Archive for October, 2009

How To Find A Good Outdoor Ping Pong Table

Saturday, October 31st, 2009
by Andy Zain

When buying an outdoor ping pong table, you want to make sure it is the right type before making a final decision on which one you get. If you buy a wood table you may have problems with too much humidity surrounding your table. This could ruin the table if it was meant to be used inside.

Generally, the best outdoor tables are aluminum tables. These will give extraordinary protection against warping and water damage. You can keep these tables, when they are waterproofed, in any type of environment. There is also a waterproof coating that can be placed on wooden ping pong tables that make them suitable for play outside in any weather too. The higher the cost of materials used in the construction of the table, the more you will have to pay when you buy one. Synthetic and metal tables are generally more expensive than wooden tables.

One important aspect to look into when buying a ping pong table is the bounce that you get with the table. Indoor wooden tables often have a different bounce than is found on outdoor metal tables. If you are a serious ping pong player, this may make a big difference in your choice. If you are just looking for a table that will last for many years in the elements of your backyard, then you will want to look into the most durable tables available without worrying too much about the type of bounce that you will get.

For any kind of table that you get, it is always a good idea to get a cover for it. When you put a tarp or a specially designed cover over your table, you keep it safe from the elements and the sun. This is important for any table, because you want to protect the surface from warping from the sun’s heat. A table can also fade over time when exposed to the sun consistently.

If you choose a metal table, then you will have to expect the table to have a slower bounce than a standard indoor table. Also, the spin will generally be less on metal tables.

Another factor that you will want to take into consideration is the weatherproofing of the legs on the table. Some designs come with special weatherproofed exteriors for the legs. This can be great in keeping your ping pong table in great shape for many years to come.

If you want to keep the playability of an indoor table when playing outside, then one good option for you would be to just take an indoor ping pong table outdoors when you want to play outside during good weather. The other times that you don’t want to play outside you could just have it stored inside or setup for indoors play. This way you get the same bounce and playability of an indoor table while getting the benefits of an outdoor table. The differences between an outdoor and indoor table are not really that great though, so you may just want to get a good outdoor table for the ease of having it always setup for you outside.

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What To Look For When Buying An Outdoor Ping Pong Table

Thursday, October 29th, 2009
by Andy Zain

When buying an outdoor ping pong table, you want to make sure it is the right type before making a final decision on which one you get. If you buy a wood table you may have problems with too much humidity surrounding your table. This could ruin the table if it was meant to be used inside.

Aluminum tables are the standard when it comes to outdoor play. These tables are great because they are very durable. They will resist warping and moisture fairly easily. These are generally designed specifically for outdoor play. If you want a wood table, then you will want to check out wood tables with special coatings for making them playable outdoors. The coating will keep them water proofed to protect them from any level of moisture they may face. If you want to ensure that your table will be safe outdoors, then you will probably want to look into ping pong tables that are synthetic, but designed to withstand the elements outdoors. Whichever type of table you choose, you will have to pay more for tables that utilize better materials.

When purchasing a table for outdoor use, you want to get a table that has a similar bounce on the surface compared to the bounce that would be found on indoor tables. If you are a serious ping pong player, this will be important. If you care more about durability though, you will want to look into special design features that help keep your table safe.

For any kind of table that you get, it is always a good idea to get a cover for it. When you put a tarp or a specially designed cover over your table, you keep it safe from the elements and the sun. This is important for any table, because you want to protect the surface from warping from the sun’s heat. A table can also fade over time when exposed to the sun consistently.

If you choose a metal table for its durability, then you should expect the bounce to be slightly slower than indoor tables. The spin can also be somewhat less on these types of tables.

Another important aspect for a ping pong table is the sturdiness of the legs. By having waterproofed legs on your table, the table will last longer and stay rust free over its lifespan.

Another great option if you are only planning on using your table outside occasionally, is to buy a ping pong table that is designed for indoor use and then only take it outside when the weather is nice. Then you will have all of the same features that standard indoor tables have, while also keeping your table safe from the weather.

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Factors To Consider When In The Market For A Ping-Pong Table

Thursday, October 29th, 2009
by Andy Zain

Thinking about a ping-pong table? Well, depending on your wallet, dedication and seriousness, there is much to consider.

If you’re someone who takes it seriously, your considerations for buying a table will not be the same as someone who’s buying for a family with youngsters.

