Table tennis balls vary in quality and price according to the number of stars
in the rating. The fewer number of stars in the rating, the lower the quality
of the ping pong balls. The rating depends on seam quality, roundness, and bounce consistency.
Why would you want to use a lower quality practice table tennis ball? Read the article to find
out.
The first table tennis balls were small air-filled latex ping pong balls. Then in 1880,
James Gibb invented the modern table tennis ball made of celluloid. The hollow
celluloid ping pong balls provide a much more consistent bounce and control than air-filled
latex. Even celluloid ping pong balls vary in quality and consistency, so a star rating
system was developed.
Star Rating System
You can tell the ball's rating by the number of stars; one is the lowest quality
while three is the highest quality. Three star ping pong balls are competition balls and
are much more expensive than lower rated practice balls. Competition and practice
balls are the same size, and weight, the difference is the quality. Color can
vary, and is unimportant for practice table tennis balls. ITTF and USATT tournaments require
competition balls to be white or two-toned orange and matt colored balls.
Competition balls have a true bounce, which means they bounce the same way each
time. Competition balls are more consistent than practice balls because the shell
is thinner. The thinner shell has a downside, it is more apt to crack and break.
Since these table tennis balls are expensive compared to practice balls, some
players use a one or two star ball for routine practice or recreational play.
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Practice with the highest quality ball you can afford. The irregular seams
in lower quality balls cause the ball to have an erratic flight pattern and bounce.
The roundness of the ping pong ball is another factor in the rating and bounce consistency.
This makes it difficult to predict where they will land and that does not help
you play more consistently. Some players feel that this can actually help your
game, as it forces you to react quicker.
Experiment with balls from each group to find the brand and rating that works
best for your practice. After choosing your table tennis balls, keep them in good
condition for longer playing life. Store the balls in a cool place away from dampness,
and out of direct sunlight.
