best ping pong balls

The game of ping pong revolves around the ping pong ball. Both the players hit the ping pong ball with the ping pong racket and try to give each other a hard time by showing all their skills. The ping pong ball is a very important part of this game. If you are playing with the ping pong ball, which is not of good quality, you will not enjoy the game of ping pong. The selection of one of the best ping pong balls is very confusing as all the ping pong balls are very similar, and there is not much difference. Certain features and characteristics of the ping pong ball must be considered while choosing the ping pong balls.

Here we will discuss all the details about the best ping pong balls, and we will also discuss the details of the best ping pong balls available in the market. After reading this article, you will be better positioned to choose the best ping pong ball. Here we will also answer some of the most common questions regarding the ping pong balls. This article will help you buy a good quality ping pong ball according to your needs and requirements.

Table of Contents

What is a Ping Pong Ball? 

best ping pong balls

Ping pong ball is a round shape ball having a diameter of 40mm. The different colors of ping pong balls but the white and yellow are the most common. The weight of ping pong is also standard. The ping pong ball is the one that has to be hit with the help of ping pong bat by the players. The ping pong ball is very different from other balls.

There are many games where the ball is used to play like cricket, hockey, golf, Etc. In almost all games like these, the ball is very strong, but the ping pong ball is very soft. The size of the ping pong ball is also very smaller, and it is very delicate. If the ping pong ball’s plastic is not properly hard, when the player of ping pong will hit the ping pong very hard, then there are chances that the ping pong ball will get rapture. So the ping pong ball must be selected very carefully as it should not be so hard that it bounces a lot as it will disturb the gameplay. It should not be so soft that it gets affected by the pressure of air.     

What are the Best Ping Pong ball brands? 

Many brands have expertise and are famous for making the best quality ping pong balls. These brands have tough competition among them. All of them make the best quality ping pong balls, which are used in professional tournaments. The following are some of the best ping pong ball brands which have a legacy in making the best quality ping pong balls. These brands made both celluloid and polymer plastic ping pong balls. These brands produce high-quality balls that are available everywhere in the world at an affordable price.

  • Nittaku
  • Butterfly
  • XuShaFa
  • STIGA

Type of Ping Pong Balls

It is common to perceive that all ping pong balls are the same, and there is not much difference in the ping pong balls. The ping pong balls are not the same, and there are different types of ping pong balls available in the market. Here we will discuss these different types of table tennis balls in detail.

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Fun Balls

These are also known as fun balls. These balls for the kids to enjoy and play the table tennis using these attractive fun balls.

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One Star Balls

These are the basic balls that are soft and easier to control. These balls cannot be hit very hard as there are chances that it can break. These balls are used in college and schools. You can also use these balls for practicing ping pong.

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Two Star Balls

These ping pong balls are for the intermediate players as it is good in quality and very similar to the 3-star ping pong ball. These balls can be used in robots.

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Three-Star Ball 

It is the highest quality ping pong balls. The ITTF only uses three-star balls in official tournaments, and professionals use this ball. There are also four and 5-star ping pong ball.

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How to Choose the Best Ping Pong Balls 

There are different types of ping pong balls produced by different ping pong balls brands. It is very confusing that ping pong ball is the best to use and ping pong ball, I should choose to play the ping pong. Before buying and selecting a ping pong ball, you must collect all the ping pong balls’ information. This information will let you know all the details about the ping pong balls, and you will be in a better position to choose the best ping pong balls. Here we will discuss all the detail, and it will help you a lot.

5 star ping pong ball

Level of Game

The first thing that you must know before buying a ping pong ball is that you must know that at what level your game is. This is the player’s requirement, and he should look for the ping pong balls according to your requirements. If you want to play the ping pong game just for fun and enjoy, you must opt for the fun ping pong balls, which are very attractive. If you are a beginner, you must choose a one-star ping pong ball, and for intermediate players, the two-star ping pong ball is the best. For professional and top-level players 3-star ping pong ball is the best choice. So the first step to choose the best ping pong ball is to know your level of the game.

Read More: Best Ping Pong Paddle for Beginners

Read More: Best Ping Pong Paddle for Intermediate

ITTF Approved

The international table tennis federation is the body which regulates the table tennis. This table tennis federation approves all the equipment used in table tennis. Many brands make the ITTF approved table tennis balls. Other brands make the same quality ping pong balls, which are not officially approved by ITTF, but it has all features that a top ping pong game must-have. It is up to you that you want a ball approved by ITTF or just the ping pong ball with the same quality. The ITTF approved ping pong balls are expansive than the other balls. If you want to use the ping pong balls in the official tournaments and matches, you must go for the ITTF approved ping pong balls. 

