The companies that are recommended when considering an outdoor table are Kettler, Butterfly, Stiga, and Joola Clima.  All of those companies make indoor tables as well and have similar outdoor models available.  Prices for an outdoor table run from $600 to $800.  There’s not as much variation in the cost like there is with indoor tables due the fact that there isn’t a real high demand for outdoor tables and thus there are less models available.  Not to mention that if you have a $1200 tennis table you probably are not keeping it outside.

Out of the options listed here, the Joola Clima is recommended for an outdoor table tennis table.  The Clima is guaranteed warp proof and the legs have a 3 step powder coating to protect against corrosion.  With those qualities and responsible use of a table cover a Joola Clima will last long and provide many hours of outdoor table tennis enjoyment.  Other tables will most likely serve  your needs just fine as long as you take care of your table.  The most important thing to consider when purchasing an outdoor table tennis table is how you’re going to protect it.  Keep that in mind and have fun playing outside!

Recreational Table Tennis Racquets

These basic racquets can be found in pretty much any sporting goods store.  They are pre-assembled, the blade (aka wood part) and rubber bonded as one unit and your options are very basic.  With the recreational racquets you’ll have two different colored sides (like virtually all table tennis racquets) and they will either come with a smooth, rubber surface or a bumpy (for more grip on the ball) rubber surface.  Other than that option the only other real option given to the recreational player is the thickness of the padding between the rubber and wood of the paddle.  Most often the smooth rubber surfaces have a little more thickness (softer bounce, more control) while the bumpy rubber surfaces have a thin layer of padding (relying on the bumps for control it gives the player more power).  Options are not plentiful, but the prices are good.  Most recreational racquets can be purchased in the $20 range, with your top end rec table tennis racquets running right around $39.99.

High Performance

These racquets are for the serious table tennis player and can cost as much as $599.99.  With a high performance table tennis racquet you can find the right combination of specialized rubbers and blades (wood) to best compliment your swing motion.  Speed control and spin control are very advanced and light years ahead of a recreational table tennis racquet.  Unique graphite and wood teamed with replaceable rubber (for quick adjustments/style changes) make the High Performance racquet a must have for anyone wanting to compete in table tennis.

Here are a few High Performance options:

Top End:

Stiga Ultra/Butterfly 7285 - $599.99

Mid-Range:

Killerspin RT6-Diamond TX - $174.99

Economical:

Killerspin Attack - $62.95

All of these table tennis racquets will give you better speed/spin control and an immense advantage over a recreational racquet.  However, you do get what you pay for, the top end Stiga/Butterfly racquets are expensive for a reason.  They will give you the most a racquet can, after that it’s all up to you.

There are five main tables that make up the best of the Butterfly table tennis tables from the highest quality table for professional tournaments to the perfect basement table for recreational play.

The Centrefold 25 Sky Rollaway (with blue surface color) is the flagship of the Butterfly company. The table uses 1 inch steel supports in its frame and boast a 1 inch scratch proof top. It is easy to use and move and among the most sturdy tables made. It can be purchased for $1849.99.

The Europa 25 Sky Stationing (blue surface color) also has a scratch proof top and very sturdy legs. The main difference being that the legs are wooden and stationary. Once you have a spot picked out for this table you don’t want to be moving it around a lot. The Europa is listed at $1449.99.

The Nippon Rollaway is easy to use solid table that can be folded and moved in a convenient manner. It also has a scratch proof top and is quite sturdy, although it doesn’t have the complete steel frame like the Centrefold 25 Sky Rollaway. The Nippon goes for $1349.99

The SpaceSaver 22 Rollaway goes for $1149.99 and is the most cost effective purchase of the top 4 Butterfly table tennis tables. It is a lighter weight and very easy to move and set up, a bit of sturdiness is sacrificed but the quality is still very evident as it makes for a very nice table.

The 4 tables mentioned above are all high quality and come with a 3 year guarantee by Butterfly.

