Rating of the best table tennis balls for 2020

The game of table tennis appeared in ancient times. To this day, there are disputes about the place of its origin. Some historians argue that it originated in Japan or China, others in France, and still others say that table tennis revived in ancient Rome. But wherever the game started, it now has millions of fans around the world. This means that there is also a sphere that produces the necessary equipment, including table tennis balls.

The history of the development of table tennis

According to one version, the game originated in England. If we take the word tennis into parts, then one of its parts means ten, which is translated from English as the number 10. Presumably, the game took 5 pairs of players. Due to the constant rains, the game was moved to the house, where it was first played on the floor. Then they began to play on two tables located at a distance from each other. After that they decided to move the tables. And only after that it was decided that the tables would be separated by a grid. In a short time, the game became popular in the salons of England, and then spread throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. The female players were supposed to be in evening dresses, and the men were to be in tailcoats.

In 1891, Charles Baxter decided to patent the game and named it "ping-pong". This name comes from the sound that the ball made in the process of hitting and bouncing off the table. At first, they played with rubber or leather balls, but in 1894 James Gibs proposed a light plastic toy ball for the game. This is how the first celluloid accessories came into play. This innovation changed the shape and material of the rackets. And E. Goode accidentally discovered a rubber mat for dispensing change. He tried to stick it to the racket. After that, he won the tournament.

In 1900, ping-pong was recognized as an official sport, at the end of the same year the first championship was held in London. The first winner of the championship was Nando.

Since that time, the rules and technique of the game have been constantly changing, as well as the game inventory has been improved.

Rules of the game

The essence of the game is to throw the ball over the net stretched across the table. You need to throw the ball with the help of rackets. The game can be played by 2 or 4 players. The first service player is drawn by lot. When serving, the ball must touch the table, then fly over the net to the opponent's side. But must not touch the nets.

Points are awarded if the opponent misses the serve, when the ball is hit twice, when the ball touches anything other than the net, when the free hand touches the table, when the ball is bounced before it touches the table, and does not hit the opponent's side.

The game can consist of 5-7 parties. The game ends when one of the players scores 11 points. But at the same time, his advantage should be more than two points.

How to choose the right table tennis ball

Various types of training are conducted to improve technique and skills. Each type of training has its own characteristics, based on this, a certain type of equipment is selected.

For sparring, no big requirements apply. Balls with 1 or 2 stars are suitable. They have good bounce and can take a long game.

When training with different guns, you need to use accessories that are ideally shaped and have enough rigidity to bounce off the table. This type of training allows you to hit combinations with the maximum number of balls.

If the training equipment does not have special requirements, then for the competition it is necessary to purchase quality goods. The branded packaging of the product must contain a special marking that confirms the suitability of this product for table tennis competitions. The ball must not have seams, as seams can affect the ball's rebound. Low rigidity will lead to deformation, which will affect the course of the game. The shape should be perfectly spherical; you can check this by untwisting the product on a flat surface. If, at the same time, it will rotate smoothly and create vibration, then the product is suitable for playing. Also, the ball must have at least two stars, such equipment is able to create good conditions for the game.

Popular inventory manufacturers

The inventory from the Japanese company "Butterfly" is the most purchased in the whole world. Butterfly was founded in 1950, and every year strived to improve the accessories produced. The key to success was its own research center, where experiments were carried out with the involvement of professional players. Later, Butterfly opened a representative office in Germany, which led to the distribution of products in Europe. Now this department is engaged in the production of tennis tables, clothing and other equipment for the game.

The company "DHS" from China is also one of the most popular companies engaged in the production of table tennis accessories. DHS was founded in 1959. Since 1960, the equipment manufactured by the company has received ITTF approval. Today the manufactured products are used in competitions and the Olympic Games. Many of the Chinese National Team players use DHS equipment.

The Japanese company Nittaku was founded in 1920. In 1947 the company was registered and the trade name was taken. When releasing its products, the company uses the latest technologies and high quality materials. Thanks to its excellent characteristics, the Nittaku equipment was liked not only by amateurs, but also by professional athletes.

The best table tennis balls

1 * Tactic

These table tennis balls from Roxel have one star. This option is suitable for beginner players. It can be used while exercising. Thanks to the constant rebound and balanced form, the player will easily learn to control the ball at the beginning of his sports career.

Available in two colors - white and orange. It is made of ABS plastic, which is characterized by impact resistance and elasticity. The diameter of one ball is 40 mm. The package comes with 6 balls.

The average cost is 150 rubles.

• Suitable for beginner players;
• Ideal for training;
• Good bounce;
• Low cost.

• Not suitable for competition.

DHS CELL-FREE 40+ 1 *

This inventory is from Chinese manufacturer DHS. Although it has only one star, it is approved by the China Table Tennis Federation and has the CTTA-Apporoved certificate. These accessories became official balls at the 2017-2020 tournaments.

CELL-FREE 40+ 1 * is recommended for beginners and amateurs. Also, due to their characteristics, they are suitable for use in tennis schools and clubs.

Made of cellulose nitrate (celluloid) based plastic. The diameter is 40 mm. The package contains 10 balls.

The average price is 350 rubles.

• CTTA certificate;
• 10 pcs included;
• Suitable for training in table tennis schools.

• The material from which it is made can give a green tint.