Colors

Ping pong balls are available in many colors. The fun ping pong balls are available in almost all colors and a variety of designs. It depends upon you that for what purpose you want to have a ping pong balls. The ping pong ball’s color will be according to it; if you want to have ping pong ball just for fun playing of ping pong, it does not matter which color you choose. If you want to play the ping pong on a serious platform, then the most important thing you must consider that you must choose the color of the ball, which is according to the playing conditions.

The ping pong ball you will use must have the color available; otherwise, it will disturb the players during playing. They will not be able to enjoy the game. There are two colors of the ping pong balls that are mostly used at the professional or international levels. One is white, and the other is orange. The same visibility condition is applied at the international level, and they decide the ball depending upon it. The white ping pong ball is the most common choice in international matches.

Comparison Table of the Best Ping Pong Balls

Photo
Best Pick
JOOLA Training 3 Star Table Tennis Balls 12, 60, or 120...
Best Pick
MAPOL 50- Pack Orange 3-Star Premium Ping Pong Balls...
STIGA 12 3-Star Table Tennis Balls (White, 40 Mm Two 6...
Butterfly G40+ Table Tennis Balls - 40mm White Ping...
PRO SPIN Ping Pong Balls - White 3-Star 40+ Table...
Nittaku 3-Star Premium 40+ Table Tennis Balls
Title
JOOLA Training 3 Star Table Tennis Balls
MAPOL 50- Pack Orange 3-Star Premium Ping Pong Balls
STIGA 3-Star Superior-Quality White Table Tennis Balls
Butterfly G40+ Table Tennis Balls
PRO SPIN Ping Pong Balls
Nittaku 3-Star Premium 40+ Table Tennis Balls
Weight
2.7 g
2.7-2.85 g
2.75 g
2.8 g
2.75 g
2.7 g
Rating
3 star
3 star
3 star
3 star
3 star
3 star
ITTF approved
No
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Color
Orange
Orange
White
White
White
White
Quantity
12, 60, or 120 Pack Balls
50 Balls
6 Balls
3 Balls or 12 Balls
12 or 24 Balls
40+ Balls
For players
Kids and Adults
All -level players
Adult
All -lever players
All -lever players
Adult
Best Pick
Photo
JOOLA Training 3 Star Table Tennis Balls 12, 60, or 120...
Title
JOOLA Training 3 Star Table Tennis Balls
Weight
2.7 g
Rating
3 star
ITTF approved
No
Color
Orange
Quantity
12, 60, or 120 Pack Balls
For players
Kids and Adults
Buy Now
Best Pick
Photo
MAPOL 50- Pack Orange 3-Star Premium Ping Pong Balls...
Title
MAPOL 50- Pack Orange 3-Star Premium Ping Pong Balls
Weight
2.7-2.85 g
Rating
3 star
ITTF approved
No
Color
Orange
Quantity
50 Balls
For players
All -level players
Buy Now
Photo
STIGA 12 3-Star Table Tennis Balls (White, 40 Mm Two 6...
Title
STIGA 3-Star Superior-Quality White Table Tennis Balls
Weight
2.75 g
Rating
3 star
ITTF approved
Yes
Color
White
Quantity
6 Balls
For players
Adult
Buy Now
Photo
Butterfly G40+ Table Tennis Balls - 40mm White Ping...
Title
Butterfly G40+ Table Tennis Balls
Weight
2.8 g
Rating
3 star
ITTF approved
Yes
Color
White
Quantity
3 Balls or 12 Balls
For players
All -lever players
Buy Now
Photo
PRO SPIN Ping Pong Balls - White 3-Star 40+ Table...
Title
PRO SPIN Ping Pong Balls
Weight
2.75 g
Rating
3 star
ITTF approved
No
Color
White
Quantity
12 or 24 Balls
For players
All -lever players
Buy Now
Photo
Nittaku 3-Star Premium 40+ Table Tennis Balls
Title
Nittaku 3-Star Premium 40+ Table Tennis Balls
Weight
2.7 g
Rating
3 star
ITTF approved
Yes
Color
White
Quantity
40+ Balls
For players
Adult
Buy Now

