【Table Tennis】You can play table tennis at home too! Recommended table tennis tables, 3 selections

Thank you for visiting! I’m Takashi, with over 10 years of table tennis experience.

And perhaps there are also those who are considering purchasing a table tennis table.

There are various types of table tennis tables available, ranging from convenient options to more professional ones.

In this article, we will introduce recommended table tennis tables for those considering purchasing one, so please feel free to use it as a reference.

Enjoying in the most convenient way

To enjoy in the most convenient way, you don’t even need a table!

You can use a desk instead!

So, all you need is a set containing a net, rackets, and balls.

With this and a desk, you can play table tennis anywhere.

It’s also convenient to carry around as it’s lightweight.

A foldable compact table

If you want to secure a dedicated table because you’re using a desk, then you can prepare one with its own stand.

It comes with rackets, a net, and balls, so you can play table tennis right away.

You can also enjoy it outdoors, such as during camping trips.

Since the table can be folded, it doesn’t take up much storage space.

To practice seriously

Let’s at least buy one that meets international standards in terms of size.

The dimensions are 2740mm (length) x 1525mm (width) x 760mm (height).

Then, you can choose the desired one according to your budget.

High-performance tables tend to be expensive.

Points to consider when choosing are:

• Safety
• Performance

Safety

To prevent injuries from table overturning, etc., we will choose a table with the SG mark.

To qualify for the SG mark, the table must pass overturning tests, among others.

Additionally, products with the SG mark come with personal liability insurance in case of accidents.

Reference : SGマーク付卓球台とは | 造る者の責任として | 安心・安全なSGマーク付卓球台について (sanei-net.co.jp)

Performance

Tables used in competitions satisfy specified performance standards.

It’s better to practice in conditions close to competition, so we’ll choose a table that meets these standards.

The tables below do not come with nets and supports, so they need to be prepared separately.

To determine if the standards are met, look for the ITTF or JTTA mark.

For reference, the standards include:

• Bounce performance
• Warping of the tabletop
• Brightness of color
• Glossiness
• Friction

Bounce performance has a significant impact on gameplay.

For example, on a table with a good bounce, the bounce of the serve is often higher than usual.

Many tables made by Butterfly or San-Ei bear the ITTF or JTTA mark.

Can a table tennis table be placed at home?

International standard table tennis tables are large, so even if you can budget for one, you might wonder,

In such cases, let’s consider using Google Slides or PowerPoint.

Both software allow you to draw shapes (rectangles, circles, etc.) with specified dimensions.

So, by measuring the dimensions of your house and drawing them out, you can determine if the table will fit.

Google Slides is free to use with a Google account.

Below, I’ll introduce how to draw shapes with specified dimensions and provide examples of arrangements.

Google Slides

1.Click in the order of ①②③ and draw a square. The size doesn’t matter.

2.Select the square, then click in the order of ④⑤.

3.”Format options” will appear on the right side. Click on “Size & Rotation” within it.

4.Enter the width and height dimensions indicated in ⑦.

5.If you want to change the color, click on ⑧ and select a color.

PowerPoint

1.Click on ① to draw a square and draw a square.

Select the square (②) and right-click.

Click on “③ Size and position” from the menu that appears.

3.On the right side, “Format Shape” will appear, so input the size into ④ “Size”.

4.If you want to change the color, click on ⑤ “Shape Fill” and choose your preferred color.

Actual arrangement example (PowerPoint)

The diagram below is an example of when I examined whether a table tennis table would fit before considering a purchase.

I drew it using PowerPoint.

I measured with a tape measure and drew it in a 1:30 scale using the method described above.

With this, I decided, “Alright, it seems like it’ll fit!” and made the purchase.

I placed it across the fusuma, which separates the Japanese-style room and the living room.

When playing table tennis, items like the kotatsu were moved to the edges of the room.

The Japanese-style room is narrow and has tatami flooring, so there wasn’t much space to move around.

Therefore, either the person feeding balls or a machine was placed there.

As the living room has a bit more space to move around, the person practicing played there.

Summary

In this article, we introduced recommended table tennis tables:

• Sets including nets, rackets, and balls
• Foldable compact tables
• Tables meeting international standards in size
• Tables ensuring safety and meeting standards

We also presented methods to determine if a table tennis table would fit in your space.

Personally, I previously purchased a table that met international size standards. I placed it to span across the living room and Japanese-style room and used it there. When not in use, I folded it and stored it near the edge of the living room.

The purchase brought benefits such as communication with my children and being able to practice what I wanted. Playing table tennis with my children facilitated communication as we could practice together. Additionally, I focused on practicing serves and receives, which I couldn’t do as often when practicing with friends. I also used it to practice blocks, which I wasn’t proficient at.

I also purchased a table tennis machine for block practice.

I hope this serves as a reference when purchasing a table tennis table.

That concludes our article. Thank you for reading until the end!