The 9 Best Ping Pong Balls That You Can Buy (2020)

Ping pong, also known as table tennis, is undeniably a fun and beautiful game, open to players and enthusiasts of all ages. But for you to play the game, you need a ping pong table, a pair of rackets and at least one ping pong ball for a start. 

Buying a ping pong ball can be tricky since all balls vary in size, weight, spin, speed and bounce. Besides, some balls are made from plastic or celluloid while others are made from polystyrene materials. 

We went out of our way to find the top 9 best ping pong balls and here’s what we found. Our best overall pick was the Nittaku 3-Star Premium 40+ Poly Ball but we have a wide range of options for you to choose.

Read along and discover what we have in store.

How to Choose the Best Ping Pong Ball

Choosing the best ping pong ball can be confusing even to the most experienced table tennis player. You have to consider factors such as size, weight, spin and bounce before settling for the ideal ball. Thankfully, we are here to make your work easier. Below are a few considerations to make when shopping for a ping pong ball.

Type of ball

Ping pong balls can be classified into three categories. These include competition, training and casual play balls. Competition balls are ITTF-approved balls intended for high-level tournaments and contests, but they can also be used for practice and recreational play.

Training balls and recreational balls do not require ITTF approval. They are cheaper and lower in quality (in terms of weight and bounce) compared to competition balls.

Star rating 

Table tennis balls are normally rated from 1 to 3 to denote their quality, with 1-star signifying the lowest quality and 3-star indicating the best quality. Factors that determine these ratings include the weight, shape, bounce, elasticity, durability, roundness, evenness and balance. The 3-star balls are hard, perfectly round, balanced and extremely durable.

Color

The color of the ball does not really matter, but it has a bearing on visibility and playability. The International Table Tennis Federation demands balls for international competitions to be either white or orange. Other colors are ideal for practice play or recreational play.

Size

Previously, the standard size for ping pong balls used in international competitions was 38mm. However, following changes in the rules, the standard size for major tournaments and competitions is 40mm. The larger ball is slower but more visible to the audience. If you are just playing for fun, you can use a ball as large as 73mm.

Material

Since 2014-2015, the material used to make ping pong balls was changed from celluloid to polystyrene and ABS plastic. The standard material for tournament balls is polystyrene, since it offers a consistent bounce and spin. Celluloid balls are a bit fragile and they do not have a great spin.  

Hardness

When shopping for a ping pong ball, always perform the hardness test by pressing the ball with your fingers firmly in different areas. This is crucial since the hardness of the ball will determine its bounce and spin. 

So what are the best ping pong balls?

Some of the best and most competitive table tennis players arguably hail from Asian countries such as China and Japan. It is therefore not surprising that the best ping pong balls also come from this region. 

The Nittaku 3-Star Premium is an exceptional table tennis ball manufactured in Japan. It has a 3-star rating, denoting its suitability as the best ping pong ball for official matches and competitions. As you probably know, the star rating signifies the quality of a ball with the 3-star rating as the highest on the log.

The highlight of this ball is that it offers an excellent bounce seemingly because it is perfectly rounded. Moreover, it is made from special polystyrene materials produced exclusively for Nittaku. This Poly material is comparatively more robust than regular plastic, making it the ideal choice for manufacturing durable ping pong balls.

Most importantly, the Nittaku 3-stars premium 40+ is ITTF approved meaning you can use it in all ITTF sanctioned tournaments, as it surpasses the highest quality required for these competitions. Considering its quality, Nittaku balls have always been the official ball of most World Table Tennis Championships since 2017.

Although a bit pricey, this ping pong ball offers good value for the money, hence we picked it without budding an eyelid as our best overall pick.

Specifications

• Size: 40+
• Material: Polystyrene
• Color: White

The Sanwei ABS Pro 3-Star Ball is another excellent table tennis ball that offers an outstanding performance second to none. It is highly consistent when driving, chopping, looping and chopping during training, recreational use or tournament play. Furthermore, the ball has a very good and stable bounce thanks to its perfect spherical shape.

You will certainly fall in love with this ball from the moment you use it for the first time since it has this distinct ping pong tik tok sound. The sound is great on the paddle as well as on the table tennis tabletop, further providing a splendid playing experience for both amateur and professional players.

