Rainy days mean no running outside and playing in the mud. Ping Pong has been a reigning top indoor game perfect for rainy days since the 1870s when it was first invented. Ping pong, which is also commonly known as Table Tennis, is no longer just a mere indoor recreational game. It is an Olympic sport now. Table tennis can be played in twos or fours. It is played on 9 feet by 5 feet by 2 feet 6 inches hard table. The two most important components of the game, after the table itself, are the paddle and the ping pong ball. This article discusses which amongst the available ping pong balls on the market are the best ping pong balls.
As a main component of the game, the build and quality of the ping pong ball will not only affect your performance when playing the game, but it will also enhance the overall playing experience. There is a vast difference between using 1-star ping pong balls and 3-star ping pong balls; this is why you should only use the best ping pong balls. The best ball will help you play better and score faster.
There are specific factors that make a ping pong ball the best. These features and characteristics, along with a complete guide on how to choose the ping pong ball best suited for you are discussed in this article. It can be quite daunting to discern the specific features that differentiate a good quality ping pong ball from a bad quality one. This article will help navigate you so that you can choose the best table tennis ball for yourself by acting as the ultimate buying guide.
Table Of Contents
hide
Best Ping Pong Balls Reviewed!
Below is a list of the top five ping pong balls. Each brand of ping pong ball also has an extensive review on them –
There are various features of the KEVENZ 3-Star 40+ Table Tennis Balls
that make them the best ping pong balls available on the market. They are durable and long-lasting. They have perfectly round forms that result in well-balanced ping pong balls. The KEVENZ 3-Star 40+ Table Tennis Balls are one of the best table tennis balls because they have great spin and are easy to control.
KEVENZ 3-Star 40+ Table Tennis Balls
are produced in China. The balls undergo rigorous testing before they leave the factory to make sure they meet the high-quality standards set and maintained by the company. The rigorous testing includes Hardness Test, Thickness test, etc. The ping pong balls are also tested to make sure their weight and mass match with the regulatory ones.
These 3- star ping pong balls are suitable for multi-ball training as well as for amateur training in schools. These ping pong balls are also useful in the Table Tennis Arena and by Table Tennis Robots. The KEVENZ 3-Star 40+ Table Tennis Balls were designed to enhance and aide performance of both amateur and professional players.
The KEVENZ 3-Star 40+ Table Tennis Balls are considered as a bargain for their price and provide good help in practice for professional and amateur tournaments. Professional players can show off their amazing playing skills. A testament to their durability is the fact that these balls can withstand up to 1000 impacts without cracking.
Weight – 2.75grams: The KEVENZ 3-Star 40+ Table Tennis Balls weigh more than other ping pong balls so that they are able to retain their shape and maintain a consistent bounce. The greater mass contributes to greater momentum. This indicates that less force is needed to make the ball bounce higher and go a further distance.
Size – 40mm: Most regulation balls are 38mm in diameter. The 2 mm extra diameter of these ping pong balls allow for a better spin. The bigger size also means that the ball can be caught more easily.
- Good bounce.
- Consistent spin.
- The green print makes it easy to detect them during gameplay
- Feels a little tacky when compared to other 3- star balls.
Xushaofa 40+ Seamless Poly 3-star Table Tennis balls
are made from revolutionary technology that differentiates it from all the other ping pong balls available. This also makes them the most advanced and best ping pong balls on the market.
It is composed of poly plastic material instead of the usual celluloid material. The poly plastic material is safer and makes the balls more durable than celluloid. The seamless construction and smooth roundness aides with consistent and accurate bounce while playing. Xushaofa 40+ Seamless Poly 3-star Table Tennis balls
are both ITTF and USATT approved.
If you’re someone who is on a tight budget and need the best quality you can get for the money; then we think that this is your best option.
- These ping pong balls are more responsive when compared to other 3-star balls. The slightest hit will set them off at high momentums.
- Better spin.
- As mentioned above these ping pong balls have a consistent bounce which drastically improves one’s game.
- Xushaofa Seamless Poly 3-star Table Tennis balls are seemingly indestructible.
- Xushaofa ball doesn’t make that annoying plastic sound when they bounce or are hit.
- Some reviewers have labeled it as slightly pricey while others argue that they are worth the price when compared to other 3-star balls in the same price range.