The last table worth mentioning is the Home Rollaway which sells for $374.99. This table is perfect for in home recreational use. It will complement any basement perfectly and comes with a 2 year guarantee.

Whatever your need for a table tennis table is Butterfly can fulfill it with the quality and precision that has made them a top brand in the world of table tennis.

For outdoor usage, Kettler Table Tennis Tables offer four models.  Each model comes standard with a 7/8 inch layer of weatherproof covering, Kettler’s unique folding mechanism for easy and compact storage, and a DLS (Dual Lock Safetly) system that prevents any unwanted/dangerous openings of the table where the sides may fall and cause injury.  The four models, in order of highest quality and price are the MasterPro, the Topstar XL, the Stockholm, and the Baltic.  All are quality products, the main difference that you will notice from the top and bottom models is the amount of stability.  The top 3 models (MasterPro, Topstar XL, Stockholm) all have an extra stabilization bar.  Between those three what you’ll notice is that the material used for the stabilization bars in the higher priced table is thicker and thus more sturdy.  Also, the MasterPro and Topstar XL have larger wheels for easier mobility and more stability.   Prices vary  a little depending on where you are looking but the Baltic usually goes for around $240 while the MasterPro can be as high as $700 and the Stockholm goes for around $500.  The price range may seem excessive but when you see the difference between the tables you’ll understand.  For home usage the Stockholm is the preferred choice with it’s reliability and middle of the road pricing.

Kettler also makes 4 models for indoor only use.  They use a 3/4 inch wooden top for superior, even bounces and long lasting quality.  The MasterPro, Topstar XL and Stockholm are also made for indoor usage and comprise the top 3 models with the RigaPro being the 4th model.  Again the difference in quality comes down to sturdiness and longevity.  The higher priced table will be fortified with thicker stabilization bars and thus last longer and provide the highest quality of play.  Price range is also similar to the outdoor tables ($240 - $700 range) but these table must, obviously, be kept inside and protected from the elements.

It is recommended that, for average/just for fun table tennis purposes, an outdoor table be purchased.  The protective covering will rid the buyer of any worry over storage or any types of spillages on the playing surface.  If you are into competitive play, the indoor MasterPro or Topstar will give you the most realistic game situational play.  Wherever you fall on the spectrum you will be happy with Kettler Table Tennis Tables.

The ball that is most commonly used is usually white or orange with a 40 mm diameter and weighs 2.7 grams. The material used to make the ball doesn’t matter as long as the ball produces a 23 cm bounce when dropped from a height of 30 cm, according to the ITTF. Obviously a ball that can stand repeated hitting is most useful. Concerning paddles, you guessed it, the ITTF does not specify any size limitations. Over time however, basic common sense has led to some pretty standard paddles. Obviously a small paddle would not be an advantage and a paddle too large limits quickness. Most paddles are an oval type shape with a length between 5 and 7 inches and a width of 4 - 6 inches. They have a rubber face, thickness is varied depending on the users preference, and if they being used in official matches they to have one side colored red and the other side colored black. For home usage color is of no concern.

The last thing concerning table tennis table size and equipment is a white line dividing the table lengthwise. The line has no use for single matches (you can serve from anywhere on your side to anywhere on the other side), it only comes into play for doubles (where the server has to serve to the part of the table the is kiddy corner). The last piece of information you’ll need to get started is how the scoring and serving work. The serving is pretty simple, after volleying for serve to determine who starts each contestant takes turn serving 5 times in a row. Games are played to 21 and you must win by 2 (Note: The ITTF has switched to 11 pt games, win by 2, best of 5 series.). A point is scored on every rally, you do not need to be serving to score. How match point is played can be varied, some people always let the person behind serve (this is what the ITTF does) while others just allow the game to finish out without any adjustments. It is recommended to go with the first option (letting the person behind serve), it makes the game more interesting and makes the victory more hard earned. Enjoy your new found table tennis information, it is a wonderful game/sport.