Table Tennis Balls
If you want to play table tennis you will need more than just a table. Here are the basics on choosing the correct type of table tennis ball for recreational and competetive play.
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- International rules state:
- Table tennis balls
should be high-bouncing, hollow, celluloid balls that are 40 mm in diameter, and 2.7 grams.
- Legal colors for tournament play are white and orange.
- The color of practice balls doesn't matter as long as it has high visibility.
- Star Ratings
- Balls have a rating system that uses stars with a three-star ball being the best rating.
- Balls are rated according to seam quality, roundness and bounce consistency.
- For most competitive game play you should only use three-star balls. These balls have a clean seam quality that allows for more consistent bounce and truer flight, both of which allow you to develop a consistent style of play.
- One and two-star balls are prone to breaking and have questionable playing characteristics, but can be used for practice. They often have irregular seams and bounce patterns, which cause the ball to land erratically .
- Pricing:
- Quality balls can cost over a dollar per ball.
- High quality two star practice balls can be relatively inexpensive.
- To ensure that you get the most out of each ball, make sure to keep it out of direct sunlight, excess heat, and excess moisture.
Manufacturers