Aside from your approach to playing, other factors exist, too. These include the thickness of the tabletop, the table’s sturdiness, and tabletop surface. You’ll also want to consider its storability, too.

Regardless of all these factors, spending a lot of money on a table isn’t necessary. If you buy a cheaper table, you’ll have fewer worries about how roughly it might be treated. Of course, your goal is not to break the table, but a less expensive table won’t concern you so much.

On the other hand, if you or someone else begins to have a more serious approach to the game, then your approach might change. A more expensive table that requires more care or maintenance might be more prudent.

If your house or apartment doesn’t have much room, then you might want to buy a fold-up table. One with rollers that can be folded easily by one person and rolled into the closet or corner for storage.

If you don’t worry about space, then it’s not necessary to buy a foldable table. A good idea, though, regardless of a table’s storability, is buying a table with rollers. Again, it might be unnecessary, but it’s a good idea in case of convenience.

The next consideration is the thickness of the tabletop. Serious players argue that a thickness of 1 inch is the only way to go. For the less serious ping-pong player, a tabletop with a thickness of three-fourths of an inch is quite satisfactory.

The thicker table is more expensive, of course. Usually, much more so, yet the difference in play is not too noticeable unless you’re a serious player. Therefore, unless you are serious, the difference play due to thickness is not worth the overwhelming difference in price.

You should always buy a sturdy table, though, regardless of how much you spend or how thick the tabletop is. This is especially true if buying with kids in mind. The more durable the table, the less you’ll be concerned when kids treat it roughly.

In the end, all that matters should be your satisfaction with the table. The table you buy should have a smooth, even finish. No patches or rough spots, either. And make sure the bounce of the ball is consistent, too - about 9-10 inches in height when dropped from about a foot off the table.

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Rio De Janerio Becomes First South American City To Host Olympic Games

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
by Ross Everett

South America will host the Summer Olympic Games for the first time in 2016, as Rio De Janeiro, Brazil was awarded the honor on Friday. Rio beat out the US choice of Chicago, Illinois along with Tokyo, Japan and Madrid, Spain to earn the right to host the games. Despite a high pressure effort from the American power elite–ncluding President Barak Obama and TV gabfest queen Oprah Winfrey–Chicago was the first city eliminated from contention. Tokyo was the next to go, before Rio got the nod over Madrid in the final round of balloting.

Bookmakers offered odds on the host city choice, with Rio listed as second favorite at +200. Chicago had been the wagering favorite at most books, particularly after President Obama got involved personally in the US bid effort. Chicago was bet as high as a -300 favorite, while Madrid and Tokyo were priced in the +250 range. Some suggest that Tokyo didnt deserve to have such short odds, but was the beneficiary of regional pride from the notoriously enthusiastic betting population of Japan.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, got the better of his US counterpart with a passionate speech that stood in marked contrast to Obamas typically baleful collection of talking points. The Brazilian leader stressed the unfairness that South America had never hosted the games in his speech to the committee;

“It is a time to address this imbalance. It is time to light the Olympic cauldron in a tropical country.”

The Olympic committee was apparently swayed by this presentation and paid no mind to Rios many downsides. It is without a doubt the most dangerous of the finalist cities, where drug cartels and armed bands of thugs roam without impunity. Well do to Rio citizens are used to removing watches and jewelry before they drive anywhere lest they be targeted by carjacking brigands. Rios murder rate is also one of the highest in the world. Brazilian bid officials have stressed that security will be a priority at the games and it better be lest the Olympics turn into a bloodbath.

Some IOC members suggested that the summary dismissal of Chicagos bid was more of a rebuke of the notoriously corrupt USOC. The last two Olympics held in the US were tainted by crime and corruption. The 1996 Atlanta Olympics were disrupted by a terrorist bombing, while the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games were marred by a well known bribery and corruption scandal.

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Tennis Injuries

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009
by Samuel Eagle

When it comes to playing tennis, you must be aware of several things. Our bodies are prone to so many different potential injuries thus it is very important to be careful about how you play so that you can avoid as many injuries as possible. Having said that, even the most careful tennis player will likely experience some form of injuries at some stage. Learning how to avoid most injuries and which are the most common ones will give you the added advantage for a fast treatment, which will ultimately lead to a quicker recovery process

The number one most common type of injury that occur to a tennis player is Tennis Elbow. This is an injury that occurs to the upper arm on the inside close to the elbow itself. This tends to create problems with the way that you use your arm overall and it can be painful and if you are not careful you can badly injure your arm even further. The best way to prevent this in my opinion is some rest as well as ensure that you are stretching thoroughly both before and after any game that you play. Even if you are only playing for a short period of time, you should always stretch in order to avoid such injury.