6 Best Ping Pong Balls Detailed Review

01- JOOLA Training 3 Star Table Tennis Balls

Features

  • Professional table tennis brand
  • Superior quality
  • According to ITTF regulations
  • Regulation size 40mm
  • High durability
  • Comes in both orange and white color
  • Manufactured for advanced competition
  • Ideal for serving your first ace
  • Thickness.86mm
  • Weight 2.7 grams
  • Width 40 millimeter
  • Consistent bounce
  • Great spin and control

Product Description

JOOLA is one of the most famous table tennis brands known for its high quality and standard table tennis products. It is producing the table tennis equipment since the 1950s. JOOLA supplies table tennis equipment to international tournaments like the Olympics. It designed the equipment of table tennis for all level from beginners to the professional. This is a very credible brand, and the material of JOOLA is of very high quality.

The JOOLA training 3-star table tennis balls are of very high quality. Although these are training balls, these are of very good quality and durability. This 40mm ping pong balls are good for practicing to raise the level of your game. According to the regulations of the International table tennis federation, these balls are a thickness of .86mm, weight of 2.7grams, and 40mm width. The high built quality gives consistent bounce, durability, more spin, and control. JOOLA training 3-star table tennis balls come in the pack of 12, 60, or 120 lightweight balls.

Pros
  • 3 star balls
  • High quality and durability
  • Has a new design
  • Regulation size
  • ITTF approved thickness
  • Tournament weight
  • Consistent bounce, spin, and control
Cons
  • Price is high
  • Not for beginners and fun playing

Best For

This ping pong ball is good for the professional or advanced level players who want to have a good quality 3-star ping pong balls in bulk to practice and training. When you are at the advanced level, then training is as important as a professional match. You have to play the training games like you are playing a professional match of ping pong, so you need to have a good ping pong ball to be used. JOOLA has solved this problem of professional players by providing this pack of 3-star rating good quality ping pong balls, which are available in orange and white colors.

Not Good For

This ping pong ball is not suitable for beginners as this is very expansive. At the initial level of the game, you need to have a basic performance ball.

02- MAPOL 50- Pack Orange 3-Star Premium Ping Pong Balls

Features

  • Excellent in bounce
  • Has more power
  • Very decent and easy to spin
  • Good for all purposes
  • 40+ ball
  • 3-star rating
  • Great for stadium, club and school, home
  • Ball Weight (g): 2.7-2.85
  • Ball Diameter (mm): 40.1- 40.25

Product Description

MAPOL, a great store’s trademark, is an expert in producing good quality ping pong balls. They manufacture all types of ping pong balls for all levels of the players. It does not depend that which level of the ping pong game you are; you will always find some balls of MAPOL which will be suitable for you. The MAPOL pack of 50 balls, which are 3-star ratings, are a great choice for the players who want to improve their game and want to take their game to the next level.

If you want to improve your ping pong skills, you must have the pack of MAPOL 3 star rating balls. These balls are very good in performance. The bounce of these balls is very good, and you will love playing with these balls. Even if you have a low-quality table for ping pong, you will notice that this ball will bounce very well on that ping pong table.

If you are a player who wants to learn the skills of spin and struggling to find the ping pong ball which can help them in this regard, then these balls are the right choice. The spin on these balls can easily be controlled, and they are very easy to learn. You must use these balls in your practice sessions and learn spin skills, which is a must-learn skill if you want to be a professional level player. These balls are very durable as they are built at very high quality. 

Pros
  • Comes in a bulk
  • Colour is such that it is easily visible
  • Built with very high quality
  • Very durable ping pong ball
  • High performance
  • Good for practice and play
Cons
  • Only comes in orange color
  • Not ITTF approved

Best For

This is the best suitable ball for the players who want to have the ping pong balls in bulk to practice the game of ping pong.

Not Good For

These balls are not suitable for playing the official matches and tournaments as they are not ITTF approved. Although these are 3 star balls, they are not approved.  

03- STIGA 3-Star Superior-Quality White Table Tennis Balls

Features

  • White color balls
  • Made of tough plastic
  • 40mm+ ITTF regulation ball
  • Superior performance
  • Tournament play
  • Plastic made
  • Best for adults 
  • 6 White 3-Star Balls
  • 40mm ITTF Regulation Size and Weight
  • USA Table Tennis (USATT) Approved
  • Perfect bounce, spin, and control

Product Description

The STIGA is a very well-known brand that makes world-class equipment for table tennis. This brand makes very high-quality products related to the ping pong. STIGA makes the table for ping pong, which is of very high quality, and they are used in international tournaments. The ping pong paddles make by STIGA are used by the top professional players and are of very high quality. Similarly, the ping pong balls produced by STIGA are of very high quality. They produce the ping pong balls for the official tournaments and competitions.

