What are the best ping pong balls that professional players use in international tournaments? Well, whether you are a beginner or an expert in table tennis, you will still need to know how to choose the best ping pong ball that suits your needs.
In this article, I have put together some of the 7 best table tennis balls that ITTF-approved and professional players use for training and professional tournaments.
Keep reading to learn more!
How to choose the best ping pong balls?
In this video, you will find basic tests for choosing a table tennis ball. But don’t skip the article because we got a lot more to share which are not covered in this video!
It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to choose professional balls if you are an experienced player. Sometimes, you still need to consider training balls designed to help improve certain skills in ping pong.
There are 2 major types of ping pong balls used for different purposes like competition, training & entertainment.
ITTF-approved ping pong balls for professional competitions
Ping pong balls in professional tournaments are made with modern ABS plastic. They must follow the official diameter, size, and weight regulations set by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) – the world governing body for all table tennis-related activities.
The ITTF has its own methods of testing ping pong balls to ensure they are up to the standards for international competitions. Only balls that pass their tests can be labeled ITTF-approved.
For a ping pong ball to be ITTF-approved, it must have:
- A diameter of 40 mm
- Weighs 2.7 grams
- Made of Polymer Plastic
- A bounce of 23 cm when dropped from a height of 30.5 cm onto a standard steel block
- A near-perfect round surface
- A rating star of 3 (best quality)
- White or orange color as the base color
- A matte finish (no shine to avoid reflection of light)
- Visible label for the ball’s diameter of “40+”
- The stamps (labels) on the balls with only 2 colors
- The manufacturer’s brand logo is printed on the ball
- The country of origin (Made in …) printed on the ball
See the full list of 79 ITTF-approved balls from various brands on their official website.
Keep in mind that not all 3-star balls are ITTF-compliant because different manufacturers have their own sets of rules rating their products.
Training & Entertainment
On the other hand, beginner ping pong balls can be made with different materials, such as celluloid. They don’t have to follow any standards of professional tournaments. These balls are usually cheaper, non-branded, and used widely in beer pong games, scientific experiments, and training.
For example, if the professional needs to train in ball control, they would need more bouncy balls than competition-certified balls. On the other hand, in a bar with a table tennis game, we would recommend a less bouncy ball as a good option as most people playing are beginners and don’t have the necessary skills to control professional balls easily.
Seamless vs Seamed plastic ping pong balls
Most plastic ping pong balls on the market are seamless, meaning they don’t have any seams or ridges. Seamless ping pong balls are considered better quality as they’re less likely to have imperfections.
The ITTF approves both seamless and with-seam table tennis balls in professional matches as long as they have the correct size, weight, and color and successfully pass the test.
You can learn more about seamed vs seamless ping pong balls via our article.
Best 7 ping pong balls for professional tournaments
Here are the 7 best table tennis balls that meet the ITTF’s requirements and professional standards. These balls are also used in the annual World Table Tennis Championship.
They are manufactured under strict quality control measures to ensure high uniformity, stable rotation, speed, and balance for professional competitions.
Note that some of the most well-known table tennis brands are based in China, Japan, and other countries in Asia, such as 729, Sanwei, Stag, Yinhe, Xion, and TSP. And many of them don’t have an international shipping policy which makes it tricky to buy their products.
So the list below will only include reviews of the best ping pong balls available on Amazon and ITTF-approved balls in this buying guide. So, you can be sure they are good enough for professional training and matches.
1. Butterfly R40+
- Manufacturer: Butterfly
- Star Rating: 3
- Material: Plastic (Polymer)
- Country of Origin: China
- Color: White
The Butterfly 3 Star R40+ was used as the official ball for the 2018 and 2021 World Table Tennis Championships.
2. Joola Flash 40+
- Manufacturer: Joola
- Star Rating: 3
- Material: Plastic (Polymer)
- Country of Origin: China
- Color: White
3. Joola Prime 40+
- Manufacturer: Joola
- Star Rating: 3
- Material: Plastic (Polymer)
- Country of Origin: China
- Color: White
4. Stiga Perform 40+
- Manufacturer: Stiga
- Star Rating: 3
- Material: Plastic (Polymer)
- Country of Origin: China
- Color: White
5. Double Fish V40+
- Manufacturer: Double Fish
- Star Rating: 3
- Material: Plastic (Polymer)
- Country of Origin: China
- Color: White
6. Double Happiness D40+ (DHS D40+)
- Manufacturer: Double Happiness
- Star Rating: 3
- Material: Plastic (Polymer)
- Country of Origin: China
- Color: White
7. Nittaku Premium 40+
- Manufacturer: Nittaku
- Star Rating: 3
- Material: Plastic (Polymer)
- Country of Origin: Japan
- Color: White
Best ping pong ball brands
The best table tennis ball brands are manufacturers that have a good reputation in the market, provide quality products, and have been around for a while.
These companies have decades of experience manufacturing table tennis balls and other table tennis equipment. They use cutting-edge technology and high-quality materials to produce their products.
Joola
Joola is a German table tennis brand that has been around since the 1950s. The company is best known for its table tennis tables, paddles, nets, balls, and other equipment. Joola’s is also one of the most active sponsorers of table tennis tournaments and events worldwide.
Butterfly
Butterfly is a Japanese table tennis brand that was founded in 1950. The company makes a wide range of table tennis products, including tables, nets, paddles, balls, and other equipment. Their products are also used in professional tournaments very often. I personally think Butterfly has the best quality table tennis products on the market.
Stiga
Stiga is a Swedish table tennis brand that was founded in 1927. The company produces all kinds of table tennis equipment, from tables and bats to balls and shoes. Stiga is well known for its high-quality table tennis tables, which are used in many int tournaments.
Double Happiness
Double Happiness (DHS) is an international sports equipment manufacturer specializing in the table tennis equipment industry since 1959. It remains to this day the most respected brand name in the table tennis industry in China, beloved by Asian professional players.
Double Fish
Double Fish’s product line has expanded in recent years to include table tennis, badminton, football/basketball/volleyball equipment, sportswear, and more. Their products have been at the official China Open for 5 years and are used regularly in China National Games and various professional matches around the world.
The Bottom Line
In this guide, we have discussed the high-quality table tennis balls that the International ITTF has authorized for professional tournament play. If you are looking for ping pong balls to play, we recommend you choose one of the mentioned brands.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional, getting used to ITTF-approved products will help you take your match to the next level and probably, be tournament-ready. I hope you found the best ping pong ball via this buyers’ guide.