Outdoor ping-pong tables: What should be considered?

We are in the middle of summer and what you most want is the outdoor activities. We have the perfect time to carry out sports activities in the garden. And if you’re wondering which would be the perfect outdoor ping-pong table for you, just keep reading. In this article we provide you with practical information so that you can make the best decision when buying an outdoor ping-pong table.

Outdoor ping pong table but before continuing, let’s clarify an important point. Many people think that when the weather is nice, they can simply take the ping-pong table they bought for home out to the garden. Something completely not recommended. A distinction has been made between indoor and outdoor tables for a long time, and there’s good reason for that. The outdoor ping-pong tables are resistant to UV rays, inclement weather, and water.

Outdoor ping-pong tables

In these tables that are resistant to different climatic conditions, a board made of aluminium or melamine resin is used. The aluminium composite boards used by Kettler and Joola consist of wooden boards covered with aluminium sheets. On the contrary, Cornelia or Sonata make use of melamine resin boards, a thick and resistant material. Indoor ping-pong tables, which are made up of sheets that absorb moisture and can sag, should never be placed outdoors.

In addition, these indoor tables do not have a UV resistant surface, so they can discolour when exposed to sunlight. But in both cases, fun is guaranteed.

Criteria to consider

Today we present a summary of the most important criteria to consider when buying an outdoor ping-pong table:

A stable structure improves the playing characteristics and the overall stability of the entire table
In outdoor ping-pong tables, models with an aluminium composite tabletop, such as Kettler’s 22mm thick ones, provide excellent playing behaviours. Ping pong tables like those from Cornelia reach an excellent level in terms of playing characteristics from a thickness of 7 mm, due to the melamine resin tops.
The behaviour of the rebound depends on the quality of the table. When the table is thick, hard and of great density, the best ping pong balls bounce particularly evenly and with great height.
Green, blue or grey: a matter of taste. In the sports field, the blue colour of ping-pong tables has been gaining ground, since on a surface of this colour it is easier to distinguish the white colour of the ball.
Outdoor ping-pong tables must have a locking brake, to prevent the table from sliding during the game or while it is stored
For uneven surfaces, table tennis tables with height-adjustable legs are especially recommended. In this way you can keep the table horizontal so that the playing conditions are ideal.

Which racket is the right one?

But not only the ping-pong table is important when it comes to enjoying a good game, but good ping-pong paddles are even more important. In this case we have three criteria:

Effect: This value indicates the rotation of the ping-pong ball and determines the impact behaviours, as well as the trajectory
Control: If a high control value is indicated, it is a good ping-pong paddle to be able to place the ball during the game. High control can sometimes detract from speed.
Speed: For experienced offensive players, a fast ping-pong paddle is best, although with it the paddle loses control.

For defensive players the best blades are those that offer good control. The best thing is that the most aggressive ping-pong players get a paddle with a good rating in speed.

What is the best cover for a ping pong paddle?

We must end the myth that there is a “better” cover for ping-pong paddles. There is no such thing. The best cover for a ping-pong paddle depends on one’s own style of play and one’s abilities. Beginners should not opt for the more expensive blades, especially fast ones, but go first to slower tires, which provide more control. This way they will be able to better learn the basics of the game and master the different hitting techniques.

Does the colour have something to do with the cover?

Yes. Professional ping pong players have recognized that it pays to have different covers on each side of the ping pong paddle. To avoid the secret change of the cover at once, the rule was introduced that each cover must have a different colour. This is not the case with outdoor ping-pong paddles, since in any case they are not allowed in competitions. With outdoor ping-pong paddles you will be able to play better outdoors, or they will be useful if you are looking for robust paddles, for example to be used in schools or in leisure groups. For those cases, a set like the Kettler outdoor rackets may be exactly what you are looking for.

Don’t forget ping-pong is not only great fun,but it also promotes physical fitness, coordination,tactics and control of the ball.