The ITTF approves STIGA 3 star balls, and you can use these ping pong balls in the professional matches and the tournaments. These balls are of very high quality, and they are best in the performance. In this pack of STIGA balls, you will get the six balls of 3-star rating with ITTF regulation size and weight. These balls are also approved by the United States table tennis (USATT), so you can use these ping pong balls in the states’ competitions. These balls offer excellent bounce, extraordinary spin, and very good control.  

Pros
  • 40+ size as per regulations of ITTF
  • Best performance ping pong ball
  • Easily available
  • ITTF approved balls
  • White color easy to find
  • Long-lasting
  • Very durable
Cons
  • Only available in white color
  • High in price

Best For

The STIGA 3 star ping pong balls are for the serious and professional players. They want to use these ping pong balls for playing the ping pong in the tournaments and matches. These balls allow you to test your skills in the advanced level of the play of ping pong.  

Not Good For

The STIGA 3 star ping pong balls pack of 6 balls is very expansive. The cost is justified due to its very high quality and approval by the International table tennis federation. At this high cost, the STIGA 3 star balls are not suitable for the people who want to play the ping pong just for fun and enjoyment. These balls are also not for the beginners of the ping pong game.

04- Butterfly G40+ Table Tennis Balls

Features

  • Top brand
  • 40+ size as per ITTF regulations
  • Polymer plastic balls
  • Three balls pack or six balls pack
  • Has very consistent bounce
  • White color ball
  • Approved by USATT for top-level tournament play
  • Made in Germany

Product Description

The butterfly brand is one of the top brands in the ping pong game. This brand is the pioneer in the field of manufacturing the ping pong equipment. This brand makes one of the best ping pong paddles. They are also well known for making the table tennis tables for outdoor and indoor use. The butterfly also makes the top quality ping pong balls used in the top tournaments of ping pong at the international levels. This G40+ table tennis ball is according to the new regulations of the international table tennis federation. 

These ping pong balls are made up of polymer plastic, which is of very high quality. The bounce of this ball is very consistent, and it helps you enjoy the game of ping pong at the maximum level. The manufacturing process for STIGA is very good. They maintain the high quality of the product by following very strict quality controls. The Butterfly G40+ balls come in very beautiful packing, and they can be used to present as a beautiful gift to the players who are very keen on ping pong game. The ITTF and the USATT approve these ping pong balls of the butterfly. It means you can use these balls for professional competitions. 

Pros
  • Professional level ping pong balls
  • High-performance balls
  • Made up of very strong plastic
  • Regulation size
  • ITTF approved
  • 3 Star rating ball
Cons
  • Only available in white color
  • Not for practicing

Best For

These ping pong balls by butterfly are for the professional players of the ping pong. These balls are of very good quality, and they are good for the advanced level players who want to play with the balls, which are very good in performance. The consistent bounce, high control, and good spin of these balls make it very suitable for professional games.

Not Good For

These ping pong balls are very expansive, and they are not for the use of practice games. These ping pong balls are very expansive. It can only be affordable by the professional players of the ping pong. For beginners and initial level players, the ping pong balls in bulk quantity with lower prices are very good choices.

05- PRO SPIN Ping Pong Balls

Features

  • 3-star rating ping pong balls
  • White in color
  • Comes in beautiful packing
  • Pack of 12 or 24
  • ABS training balls
  • Can be used in competitions
  • Diameter 40 Millimetres
  • Best for adult 

Product Description

The pro spin is known for making the best quality ping pong balls. This brand is not famous for other ping pong equipment like ping pong tables or table tennis paddles. However, they have a very high name in the ping pong balls manufacturing. One of Pro spin balls’ best features is that it can be used both for training and playing serious matches in the tournaments. The Pro spin balls are made with the latest technology’s help, which produces the seamless ping pong balls. These seamless ping pong balls are good for producing the consistent bounce. 

