Think it doesn't matter if your paddle is dirty? Better think again. You're going to find some tips for cleaning your paddle as well as some other things to help improve your game.

You don't need anything really fancy for cleaning your paddle. Just some plain water and a soft sponge will do for general cleaning and dusting. At the end of the match you might want to do a little more fancy cleaning to get rid of the more deeply seated dirt and the oils that accumulate on your paddle from your skin.

There are specially made cleaners that come out of cans just for this purpose. They are expensive but worth it. If you're on a tight budget and can't afford the good stuff you can clean your paddles cheaply by using a drop of dishwashing detergent. Make sure you use a brand that is non abrasive like Ivory.

What you do is take a drop of the liquid and put it on the blade. Then add a few drops of water. Then take the corner of your sponge and rub the solution into the surface of the rubber. After you're done, rinse the sponge and wipe the blade and handle off completely so that there is no soap left on it. You're going to have to rinse the sponge several times while doing this procedure. After you're done, shake the blade dry. Don't dry with a towel or any kind of cloth. You'll end up getting fibers in the blade.

Cleaning your racket is only part of keeping it in good shape. Make sure that you have a sturdy case for your racket to keep it in. Also, make sure you keep the case as clean as possible. Don't leave it out and open for long periods of time. If dirt accumulates inside the case, that dirt is eventually going to end up on your racket.

Keeping your equipment in good clean condition is just as important as being on the top of your game.

While we're on the subject of your paddle, this is something that only the really advanced players do but is something that everyone should do.

For starters, you really need to have more than one type of racket. The reason for this is because each table surface that you play on is going to be different. Some will be more slick than others, meaning the ball will react faster on some surfaces than others. For really fast games you're going to want to use a lighter weight racket that reacts faster.

So, how do you know what kind of table surface you're going to be playing on? One way to find out is to check out your opponent before the game starts. Find out what kind of surface he is practicing on and what kind of racket he's using. If you see he's changing his racket then find out which one he is using. This will give you a good idea of what surface you're probably going to be playing on and can choose your racket to match.

Don't underestimate keeping your racket clean and choosing the right one for the table you'll be playing on. These two tips may make the difference between winning and losing, all other things being equal.