As its name suggest, the ball is manufactured from ABS plastic, which is a type of thermoplastic polymer renowned for its high tensile strength and durability. The ball is highly resistant to physical impact and it can withstand hours of playing without losing its bounce and roundness. 

Besides, ABS plastic is eco-friendly, thus making it the ideal choice for players who are conscious about the environment. The only blotch is that it releases a lot of white powder during initial use, but this is not a major concern since the powder vanishes after 15 minutes of play.

Specifications

• Size: 40.0 – 40.6 mm
• Material: ABS plastic
• Color: White

If you are a table tennis enthusiast, then you’ve probably heard about JOOLA. This brand is quite popular when it comes to manufacturing high-quality ping pong tables and balls. With this in mind, the JOOLA Prime 3-Star ABS Ball is definitely worth checking out.

This ping pong ball has a 3-star rating, making it ideal for all types of play. Whether you are searching for training balls or competition-grade balls, the JOOLA Prime never disappoints. The ball offers a superior all-round performance, and it is very consistent in terms of thickness, roundness and hardness.

During practice, we noticed the ball has an excellent spin and an outstanding bounce regardless of your style of play. Moreover, it does not lose its performance over time, as it is the case with other types of table tennis balls.

The fact that this ball is made from ABS plastic rather than regular plastic means it is capable of withstanding intense physical impact without breaking. 

Specifications

• Size: 40+
• Material: ABS plastic
• Color: White

The whole essence of buying training balls is to improve your table tennis skills and prepare you for competitive tournaments. 

However, most training balls are cheap, and they don’t have a star rating. This means they are not as durable as the star-rated versions, and you will have to buy a big box of them to keep up with your training needs since they tend to split very easily.

Fortunately, this does not have to be the case all the time. The IPONG 40+ 2-Star Ping Pong ball is a pack of 100 balls designed to withstand the rigorous nature of training. Besides, the balls are star-rated, meaning they are durable and are capable of handling physical impact without breaking.

Unlike other balls that consist of fused parts, the IPONG 40+ 2-Star Training Ball has a seamless design, meaning it does not break or crack easily as it is the case with traditional celluloid balls.

The best part is that these balls are relatively inexpensive despite the fact they have a star rating of 2.

Specifications

• Size: 40+
• Material: Plastic
• Color: Orange

Higher spin, 3-star rated ping pong balls do not come cheaply – you have to dig deeper into your pockets to buy a ping pong ball of this quality. Thankfully, with the emergence of the Gambler P40+ 3-Star Ball, you can buy as many table tennis balls without worrying about the cost.

This fully synthetic ball is not only inexpensive, but also superior. It provides the spin and speed of any traditional celluloid ball while maintaining a high level of playability. You can use it for your training sessions or recreational play. Furthermore, the ball is ITTF approved, meaning it can come in handy in professional table tennis tournaments and championships.

Even though the ball is not seamless, it undergoes rigorous manufacturing process under strict quality controls to ensure that only the best balls from the Gambler brand are available on the market. 

They are slightly harder compared to other brands and they offer a good bounce, making them ideal for heavy play. Moreover, the plastic material used to make these balls can hold up to intense play easily without cracking. 

Specifications

• Size: 40+
• Material: Plastic
• Color: White

Launched in April 2020, the Butterfly 3-Star R40+ is the latest ping pong ball from the Butterfly brand. This high-quality table tennis ball is ITTF-approved, and it is great for training, casual play and tournament contests.

The Butterfly brand is renowned for producing pure quality, hence we do not expect this 3-star ping pong ball to be an exception. The ball passes through rigorous manufacturing processes under stringent quality controls to ensure it meets the highest possible standards. These production processes focus on uniformity, speed, balance, stability and rotation.

Although the ball is made from plastic, it does pass the hardness test ‘with flying colors’. After all, it has a 3-star rating, meaning it does not deform when pressed – further highlighting its excellent quality.

The ball is perfectly round, and its even roundness means it is capable of providing a consistent and reliable bounce during play similar to a traditional celluloid ping pong ball. This allows you to generate spin easily without the ball wobbling or affecting your degree of play.

