Determining The Ping-Pong Table For You


There are lots of ping pong tables on the market. Many to choose from, depending on your skill level, budget, and dedication to the sport.


If you're someone who takes it seriously, your considerations for buying a table will not be the same as someone who's buying for a family with youngsters.


There is more to take into consideration, as well. Things such as tabletop thickness, the support the legs give, and the levelness of the tabletop are important. Also, are you going to pack it up after each use or leave it as is?


It is not necessary to spend a lot of money on a ping pong table. This is especially true when the majority of its use will be by a family with young children. Buying a less expensive table is ideal. While learning how to play, there will be less concern when the table is beat up or misused.


On the other hand, if you or someone else begins to have a more serious approach to the game, then your approach might change. A more expensive table that requires more care or maintenance might be more prudent.


Storability would come into play next. In a place where space is a concern, an easy-folding table should be considered. One person is all that's needed to pack up this table and store in the corner of the room.


If you have more room, then buying a table that can just be left down all the time is a viable alternative, too. However, any table with rollers is not a bad idea, for the sake of convenience.


The next consideration is the thickness of the tabletop. Serious players argue that a thickness of 1 inch is the only way to go. For the less serious ping-pong player, a tabletop with a thickness of three-fourths of an inch is quite satisfactory.


The thicker table is more expensive, of course. Usually, much more so, yet the difference in play is not too noticeable unless you're a serious player. Therefore, unless you are serious, the difference play due to thickness is not worth the overwhelming difference in price.


You should always buy a sturdy table, though, regardless of how much you spend or how thick the tabletop is. This is especially true if buying with kids in mind. The more durable the table, the less you'll be concerned when kids treat it roughly.


What buying a ping-pong table boils down to is your satisfaction with it. Your table should have a smooth finish, no rough edges or patches. And the ball should bounce consistently anywhere on the table. A good test to determine this is to drop a ball from a foot off the table. If it consistently bounces back up 9-10 inches, then you're okay.