MAPOL Orange 3-Star Premium Ping Pong Balls
come in a pack of fifty. The balls have a good bounce and decent spin. These features along with a few others, have landed them in the list of the best ping pong balls. The MAPOL Orange 3-Star Premium Ping Pong Balls are more powerful than most other 3-star ping pong balls on the market. They are suitable for use in the stadium, table tennis clubs, schools and even at home for friendly amateur games.
They are 40 millimeters in diameter. This means that the MAPOL Orange 3-Star Premium Ping Pong Balls
are slightly larger than other ping pong balls on the market. This helps with durability and good performance. They also are magnificently easy to control and maneuver, providing a good bounce.
The MAPOL Orange 3-Star Premium Ping Pong Balls
might be slightly pricey, but they are well worth the price. Other than this the only con to this product is the fact that these balls are a little heavier than the others available on the market. So they do provide a good bounce, but a little extra effort is needed to make sure the excellent bounce is achieved.
- Good quality
- Great improvement in player performance
- Worth the price
- A little weighty so a bit more force is required to reach consistently good bounce
The Joola brand was launched and had been manufacturing since the 1950s. They are known for the manufacturing of products that are of superior quality and are very durable. JOOLA 3-Star Table Tennis Training Balls
have been manufactured for professional players often playing at international levels. They are 40 millimeter 3-star ping pong balls and are considered one of the best ping pong balls on the market. These JOOLA ping pong balls are also good for serving first ace and are suitable for both professional games and simple amateur family games at home.
The JOOLA 3-Star Table Tennis Training Balls
provide consistent bounce as they are perfectly round. Their lightweight build is good for great spin and makes controlling the ping pong balls easier. These ping pong balls are good for practicing serves and hitting against multi-ball training robots or against serving machines. These balls can be used in clubs, schools and in recreation centers along within resorts.They are highly durable made with poly plastic material.
Thickness: 0.86
Weight: 2.7 grams
Regulation diameter: 40 millimeter
- Long-lasting
- Have a good bounce
- Very speedy
- It takes low effort and force to hit them and make them go far
- Can feel a little wobbly sometimes
Butterfly G40+ 3 Star Table Tennis Balls
are suitable for training at beginner level and are a fraction of the price of the Nittaku 3-star tennis balls. They are considered good for beginner level training because these ping pong balls have a good response to looping, short pushes, and flicks. Through this amateur, players can swiftly learn the game along with new techniques.
They provide a good bounce as they are perfectly round. The Butterfly G40+ 3 Star Table Tennis Balls
are very powerful and can withstand high forces providing a good bounce with low effort usage. It is ITTF approved. It can be deduced that they are a bargain and very much worth the price considering the high quality and durability of the balls. All of these contribute to making it one of the best ping pong balls available on the market.
- Good bounce
- Smooth texture
- Can be a little prone to sometimes breaking (this may also vary based on the type of paddle being used)
Ping Pong Balls Buying Guide:

Before you buy any ping pong balls, there are a few things you need to consider and analyze. Here are a few rather useful tips and tricks on what to look into before buying a ping pong ball. After all, we don’t want you to end up buying low-quality ping pong balls only for you to replace them soon enough.
Choosing the best ping pong ball can be quite difficult when you don’t know what to look for specifically. Start off by making sure there is no visible seam around the middle of the ball. If a seam is visible, the ball immediately becomes a non-viable option. The ball will often have a flat spot in the seam area and will be unable to provide with good, consistent bounce. Then check the firmness of the ping pong ball. You can do this by pressing the ball with your fingers. If the ball readily changes shape with pressure from your fingers, it may not be of good quality. The next thing to look for is how round the ball is. You can do so by spinning the ball in your hand and looking at it from the top. If the ball does not wobble, it means that it is perfectly round. You can buy the balls that pass this ‘wobble test.’
If it is for merely for a friendly game, then you don’t necessarily have to purchase high-quality, expensive regulation ping pong ball. Instead, buy something of medium quality with a low price range.
If you are just an amateur who is trying to learn the game, buy specific training or learning ping pong balls. Since they are specially designed to be durable, they will help you train and learn the ins and outs of the games easily.
As a professional, you must buy the 3- star rated ping pong balls because on these ones are allowed through international regulations.
Composition- what are the ping pong balls made of ?