The ping pong balls are also very strong, and they are very durable. These ping pong balls can be used for both indoor and outdoor games of ping pong. The performance of these ping pong balls is not less than any top brand ping pong balls. They can play competitions and games at the national level but not at the international level because the ITTF does not approve these balls. The 3-star rating of these balls per the international table tennis federation standards, but they do not have the approval from them. If you are practicing with these balls and face any other 3-star ITTF balls in the tournament, you will not face any difficulty as there is not much difference in it.

Pros
  • Good quality balls
  • Affordable price
  • 2.7G official weight
  • 40+ official size
  • Seamless construction
Cons
  • Not ITTF approved
  • Only one color: White

Best For

This is the ping pong ball, which is best suitable for the professional players’ training purposes. These balls are not very expansive as they are not ITTF approved, but they have all the top-quality ping pong ball features. These 3-star rating balls will help you improve your skills of ping pong.

Not Good For

The pro star ping pong balls are not good for official tournaments and competitions; you cannot use them as ITTF does not approve them.

06- Nittaku 3-Star Premium 40+ Table Tennis Balls

Features

  • 3 star rated ping pong balls
  • Premium quality
  • 40+ official size
  • ITTF approved official balls
  • JTTA approved

Product Description

Nittaku is the Japanese brand of table tennis equipment. This brand makes the top quality ping pong balls that are good in performance and very good in quality. These ping pong balls are very durable and strong, and in strength, there is no comparison to these ping pong balls. These ping pong balls are used in the official tournaments. They are approved by the International table tennis federation and Japanese table tennis association. These balls come in the white color, which is the balls used in the Olympics and other international competitions. 

The Nittaku Premium is made according to the official size and weight specified by the ITTF. This ball is made up of the polymer plastic with a size of 40mm+, which is now the official size of ping pong balls. These premium quality balls are essential for enjoying the ping pong game at its full. 

Pros
  • ITTF and JTTA approved
  • Can be used in official tournaments
  • Comes in good packing
  • Long-lasting
  • Very high in performance
  • Seamless
Cons
  • Not available in orange color
  • Not for practice

Best For

These ping pong balls are specially made to be used in official tournaments and competitions. All the official federations approve these of the ping pong. You can use these balls for any type of match.

Not Good For

These ping pong balls are not for practice or beginner players as they are very expansive, and you will not be able to afford to use this ball for practice and training. These ping pong balls are very high in performance, but you can get a similar performance ping pong balls at much less price.

Buyers Guide for the Best Ping Pong Balls 

The ping pong balls are the most ignored item of a ping pong game. People give importance to the ping pong table, ping pong paddle, or even the ping pong net, but they do not give much value to the ping pong ball. But ping pong ball is the most important part of the ping pong as it is the main thing which is required to play the ping pong. The ball is the main thing that controls the ping pong game. If you have a bad ping pong ball with you, it will affect the game, and you will not enjoy the game. 

Therefore it is very important to choose the ping pong game, which is of good quality. This buyer’s guide will guide you about each and everything important to choose the best ping pong ball. We will discuss how the decision to select the ping pong ball depends upon, and all these factors must be considered while choosing and buying the ping pong ball.

Check Your Requirements

One of the basic and most important things while choosing the ping pong ball is checking your requirements and needs. Many manufacturers and brands make ping pong balls for different types of players, and it is very hard to choose the ping pong ball, which is best suitable for you. 

So the first thing is to know what your requirement is. If you are a beginner and at the player’s initial level, then any decent softball will be suitable for you. And if you are the player who is more serious about the game and wants to take the ping pong game to the next level, than a proper ping pong ball is required, which is ITTF approved. There are stars rating of the ping pong balls, which is according to the ball’s quality. So 3-star ping pong, which is at the highest quality, is for the player’s advanced level.

Type of Balls

Different types of balls must be known while buying the ping pong ball. The ping pong balls are classified according to the purpose for which you will use that ball. If you are going to use the ping pong ball for a ping pong game for fun and recreation, you must go for recreation ping pong balls, which are casual and very light in weight. These balls are made up of thinner material. For the ping pong training game, there are training balls available that come in bulk, and these are good in quality but little less than the competition balls. These balls are not very expansive. The balls used in the competition are called competition balls, which are of very good quality. These are the balls that are approved by ITTF to be used in professional tournaments.

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What are the Official Ping Pong Ball Regulations?

The international table tennis federation (ITTF) is the official international body that makes ping pong rules. They make sure that these rules are followed in international tournaments and matches. These rules and regulations are very simple, but the players must know it. It does not depend that whether you are playing the official and professional game or playing the ping pong just for fun and enjoyment. It is always entertaining to play the ping pong with all rules and regulations. The following are some of the most important rules of ping pong with some detail.