Tendinitis will be another common injury. There are several forms of Tendinitis that tennis players can have and these include Shoulder Tendinitis, Rotator Cuff tendinitis, Achilles Tendinitis and even Wrist Tendinitis. Tendinitis itself is defined as inflammation of the tendons. This means the particular injured area of the tendons have become inflamed, irritated or even swollen. The treatment for this type of injury would be to rest and the amount of time it takes for tendinitis to heal generally varies individual from individual. It can be anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks.

Osteoarthritis that occurs in the knee would be considered another common form of injury. This resulted over years of huge amount of impact on the knees and so it is very important to ensure that you have a strong pair of knees and the type of shoes that you are wearing should be also designed for this high impact activities. If you wear shoes without proper cushioning and do not take good care of your knees then you are at a much higher risk for osteoarthritis.

You need to always keep in mind that most tennis injuries are either acute or cumulative. This means that either they occur over time due to the prolong use of your body in playing tennis or they may occur suddenly due to trauma. Regardless of the exact type of injury, you should take the necessary precautions and these includes wearing the appropriate sports wear and protection guards like a pair of good tennis shoes, elbow guards and wrist guards etc. In doing so, you will avoid as many injuries as possible.

It is also a good idea to look into finding a good sports medicine doctor that can work with you in the event that you get an acute injury such as a Torn Rotator Cuff, Shoulder Dislocation or even an Achilles Tendon Rupture. Administrating proper treatment to injuries quickly is very important, so knowing exactly who you will be seeing in the event of an injury is a must and this will help you to stay as safe and healthy as possible and continue to enjoy this beautiful game.

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Good Football Exercises

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
by Jason Myers

Being a strength and conditioning specialist and former aid at the University of Georgia I can say to you that kettle bell strength training is where its at when it comes down to the end result. Test the following 3 kettle bell lifts that should be a necessity in your strength course!

1. The Kettle bell Swing: This is the starting point strength endurance lift that is perfect for overall conditioning and increasing incredible core strength. This lift is done by you wavering the bell from between your legs up to chest level. The pulling motion of swinging the iron bell incorporates hundreds of muscles and challenges your cardiovascular system more than anything you have attempted with in other form of weightlifting.

You must perform a hip snap motion by contracting and extending at both your hips and knees in a continuous and fluent action in order to build the necessary drive to execute this lift. This hip drive is essential for the game of football!

2. The Single Arm Overhead Kettle bell Snatch: This special lift is ghastly in it’s intensity! This is possibly at the top of the lifts for maximum kettle bell workouts. This lift is performed by correctly executing an explosive hip snap motion once again. But, you are only lifting the kettle bell with a single arm and letting the bell to vertically fly up in front of your body by pulling your elbow high and lateral to your head. Once it reaches this high point laterally to your head then you complete the snatch by punching your palm to the sky shutting out both your elbow and shoulder into rest. This particular lift is marvellous for developing explosive leg power, core strength, and shoulder stability!

3. The Kettle bell Front Squat: For this kettle bell drill you can utilize a single bell or two bells of equal weight. Starting from the floor between your legs just clean the kettle bells to your chest. Ensure that your squat stance is firm and stable. From here simple do a front squat going down until your elbows meet your knees. This is how you know you possess good depth in the squat. Ensure that you include all three of these lifts into your kettle bell workout routines for optimal fitness and athletic routine. Train hard and enjoy my friend!

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Get Ready for the Nike Air Courtballistec 2.3

Monday, October 19th, 2009
by James Catalanos

The Nike Air Max Courtballistec 2.3 is officially on the way. Nike has announced its plans to coordinate the release of the sneaker with the 2010 Australian Open, and this much anticipated sneaker is sure to be a top seller in athletic apparel stores nationwide.

The Nike Courtballistec 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 have all been known to be some of the best tennis sneakers on the market. The logic would only follow that Nike releases a newer version of this sneaker, and it looks like the specs of the Nike Courtballistec 2.3 will be more impressive than the last version.