There are two main types of materials that ping pong balls are made of –
- Celluloid
- Polyplastic material
While ping pong balls made from either material have the same impact on your playing experience, it is recommended that you go for the poly plastic ping pong ball instead of the ones made out of celluloid. There are multiple reasons for this. Polyplastic ping pong balls are more environmentally friendly and are easier to transport safely.
Whereas celluloid ping pong balls are cheaper in price and they are more durable, so they last a little longer. Despite having mentioned these positive things about celluloid ping pong balls, it is still recommended that you buy the poly plastic ones.
All ping pong balls available on the market have a star rating ranging from 1 star to 3 stars. The 3-star ping pong balls are considered the best. However, each rating represents something different.
- One-star balls are soft and are suitable for young players
- The weight is between 2.35 and 2.63g
- The roundness error is below 0.25mm
- Hardness value is lower than 1.10mm
- Two-star balls are moderate quality and are a bit firmer than a one-star ball. These are perfect for multi-ball practice, and they improve your game or can be used in a training robot.
- The weight is between 2.40g and 2.53g
- The roundness error is below 0.25mm
- Hardness value is lower than 0.90mm
- Three-star ping pong balls are of the highest quality and firmness. This is why you should use it for gameplay. This rating level is the only one approved for tournament play.
- The weight is between 2.40g and 2.53g
- The roundness error is below 0.25mm
- Hardness value is lower than 0.90mm
It can be concluded that the 3-star ping pong balls are the best ping pong balls.
Practice or training balls do not have any star ratings. This type of table tennis ball is good for children or beginners who are just practicing and starting to learn the game. They are not very durable and tend to break easily when they are hit too hard. You should never play an actual game with a practice or training table tennis ball. Playing an actual game with ping pong balls that are actually meant for training is not very feasible.
Another type of ping pong balls available on the market are the novelty balls. Novelty balls tend not to have any form of a star rating. Instead, they are rated on their hardness from soft to very hard. They can come in a mixed variety pack where balls of different hardness are randomly packed together. While you can use these for gameplay, remember that they are just for fun and should never be used as your primary game ball. Doing so can negatively affect your gameplay.
The standard sizes of ping pong balls are at 40mm. The most visible difference amongst different star rated balls is in the measure of the shell thickness. Most of the balls produced are of good quality, yet only a few reputable manufacturers are able to produce premium quality ping pong balls that can withstand severe competition.
Yes, you have read that right color of ping pong balls also matters. For legal tournament play, the only colors accepted are white or orange. However, if you are just playing a few games for fun, then you can choose whatever color it is that you want to use. Just be sure to pick a color that is easy for you to see during the gameplay,which is why it is sometimes suggested that you use the orange balls. This is because the bright orange balls are easier to see and detect when compared to the white balls.
Regulation ping pong balls are the balls that are used in international professional level competitive games. Regulation ping pong balls according to international rules, must weigh 2.7grams, and they must have a diameter of 40 millimeters. When dropped from a height of 30cm on to the ping pong table the ping pong ball must at least bounce 23 centimeters high. The ball must either be white or orange, as mentioned above. Regulation balls must be 3-star rated.
FAQs:
1. Are they hollow?
This question is often asked because ping pong balls tend to have multiple functions. And to answer this – ping pong balls are indeed hollow.
2. Are they good for beer pong?
Most ping pong ball brands are good for beer pong. However, the degree of how good they are for beer pong can vary from brand to brand.
3. Can they be used as string lights?
Most 3-star ping pong balls are of high quality and tend to be more expensive. Though if you somehow ended up with a defective pack that has flat spots, you can drill holes in those balls and attach string lights. Otherwise, 1-star balls can be used as string lights.
4. Do ping pong balls float?
Yes, as a matter of fact, they do.
Conclusion:
Some of the top ping pong ball brands are discussed above, along with their features and characteristics that make them unique. Each brand has its own set of qualities that make it different from the other brands and set them apart. Reread the entire article to learn about the different products and their reviews along with the rather comprehensive guide to purchasing ping pong balls. Then decide which amongst the best ping pong balls is actually the best one for you then purchase that.
Hope this article was an enormous help to you and after reading this you know exactly which one amongst the above mentioned ping pong balls should you buy for yourself.
Share to
Remember
Care
Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on google
Share on linkedin
Share on pinterest
[…] Best Ping Pong Balls Reviews And Buying Guide […]