A paddle consists of three parts. The part used to strike is called the "racquet head". In table tennis, it is made of varnished wood, covered with a rubber coating. Between the coating and the wood, it is common to have a thickness of the synthetic foam. There is also the heart of the racquet that connects the handle and the head. The handle is the part with which you hold the racquet; it can be covered with a "grip" adhesive tape, improving grip and absorbing shocks.