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Total Points

The game of ping pong is a total of 11 points. To win the game of ping pong, the player must win by two points. In general, the match of ping pong is the best of three out of five games.

Alternative Serve

In a ping pong game, the players standing at the two sides of the table alternate serve after two points. Only when at the end of the game is level and tied with 10 points than service will be altered after each point.

Service

It is the rule in the ping pong that players must show the ball during the service. It means that the player must toss the ball up in the air than hit the ball with his ping pong racket to do the service. The ping pong ball must be thrown 6″ up in the air. At the service point, the ping pong ball must hit both sides of the table. Other than the service point, the ball should only hit the table on the other side of the net. If service is done without tossing the ball up in the air, it can result in foul service, and the player will lose the point. In a single game, the service can land anywhere on the opposite side of the table. In the case of doubles, the ball must land at the right court of the opposite player. 

Read More: Best Ping Pong Paddle under 100

No Volleys in Ping Pong

In lawn tennis, the volleys are allowed but not in table tennis. Volley means you hit the ball before it touches the table. In table tennis, you can only hit the ball when it touches the table and bounce. If the ball does not touch the table and it lands outside the table, then it is the point for you, and you do not have to hit that ball.

Ball Touches Paddle Hand

There is always confusion while playing table tennis. It will happen if the ball touches the player’s finger or hand with which he is holding the ping pong paddle. The regulations say that if the ping pong ball touches the paddle hand, then there is no foul, and the game must go on as it is the legal hit. The other important thing to know is that if you place to touch the ping pong table with your hand while playing, it will consider foul, and you will lose the point.

Table Tennis Ball Plastic Explained 

The material used in the table tennis balls is plastic. This plastic is different from other common types of plastic used in making toys or utensils. This plastic has been produced using the latest technology, and there is continuous improvement in the plastic of table tennis. One of the most important factors about the plastic of table tennis is its softness. This softness does not mean that the ball has very less weight because the less weight ball is not good as you will not be able to enjoy the ping pong game well using a lightweight ping pong ball. In the past, the ball used to play the ping pong game was made up of celluloid plastic. 

Celluloid is the world’s first synthetic plastic material that was developed in the 1870s. This was very popular plastic because of its quality of being tough, flexible, and mouldable. This plastic was easy to produce in different colors. As the ping pong ball is a tiny hollow ball so it needs plastic, which must be strong. Celluloid plastic was the best plastic for ping pong balls for several years.

In 2014/2015, the plastic of the ping pong was changed from celluloid to modern inflammable polymer plastic. The ping pong balls made up of this plastic are known as plastic or poly balls. The ping pong balls made up of polymer plastic are a tiny bit bigger than the ping pong balls made up of celluloid plastic. The main difference is the type of material used to make the ping pong balls.

Polymer Plastic Ping Pong Balls 

When the new polymer plastic ping pong balls were introduced, there were concerns in the table tennis community that it will change the whole game. There were also speculations that this introduction of a new ping pong ball will change the players’ ranking. At first, the new ping pong balls produced using the polymer plastic were very bad, and it causes a lot of frustration in the table tennis community. 

There was a suggestion that it should be changed to the same celluloid plastic. However, over time, the new polymer plastic ping pong ball’s quality is getting better, and it delivers the same game effect. The new ping pong balls, which are made using ABS material, are even better than the celluloid plastic, and it is best for playing the ping pong game. The introduction of the new ping pong ball does not change the game. The players who were the best at the game while using celluloid ping pong ball are still at the top of the game using the new polymer ping pong ball. Even the new polymer plastic balls give the player more choice to use his skills. These balls do not show any surprise and are very predictable in their behavior.

With the latest technologies, the ping pong ball’s material will keep on improving, but it should be kept in mind that it must not change the game completely. 

stiga ping pong balls

What is the Ping Pong Ball Star Ratings?

Table tennis is not the same, and there is a difference in the ping pong balls, which is also required by the players. The different types of balls are used for different purposes, so it can produce the ping pong balls in different categories. Therefore the ping pong balls are given different ratings depending upon is quality and performance. This rating classified the ping pong balls in three different categories. This rating ranges from one star to three stars, one being the lowest and three being the best in quality. The manufacturers just give these ratings.