But that’s not all…

The Butterfly 3-Star R40+ ping pong balls are available in packs of three or twelve, making them the perfect choice for beginners and recreational table tennis players.

Specifications

• Size: 40mm
• Material: Plastic
• Color: White

The XuShaoFa (XSF) 3-Star Poly Ball is a top-rated ping pong ball designed for players of all levels. This high-quality table tennis ball is quite popular with competitive players due to its consistency in roundness, thickness, and weight. 

Above all, the ball provides an unswerving and reliable bounce on any type of ping pong tabletop, making it ideal for tournament play.

Most importantly, this ball is ITTF-approved, and it meets all the requisite requirements for a ping pong ball to be certified by the agency. Moreover, it has no soft spots and it is made from proprietary poly material for maximum durability and resilience.

Unlike other cheap table tennis balls available in the market, XuShaoFa balls do not consist of fused parts. Instead, the balls are seamless, making them light, bouncy and more durable. 

In fact, the bounce of these seamless balls is as high as celluloid, and the consistency in playing quality is simply unmatched. What’s more, these balls from XuShaoFa have the perfect evenness in weight, shape and thickness, and that’s why they are highly recommended for tournament sports.

This ball is available in white, which is one of the two only acceptable colors for legal tournament play. Besides, the color white is easily visible in any given condition.

Specifications

• Size: 40+
• Material: Poly plastic
• Color: White

Table tennis can sometimes get a little noisy and disruptive, depending on the type of ball you are using. Some balls tend to produce a lot of noise when hit by the paddle or when hitting the ping pong table. If you cherish the silence, then you have no other choice but to opt for a quiet ball like the Killerspin NoNoise Ball.

This ping pong ball is extremely quiet compared to conventional table tennis balls. For this reason, it is the ideal option for those who want to enjoy a less disruptive way to play the game. To achieve this, the ball is made using sponge foam composite, which minimizes noise levels during table tennis.

Then again, the Killerspin NoNoise ball is larger than other standard balls – it measures 70-73mm and weighs up to 15 grams. While this increases the size and weight of the ball, it helps maximize the fun, since you will be able to play for longer hours.

Clearly, it is easy to tell that this ball is not intended for competitive play, but recreational use. It is the perfect ball for workplaces, recreational rooms, homes and any type of indoor space where noise levels should be kept at a minimum.

Specifications

• Size: 70-73mm
• Material: Sponge foam composite
• Color: Orange

Celluloid balls are fast being faced out from major table tennis competitions due to a change in rules. However, this does not mean they don’t have a special place in the ping pong world. These balls are still quite popular with table tennis enthusiasts since they are durable and consistent. The JOOLA Super 3-Star Ball is the perfect example of a celluloid ball worth trying out.

The quality of this ball is unquestionable, as it has been the official ball of the Europe Top 12 tournament from 2005 to 2007. Moreover, it was selected as the official ball of the North American Table Tennis Tour and the North American Table Tennis Teams Championships.

In addition, the ball has a 3-star rating, meaning it is more durable than most standard balls. It can withstand harsh outdoor conditions and intense physical play without losing its consistency.

However, the spin of the JOOLA Super 3-Star ball is not so great, and perhaps this is one of the reasons why the ITTF is shifting to non-celluloid balls. With that said, you should consider this ball for your training sessions or recreational play as it is not guaranteed to deliver very impressive results in legal tournament play.

For the price, this is an excellent choice for beginners and amateur players who are still learning the ropes on how to play the game.

Specifications

• Size: 40mm
• Material: celluloid
• Color: White

The type of ping pong ball you buy will determine how long you will be able to play the game. Some balls are hard and durable, making them ideal for all types of play, while others are soft and tend to break easily after a few hours of play.

If you want a ping pong ball that offers an all-round performance, then look no further than the Nittaku 3-Star Premium. This ball has the perfect bounce and spin, making it by far the best ping pong ball in the market. Moreover, it is perfectly round and considerably hard, ideal for recreational and tournament play.

Although a bit pricey, this ping pong ball offers maximum bang for the money. Get a pack and start playing today.