Posts Tagged ping pong table

Used Table Tennis Table: Nothing Wrong If You Know How to Buy a Good One

If you want to introduce your family to the exciting and fun world of ping pong, there is nothing wrong if you decide to purchase a used table tennis table. Your priority is to look for good quality, pre-owned equipment, preferably, a professional type if your funds can support it.

The best places to look for it are your local sports stores, table tennis clubs and ping pong associations. There you can ask for anyone selling their table or for any leads. Another way is to let your circle of family and friends know that you are in the market for it. Word of mouth news will circulate around and who knows, there may be a neighbor who plans to move out and dispose of their old ping pong table to buy a new one. The other sources are newspaper classified ads, the yellow pages and online manufacturer’s websites such as Amazon.com, eBay.com, Craigslist and Nextag. You just search for used table tennis tables under this category and you will be having many options.

In buying a used one, it is important that you are in a position to know if the price of the ping pong table being offered is reasonable in the condition that it is in. Usually, the deal is on an “As Is, Where Is” basis. First of all, you do not know the wear and tear background of the item. You just have to believe or rely on the information given to you when you inspect and ask some questions. In online auctions, this may not be possible. It is only the price and the photo or video that you have to base your interest in making a counter-offer.

A sample used table being sold online is a Butterfly T2625SU Centrefold 25 Sky Rollaway Table Tennis Table (Tournament Used) for $ 2000-35% discount or $1300 free shipping.

Another sample online ad: “Stiga Elite Roller Ping Pong table for sale. New, these tables sell for around $900. A used one in good shape, which this one is, sells for $400-$700. We’re asking $400 for ours. I’ve attached a picture of the table in the flat play position. It also folds up for practicing alone. If you’re interested in purchasing, you will need to come to our house with a truck.”

How can you know if the price being offered is fair? To that question, if would be easy if you are aware of the year model and brand. If you get info from the manufacturer the brand new price of such model, it would be easy to calculate the depreciation percentage. Typically, a seller who bought his ping pong table two years ago for $1,000 will ran an ad and sells it for $ 500. If you make a counter offer for let’s say $ 300 and it is accepted, you can conclude that you have a good deal. For the discount of $ 200, you can budget it for enhancement or improvement of the table.

In cases where it is possible for you to inspect the item, it would be better if you can bring along someone who has the technical expertise to examine and assess the table. Part of the evaluation process is to the test the table by playing with your friend. You can do some ball bounce checks. Find out if the ping pong ball bounces according to the international standard. Try a variety of spin shots.

Check the smoothness of the surface quality and watch out for any warping or damage. Inspect the levelers if any and the condition of the wheels and the brake mechanism. See how it folds and check for other features such as playback. Have some tool and measuring tape handy to check the measurements and level. Feel also how stable and secure it is. This is the advantage of a visual inspection. If the price is negotiable, then you can go ahead and negotiate if you discern that the table can still be useful for many years. Be fair with your vendor. Don’t haggle too much if the price and table’s condition are okay.

The Thickness and Quality of Table Tennis Table Tops Affect the Dynamism of Technical Spin Shots

Many experts believe that the quality and thickness of your table tennis table top will determine the dynamism of the ball bounce and the creation of various technical spin shots by the players of the game of ping pong. If you are serious to develop your skills in this sport, it is vital that you are aware of how the construction of table top can affect its performance.

In your choice of a perfect table top, you have to consider factors such as the aesthetic beauty of the design, color and smoothness of the surface. Its thickness, configuration and materials used are the features that create a good impression with the buyer. A sleek laminated playing surface can develop awesome spin drives that will amaze the player and observers. A thicker top improves the quality of the ping pong table top.

The official color in international competitions approved by the International Table Tennis Federation is either blue or green. These colors were given approval after a period of experimentation to determine the best kind for television audience. Color plays an important role in providing harmony or contrast to the color of the surrounding area like the flooring, walls and background. It can be a distraction or attraction.

Table thickness of 25mm provides the best quality of playing spins and ball bounce because of its more solid feature. The support under the top should be even because it has an effect also on the performance of the bounce quality of a table. Being warp resistant is also a characteristic of a properly laminated table top. Warping can affect the performance of the ball bounce on the table. It can also develop cracks due to moisture if not properly constructed or laminated. Official material for tournaments is a wooden top. Many manufacturers have table tops of plywood, particle board, aluminum metal, concrete or fiberglass. Some tops have 15mm up to 19 mm thickness which is less expensive and ideal for beginners but they do not produce a good ball bounce.

How about a conversion table top? If you want versatility and have a pool table around your place, you can purchase a table tennis conversion table top kit. You can just place the padded foam backing on top of the pool table and you can begin to play ping pong. It has a regulation size of 9′ x 5′ table top with ½ thickness play surface. It is easy to install with a four piece hinged design. The material is easy to fold for storage and is available in green or blue. The kit includes the rails, nets set, a two player racket set and three ping pong balls. You just have to monitor the proper installation and storage after your game to keep its quality and performance in excellent condition.

You can purchase your table tennis table tops from online manufacturers, local table tennis club or sports shops. If you go online, you can visit the websites of reputable table tennis manufacturers such as Adidas, Bribar, Cornilleau, Donic, Dunlop, Double Happiness, Halex, Jaques, Juic, Kalahari, Sportscraft, TSP, Yasaka, Killerspin, Marquis, Optima, Prince, Robbins, Tibhar, Lynx and others. Study and compare their products and prices as well as their incentive offers and have your order of table top and other accessories delivered to your door for free.