As far as the look goes, it’s actually somewhat retro in the sense that it looks like certain Nike tennis sneakers form the 1990s. The Nike Air Max Courtballistec 2.3 will feature a blue/white/grey color combo and the swoosh looks like it’ll be black.

The performance of the Nike Air Courtballistec 2.3 will also be top notch. Already known as one of the best tennis sneakers on the market, Nike has taken things one step further in the comfort and quality department.

These sneakers will grip the tennis court like no others in the Courtballistec series. Some improved treading in the Nike Air Max Courtballistec 2.3 will allow for top performance on a variety of surfaces. Both hard court and clay court players will find something to like about these due to the sneaker’s flexibility.

As far as the feel of them goes, we haven’t tried them on yet, but it does look like Nike has listened to the few critics who said the Courtballistec 1.3 fit too tight. The Nike Air Max Courtballistec 2.3 will have some more breathing room than its older versions.

Additionally, the springtime will probably bring us the launch of the sneaker in some new colors. It should be exciting to see what Rafael Nadal chooses to wear when he plays in the French Open. We’re guessing it’ll be a flashy version of these.

Nike is also offering a 6-month warranty on the sneakers, agreeing to send them back should they fall apart on any tennis player within that span.

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Can Roddick Find a Slam in New York?

Monday, October 12th, 2009
by Miles Redick

This is a critical time in Andy Roddick’s tennis career as he prepares for the upcoming US Open.

After a strong showing at the Wimbledon 2009 tournament, Andy Roddick is back to top form. He’s spent countless hours each week focusing on keeping his body in the best shape possible, and Roddick’s tennis has markedly improved as a result.

At the same time, Roddick is aging and the clock is ticking on his career. His role in men’s tennis is crucial right now, as he’s really the only player who stands a chance to bring the US its first grand slam since Roddick captured the championship in 2003.

Roddick is older than all of the men’s top 5 tennis players, with the exception of the world’s top-ranked player, Roger Federer. And as far as Federer’s concerned, he’s playing better tennis than he has in quite some time, as he’s experienced a revival of his own.

Roddick came oh so close to winning Wimbledon 2009, taking Roger Federer the distance and nearly defeating him in the 5th set to strip the crown away from the kind of the grass.

Realistically, he might only have seven legitimate chances left in his career. By the end of 2011, he’ll be on the verge of 30 years old, which might as well be 60 in tennis years.

Roddick showed the tennis world what he’s capable of doing. At this point, it’s all in his hands to prove that it wasn’t a fluke. Many write it off since Rafael Nadal sat out from Wimbledon with injury. Nadal, the defending champion, probably would have emerged from Roddick’s half of the draw, say critics.

There would be no better place for Roddick to win than in front of a home crowd in New York. Time will tell if he has what it takes.

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A Story About Juan Martin Del Potro

Friday, October 2nd, 2009
by Ruben Dallak

August 12th, 2009 was a beautiful, sunny Wednesday morning in Canada. Because I worked at the Rogers Cup, I got access to the grounds and had specially requested the day off so I could go see all the professionals’ practices. It was really a rich schedule with the top ten competing throughout the day.

At eleven that morning, a pal and I headed over to Court 4 where the world’s No.1, Roger Federer, was due to get there at 11:30am. Already filled with roughly several hundred people, there was hardly any room to move.

As the time approached, the place was packed with people who anxiously waited to get a glimpse of the Swiss Maestro. With the sun soaring at 35 degrees celsius, we watched him warm up and we saw him hitting balls. To be frank, it was somewhat ordinary and was supposed to go on for two hours.

So, gradually, we move outside the crowd and arrive at an open space. I glance up at Court 4 on the far side to see a tall, lanky competitor clad in a pink Nike T-shirt and white shorts pounding a few balls. I look closer and indeed came to see it was Juan Martin Del Potro.

As he arrived at the exit gate, there had been 6 fans waiting for him to earn his autograph and he did sign. As he signed my picture and went on to my pal, I told him “I wish you the best of luck in your match today.”

Del Potro turned to me and had a big grin on his face and insisted “Thank you so very much for your support.” He seemed like he was extremely pleased about what I had told him.

As he won the US Open this week, the irony of this scenario just came to my mind. The fact that basically nobody was there to watch him and Federer had a ton of people. Every now and then, it’s easier to be left alone than to be relentlessly followed.

Del Potro played a tremendous match this week and is entirely worthy of his championship. Vamos!

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