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Now that summer is almost in full swing, it’s starting to look a lot like a game of ping-pong. Table tennis is one of the easiest sports to play with the whole family. You don’t have to be very comfortable to play with it, and the table itself can be easily stowed away when not in use.
We have selected a variety of outdoor and indoor tables in various price ranges and in our opinion these are the best models for most hobbyists and casual gamers.
While a ping pong table is ultimately just a hard surface with a grid in the middle, not all ping pong tables are the same. In fact, you may be wondering why some ping pong tables sell for around £150 while others go up to £800.
There are several good reasons for this, but the most important consideration is the thickness of the table top, as it alone determines how hard and how accurately the ball bounces.
The tops of inexpensive ping pong tables are thin and can warp easily, unless they warp when you take them out of the box.
But more importantly, the thin tabletop consumes the energy of the ball as if it were bouncing off a piece of cardboard.
In fact, you can hear the difference between thin and thick tops – thin ones sound a little muffled, while thick ones sound tight and punchy.
Cheap ping pong tables are also not made of cheap materials and are often more difficult to assemble because not everything fits together the way it should. They can also wobble on their thin legs when accidentally kicked.
By comparison, a more expensive table (we’re still talking about a reasonable price around £350) will have a thicker playing surface and therefore better rebound. The table will also be completely flat and assembly should be easier.
The standard ping pong table – indoor and outdoor models – measures 9 feet (274 cm) long, 5 feet (152 cm) wide and 2 feet 6 inches (76 cm) high. You can buy thinner, shorter models like the Butterfly model we reviewed below, but they are more difficult to play with, especially if you are a beginner.
Most pros recommend buying indoor tables as they usually have a more responsive playing surface and better rebound.
However, indoor tables are made of wood, chipboard or fiberboard, which can quickly deform even with short-term exposure to sunlight.
Rain is also a common enemy that can penetrate the playing surface and create massive blisters on its surface that can severely damage any indoor table, making it impossible to play on it. However, the main problem with indoor tables is finding a place to place them.
If you don’t live in a big house, chances are you just don’t have room for a ping pong table or room to play unhindered.
Most indoor table tennis tables have a playing surface between 12mm and 25mm thick. Always, the thicker the countertop, the better, and the higher the price – 19mm is a good start.
Considering that most ping pong players just play for fun, we think an outdoor ping pong table is the best option for most people because it can be stored outside and is not exposed to hot sun, rain or humidity.
This is because most outdoor countertops are covered in melamine, a resin-based finish known for its durability in all weathers. Other parts of the table such as legs, main frame, uprights, screws and bolts will also be weatherproof. The outdoor table is also coated with an anti-reflective coating.
The melamine surface of a typical outdoor ping pong table is usually much thinner than that of an indoor ping pong table, but it can still be played very well because the surface is very hard. You probably won’t see many statistics about the thickness of outdoor tables (the best models are around 5mm thick), so go for the most expensive model you can afford. If possible, also consider models with larger wheels that are easier to push onto the lawn.
You might want to buy a couple of cheap rackets for your new ping pong table, but that would be a mistake because cheap rackets have thin blades (wooden parts) and very poor rubber surfaces that don’t provide enough spin.
Since spin is one of the most important elements in table tennis, it is best to use a good quality racket with a sticky rubber surface.
Our top pick for beginners is the Palio Expert 3.0. It’s a beat hack that really helps improve your game. It is also very forgiving, which is exactly what a beginner needs.
This model costs about the same as you would buy an outdoor ping pong table, but the Pongori PPT 500 is a strong contender for beginners and casual players alike.
Featuring a 4mm blue melamine weatherproof top, this model provides a very good rebound and the larger wheels make it easy to move around the garden or patio.
Like most folding ping pong tables, the PPT 500 is easy to open and close and can also be used for single play when only one edge of the table is upright.
Yes, it takes hours to build, but once it’s installed, you’ll be playing ping pong until the cows get home.
Founded in 1950, Butterfly is arguably the most popular and one of the most respected table tennis brands in the world.
This full size indoor model has a 22mm thick playing surface (slightly less than the 25mm professional model) so you can be sure the ball has excellent bounce quality and visiting professional players won’t cringe when hit.
The Slimline Match 22 has a strong steel frame, height adjusters on each leg, eight easy-to-install casters and a butterfly fold and storage mechanism for quick and easy storage (only 66 cm when folded).
You can also fold one side of the table into a vertical position so you can practice on your own using the stand as a bouncing surface. If you suddenly find that you forgot to buy a bat and a ball, don’t worry, because they are included.
If you are looking for a high quality room only table made with high quality materials, place this at the top of your shopping list.
This mid-priced outdoor model features a 5mm weatherproof resin laminate playing surface that is suitable for both beginner and intermediate outdoor tables.
Like the Kettler, it’s a well-designed table with a sturdy, weather-resistant frame, heavy-duty wheels for easy turf transport, and storage for bats and balls.
Even though it is completely weatherproof, we still recommend purchasing the right cover for it to keep it looking its best for a few fun summer days.
If you enjoy playing ping pong at home but don’t have the space, consider this less bulky option that sits on a dining table or similar.
This 6′ x 3′ butterfly desktop model is a few feet shorter and narrower than a standard table, so it will take longer to fit on a smaller playing surface. In addition, the playing surface has a depth of only 12 mm, which is almost the smallest indicator.
The butterfly table top is split into two halves for easy storage and comes with a screw-on net, two rackets and three balls. Compared to an affordable ping pong table, this one is very practical and easy to store when not in use.
However, the company’s ping pong table enjoys a good reputation – this authentic outdoor model is a prime example of this.
When you assemble it, you feel the Teutonic origins of the Series 3, because although it takes about four hours to assemble, everything comes together perfectly.
Just follow the sometimes confusing graphical instructions carefully and you can’t go wrong.
The Green Series 3 is a full-size outdoor table covered in 4mm thick melamine resin for excellent weather and heat resistance.
It is pleasant to play with (you can even train against yourself by folding one side of the table), it folds and unfolds easily, and, despite the small wheels, it is easy to move around the garden even on uneven surfaces.
However, you may need to adjust the position of the table until it is completely flat as it does not have height adjustable legs.
If you are looking for a quality and affordable table that is always available, the Kettler Outdoor Green Series 3 is a great choice.
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Post time: Nov-03-2022