowinger wrote: I'm assuming most here are playing or want to play at the competitive levels. That's great. I'm marketing to those that just want this to be a fun sport again. That isn't this crowd. Most of you seem to take this way too seriously.

No.  Most of us take the sport at an appropriate level of seriousness.

idahowinger wrote: I'm not here 'pimping' my paddles per say, although I thought this was the place to tell people about TT products. Didn't know the P.C. TT police would shoot me down for having a product that looks good and plays well.

There are no TT Police here.  Just people that want you to substantiate your claims about playability.  If you had been able to come back and substantiate your claims with something like, "My blades play like a mid-quality all-round blade and the rubber is somewhat like 729-FX" or something similar, you would have garnered much greater forum cred.

As it sits, I suspect most of us figure your paddles will probably play about as well as a $25 Stiga premade.

idahowinger wrote: Thanks to all who said kind things. Maybe the pricing is a bit high. Sounds like it from the comments. Very good to know. Thanks for that little bit of info. All the best.

Bring your paddle to a USATT club in your area.  Ask a few players to try them out and tell you how they play.  Then you can report on the real playability.

Oh - here's an idea.  Market the paddles as "trophies" for tournament wins.  I don't know about everyone else here, but I certainly wouldn't mind a paddle with tournament logo as an alternative to a shiny trophy.

I think there is potential value in your product.  It appears to be unique.  My advice to you is to listen more and to be less defensive.

Maybe you should check out tabletennis.about.com with a different attitude and see what kind of feedback you get.  That is another group of competitive types.  Make sure you wear a thick skin and listen to the feedback for potential opportunities.

Oh - one more thing.  Is the picture on both sides or one side?  For something like a trophy paddle or a custom paddle you could offer the paddle with graphics on one side only at a lower cost or two sides for a higher cost.

Can a customer mix "Touch" and "Heat" rubber to have a combo racket?  Can a customer have two pictures on one racket?

I kind of thought that's how I started out. Now It seems not. I really do apologize for offending anyone here. Not my intent at all. I love the 'game' of pong and can appreciate it as a sport. It's a fantastic thing, whatever you call it and wherever you play it. I guess I'm forgetting that TT is so many different things to so many different people. For that I am sorry. I meant no offense.

Some quick info:
The rubber is clear. That is what took me on my wild ride to start this business. It's not cheap.  It really works.  Maybe not up to the standards of a 200 dollar paddle but I've never claimed that it does. The blade is 5ply normal grade wood. Wish I could get better blades made but for now, and trying to keep costs down that's what I have.  Basically, they are all around good paddles that look good. The image shows during play, hence the clear rubber. that was my goal. I'm always looking for ways to improve so over time I'm sure the blades and rubber will get better. But for now, good paddles that look cool. Corporate logos, girlfriends, naked chicks...I'm making them all.  Just did one for a guys bachelor party. Had a great pic of him and all his mates on each side. Gave one to each groomsmen.

All the best.

Just sell blades without those things that make it fast and stuff. Just make all wood blades that are not playable with pictures. That way they can be just decorations at home.

Actually, if you would consider selling one blade for very cheap "trial" purpose to one of the member here who then could try it and give review of it, it would be great...

Or, if you send a free sample, he then can send it to whoever wants to try your blade. Who knows, after trying it out we would know about the playability of your products...

If I were living in the states I would certainly give it a try for you...

I would buy something like it if it were less expensive and I was more sure about playability. Maybe you should try out a rubber from zeropong or colestt.com to compare yours. 

idahowinger wrote: I never took ping pong players to be such snobs. Some of you have been nice and I thank you for your words. For the others, well these paddles are NOT for you. I'm wanting TT to be fun again. Maybe it's the 'basement' mentality some of you have mentioned. I'm not looking to play in tournements and win money. I'm looking for a good all around paddle that doesn't look like a big piece of crap. EVERY paddle I see that is mass produced looks like crap. Plain and simple. The graphic is UNDER the rubber so it never interferes with play. For now the blade is your average 5 ply with the normal shape/size/weight. Thing of a Stiga type. Not a graphite/composite/what have you blade. Something the normal guy can afford and also add his own unique look to. That's it. Geeze....Like them or don't. that's up to you. But can any of you honestly say (taking the rules aside) that these paddles do NOT look better than anything you have seen? Come on now. Forget the rules. Live by your own. Thank you for listening.�

LOL, I'm sure the guys are just being honest. I mean it is a cool idea but, I don't need a pretty paddle to win the game. I don't need a cool graphics paddle for me to like the game.
And most of all, I really doubt that people who never tried TT suddenly wanna try TT out because they saw a pretty paddle =)

"LOL, I'm sure the guys are just being honest. I mean it is a cool idea but, I don't need a pretty paddle to win the game. I don't need a cool graphics paddle for me to like the game.
And most of all, I really doubt that people who never tried TT suddenly wanna try TT out because they saw a pretty paddle =)"

That's really not the point. When I lived at the beach I would surf, 99% of the surfboards were custom painted with cool designs and images. Didn't help the surfer a bit. it's just fun to have something different to play with. When I made my first demo paddle, a very evil looking Darth Vader one, my friends and old co workers went nuts.  It's just something new and different looking.
Same goes with most sports/games. There is lots of customization going on in most sports nowadays. Why not TT?