Technical Guide: Choosing Your Table Tennis Balls

In a sport where the ball weighs exactly 2.7 grams and reaches speeds exceeding 100 km/h over a short distance, approximation has no place. A deformed or too soft ball makes all technical work useless.

The market has undergone a revolution: celluloid is forbidden. The current standard is ABS plastic (Poly ball). Here are the factual criteria for selecting your ammunition.

1. The Material: The "40+" Standard

If you have balls that are 10 years old, throw them away. The international standard is the 40+ ball (diameter > 40mm) made of ABS plastic.

It is stiffer and more durable than the old celluloid. It "scratches" the racket less but offers a more stable trajectory.

2. The Star Rating: Hardness and Sphericality

This is the main filter. Manufacturers sort balls as they leave the factory according to their degree of perfection.

Leisure / Training Balls (1 Star or Bulk)

Often softer, their sphericality is not millimetric. They may have slight variations in shell thickness.

Competition Balls (3 Stars - ITTF Approved)

They undergo drastic sorting. The shell is hard, and the sound on impact is dry and sharp. The ball does not flatten during a smash, ensuring maximum energy restitution.

3. Color: Tactical Visibility

• White: The official standard for competition (best televised contrast on a blue table).
• Orange: Recommended for training in poorly lit rooms or with a light floor. The eye picks up orange better in dim light.

In Summary: Which Ball to Buy?

Do not mix qualities in the same training session. The difference in bounce disrupts timing.