Table Tennis Ball

Why use the proper table tennis ball? It can be argued that if you are playing only in your basement and have no intention of playing outside your own home you could use any table tennis ball that you want. But why not use the official sized table tennis ball instead?

In 2000, the diameter of ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) approved a new standard for the table tennis ball. The new standard increased the diameter of the table tennis ball from 38 millimeters to 40 millimeters.

In general, a table tennis ball is usually made from celluloid, although other similar plastic materials are allowed (but not popular among players). The weight of the ball must be 2.7g, and the ball for ITTF competitions must be white or orange, and have a matte, not a shiny, finish.

The actual laws concerning the table tennis ball are:

2.3.1 The ball shall be spherical, with a diameter of 40mm.
2.3.2 The ball shall weigh 2.7g.
2.3.3 The ball shall be made of celluloid or similar plastics material and shall be white or orange, and matt.

Players should understand that a good quality ball will make a drastic difference in the quality of play. Balls are rated according to a star rating of one to three, where the best balls are rated a 3. The premise behind the star rating is that to ensure consistent play, true bounces, and true flight, a ball with a 3 rating should always be used.

You may wonder what to look for in a good competitive table tennis ball. Here is a quick list:

40 mm diameter, and tested to ensure roundness. The table tennis ball should be white and it should carry a three star rating. The rating is usually clearly displayed on the package or the advertising.

Unless you are planning to be a professional it is not necessary to buy the very best balls for practice. You can actually buy bulk boxes of balls that are fine for use in mechanical launchers. They are also great for practicing your serve. These bulk boxes can be very affordable and you should do some comparative shopping to find the best prices.

Using the proper table tennis ball is one of the easiest tips you can apply to your everyday practice that will improve your skills. It allows you to experience the characteristics of an official table tennis ball so you will not be surprised later on.