Concept

At Pensar, we’re typically working on a variety consumer and medical technologies, allowing us to dive deep and craft a product from the ground up.  During these long stretches of work, often measured in years, we get inspired by the everyday objects around us.  Every so often, we’ll pursue an object as a study to allow us to experiment with process, interaction, form, or finish.  The ping pong paddle shown here is purely an industrial design concept.

While not ITTF* compliant, it’s a paddle we would love to build and take for a spin.  As an object, we were initially drawn to the fact it is clearly divided into two distinct zones:  tool (paddle portion) and the human contact area (handle).  We wanted to explore what it would be like to blend the two zones, and utilize texture as the indicator of function. The texture of the pips is heaviest in the center then fades as it moves away to create a gentler grip and eventually a completely smooth reverse side.

We understand changing the pip pattern will impact the ball contact dynamics, but in this exercise we’re playing with the design variables.  The texture on the handle gives the player tactile feedback as to which side of the paddle is in play – smooth or textured.

A ping pong paddle in its purest form is a flat circular surface with a handle. We flexed the surface to create a sense of continuity between the sides.  The pips are an iconic part of the paddle we kept, but used an algorithm to alter the spacing, visually concentrating the power in the center of the paddle.

Combining the disciplines of Industrial Design, Mechanical, Electrical, and Software Engineering, Pensar develops robust products that exceed expectations and are ready for the real world.  Contact us to discuss how we can help on your next project.