There is no such parameter of authority to check the ping pong ball’s rating mentioned by the manufacturer. The ratings are given based on factors like the weight of the ping pong ball and how much durable the ping pong ball is. The other thing that is considered while rating the ping pong balls is how well it will perform during a game. There is a 5-star ping pong ball, but it is the same as three stars.

Here all three ratings of the ping pong balls will be discussed in detail.

One Star Rating

The one-star rating is given to the ping pong ball, which is very basic and having heavyweight. These balls are strong and durable, but there performance like bounce and elasticity is not very well. One star rating balls are used for training and recreation playing of ping pong. 

Two Star Rating

There are intermediate quality ping pong balls that lie in between the one-star and two-star rating balls. These are durable and good in performance. These balls can be used in the local tournaments and good level competitions. Although these balls have a very good performance, they cannot be used in the official tournaments.

Three-Star Rating

One of the best and highest qualities balls have three-star ratings. These three-star ratings are very good in quality and have high performance. These are the ping pong balls that are used in the official tournaments and games. The three-star ratings are given to the balls, which are only approved by the ITTF. If the manufacturer claims to have the three-star rating, then it must get approved by the ITTF. The three-star rating balls are strong and durable, good for playing the serious game of ping pong.

How to Check the Quality of a Ping Pong balls?

The quality of the table tennis ball can be easily checked. There are a few checklist points that should be checked every time you have the ping pong ball size in your hand. The first thing is to check that the ball is properly round. To check the ping pong ball’s roundness, you can roll the ball over the table of the ping pong. If the ball is properly round than it will roll smoothly on the table. The other thing is to check the ball’s hardness, which can be checked by pressing the ball with the thumb gently. 

How to Care for Ping Pong Balls? 

The ping pong balls are made up of plastic, strong, and resistant to the high temperature. So it is very easy to maintain the ping pong balls as they do not need much care, but few things must be kept in mind. One of the most important things is to protect the ping pong ball from the direct sunlight. Although the ping pong balls are made up of plastic, this plastic is very thin, and with longer exposure to the sunlight, it will get swallowed with the passage of the time. This will disturb the performance of the ping pong ball. The ping pong ball’s life will also get less, and it will not last long; it is kept in the sunlight for a longer period. 

How Were Ping Pong Balls Made?

The making of ping pong balls is the process that involves both the humans and the machines. At first, there are round flat sheets of the plastic which are cut in equal sizes. The first step in the production line of ping pong ball is the shaping. In this process, the hot water is sprayed over the plastic sheets, and round copper head presses the sheet to give it the ball’s shape. Each plastic sheet becomes the rounded half of the final ball. The next step is edge trimming, which is fully automated. There is no human involvement there; in this process, the extra edge of the rounded plastic is trimmed. The final stage of ping pong production is the gluing of the balls, which are also done with machines. The balls are kept for 15 days in the store.

colored ping pong balls

Best Ping Pong Balls – 3 Star Ping Pong Balls?

The ping pong balls have star ratings that range from one star to three-star. The 3-star ping pong balls are the one which is of very high quality and durability. This is the ball that people use for tournaments and professional-level play. The 3 star balls are strong, but they have good elasticity and bounce, which gives a good performance during the game. If you want to have the best quality ping pong ball in your hand, you must buy a 3-star ping pong ball. 

The training balls or even the one-star 2-star rating balls are very weak and less durable than 3-star rating ping pong balls. One star balls are very soft, and it is good for the beginner and initial level player who want to have a cheap ball to practice and play. The 2 star balls are better than the 1-star rating ping pong balls. It is a bit firm and stronger than the 1-star rating balls. These ping pong balls are used for training and improving your game. The 2-star rating ping pong balls are cheaper than the 3-star rating balls, so if you want to practice the ping pong with a quality ball, than the 2-star rating ball is a very good choice. 

You can buy these ping pong balls in bulk and practice the game. If you buy this in bulk, then it will cost you less. One of the best ping pong balls comes in the category of a 3-star rating. It is the finest and most durable ping pong ball. The 3-star rating balls are used in the official ping pong games, international level tournaments.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What kind of ping pong balls does pro use?

The professionals use the ping pong balls to use the 3-star rating ping pong balls from any of the top brands. The 1 star and 2-star rating balls are for the beginners and intermediate level players, not for the pros. 

When do the stars mean on a ping pong ball?

The star on the ping pong ball reflects the rating of the ball. The lower the star’s number, the lower the rating and performance of the ping pong ball. The one star is the lowest, and the three-star is the highest. The three-star rating balls will be the best ping pong balls, which are very good in performance and quality.