STIGA Winner ABS 2 **

This game attribute, from the Chinese manufacturer STIGA, is suitable for beginner players. Also, all its parameters correspond to training games. It has high strength and bounces off the table surface well. This model has two stars and belongs to the category of training balls. Available in two colors - orange and white. The STIGA Winner ABS 2 ** is made of durable plastic. The diameter of one ball is 40 mm. The package comes with 6 balls.

The average cost is 600 rubles.

• High strength;
• Good bounce;

• High price for the training category.

Double fish 3

These Double Fish ping pong accessories have three stars. They belong to the professional category. Also received approval from the Table Tennis Federation. They are allowed to play in many international table tennis competitions and tournaments. Also, this type of ball is the official in-game inventory for NCTTA. This model was used in the 2018 ITTF World Cup competition in London.

The production uses the latest technology that does not harm the environment. Each ball is tested and hand selected. It is made of ABS-plastic, which guarantees the strength of the product, and also creates a good rebound. Diameter 40 mm, available in white. The package contains 3 pieces.

The average cost is 380 rubles.

• High quality;
• ITTF approved;
• Allowed to play in competitions and tournaments;
• The choice of many professional athletes.

• Not.

Torres Profi 3 *

Torres table tennis equipment has three stars. They are intended for both amateur play and professional competition. They have a flat, smooth, durable and uniformly dense surface that allows them to meet all ITTF standards. The material of manufacture guarantees the accuracy of blows and high strength, which will allow a long use of this product.

This inventory is made from celluloid. Each piece is sorted and checked by hand. Diameter 40+ mm, available in white. The package contains 6 balls.

The average cost is 170 rubles.

• Affordable price;
• High quality;
• Professional category;
• Certified.

• The material of manufacture may change color over time.

DOBEST BA-02

DOBEST BA-02 tennis accessories have 2 stars. All table tennis fans will love them. They are not intended for competitions, although they have all the qualities required for tournament equipment. But they are perfect for constant training or amateur play.

DOBEST BA-02 has no seams. This accessory is made of polyvinyl chloride. The diameter of the product is 40 mm and is produced in white. The package contains 6 balls.

The average cost is 150 rubles.

• Seamless;
• For constant training;
• High strength.

• Polyvinyl chloride from prolonged exposure to sunlight can lose its strength.

Nuttaku 3 *** Premium 40+

Nuttaku 3 *** Premium 40+ is a Japanese-made ball with 3 stars. Special Japanese plastic material is used for their manufacture. This model from Nuttaku was the official ball of the World Table Tennis Championships from 1971 to 2001, as well as two Olympic Games. They are highly durable, guarantee consistent rebound and have a precise spherical shape that makes this product unrivaled. Due to its qualities, this game accessory has been approved by the Table Tennis Federation.

The package contains 3 white products with a diameter of 40 mm. The average cost is 800 rubles.

• Japanese quality;
• Constant rebound;
• Perfect shape;
• Suitable for competitions;
• Made of special Japanese plastic.

• High price.

STIGA Training

The Training series from STIGA belongs to the group of training balls. They are available in white and orange. They have all the play characteristics that include optimal weight and good rebound. They have an inconspicuous seam and a spherical shape, as well as medium softness. All these qualities together guarantee the stability of the rebound when playing.

This equipment is made of ABS plastic, which guarantees long-term use, and is also suitable for active training and amateur games. They have a diameter of 40 mm. Sold in a set of 6.

The average cost is 510 rubles.

• Two color options;
• Good bounce;
• Spherical shape;
• Swedish brand.

• High price.

Butterfly 3 *** G40 +

The Butterfly 3 *** G40 + model appeared on the market in 2016. Such balls are produced in Germany, which distinguishes them by their high quality. This sports equipment has three stars and is therefore suitable for world-class competitions and tournaments. It has a perfectly round shape, with the same wall thickness on all sides. Such features provide perfect rotation, good rebound. The smoothness, rigidity and durability will delight not only amateurs, but also professional players. This model has been approved by the International Table Tennis Federation.

Butterfly 3 *** G40 + are made of high quality plastic, do not contain celluloid. They have an inconspicuous seam. Before being sold, each product is manually checked for defects and compliance with all declared characteristics. Available in white. The package contains 3 balls.

The average cost is 400 rubles.

• Full compliance with the declared characteristics;
• Uniform wall thickness;
• Perfect shape;
• Good bounce;
• Suitable for tournaments.

• Not available.

Butterfly 3 *** S40 +

The Butterfly 3 *** S40 + model is a novelty in 2020 from the German company. Butterfly 3 *** S40 + has 3 stars, received ITTF approval, and thus is suitable for competitions and tournaments.

This table tennis accessory has a perfect spherical shape and the walls are the same thickness. Butterfly 3 *** S40 + has a rougher and rougher surface, this quality provides better ball grip. Also, thanks to this property, you can easily spin the ball and make a low bounce.

In the manufacture of this model, Butterfly paid attention to the requests and wishes of customers, and tried to translate them into the S40 +.

This model is made of ABS plastic, which is an indicator of strength and durability. Available in white. The package contains 3 balls.

The average cost is 500 rubles.

• Rough surface;
• Checking each ball for compliance with quality standards;
• Many positive reviews.

• High price.

It is difficult for a novice player to opt for a certain model of gaming accessories. Don't start your gaming journey with the cheapest options. This can negatively affect the continuation of your athletic path. Many companies produce good inventory in the mid-price range. It will not be suitable for competitions, but it will do just right for dating and taking a sample.