Table Tennis

Are you thinking of buying a table tennis table to remember those days playing in the basement for hours with some friends? Are you considering playing professionally? Or maybe you have been inspired by the movie where Forest Gump becomes a ping-pong champion and you can’t resist the urge of playing! Whatever your reasons are, this guide will give you some useful tips; links and information that will help you make your decision on which table tennis table is best for you.

Table tennis is a fast-paced racket-and-ball game played on a table by two or four people. As a sport it has been a part of the Olympic Games since 1988 and its universal appeal means it attracts players of both sexes and all ages. As a game it’s addictively fun too.

Like tennis, table tennis involves hitting the ball back and forth over the net until one of the players misses the ball, or hits it into the net or off the table; in each of these cases the opponent scores a point.

Table tennis is a fantastic way to exercise both body and mind, and yes… it can help you to loose weight! It improves coordination and reflexes, as it requires fast decision making abilities and tactical thinking strategies over very short distances. Furthermore, the risk of injury is very low and it improves your leg and muscle strength and movement without damaging your joints.

Buying a Table Tennis Table

When looking for a table tennis table you must think about the different table’s parts and decide which features are more important for you.

First of all it is essential that you consider where you intend to play tennis table. Just make sure that if you want to play outside, during the summer months, or in a damp garage or basement you have a table tennis table suitable for outdoor use. Aluminium table tops are found in outdoor tables and provide greater resistance to moisture and humidity than indoor tables usually made of wood.

If space is an issue, buy a table that can be folded for storage, when not using it, and with casters to easily move it around. If this is the case, the frame and legs should be thick for better durability, stability and bounce. If, on the contrary, space is not a problem and you don’t have any intentions to move the table around we recommend you to buy a solid structure table or static one for greater stability.

Some tables include the post and net attached to the frame but the majority offer the possibility to have separate net and post sets.

If children or teenagers are going to use the table, the high of the table can be an important factor to look at. Some tables come with adjustable height to enable smaller children to be able to play table tennis in a more natural position.

If you want to practice alone to improve your game and beat your adversary, you might want a table with playback facility. This is where half the table is folded and used as a practice backboard, as if you were playing against a wall. The choice is yours!

It is absolutely crucial that you get the table top right. According to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), the size of a standard table is 2.74m (9ft) long, 1.525m (5ft) wide and 2.5ft high but you can find smaller ones for children or teenagers use. Table tops are usually 1/2" to 1" thick. We recommend you buy always the thickest table top you can afford, as it will provide a better bounce when playing.

Other Equipment

It would not be possible to play table tennis without the racket (also called paddles or bats) and the ball.

The balls are normally matt white or orange and they should have a diameter of 40mm and weight 2.7g. They can be made of celluloid or similar plastics and are normally rated with stars going from 1 star (the basic one) to 3 stars (the best quality possible). They can be purchased for around £0.25 to £1.70 (pack of 3) at major sports stores.

The rackets come in different sizes, shapes and weight but they are usually oval, made of wood and faced with rubber or sponge. You can also find rackets faced with sandpaper these are not approved by the ITTF as it can damage the ball. These can be purchased for around £3 to £90.

Some tables provide rackets and balls. So, you don’t have to worry about buying all the separate parts and can start playing as soon as you receive the table!

Many are the table tennis manufacturers but we think that the best brands names are:

TSP
Butterfly
Lifetime
Kettler
Stiga

Our Recommendation

After searching the web for the best table tennis deals, we are in a good position to recommend SweatbandFitness.co.uk. Sweatband Outdoors are a leading supplier of all the top table tennis brands and at very competitive prices.

Scroll down to have a look at just a few of the best offers:

For young players
	Butterfly Junior Table - £124.00
	The size of this table makes it ideal for limited playing areas and it stores away in minimum space. It comes complete with Free net/post set, 2 sponge bats and 3 balls. Perfect for home and school use! For more information please click HERE.
	Butterfly Flexi Table - £369.00
	This table can be used by both adults and children as the height can be adjusted if children are using it. It has a folding system and wheels for ease of transport and storage. Great for adults and children use! For more information please click HERE

Outdoor Table Tennis Tables
	Butterfly Outdoor Rollaway Table- £294
	Fancy playing tennis table in the garden after a bbq? This quality outdoor/indoor table features a 4mm melanine resin playing top, playback facility, fixed net/post set, fold and wheelaway carriage system and it comes complete with 2 sponge reverse bats, 3 balls and table cover. For more information please click HERE.
	Kettler Stockholm Weatherproof Table Tennis - £390
	Fast and easy to set up and remove due to permanently installed net and self-securing folding mechanism. The weatherproof aluminium top is lightweight, maintenance free and corrosion resistant. The Stockholm weatherproof is the ideal family table for playing indoors or outdoors. Easy to set up and fold away for storage with the net set permanently attached. For more information please click HERE.

Tournament Table Tennis Tables
	Butterfly Championship Table - £240.00
	This indoor table is suitable for competition, school and home use. It features a 19mm playing surface, 4 metal legs on each half that simply fold in when table is not in use, wheels on each half for easy movement and it's easy to store away when not in use. For more information please click HERE.
	Butterfly Centrefold Rollaway - £785.00
	Top quality, heavy duty table, designed for club and sports centre and international match use. It has been approved by the International Table Tennis Federation and selected for many major events including World Championships in 1997. For more information please click HERE.