As the great saying goes, practice makes perfect...
So you want to get good at ping pong, but you don't have a table, but stop right there and don't buy the first one you see, as there is more than meets the eye. Don't read manufacturers slogans, claiming they have the best ping pong table on offer, and if you're a beginner enter the lower end of the market, pros need professional tables, beginners need beginner's tables; learn to walk before you can run. The first decision you need to make before embarking on a ping pong table purchase, is whether you want a stand alone table, which will be a permanent fixture, or a fold away table, to clear some space when it's not being used. Obviously this has a big affect on which table will suit you, and of course, the initial purchasing cost. There are two portable options which are foldaway ping pong tables, and of course, tables on wheels, which allows them to be moved out the way fairly easily. The next thing you need to consider is the thickness. Each player has their own preference, and unless you're a professional, it probably won't make to much difference to you, but it's still important.
PING PONG
Professional level tables tend to be around 25mm thick, although you'll be able to gather the same affect while you're learning from anything 19mm and thicker. The 25mm will feel slightly thicker, and tends to have a cleaner bounce than a table top that's just 19mm thick, so choose carefully, but don't spend too much! Go for quality, get a table with a high quality top and make sure it has sturdy supports, ping pong tables don't hold much weight at any one time, but if your serious, you'll hopefully still be using the same table over the next few years. Get a good stable table around the 30 inch mark, which is professional standard. If you're buying a secondhand table, bear in mind the most important factor is the table top, so if this is past its sell by date, then so is the table. But how do you assess the quality of the table top? Well the ping pong rule of thumb is, hold a ball 30cm above the surface and let go. The ball should bounce roughly 23cm above the surface. Check across different sections of the table, and if it differs greatly, the table top and that particular table is a goner! If your struggling to find something within budget, check out my sig link and just build your own sturdy, quality table for less than .00. Of course, don't expect it to build itself, but a bit of patience will get you the table you've been looking for!
Buying a Ping Pong Table PING PONG
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