You have a ping pong table, you’ve got the paddles, now it´s time for the Ping Pong Balls! You might be drawn to go out and buy the cheapest Ping Pong balls out there. But we don’t think that’s a good idea. Because they may all look the same, but ping pong balls can vary in quality and if you end up with a cheap ping pong balls, you might not play your best game. Below we’ll tell you which Ping Pong Balls are the best ones currently on the market. so, let find out market best ping pong balls review 2020 and what good features actually have.
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What material is a Ping Pong ball made of?
Ping pong balls were originally made of celluloid, which is the same material from which photographic film is made. In 2011 however, the ITTF (International Table Tennis Federation) decided to promote plastic balls rather than celluloid balls because of the toxic fumes of celluloid balls. Since 2014 all ITTF Events are played with plastic balls. if you need more about ping pong ball then check out our other article What are ping pong balls made of?
What’s the difference between Beer Pong balls and Ping pong balls?
If you’re looking for some new beer pong balls and questioning if you can get just a regular pack of ping pong balls, then the answer is Yes! The truth is that there is no difference between Beer Pong and Ping Pong balls. However, we do recommend getting marked Ping Pong Balls for your Ping Pong games, since these are usually a bit higher quality and better material.
What is best way to take care of ping pong balls?
If you don’t want to be buying Ping Pong Balls regularly, then it is a good idea to take proper care for your ping pong balls. To extend the life span of a ping pong ball:
- ⇒ Never leave it in direct sunlight
- ⇒ Never leave it where there is excessive moisture (like in the bathroom)
- ⇒ Never leave it where there is excessive heat (like in the car)
- ⇒ If you want to clean your Ping Pong Balls, only do so with cold water! Hot water will break them.
- ⇒ Which color Ping Pong Ball should I choose?
For regular tournament play, the only acceptable colors are white or orange. However, if you are just playing some games for fun, then you can choose any color that you want to use. Be sure to pick a color that is easy for you to see during the gameplay. We recommend orange or pink!
#1. Kevenz 60-pack 3-star
As standard 3-star ping pong balls, Kevenz 60-pack 3-Star balls are durable, not wobbling, and long-lasting. They allow up to 1000 Impacts without cracking or showing any signs of wear off. Kevenz three-star ping pong balls weigh 2,75 grams and are 40 millimeters in diameter. The thickness of the balls is 0.86 millimeters and therefore is suitable for all ITTF tournaments. The Kevenz balls come in a 60-Pack of orange balls for a great price. They are packed in durable cardboard which assures a safe delivery to your doorstep.
Performance and Benefits
Kevenz 60-Pack Three Star balls are very durable and good to play with. The balls have a slightly tackier feel to them compared to more expensive balls from well-known brands. The weight and size are on par with the other three star ball brands, therefore there is no real difference between them. If you as a player don’t mind the tackier feeling which actually provides a better spin because of the grip, then these balls are just right for you! Kevenz provides a great deal with 60 balls of this high quality.
The pros:
- Extremely affordable – a great deal
- Very good quality
- Bright orange or white color
- Very durable
The cons:
- Better for practice than tournament
- A bit heavier than regular three-star balls
#2. STIGA 3-Star Superior-Quality
Features and Specifications
STIGA is one of the leading companies associated with the sport of table tennis. STIGA 3-Star Table Tennis Balls offer the highest performance available, making them suitable for tournament play and approved by USA Table Tennis (USATT). These balls are a standard 40mm and meet the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) requirements for size and weight. The superior performance of these balls supports enhanced ball control, longer volleys, consistent bounce, and excellent spin. Because of the superior quality and well-known brand, the STIGA balls are more expensive than other three-star ping pong balls.
Performance and Benefits
Challenge your friends with STIGA Three-Star White Table Tennis Balls featuring superior quality for hours of tournament play! This set includes six three-star 40mm ITTF regulation size and weight white balls that are USA Table Tennis (USATT) approved. STIGA three-star balls offer superior bounce, spin, and control.
The pros:
- Perfect for tournament play
- Extremely high durability
- Well-known brand
- ITTF approved
The cons:
- Expensive compared to other ping pong balls with similar qualities
- Only comes in a pack of 6 or twelve
#3. MAPOL 100 Counts 3-Star
Features and Specifications
MAPOL offers you with a Quality bounce and moderate spin for all the Ping-Pong enthusiasts. These Ping Pong Balls are durable just like any other branded ping pong ball. It is a pack of 100 balls, all of them arrive in the same orange shade. The bright color makes them easy to identify, without creating any problem with your eyes.
The diameter of the ball is around 40mm. There are a 30 days money-back guarantee, which you can claim if you are not satisfied with the product. The balls are delivered in a polybag, 100 balls altogether. Keep a box or a container ready for the secure storage of the Ping Pong Balls.
Performance and Benefits
MAPOL balls are great for all levels of players! They are recommended for practice and not for tournaments and are very affordable. The large packs for a great price are perfect for table tennis robots. The balls are ITTF regulation conform and come in standard size and weight and therefore offer optimal performance with great bounce and spin qualities.