Are there 4-star ping pong balls?

Some manufacturers make the 4-star ping pong balls, but these are the 3-star rating balls, and there is not much difference in these balls. The ITTF give the highest value to the 3-star rating, and according to it, 3 star is the highest rating of a ping pong ball. 

What does 40+ mean on ping pong balls?

The International table tennis federation changes the rules of the ping pong game. It changes the ping pong ball’s material and size from a celluloid ball of 39.6mm to polymer plastic 40.2mm making the plastic balls about 0.5mm bigger than the older celluloid balls. The 40+ shows that this ball has been as per new rules.

What is the difference between orange and white ping pong balls?

There is not much difference in the orange and white ping pong balls. These balls are the same in performance. The color change is important when considering it according to the surrounding environment where the ping pong is to be played.

What is inside ping pong balls?

There is nothing inside the ping pong balls. A ping pong ball is a hollow ball that is made up of plastic. The plastic of the ping pong ball is strong enough. Due to the small size of the ping pong ball, it is very strong. 

What is the difference between ping pong balls and beer pong balls?

The beer pong balls are very soft and light. These balls are not very good in quality and durability and are very cheap. The balls of ping pong are strong and durable, and these are expansive.

What are ping pong balls used in the Olympics?

The 3-star rating ping pong balls of polymer plastic are used in the Olympics. The international table tennis federation is the one that controls the rules and regulations of the table tennis game, and it allows us to use the 40mm plastic ball in tournaments like the Olympics. 

How long do ping pong balls last?

It depends upon your use and the care you took of the ball. If proper care has been taken and no extra pressure has been applied on the balls, it can last for three training games. The ping pong is strong enough to resist the water and the heat, but the direct sunlight should protect it, and long hour exposure of sunlight to plastic can cause cracks in it. 

Is color ping pong balls legal?

There are just two coloreds that are legal to be used: the white color and orange color ping pong ball. Most commonly, the white color ping pong ball size is used in professional matches.

Read More: Best Ping Pong Paddle under 50

Read More: Best Ping Pong Paddle for Spin

Our Recommendation for the Best Ping Pong Balls

If you ask our recommendation we would say you can purchase any of the above ping pong balls as they have been picked after testing. All these are the best ping pong balls on the market. Yet if you are confused we would say go for the JOOLA Training 3 Star Table Tennis Balls. It is our personal choice as it is a professional table tennis brand that is trusted for 60+ years and its long-lasting and super quality.

JOOLA Training 3 Star Table Tennis Balls 12, 60, or 120...
9,135 Reviews
JOOLA Training 3 Star Table Tennis Balls 12, 60, or 120...
  • JOOLA - A PROFESSIONAL TABLE TENNIS BRAND TRUSTED FOR 60 plus YEARS: Launched in the 1950s, JOOLA has been the proud sponsor of the biggest tournaments in the world, including the Olympics, World Championships, and US Open. Equipment designed for all levels.
  • SUPERIOR QUALITY AND DURABILITY: Manufactured for advanced competition, these 40 plusmm three star practice ping pong balls are ideal for serving your first ace or hitting the game winner past your opponent as a professional player or in the family game room.
  • ITTF REGULATION SIZE AND WEIGHT: Official thickness of .86mm and tournament weight of 2.7 grams and regulation width of 40 plus millimeter ensures consistent bounce, durability, more power, great spin and control. Table tennis equipment for kids and adults.
  • UNMATCHED PERFORMANCE: These table tennis practice balls are excellent to practice serves, hit against multi-ball training, for clubs, schools, recreation centers, resorts, and ping pong robot trainers or automatic server machines.
  • INCLUDES: 12 durable 3 Star training ping-pong balls that are lightweight and perfectly round. Recommended to be played with ping pong paddles or rackets or have your pets use the balls as a cat toy. Choose between white or orange colored ping pong balls.

Now Make a Wish Decision

The fundamental thing about table tennis is the ball with which table tennis is played. There are many different types of ping pong balls, and it is very hard to choose the best ping pong ball according to your need and requirement. Here in this article, we have discussed all the important factors about the ping pong balls. We have discussed in detail some of the best ping pong balls available in the market to get you an idea that what are the features that a good ping pong ball must-have. We are sure that after reading this, you will be in a better position to decide which ping pong ball is best for you.

Last update on 2022-05-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API