The pros:
- Good bounce and spin quality
- Works well for all level players, and can be used for all types of training sessions
- Colour of the ball makes it highly visible for the player
- A 30 days cash-back feature is also included – return the product, get a full refund
- An affordable recommendation for training balls among all 3-star ping pong balls
The cons:
- Balls are a bit fragile – avoid hitting them too hard
- Balls may wobble on the table
#4. ZHENAN 30-Pack 3-Star – (Practice Ping Pong Ball)
Features and Specifications
Zhenan 30-Pack three-star Ping pong balls are available in white or orange and are packed in a durable cardboard box for safe shipping. They are perfectly round and have smooth seams which offer a perfect balance when playing and long durability. The balls weigh a bit more than regular three-star balls and therefore retain their shape and bounce much better for a long time. This makes the Zhenan ping pong balls perfect for long-lasting and exhausting training sessions.
Performance and Benefits
They offer a great bounce, superior spin when hit and great control in all playing situations. The new material makes them even more durable than other ping pong balls. The greater mass contributes to a larger momentum, and the hits feel a bit more intentioned than with smaller and less weighing balls.
The balls come with a 90-day warranty and very friendly customer service. If you are not happy with your product, just return it and you will receive a full refund. The ping pong balls are very easy to see because of their bright color and they are very affordable.
The pros:
- Very durable and perfect for intense training sessions
- A bright color which is easy to see
- Affordable 30 pack
- Three-star quality
The cons:
- Not suited for tournaments
- Not many reviews on Amazon yet
#5. JOOLA 3-Star Ping Pong Training Balls (12 Count), Lightweight, Durable
Features and Specifications
JOOLA is another recommended brand in the table tennis scene. If you are looking for great Ping Pong Balls, then you don’t have to think twice about the JOOLA brand. This Set of 12 three-star table tennis balls are 40mm in diameter which is ITTF standard. Each ball weighs 2,74 grams, and they are manufactured in China, made out of durable celluloid which makes balls last even longer for you.
When ordering on amazon you can choose between white and orange balls. The balls are recommended for training and amateur tournaments but not for professional tournaments.
Performance and Benefits
Manufactured for advanced training and competition, these 40mm 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. 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. However, they don’t bounce as well as other three-star balls.
The pros:
- Highly affordable
- Perfect for training and amateur tournaments
- Celluloid material makes the Ping Pong Balls very durable
- Orange or white balls
- Highly recommended on amazon
The cons:
- Not as good bounce as other three-star balls
- Chemical odor cause of celluloid material
Ping pong balls Buying Guide
Ping Pong Balls are available in many different varieties, so it is very important to know what to look for before choosing which balls you should buy. Ever since the game of Ping Pong, or also called Table Tennis, was first invented in the late 1800s, the search for the perfect ball which is made from durable and lightweight material has continued. Because of this continues the search for better balls, today’s ping pong balls are not all the same. There are many different types available and each one suits a different purpose.
Fun / Novelty Balls
The most common and cheapest table tennis balls are from the category fun and novelty balls. They are available in lots of different colors and sizes and are particularly suitable for children and for fun, recreational play. The balls vary from very soft to very hard and can usually be bought in packs of all one size, or mixed size packs.
Practice / Training Balls
The practice balls are generally a bit softer and work best for beginners and young players when practicing their skills. The practice balls are generally not very durable and break easily when hit too hard. However, if these practice balls are white or orange and 40 Millimetres in diameter with a weight of 2,7 grams, they would be legal for regular tournaments. We do not recommend using them for tournaments, only for training.
One Star Balls
One Star Balls are mostly used in schools, youth clubs and for training. They are sometimes used for tournaments, but generally just as a substitute ball and not the main ball. They are made out of better and more durable materials than practice balls, but not nearly as good as two or three-star balls.
Two Star Balls
Similar to one star balls, the two-star ping pong balls are sometimes used in match plays but mostly used for training situations and for amateur playing. If they meet the required 40 millimeters of diameter and 2,7 grams, they are legal for match play.
Three Star Balls
The highest quality ping pong balls currently out there are the so-called three-star balls. These balls meet all the requirements set by the ITTF and are extremely durable. Three-star balls are used in all ITTF tournaments and professional players use them for training as well.
Since we are searching for the best ping pong balls currently on the market, we are only going to review three-star balls for you. These are your optimal training and competition balls. The follow five three-star balls we recommend for your next ping pong training or game:
Final verdict
There are many types of three-star ping pong balls out there, however, there are some big differences in quality and price. While 10 $ can five you 100 three-star balls of one brand, it could also only get you 6 balls from another brand. When choosing your ping pong balls is important to know what you are looking for? Are you searching for the best practice ping pong balls? Then we recommend the Kevenz 60-pack 3-Star Ping Pong Balls. If you are looking for the best tournament three-star ping pong balls, then we recommend the STIGA 3-Star Superior-Quality ping pong balls which are a bit more expensive.
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